2008 Woodie Awards
Bad newz for the big dawg
Greg Radiboux
Issue date: 8/27/07 Section: Perspectives
It has truly been nothing but bad newz for the big dawg, or bird (a falcon, to be precise), Michael Vick, as of late. Unless you unplugged yourself from virtually anything smacking of media in this country lately (I especially enjoyed ESPN's gushing about their "wall to wall" coverage of Vick's case) you are aware of the nasty business that the star quarterback for the NFL's Atlanta Falcons allegedly took part in over the last several years. Today, Vick is scheduled to enter a formal plea of guilty to a variety of federal charges which may include interstate transportation of animals for illegal purposes, conspiracy to engage in illegal enterprises (dog-fighting) and money laundering relating to illegal gambling and quite possibly animal cruelty and abuse charges for the alleged torture and execution of dogs (though the latter may yet be forthcoming). All this and more were apparently conducted by Mr. Vick and his co-defendants under the moniker Bad Newz Kennel, of which a large portion of the training, abuse, fighting and gambling apparently took place at the Atlanta home of Vick.
As a result of Vick's scheduled pleading, two consequences, one inevitable, one probable, will ensue. The first is Vick will do jail time (I'll spare you the falcon to a jail bird line which was actually uttered over the airwaves recently) most probably between one and three years, depending, in part, on how much or how little the judge buys any newly unveiled act of contrition by Vick. The second, once the plea is formally entered, opens up the accused and subsequently, convicted, Vick, to probable state charges relating to animal cruelty and abuse. I'll let the sports guys and gals scrutinize ad nauseam over what this conviction will mean for Vick, the Falcons, the NFL and the multi-billion sports industry in our country in general (Hint: it's not good, but we still have Barry Bonds and the guy who won then lost the Tour de France to knock around).
What continues to fascinate me about this type of case, aside from PETA actually getting some positive press (they're the folks who seemed to have been mostly known for ruining lovely runway model shows with their uninvited protests against real fur, and billboards with a naked Pamela Anderson, also, I guess, protesting the same issue) is the distinct reaction within black and white communities to Vick's plight.
As a result of Vick's scheduled pleading, two consequences, one inevitable, one probable, will ensue. The first is Vick will do jail time (I'll spare you the falcon to a jail bird line which was actually uttered over the airwaves recently) most probably between one and three years, depending, in part, on how much or how little the judge buys any newly unveiled act of contrition by Vick. The second, once the plea is formally entered, opens up the accused and subsequently, convicted, Vick, to probable state charges relating to animal cruelty and abuse. I'll let the sports guys and gals scrutinize ad nauseam over what this conviction will mean for Vick, the Falcons, the NFL and the multi-billion sports industry in our country in general (Hint: it's not good, but we still have Barry Bonds and the guy who won then lost the Tour de France to knock around).
What continues to fascinate me about this type of case, aside from PETA actually getting some positive press (they're the folks who seemed to have been mostly known for ruining lovely runway model shows with their uninvited protests against real fur, and billboards with a naked Pamela Anderson, also, I guess, protesting the same issue) is the distinct reaction within black and white communities to Vick's plight.
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