Ugh. That about encapsulates my feelings for Michael Vick. I am no fan, never have been. Quite frankly, I think he’s a low talent, classless, narcissistic, ass-clown. His years of continually embarrassing, bullshit, behavior eroded any respect I ever had for him as a player and especially as a man. The latest allegations of dog-fighting made me angry. After reading the 18 page indictment, I am sickened and horrified to say the least. Only a demented psycho could do what the Feds say he did.
That being said, I absolutely do not believe he should be suspended by the NFL.
Before you start sending me hate mail, let me explain.
I grew up around some brilliant legal minds. My uncle Bob, for instance, was a Solicitor and a US Congressman from the great state of South Carolina for 16 years. He was also one of the most intelligent & compassionate men I’ve ever known. To this day, he is still the man I admire most. He loved his country and believed that our judicial system was bar none the best in the world. He always encouraged me to have faith in the wisdom of our legal process, even though it is sometimes flawed. He taught me that without question, the greatest tenet is our constitutional right to a fair trial in which a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty. The prosecution always has the burden of proof. Contrary to what the media tries often to sell, an indictment or grand jury verdict is not a result of due process or an equitable hearing. It only serves to show probable cause; probable being the operative word. Yet, somehow I’ve increasingly noticed how quick the American public leaps to judgment based on little fact and a singular point of view. Have we already forgotten about the Duke non-rape case?
To say what happened to Reade Seligmann, Collin Finnerty, and David Evans was a gross rush to judgment is the understatement of the century. These boys were vilified by many Americans who ignorantly bought into the vicious deceptions of a contemptible DA. At a minimum, they were branded rapists and taunted with death threats all because some people chose to believe in their guilt before the court’s ruling. Even their university, professors, fellow students, and community cast their lot with a power-hungry, devious, son-of-a bitch with his own sick agenda to advance. I realize this is an extreme example to present, but nonetheless valid. Just as the Duke Lacrosse players deserved the assumption of innocence, Michael Vick does as well.
Do I think he will be proven guilty in a court of law? You bet. Here’s why:
- The Federal government, from statistics as late as 2005, has a conviction rate of 94.1%. That is unfathomable & phenomenal to me.
- Michael Vick’s case is being prosecuted in the US District Court in Richmond, Virginia - this court is famously referred to as the “rocket docket”. There will be no lengthy delays in heading to trial - I can assure you. In fact, his trial date is already set for early November.
- He will be facing a notorious hard-nosed, no-nonsense, jurist in US District Judge Henry Hudson. He’s known for denying defense motions and rejecting delays. More than 80% of his cases are heard within 4 months. Again, unfathomable.
- Tony Taylor (not the Dawg we all know & love), the man who started this whole case & the first defendant, will be in court tomorrow morning to presumably turn state’s evidence. Then it’s only a matter of time before the other 3 follow suit & turn against Michael.
This all leads me back to my original statement… I do not believe Michael Vick should be suspended by the NFL. I absolutely think it is a colossal mistake to condemn a person without due process. Michael Vick deserves a fair trial and his day in court. How is he to receive that when the NFL has essentially decided to advance the course of judgment outside of the law? As it stands now, Vick has been ordered to stay away from training camp until the NFL can “complete their own review of the case.” That’s incredibly suspect. In adherence with Commissioner Goodell’s ruling, Falcons owner Arthur Blank backed off his planned 4 game suspension and publicly agreed with the NFL’s stance on the situation. Not surprising. It should also be noted that the NFL is completely within their right to discipline a player even before a conviction, according to the collective bargaining agreement. Just ask Pac-Man Jones.
Deion Sanders recently penned an interesting take on this situation in his column with The Fort Myers News-Press. No surprise that his position may be a little outrageous for some, but he does raise some interesting points. Such as, what a dog means to Vick may be different than what it means to you or me. He talks about the status symbol in dog fighting - owning the biggest, baddest dog around. The most intriguing point he raises is about the importance level of this issue as compared to the murder of a human.
“Can I pause for a moment to ask you a question? Who shot Darrant Williams? Remember the Denver Bronco cornerback? I’m just more concerned about bringing to justice someone who killed a human. Or finding out who broke into Miami Heat forward Antoine Walker’s home, tied him up and robbed him at gunpoint. We should have the same passion for man that we have for man’s best friend.”
I’m not saying Deion is right, but he does add another dimension to the story. <<btw, if you didn’t click the link to read it, you should.>> Above all, he implores us to allow Michael Vick the same rights afforded you and me, to gain some perspective on the situation, and to let the legal process play out. Amen to that!
The bottom line is, I don’t know what’s the right thing to do with Michael Vick while he prepares for his trial. The NFL, the Falcons, Nike, etc. all have a brand and image to protect. This is not just about American justice; it’s about business. I get that. I simply submit that the protection of an individual’s personal freedom is more important than public pressure or marketing. I also submit that we are a better nation, a better society, when we cease to convict a man before he’s prosecuted.
Agree? Disagree? Tell me what you think! Let me have it in the comments section; I can take it.
Definitely curious to read what you think!
