Vick apologists refuse to quit

I wish R.L. White, president of the Atlanta chapter of the NAACP, would read Michael Wilbon's column on the Michael Vick affair.

You wonder if the people who unabashedly apologize for Michael Vick, particularly in and around Atlanta, will see Vick for what he is, for what he's been, or whether they'll continue to give him the kind of cover that allows his brand of arrogance to thrive.

Wonder no more, Wilbon.

White said that the Atlanta chapter supports Vick's decision to accept a plea bargain if it is in his best interest. However, White says Vick is a human being who has made a mistake and should be allowed to prove that he has learned from that mistake.

After that, White says Vick should be allowed to return to professional football — preferably with the Atlanta Falcons.

"As a society, we should aid in his rehabilitation and welcome a new Michael Vick back into the community without a permanent loss of his career in football," White said. "We further ask the NFL, Falcons, and the sponsors not to permanently ban Mr. Vick from his ability to bring hours of enjoyment to fans all over this country."

I have no stake in Vick's rehabilitation. That's his responsibility (a foreign concept to him, I know). And what does the NFL owe Vick, at this point? He's a thug (word used advisedly) who lied repeatedly to the commissioner and his owner.

Or is he merely a victim? Despite his plea bargain, White isn't convinced of Vick's guilt.

"At this point, you're not looking at guilt or innocence," White said, referring to the possible harsher sentence Vick could have received had he taken his case to trial and been found guilty. "You're thinking, 'What I better do is cut my losses and take a plea.' But if he saw this as the best thing to do at this point for his future, then I think he made the correct choice."

He added that he does believe that Vick may be guilty of some wrongdoing, but could be taking responsibility for crimes that he did not commit.

White said he believed the more likely scenario is that Vick was an owner who was not fully aware of the kennel's activities.

White said he regretted that the plea deal will mean all of the facts of the case may never be known.

"Some have said things to save their own necks," White said. "Michael Vick has received more negative press than if he had killed a human being."

Yep, it's the press' fault. It's his friends' fault. It's everyone's fault but the rich quarterback/martyr who once held a city in the palm of his hand.

Comments

[Haseem Jones]

Have you ever swatted a fly? Set a mouse trap? Slapped a mosquito that was sucking your blood? Squished an ant?

How about eaten a hamburger, or chicken, or fish, or a ham sandwich or lamb chop or Canadian bacon pizza?

If you answered yes to any of those questions, you're just as bad as Michael Vick. Dude fought some dogs. Hung a couple, electrocuted and drowned household pets. Big deal. You've killed animals too. So what's the difference?

Oh, the media says it's so bad. You don't see the media saying it's so bad to go around killing deers, or possums or cows or chicken or pigs or sheep or mice or squirrels. An animal's an animal.

Stop the hatin'.

[AtlPaddy]

It appears that "leaders" of NAACP and SCLC seem to be more determined in running their organizations into the ground spouting off about nonsense than to actually getting out into the low-income black communities in this country and actually striving to make a difference.