If we are outraged at dog killing, how about spousal abuse?

Update 8/24/07:
I wonder how PETA supporters would feel about this. In Michael Vick's pending plea agreement, he will admit to a single felony conspiracy charge of interstate commerce for the purpose of dogfighting. Vick will admit that he was present when dogs were put down, but will maintain that he did not personally kill any of the dogs. The deal will ignore more damaging information reportedly provided by Vick's co-defendants to federal investigators.

Federal prosecutors would recommend 12 to 18 months prison time, but U.S. District Judge Henry Hudson, who has a reputation for ordering harsh penalties, can use some discretion. Under federal sentencing guidelines, the maximum penalty would be five years, so it depends if the judge is going to follow the prosecutor's recommendation or give Vick the maximum penalty.

Now of course we are not sure what the state charges will be. The grand jury is supposed to meet next month. The state could also charge Vick with illegal dogfighting and gambling.

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Whether if you support or don't support Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick, you really have to ask him only one question... "What were you thinking?!?!?"

First, he spent almost a month telling the National Football League, the Atlanta Falcons, and anyone else who would listen that he was innocent of the charges brought against him. He kept on denying about his alleged involvement in a dog-fighting ring. On TV and on the radio.

Then his so-called friends jumped ship. The other three that were accused made plea agreements and pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy and promoting dog-fighting, and all would testify against Mr. Vick's November trial that he financed the dog fights at his property in Virginia, provided money for gambling, and participated in the hanging or drowning of dogs that did not perform well.

What could Vick do? On August 27, his lead defence lawyer, Billy Martin, announced that his client would plead guilty in a compromise deal. He will plead guilty to a single conspiracy count and that the recommended sentencing range will be 12 to 18 months in prison. Vick will appear next Monday in the U.S. District Court in Richmond.

However, it is likely that he and his three co-defendants will also face state charges by Virginia. Gerald G. Poindexter, the commonwealth's attorney covering Vick's home town of Newport News stated "They have admitted dogfighting. That's a state crime. They have admitted killing animals. That's a state crime, and a very serious one." Dogfighting is a felony in Virginia, punishable by up to five years in prison.

But why did he do it? Based on the evidence, it seems he has been running this dog-fighting operation since 2001 to April of this year. It seems he had nothing to gain and everything to lose from this. He was hailed as one of the most athletic quarterbacks in NFL history and because of that, the Atlanta Falcons signed Mr. Vick to a 10-year contract worth at least $130 million dollars in 2004. That's $130 million dollars!!! With all the success, why did he continue his bloody participation against man's best friend? Why did this successful man choose to have a hobby in brutality and torture of dogs?

In the meantime, Michael Vick is expected to meet with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to find out what punishment awaits him. Since he will plead guilty to federal charges, he would be in violation of the NFL's personal conduct policy, which empowers Goodell to fine, suspend, or impose a lifetime ban on a player. Now the interesting part is that by pleading guilty to that federal conspiracy charge, a fine or suspension would be warranted. However, the state charges will be more serious, and if Vick is convicted of animal cruelty and gambling, then Commissioner Goodell would have no choice but to impose a long suspension or lifetime ban.

The head of the Atlanta chapter of the NAACP has urged the NFL to allow Vick to play in the league again after he serves his sentence.

Chapter President R. L. White said "As a society, we should aid in his rehabilitation without a permanent loss of his career in football. 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."

But the one thing I take offense was White saying that Vick's crime was that it was "a dog." But it's was not just one dog. It was so many dogs. Dogs that have been abused repeatedly, injured, or killed.

New York Knicks guard Stephon Marbury does not help the debate either. He tried to compare dogfighting with deer hunting. I think hunting deer and training dogs to tear each other to shreds are not the same. Perhaps Marbury should watch a video of both, then tell us whether if they are the same.

Having said that, I understand we are all outraged at the animal brutality. I am sure PETA and their 1.6 million membership have made their voices loud and clear saying that dog-killing is bad and people who do that sort of thing should be severely punished. Understandably, they are a group not to be messed with. They did get over $30 million in contributions last year.

Now, if we are so angry about animal cruelty, then we ought to be furious if NFL players commit spousal abuse to their wife or girlfriend and other forms of domestic violence. Somehow all of this is telling me that if a NFL player commits spousal battery, he gets a fine, suspended sentence, and can keep on playing, but if you beat up or kill a dog, you are pretty much banished. Would I expect the same reaction if a player beat up his own kid?

Perhaps the anti-spousal abuse lobby group is not that strong out there. I guess the women advocacy groups are not making that much fuss. Injure or kill an animal... you will get 24/7 news coverage up the wazoo, daily protests from PETA. So do you pick that cute kid or an adorable puppy?

But have people looked at the number of athletes arrested for domestic violence or spousal abuse? If we exacted the same punishment for dog-fighting to domestic violence, half of the league will be in prison. Have you checked out "badjocks.com" or "playersbehavingbadly.com"? Quite sick.

If we are really serious about protecting life, then the NFL and other sports leagues must crack down on spousal abusers and domestic violence.

Vick is only 27. He's going to be stuck with this awful tragedy for the remainder of his life.

Here are two recent examples:

Philadelphia Phillies' pitcher Brett Myers assaulted his wife on a public Boston street and was charged with assault and battery. Major League Baseball did not penalize him, shrugging it off as an off-field incident.

Sacramento Kings' Ron Artest was suspended last season for 72 games for fighting in the stands. In March he was arrested for domestic violence. For that he got what amounted to a hand slap; an immediate two-game suspension and a $600 fine for a player who makes several million a year. Artest pled no contest to the domestic violence charge and was sentenced 100 hours of community service, a 10-day work project and mandated extensive counseling.

My punishment for Michael Vick:
Well, with both federal and state charges, I am expecting that he will be in prison for at least 2-3 years. I would impose a 5-year ban before he can re-join the NFL. The Atlanta Falcons should impose a fine on his salary where a certain percentage will be used to support dog kennels and charity groups. All his sponsorship deals are terminated and they can decide whether to resume them in any type or form after he is released from prison.

Related Articles

Washington Post - Vick Likely Will Face More Charges in Va.

Globe & Mail - What was Vick thinking?

Chicago Sun Times - How many more Vicks are there?

Women's eNews - Beat a Woman? Play on; Beat a Dog? You're Gone