ONCE SCUM, ALWAYS SCUM

August 25, 2007 | By Jason Sapp | Discuss

There should be no person on this earth, or in any universe, that should feel sympathy for Michael Vick.  Anyone who thinks he is being wronged should take a good long look at themselves, then at the man they believe should be allowed to redeem himself.  The signs have been there for some time, and only now are people ‘stunned’ at Vick’s sudden connection to dog fighting and criminal activity.

Sorry, folks, I saw this one coming.

Michael Vick has been this type of person his entire career; cocky, unintelligent and egotistical. You could even compare him to Allen Iverson, a flashy, talented athlete with poor team and grammar skills, and a purveyor of bad decisions.  Ironically, his connections to Iverson are no longer relegated to just being Newport News natives.  They are now both in the category of athletes who kept ‘bad company’ and got spurned for it.  The only difference is Vick is clearly the guilty party.

Those who couldn’t see Vick’s descent into criminality must have missed his frequent arrests for trafficking and possession, along with his disgusting acts toward his own Falcon fans (like his infamous one-finger salute).  The attitude carries over into the rest of the family and no one can overlook Vick’s younger brother, Marcus, one of the sleaziest players in recent memory and an individual who certainly did not earn any of the attention given to him.  I was so disappointed when Miami gave him a contract last year.  It only showed how a man’s past could be overlooked for the sake of athletic ability.

The term ‘second chance’ is thrown around without much consideration as to who actually deserves it.  Marcus should not have been allowed to step on a professional field.  His actions in college were reprehensible and he’s lucky no one decided to retaliate.  Thankfully, most players in the NFL are professionals and would not lower themselves to his level.  Marcus is currently not employed by any NFL team and now big brother is about to join him on the couch.  Michael deserves no second chance.  If the NFL buys into his ‘apology’ when it comes time for reinstatement, then they are bigger fools than anyone.  A lifetime ban is what Pete Rose received for his crimes, why should Vick get anything less?  Gambling is one thing, murder is another.

Of course, anytime a high-profile person like Vick comes into question, organizations like the NAACP jump on the chance to make Vick seem like a victim of society and immediately threaten anyone who thinks Vick doesn’t deserve a break.  Everyone seems to forget exactly what Michael was arrested for.  Cock fighting is illegal in this country and, call me crazy, but so is dog fighting.  Why should anyone back this man for what he has done?  It’s like backing a member of your family when he or she has obviously killed someone and you watched it happen.  Organizations like this should focus their energy on improving people’s lives and trying to make a difference in the community, not support a criminal who doesn’t support them.  For those of you who think Michael Vick truly cares about fans and improving the lives of those around him, you are sadly mistaken.

Incidents like this also show off the stupidity and narrow-mindedness of others.  Stephon Marbury insisted that dog fighting is a “sport, much like hunting”.  I’ll give you a few seconds to let that settle in before I continue.  Marbury has to look back at these comments later and think, ‘what did I say again?’  There is NO way you can connect hunting and fighting.  They are complete opposites.  Hunting is considered a sport; there are rules and regulations.  Animals don’t fight back against humans and, while I personally do not condone hunting, it is universally recognized and performed.  Marbury claims dog fighting is a sport, only “behind closed doors”.  Stephon should take a moment, go online and see what sports are played behind closed doors, away from the public eye.  The answer is none, at least none that are legal.  Dog fighting is not a sport.  It is a barbaric, inhuman act that should be eliminated from 21st century thinking.  Comments like these only prove how inane our society can be toward celebrity and how foolish others are to back the guilty.

Roger Goddell must stand firm and set an example with Vick, the way he set for Pacman Jones and Chris Henry (two other low-lifes who should have never gotten second chances).  Michael Vick will probably play football again, but thankfully not for a long time, enough for everyone to remember what he did and how he finally exposed his true self to the nay-Sayers.  It doesn’t matter who the player is or how many championships they have won.  This is a matter of life and death and the guilty must be punished.

Jason Sapp can be reached at jsapp@phillypurge.com