Michael Vick Indited

[grasshopper]

Today's local news stated the manager of Falcon's had ordered Michael to not come near the training camp untill~~~~~~he stated in an interview last week end stating ''People love me where ever I go, what can I say''
myfoxatlanta.com for updates

[grasshopper]

http://news.aol.com/sports/story/_a/...19101509990001

Vick Case Sheds Light on Dogfighting
By Tom Weir,USA Today
Posted: 2007-07-19 18:34:39
Filed Under: Crime News, Nation, Sports News
(July 19) - No matter how Michael Vick's indictment on charges of operating a dogfighting ring is resolved in court, allegations against the NFL star have forced mainstream America to confront the grisly image of canine death matches.


Photo Gallery: Canine Death Matches
Joe Fudge, Daily Press, AP Investigators say they seized 55 pit bulls, including this one, from NFL quarterback Michael Vick's property this week. His case sheds light on the estimated thousands of canine death matches that take place each year in America.
< Previous 1 of 5 Next >
Law enforcement and animal-protection advocates who have participated in raids on the type of enterprises that the Atlanta Falcons quarterback and three other men are accused of running say the reality of the dogfighting underworld is even worse than most people can imagine.

They say seized dogs inevitably are euthanized, the plywood walls of the typical fighting ring are splattered with blood, and cruelty shrouds every aspect of the dog's life.

"When you go to where these fights have happened, you'll find a couple of dog corpses or a pit full of blood," says Mack Dickinson, a Louisiana state trooper who heads that state's dogfighting investigations. "We'll open up their kennels, where they'll put dogs after they've fought, and they'll have blood all over the walls."

Diane Jessup, a former Washington state animal control officer, says, "With dogs that don't win, it's not uncommon for them to be electrocuted, shot, hung or burned." But what troubles her even more is "the way the dogs are maintained, kept out in the mud on a short chain, a lifetime of that. To me, that's crueler than the fighting."

Kathryn Destreza, who as director of humane law enforcement for the Louisiana SPCA has been on about 30 raids in the last three years, says the animals' owners "will file the dog's canine teeth into a sharp point, or they'll put ground-up glass in their fur" before a fight.

At some raids where spectators have fled into the woods as police invaded, Destreza says, abandoned toddler-sized chairs and nearby milk and cookies suggest some people consider dogfighting family entertainment.

More often, law enforcement officials say, the sweeps net drugs, weapons and gambling money.

Of the 65 dogfighting arrests he's made in the last five years, Sgt. David Hunt of the Franklin County (Ohio) Sheriff's Office says, "There's only been one where we didn't find drugs."

Hunt testified before Congress last year at a hearing that led to legislation making dogfighting a federal felony. That, Hunt says, has increased the efforts of federal law enforcement.

Practice Growing in Cities

Vick's indictment was handed up Tuesday in Richmond, Va., in federal district court. He faces charges of transporting fighting dogs across state lines and engaging in dogfighting. Conviction could mean a six-year prison term and a $350,000 fine.

[imanewsjunkie]

I will never understand how anyone can think dog fighting is okay in any light. It breaks my heart that there are groups of people out there who find this normal and entertaining. Having so little respect for an animals life, IMO, shows a scary side to that individual that is not healthy.

I believe people who abuse, maim and kill animals, are also capable of abusing, maiming and killing human beings. They are sociopaths/psychopaths with killer instincts.

I hope everyone involved is held accountable and severely punished. I had a very difficult time reading about what takes place in these dog fights. What kind of sick minds do the spectators have? How can anyone derive pleasure and enjoyment from witnessing such horror?

IMO

[samanthajane13]

Contrary to what a lot of people believe, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals-PETA-is not a bunch of vegetarian whack-jobs throwing red paint on people wearing fur coats. They do wonders for suffering animals world-wide. They work to change the laws governing animal abusers, and do whatever they can to stop animal cruelty in it's many forms.

You can help put an end to dog-fighting and send a LOUD AND CLEAR MESSAGE to Michael Vick and others like him who place no value on animal lives.

It's a proven fact that the vast majority of people who engage in animal torture and killing will eventually move on to HUMAN VICTIMS.

If you want people like Michael Vick and his animal murdering partners stopped, PETA needs your help.

Please check the links below-the first one is a video, and the others are for petitions you can sign to send the message that this behavior won't be condoned by ANYONE!!!

PLEASE don't let these innocent animal lives be wasted.

Let these poor deceased animals have a voice.

I've been a PETA supporter for MANY years.

Thanks for your time and attention-
Donna (samanthajane13)

http://www.petatv.com/tvpopup/Prefs....lamon_dogfight

http://getactive.peta.org/campaign/afalcons_vick_2

http://getactive.peta.org/campaign/afalcons_vick_nike

http://getactive.peta.org/campaign/p...n_dog_fighting

[samanthajane13]

There are several good articles relating to Michael Vick on this one page-

http://blog.peta.org/

[TobyTiger]

NIKE SUSPENDS ENDORSEMENT DEAL WITH VICK

Updated: 35 minutes ago
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. - Nike suspended its lucrative contract with Michael Vick on Friday, while Reebok took the unprecedented step of stopping sales of his No. 7 jersey.

In another dose of bad news for the indicted quarterback, a top trading card company announced it was pulling Vick’s likeness from any new packs.

Facing protests from animal-rights groups, Nike announced it was suspending Vick’s endorsement deal without pay, as well as halting sales of Vick-related shoes and other products at its retail stores.


“Nike is concerned by the serious and highly disturbing allegations made against Michael Vick, and we consider any cruelty to animals inhumane and abhorrent,” Nike spokesman Dean Stoyer said in a statement.

Reebok, the official uniform supplier of the NFL, said it would stop selling Vick’s replica jersey at retail stores and through its Web site.

more at the link

[beachgirl40]

This just makes me sick!! As I look down at my kitties Angel & Patches at my feet, CorkyKitty is stretched out in the recliner. They are so sweet, loving & innocent. How on Earth could someone take an innocent life in the name of entertainment? Have we as a society fallen to these depths of depravity? To even watch a dog fight must take a truly sick person and to think evidence of children attending one of these fights was found is almost beyond belief.

If Mr. Vick and his cohorts are found guilty, throw the book at them. He should receive no consideration due to his celebrity.

JMO

[samanthajane13]

AWESOME!!!!!!

They should smear him with raw meat and lock him in a room with a pack of feral dogs...

[CaroleNichols]

I'm so glad this is being brought out in the open. I hope Vick & Co. get just what they deserve. I keep seeing a picture of that poor dog in my head.

[grasshopper]

Originally Posted by CaroleNichols

I'm so glad this is being brought out in the open. I hope Vick & Co. get just what they deserve. I keep seeing a picture of that poor dog in my head.

Oh, it's coming this Vick!
I live here in Atlanta and let me tell you after it was revealed this has been an on going case since 2001;all h*** broke loose.He was served with a ro from going near training camp and mgmt. looking at fine print.

So Michael

Who loves you every place you go?

[grasshopper]

Originally Posted by samanthajane13

There are several good articles relating to Michael Vick on this one page-

http://blog.peta.org/

7/30
One of Michael Vicks co defentant agrees to testify for light sentence for lower D.O.C. sentence!

[samanthajane13]

"So Michael

Who loves you every place you go?"

Certainly NOT animals, animal lovers or the activists!!!

Poooooor Michael-

No love for the BIG STAR for about 60% of the population-OR MORE!!!

Let me tune up my tiny violin for the pity-party.

[grasshopper]

Originally Posted by samanthajane13

"So Michael

Who loves you every place you go?"

Certainly NOT animals, animal lovers or the activists!!!

Poooooor Michael-

No love for the BIG STAR for about 60% of the population-OR MORE!!!

Let me tune up my tiny violin for the pity-party.

Wow,here in Atlanta Fox 5 stays on Michael Vick and pople being are saying not guillty and when the F.B.I.'s under covers who have video and tapes dating back to 2001; bye bye Mikie meet the cell door!

[Jadedblueeyes]

Originally Posted by grasshopper

Today's local news stated the manager of Falcon's had ordered Michael to not come near the training camp until~~~~~~he stated in an interview last week end stating ''People love me where ever I go, what can I say''
myfoxatlanta.com for updates

Anyone with an ounce of decency would know that what Vick has done is indefensible, inhumane and perverse. To pleasure in the torture of any creature as a blood sport for financial gain is beyond depraved. There are simply no words to describe it.

Now having said that I saw this. Sometimes I have to admit I have been ashamed of my State and the things that have been whispered about for decades yet a blind eye is continually turned.

Many good folks in Georgia hear the whispers of it and try not to believe it could dare be true but deep down we just have a creepy feeling it is but we don't know where. They are like the boogeyman...you feel they are there but you dont know where or who they are. They are Wolves in sheep's clothing, all the better to disquise what they do in isolation locked away in their sadistic blood letting world. Imo we would all be shocked who goes to these blood torturing rings to watch a poor defenseless animal fight for its life and to its brutal death. Don't ever think they are unwashed or uneducated or that you may even know them. I think we would be shocked at who they are. I think they can come in old pickup trucks or big fancy SUVs and wearing a Rolex.

Imo I think they come in all colors, shapes and professions. They remind me of the KKK that we knew for so long that was out there somewhere in the dark of night up to their own hate and wicked misdeeds.

Now Michael Vick was a hero to me. I love the Falcons. Michael should be banned from playing any sports where he is to be a role model for our children. He had such talent but evil and the greed for more money lurked in his heart. Imo if one is capable of doing this to an animal what in the world would they do to a human being?

I don't want this to be about catching the BIG fish so a picture can go on some LEs wall. I want this to be a major starting point for all LE cleaning up ALL the ones who do this. The feds should be hitting them left and right...not just MV who made mega money and gets the media spotlight. It is time to stop it all dead in its tracks. If I was with the FBI I would be having raids left and right. They have to show these people it means NO ONE can do this to any other animal ever!

God bless the dogs!

imoo

[samanthajane13]

Kurt Miller: No gimmicks needed
Vick stands out in a different way
Originally published July 29, 2007

Well, Marcus is no longer the abomination of the Vick family. And that's not easy to do. Marcus was the one that allegedly had sexual relations with a 15-year-old girl while he was enrolled at Virginia Tech. He also was charged with pulling a gun out at McDonald's and stomped on Louisville’s Elvis Dumerville’s leg during the Gator Bowl on national television. Marcus has a history of speeding, using pot and involving himself with underage girls.


Personally, I didn’t think anyone would usurp Marcus’ role as the unquestioned dumbest athlete of this century (he had the surname; he was guaranteed money and a chance wherever he went). But once I got to thinking about it, what man would let his little brother be better than him at something?

Sure, Michael had the water bottle incident at the airport, the ‘Ron Mexico’ debacle and there was that time he gave the finger to his home crowd following a game, but that doesn’t even register him a point on the “Darryl Strawberry” scoring system.

In case you’ve been living under a rock, Michael Vick has been indicted by the federal government (but not by the state of Virginia) for the offense of running and allowing dog fighting on some property he owns. He supposedly runs the fights in association with Bad Newz Kennels.

I could speculate (which I am) why Virginia didn’t indict Vick and my bet has to be on the money he pours into the community. He established The Vick Foundation, which runs the Michael Vick Golf Classic and generates close to $80,000 for charity. He worked with the United Way to donate money and create scholarships to help families affected by the Virginia Tech massacre. He has donated countless amounts of money to his alma mater (which may explain why Marcus lasted so long there).

And while I’m ranting, Emmitt Smith, I’m going to tell you this in the most respectful way I can: Shut your mouth.

In case you haven’t seen it, and I strongly urge you to check it out, Smith has commented on the Vick fiasco. In Smith’s eyes, the Feds are targeting Vick because he’s a big name, not because dog fighting was run out of a house he owned. Smith also thinks that Vick is nothing more than bait to the Feds. I strongly disagree here. Vick would be the coup de grace for the government. Finding him guilty would be like finding Al Capone, Pablo Escobar and Che Guevara all in the same car when it got pulled over for a busted taillight. Vick would be a bigger bust than "Waterworld."

Smith, I respect what you’ve done for the NFL, but unless you weren’t standing next to Vick, holding the leash, you have no room to talk. I can only imagine what your next plan of action is. Maybe you can call up Gary Sheffield and you two can play the race card.

There are so many things that are wrong in this twisted saga that I don’t know where to begin.

There’s the fact that Michael Vick, a multi-millionaire, was living a paradoxical life. This wasn’t some country kid bringing his backwoods philosophies with him; this was something he picked up along the same time he began to make a name for himself on the gridiron. While he had his fans believing that he was among the best of the next generation of NFL quarterbacks; in reality, he was just another so-called star that got money and didn’t know what to do with it.

Let me give you something to think about: In the last few instances where an athlete has been involved in a major wrongdoing, the team usually issues a statement saying something along the lines of “we support generic athlete number one until evidence proves that they did, in fact, do something wrong.” The Ravens did it with Ray Lewis when he was involved in the murder investigation, the Lakers stood behind Kobe Bryant when he was charged with rape, and the Giants are doing it now with Barry Bonds and the steroid accusations. Now that I think of it, the WWE did it with Chris Benoit as well.

They do it to cover themselves, publicity wise and personnel wise. If said athlete is found guilty of wrongdoings (i.e. Benoit), then the company will throw that person under the proverbial bus and distance themselves as much as possible. But if the athlete is cleared, then he’s welcome back to the team with arms wide open. Owners are smart people, they realize that what they do isn’t a sport, it’s a business. Nobody’s going to pay to see the Derek Fisher-led Lakers, but the Staples Center will be sold out for Kobe Bryant.

But this isn't the case for the Falcons, though. Atlanta’s not taking a wait-and-see philosophy on this one. They have to distance themselves from this as quickly as possible because regardless of what the outcome of the trial is, Vick will never shake this image. It will haunt him for a long time. And if you don’t believe me, let me ask you this: Do you see O.J. Simpson as a great football player, or as a man that was put on trial for killing his ex-wife and her friend? What image pops up: a football or a white Bronco? A uniform or Bruno Magli shoe? Him at USC with the Heisman or the late Johnnie Cochran with a glove?

But what disturbs me the most, what makes me despise Michael Vick with a passion, isn’t that he had the dog fights. It’s the way he allegedly may have helped dispose of the losing dogs after the fights.

Dog fighting, as it stands alone, is awful. There’s no way around it. I can’t think of any logical reason to try to condone it. I’ve put time and effort into thinking why this isn’t a bad thing but there's no way I can argue for it.

The methods of which “Ookie” (Michael Vick’s nickname) and his friends supposedly got rid of the dogs are disturbing. Reports say that methods including hanging, electrocution, drowning and beating were used to rid the world of these “losers.”

To me, this speaks volumes. To me, this says that the actual fights were secondary to these people. All they really wanted to see was suffering. They could have gone the “humane” way and used an injection or a rifle shot to end the lives of these dogs. But they didn’t choose that. The methods they used were long and drawn out. I don’t know for certain, but it’s probably a fair bet to say that it takes more effort to drown, hang, shock, or beat a pit bull than any other way.
Here’s more to nibble on: An athlete can beat their wife, be involved in a murder trial, smoke crack, take steroids, not pay child support, gamble away millions, and wave guns at people, yet they will still garner fan support. But beat a defenseless dog? No can do, Vick. You’ve always wanted to stand out in your field, and with the congestion of ‘Pacman’ Jones, Tank Johnson and Chris Henry, you once again have learned to do that.

[rachelslaw]

Originally Posted by samanthajane13

"So Michael

Who loves you every place you go?"

Certainly NOT animals, animal lovers or the activists!!!

Poooooor Michael-

No love for the BIG STAR for about 60% of the population-OR MORE!!!

Let me tune up my tiny violin for the pity-party.

You're right.

I never heard of him until now.

And now that I've heard of him, I don't like him. I think he's done.



IMO

[Carmela]

I'm going to get some flack here, but here goes:

How different is dog fighting from bull fighting?

Both are completely unnecessary. Both are cruel. The difference is that Bull fighting is legal, so long as you are in Spain.

Shouldn't we heap just as much scorn on Spanish bull fighters as we do Michael Vick?

BTW, does anybody have Vick's mug shot?

*Carmela ducks as listeners begin to throw barbed comments her way*

[rachelslaw]

Originally Posted by Carmela

I'm going to get some flack here, but here goes:

How different is dog fighting from bull fighting?

Both are completely unnecessary. Both are cruel. The difference is that Bull fighting is legal, so long as you are in Spain.

Shouldn't we heap just as much scorn on Spanish bull fighters as we do Michael Vick?

BTW, does anybody have Vick's mug shot?

*Carmela ducks as listeners begin to throw barbed comments her way*

I agree *ducks for cover..lol*

I suppose the reason that THIS has so many people enraged is that it is happening here. I don't like bull fights either, but we don't hear that much about them, nor is there much we can do about them. However, when cruelty happens in our own back yard, we can get involved and do something about it.

(Haven't seen the mug shot yet.)



IMO

[samanthajane13]

I agree 100%.

And I don't duck...I come out swinging for the animals who can't!!!

[samanthajane13]

ATLANTA (AP) — Rawlings Sports Goods Company said Tuesday that it was ending its relationship with Michael Vick because of the federal dogfighting conspiracy allegations against the Atlanta Falcons quarterback.
"Rawlings recognizes that Mr. Vick has not been convicted of the charges stemming from his recent indictment," the St. Louis company said. "However, we have determined that ending our relationship with Mr. Vick at this time is necessary."
The action by Rawlings, which used Vick's image in point-of-sale promotions in stores, is the latest commercial setback for the NFL star.
Last week, Nike suspended a lucrative contract with Vick and Reebok stopped sales of his No. 7 jersey. Upper Deck removed all Vick autographed memorabilia from its online store and said it was removing Vick trading cards from NFL sets to be released in October.
"Rawlings is disappointed about the charges brought against Mr. Vick for his alleged participation in a dogfighting operation," the company said in a statement. "Dogfighting is illegal and entirely unacceptable to Rawlings."

[samanthajane13]

Michael Vick may ultimately be charged with racketeering.
The prosecutor says he intends to seek a new indictment against Vick next month. It is not uncommon, especially in complicated, high-stakes cases, for the government to present a series of charges to the grand jury before it settles on a theory of the case.
In the OxyContin case against Doctor Cecil Knox, for example, the prosecution went back to the grand jury six times before it was satisfied with the allegations. None of those charges stuck. The superseding indictment sometimes simply adds factual information. It can also add criminal counts and include additional co-defendants.
Tony Taylor, Vick's co-defendant who pled guilty yesterday, might help the government make a case for racketeering against Vick. The "Summary of Facts" Taylor signed says: "Taylor agrees that Bad Newz Kennels qualifies as a 'business enterprise' that engaged in a continuous course of conduct and series of transactions in furtherance of...dog fighting...."
Experts on criminal trial procedure, both prosecution and defense, agree: that language suggests that the feds plan to bring racketeering charges.

[samanthajane13]

Vick Apologizes on Radio Show

Tuesday, Jul 31, 2007 - 12:37 PM

UNDATED (AP) - Michael Vick is apologizing to his family, his team's owner, and the city of Atlanta, for the controversy surrounding his indictment on federal dogfighting charges.
Vick told an Atlanta radio station (V-103) that he's put a number of people through "a lot," and that he's thankful for the support he's gotten in this "crisis situation."
The Atlanta chapter of the NAACP is urging the public to withhold judgement of Vick until he has his day in court.
The chapter says it doesn't condone bad behavior, but that Vick should be considered innocent until proven guilty.
Meanwhile, former Dallas Cowboys player Michael Irvin says he also doesn't condone what Vick is accused of, but that he empathizes with him.
Irvin went through his own high-profile drug case in 1996, and says the worst thing that can happen to Vick right now is to keep him from playing football.
Vick has been ordered to stay away from the Falcons training camp.
(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)


++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Sorry, Michael-

It's too little, too late, especially for all the animals who have suffered at your hands.

[samanthajane13]

July 31, 2007

*The Atlanta chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People is fed up with the perceived public vilification of NFL quarterback Michael Vick before he’s even had his day in court on federal dogfighting charges.

R.L. White, president of NAACP’s Atlanta chapter, says Vick has been unfairly criticized by animal rights groups, talk radio and the news media, and prematurely punished by his team and corporate sponsors.

"If Mr. Vick is guilty, he should pay for his crime, but to treat him as he is being treated now is also a crime," White said at a news conference. "Be restrained in your premature judgment until the legal process is completed."
As previously reported, the NFL told Vick not to report to the Atlanta Falcons training camp. Also, Nike and Reebok have suspended sales of their Vick-related products.
In an interview aired Monday, Vick told Porsche Foxx on Atlanta radio station WVEE-FM: "I know I've put the city through a lot. My owner, Arthur Blank, who I love sincerely, I've put him through a lot. And you know it's hurt me to put him through these situations to have to deal with that because he shouldn't have to."
Vick gave thanks to his supporters and added: "It's a crisis situation for me, but I'm gonna get through it."
Also, White plans to ask Vick if he needs any further assistance from the NAACP’s Atlanta chapter.
"We're not condoning bad behavior, but Michael Vick is innocent until proven guilty," said Georgia NAACP President Edward Dubose.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++

Yes-he IS innocent until proven guilty, however I think if it were almost anyone but a black man-especially a football player, the NAACP would be helping to build the gallows in anticipation of the hangng. And they'd be running their mouths about how evil non-black society is...

I'm surprised Al Sharpton isn't speaking out in Michael's defense...or maybe I just missed it???

[samanthajane13]

July 30, 2007


As the Michael Vick scandal continues to dominate news coverage, it is clear some people have already decided whether he is guilty or not.
"I think he's guilty," says Donna Kirtley. That is exactly what the NAACP is afraid of. The group held a news conference in Atlanta asking people to cool their jets.

"In some minds, Mr. Vick has already been convicted because he has been tried through the court of public opinion," says R.L. White, Atlanta NAACP President. Someone who agrees with that statement is a well-known defense attorney from our area.

"The comments I've heard, 'he should know better who he associates with.' 'He should pick his associates better.' I think we should give Michael the benefit of the doubt by law. He ought to be entitled to that in reality," says Tony Anderson.

Anderson, along with the NAACP, points out there was a rush to judge in the Duke Lacrosse case. But people we talked to say it is only human nature to rush to judge. However, everyone we talked to said if Vick is found guilty, he should be punished.

[grasshopper]

Originally Posted by samanthajane13

July 30, 2007


As the Michael Vick scandal continues to dominate news coverage, it is clear some people have already decided whether he is guilty or not.
"I think he's guilty," says Donna Kirtley. That is exactly what the NAACP is afraid of. The group held a news conference in Atlanta asking people to cool their jets.

"In some minds, Mr. Vick has already been convicted because he has been tried through the court of public opinion," says R.L. White, Atlanta NAACP President. Someone who agrees with that statement is a well-known defense attorney from our area.

"The comments I've heard, 'he should know better who he associates with.' 'He should pick his associates better.' I think we should give Michael the benefit of the doubt by law. He ought to be entitled to that in reality," says Tony Anderson.

Anderson, along with the NAACP, points out there was a rush to judge in the Duke Lacrosse case. But people we talked to say it is only human nature to rush to judge. However, everyone we talked to said if Vick is found guilty, he should be punished.

I'm not sure what to say Donna;you covered it very well and in detail. I do know on the Falcons it has ended. The C.E.O. for Home Depot owns the team and he is on record to burn Vick post haste!

I feel there will be a lot more involved for the very reason undercover agents have been in since 2001,video's ,tapes, cant dodge those. I can see R.I.C.O. charges apply in this case as it covers more that dog fighting they have as evidense according to local news here in Atlanta.

[samanthajane13]

http://www.bustedtees.com/shirt/badnewzkennels/male


This shirt is anti-Michael Vick, not anti-dog.

10% of this shirt's sale price will be donated to the ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals)



I'm still looking for Michael Vick's mugshots...when I find them, I'll post them here.

Use them for a slip-cover for your dartboard!!!

[beachgirl40]

Originally Posted by Carmela

I'm going to get some flack here, but here goes:

How different is dog fighting from bull fighting?

Both are completely unnecessary. Both are cruel. The difference is that Bull fighting is legal, so long as you are in Spain.

Shouldn't we heap just as much scorn on Spanish bull fighters as we do Michael Vick?

BTW, does anybody have Vick's mug shot?

*Carmela ducks as listeners begin to throw barbed comments her way*

Hi Carmela,

IMHO, maybe the reason we are not quite as outraged over bull-fighting is there is a man in the ring with the bull. Rather than 2 bulls fighting each other, with a man in the ring at least the bull stands a chance of surviving.

Of course, I am not condoning forcing ANY animal into ANY type of combat or test. The whole idea disgusts me.

beachgirl40

[samanthajane13]

Note to Al Sharpton and Russell Simmons – Slow ya Damn Roll
by Dr. Boyce Watkins

OK, I need to quit. I’m going to say some things that will get me into trouble, but as my mother used to say “Boyce, your mouth will either make you great or get you killed, I’m curious to see which one!” I have thought and spoken extensively on the Michael Vick dog fighting situation. I have debated the issue with professors, journalists and brothers at the barbershop. Most of us agree that dog fighting is not acceptable, and that Vick might go down faster than Vanilla Ice with ankle weights.

But I almost jumped out of my “drawz” when I read the latest moves by The Rev. Al Sharpton and Russell Simmons. Together, they have joined with PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) and the Humane Society to write letters to Vick’s corporate sponsors condemning his actions. “Wow,” I thought to myself. “They’re really trying to get a brother fired.”

I like Al Sharpton, and I’ve been on shows with him in the past, but I can’t help but wonder if that perm on his head was strapped down too tight. Teaming up with PETA to go after Michael Vick’s sponsors? What the hell are you thinking? Russell Simmons is usually as apolitical as a piece of chicken, and when it comes to being controversial, he is usually as chicken as a piece of chicken. I am not sure why a hip hop mogul like Simmons would get involved with a case involving an athlete accused of dog fighting. And a pastor like Al Sharpton teaming up with PETA makes as much sense as a hamster having sex with a phone book. Their actions wouldn’t have anything to do with the fact that they’re all black, would it?

The peculiar partnership between Al Sharpton, Russell Simmons and PETA also makes no sense because many PETA members HATE Michael Vick.
Understandable, but they are jumping the gun. Whatever happened to something called “innocent until proven guilty”? Two black leaders teaming up with PETA to go after Vick’s corporate sponsors borders on serious, intense, pathological haterology. That’s like me getting together with my brother’s worst enemy to tell a woman down the street that my brother is cheating on her. If Vick is already getting publicly lynched for allegedly committing a crime, should we go out and buy extra rope? Sadly enough, these events can make the rest of the world think that someone may have been bought. Not to say that anyone is being underhanded, but this looks as suspicious as R. Kelly in an elementary school.

Had Vick been white, this pact between PETA, Sharpton and Simmons never would have happened. Were Sharpton or Simmons white, they would never have been asked to participate in the condemnation. Why IN THE WORLD people would be allowed to pit blackness against blackness in such a humiliating way is absolutely beyond me.

I am not a fan of what Michael Vick might have done. Cruelty to animals is inexcusable, so if found guilty, he should be seriously punished. But to go after him so early in the process is borderline asinine on the part of all parties. Al and Russell, I love you both and I am sure that when I see you, you will glare at me like Mike Tyson at a bucket full of earlobes. But in this case, I must be the one to tell you: You’re both dead and horrifically wrong.


<I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Dr. Boyce Watkins is a Finance Professor at

[samanthajane13]

By Dan Wetzel, Yahoo! Sports
July 26, 2007

RICHMOND, Va. – The crowded, chaotic sidewalk on Main Street, across from the federal courthouse, was an unlikely location for a lesson on the virtues of the fifth amendment.

But standing behind a throng that wanted a pound of Michael Vick's flesh – people that had just screamed for the Atlanta Falcons quarterback to "burn in hell" and held signs advocating his murder, torture and neutering – was Thomas Smith in work boots and a white t-shirt.

High above his head he held a simple sign with just a single word: "Constitution."

"These folks have convicted a man who hasn't even had a chance to defend himself," said Smith. "They just forget everything about America."
But here was America in full force, full vision, mixing it up while Vick pled not guilty to federal charges pertaining to an alleged dog-fighting ring on property he owned in rural Surry County. And front and center, impossible to ignore, was race.

Like Smith, almost all of the people supporting Vick or holding signs pleading for "due process" and "innocence until proven guilty" were African American.


On the other side was an emotional, angry, passionate anti-Vick group that was overwhelmingly white.

Certainly not every animal rights supporter was screaming for Vick to die. Many were just there to support the cause of caring for animals, ending the barbaric practice of dog fighting and using the massive media presence to benefit good.

But a significant number were focused on Vick. When he emerged from a black SUV and made a slow walk up a ramp and into the courthouse, they pushed toward police barriers and let loose.

"Burn in hell you (expletive) (expletive)," repeatedly screamed one woman.
"Die like those dogs," shouted another.

Not long after Vick got inside the courthouse – and in a scene that was repeated when he left less than two hours later – the two sides clashed in shouted voices and dueling signs.

White people screaming for justice; black people asking if they still remember everything justice entails.

That a case involving dog fighting can break so quickly along racial lines is a testament to how it bubbles below just about everything in this country. We all wish it wasn't so, including both sides here. No one wanted this. Almost no one even wanted to acknowledge it. But it was there, plain as day in black and white.

"I wouldn't say it's a racial thing," said David Williams, an African American, in a hopeful tone. "It's not racial. But for these animal rights people to take one person and crucify him isn't fair."

The thing is, the "animal rights people" here were an estimated 90 percent white. The pro-Vick/due process crowd was probably 95 percent black.
Obviously, both animal rights advocates and due process proponents come in all colors. And certainly a circus show like this, revved up by a massive media presence, isn't representative of America.

But, then again, I also know what I saw and what I heard.

"They are not going to give the man a chance?" Williams said. "You're innocent until proven guilty. He hasn't even had a trial yet."

There should be two undeniable, 100 percent agreed upon truths concerning this case: First, dog fighting is a barbaric felony and whoever participated in it on Vick's property should get hammered by the justice system.

Second, Vick deserves the right to defend against the charges. The indictment cites four "cooperating witnesses," but presuming each is a dog fighter himself, potentially facing prosecution unless they rolled on Vick, who and how reliable are they?

That said, the U.S. Attorney's office is known for its detail and diligence – this isn't some hack county prosecutor like the Duke lacrosse case. They rarely lose, so the challenge for Vick is serious and significant. But he has the right to fight.

"This is going to be a hard-fought trial," agreed Billy Martin, Vick's attorney.

It may not be any less intense than the scene out on Main Street, where two sides, clearly divided and easily identifiable, both anchored in righteous beliefs and moral causes went at it.

Two black women held a sign declaring: "I support Mike Vick due process."

That caused vocal jeering from the protesters, which in turn caused the women to taunt them back by waving the sign at them. Later two men had to be separated by security as their debate descended toward physical confrontation, all as a crowd surrounded shouting in all directions.
And on and on it went on this hot Southern sidewalk.


Dan Wetzel is Yahoo! Sports' national columnist.

[samanthajane13]

I've been looking ALL OVER for Michael Vick's mugshots, and they aren't anywhere I can find.

You'd think that since this isn't his first brush with the law, his mug would be out there somewhere.

[samanthajane13]

Cool site-3 t-shirts to chose from!!!!

http://www.neutersickvick.com/

[grasshopper]

Originally Posted by samanthajane13

Cool site-3 t-shirts to chose from!!!!

http://www.neutersickvick.com/

insert running feet>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>this is to good not to pass around<wink>

[samanthajane13]

I'd personally like to commend and thank Reverend Al Sharpton and Ron Simmons for working with PETA on this case.

We are ALL our brothers' and sisters' keepers-regardless of color-and regarless of whether that "brother" or "sister" is covered with skin, scales, fur or feathers.

We were given dominion over the animals of the world by our Creator-not to abuse, exploit or drive them to extinction, but rather to protect and care for them.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"The one absolute unselfish friend that a man can have
in this selfish world, the one that never deserts him,
the one that never proves ungrateful or treacherous,
is his dog.

A man's dog stands by him in prosperity and in poverty,
in health and in sickness. He will sleep on the cold
ground where the wintery winds blow, and the snow
drives fiercely, if only he may be near his
master's side.

He will kiss the hand that has no food to offer,
he will lick the sores and wounds that come in
encounters with the roughness of the world.
He gaurds the sleep of his pauper master
as if he were a prince.

When all other friends desert, he remains.
When riches take wings and reputation falls to pieces,
he is as constant in his love as the sun in its
journey through the heavens.

If misfortune drives
the master forth an outcast in the world, friendless
and homeless, the faithful dog asks no higher
privilege than that of accompanying him to guard
against danger, to fight against his enemies.

And when the last scene of all comes, and death
takes the master in its embrace, and his body is
laid away in the cold ground, no matter if all
other friends pursue their way, there by the
gravesite will the noble dog be found, his head
between his paws, his eyes sad, but open in alert
watchfulness, faithful and true, even in death."

From a speech given by
Former Senator George Graham Vest
of Missouri.
Delivered in 1870 when he was
acting as a lawyer in a suit
against a man who had killed the
dog of his client.
He won the case.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
There is a bridge connecting Heaven and Earth.

It is called the Rainbow Bridge because of its many colors.

Just this side of the Rainbow Bridge, there is a land of meadows, hills and valleys with lush green grass.

When a beloved pet dies, the pet goes to this place.
There is always food and water, and warm Spring weather.
Those old and frail animals are young again.
Those who have been maimed are made whole again.

They play all day with each other.

Some of them here are different.

They were beaten, starved, tortured, and unloved. Or they were strays-lost and alone-left to fend for themselves.

They watch wistfully as their friends leave one by one, to cross the bridge with their special person.

For them there is no one, no special one. Their time on earth did not give them one.

But one day, as they run and play, they notice someone standing by the road to the bridge.

This person wistfully watches the reunions of friends, for in their life, they had no pet.

As they stand there alone, one of the unloved pets comes up to them, curious as to why this one is alone.

And as the they get nearer to each other, a miracle occurs, for these are the ones who were meant to be together.

Their special person, their beloved pet, although on Earth they never met.
With the meeting of two souls, the pain and the sorrow disappear, and two friends are together.

Then they cross the Rainbow Bridge together, never again to be separated.

Anonymous

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"If you have men who will exclude any of God's creatures from the shelter of compassion and pity, you will have men who will
deal likewise with their fellow men..."
St. Francis of Assisi

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

For all the innocent animals who suffer pain and death at the hands of man-

A Prayer For Animals

Hear our humble prayer, Oh God, for our friends the animals,
especially for ones who are suffering;
for any that are lost or deserted or frightened or hungry.
We entreat for them all thy mercy and pity.
For those who deal with them,
we ask a heart of compassion, gentle hands and kindly words.
Make us, ourselves, to be true friends to animals
and to show thy blessings to the merciful.

Albert Schweitzer

+++++++++++++++++++++++++
RIP sweet, beautiful ones-nobody can ever hurt you again

[samanthajane13]

It never ceases to amaze me that they sell so many strange things on Ebay. Here's a SMALL sample of the Michael Vick memorabilia relating to the dog-fighting case.

Where's all that love now, huh, Michael???









More to come later...LOL!!!

[samanthajane13]

More fun stuff from Ebay-




Yes-this IS what it looks like-and it speaks volumes on how some people feel about Vick-LOL!!!

[samanthajane13]

Here are a couple more...

[grasshopper]

We want to thank the Humane Society of the United States for their package, and tireless work to put thugs out of business who get off in some twisted way by turning gentle animals into killing machines. — Art Harris

VIDEO
warning may be grapic to some

http://www.artharris.com/2007/07/19/...lcon-qbs-killi ng-fields-wanted-a-dog-whisperer-so-he-can-testify/

[samanthajane13]

Chew On This Michael Vick, St. Paul Saints to Give Out 1500 Chew Toys at August 21 Game
08/01/07 - American Association (AA) St. Paul Saints

ST. PAUL, MN (August 1, 2007) - Every dog must have its day, and in the case of Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick, the dogs' day has come.



The St. Paul Saints Baseball Club and the newly merged Humane Society have partnered to present a Michael Vick chew toy giveaway during the Saints August 21 game.


Vick, who is being indicted on dogfighting charges, will be featured on the toy shaped like the Falcons quarterback, clad with a black and red jersey with the number seven on his chest. The first 1,500 fans who enter the ballpark will receive the chew toy.


The idea was presented to the Saints via e-mail by a fan living in Texas who wished to remain anonymous.


"This goes to show that often times the best ideas come directly from our fans," said Saints Executive Vice President/General Manager Derek Sharrer. "This idea really gave us something to chew on."


The newly merged Humane Society is a statewide education, advocacy, and rescue organization dedicated to protecting the lives and interests of Minnesota's animals. It consists of five shelters in St. Paul, Coon Rapids, Golden Valley, Buffalo and Woodbury. They have the only humane investigation department in the state. They use two full-time and one part-time officer who cover the entire state in response to requests for services on issues of abuse, neglect hoarding, puppy mills and dogfighting.

The newly merged Humane Society's Humane Investigations department works to interpret and enforce federal and state welfare laws. It also responds to a large variety of complaints involving animal cruelty and/or neglect. The majority of reports involve lack of food, water and shelter. The officers receive 3,000 requests for service every year.


"The Saint Paul Saints have found a unique way of highlighting a very grim issue," said Janelle Dixon, CEO of the newly merged Humane Society. "Our investigation department handles these and other shocking cases every day, responding to more than 3,000 requests for service a year on behalf of companion animals. When you support our local independent non-profit organization, you are fighting animal abuse throughout the state. "


A portion of the proceeds from the August 21 game versus (fittingly) the Lincoln Saltdogs, will be donated to their unit.

[samanthajane13]

By DIONNE WALKER,
Associated Press Writer
Fri Aug 3, 4:24 PM ET



RICHMOND, Va. - The difference between those sporting Michael Vick jerseys and those urging his swift conviction on dogfighting charges is glaring: Vick's supporters are mostly black; his critics are mostly white.

The racial divide emerged early in the case against the Atlanta Falcons quarterback, apparent at rallies filled with cheering — and overwhelmingly black — Vick supporters and at anti-Vick protests that are noticeably white.
Vick's opponents say the evidence against him is overwhelming. For many black supporters, that judgment evokes uncomfortable questions about race and guilt in America.
"White folks 'been grindin' on an ax ... and that ax ain't got sharp enough for them," said Earnest Hardy Sr., who called the case a witch hunt targeting a successful black man.
Hardy's Surry County home borders Vick's property, where an April raid turned up evidence of dogfighting. Federal authorities indicted Vick on dogfighting charges, and he faces jail time and fines. He has pleaded not guilty.
In the rural county split 50-50 between whites and blacks, the case quickly took a racial bent. At the county courthouse, angry letters urged that whites "take back their town." Critics accuse the commonwealth's attorney, Gerald Poindexter, of stalling an investigation to protect one of his own.
"The only thing I'm doing is protecting my personal integrity and protecting the integrity of the office," said Poindexter, who is black. "I'm not going to be pushed into bringing charges that won't stand."
Hardy spotted Surry's racial divisions long ago — in the farmland developers are sweeping up and selling at prices working-class folks can't afford, and in the new neighbors who don't look like him.
Hardy suspects that Vick — famous, rich and black — is just the fall guy behind bigger issues.
"A hundred-million-dollar black man?" he huffed. "They can't stand it."
His view is reflected from the Newport News region where Vick was raised to Atlanta, where a rally supporting the former Virginia Tech standout drew several hundred fans, but barely 50 whites, said Gerald Rose, with Atlanta-based New Order National Human Rights Organization.
Rose said the outcry stems from what he said is Vick's premature conviction in the media — not support for dogfighting. But he said the case also awakens anger over a perceived smear campaign targeting famous black men from Kobe Bryant to Michael Jackson.
He argues black men who stumble draw excessive scrutiny and especially harsh public judgment.
"It's been too many cases involving African-Americans (where) they got through the court of law, they've been found not guilty, but damage has been done," Rose said.
Vick and two co-defendants are scheduled to stand trial Nov. 26. The Southern Christian Leadership Conference plans to recognize Vick at its annual convention, which began Friday in Atlanta.
"We're in support of Michael as a human being," SCLC president Charles Steele said. "Right now, he's feeling discarded, ostracized by people who are rushing to judgment. It's our responsibility to save him."
Tempers flared at Vick's July 26 arraignment in Richmond, where outside the courthouse blacks and whites debated everything from animal rights to slavery.

"It's racial profiling," said Bill Brown, a Richmond store owner who held a sign urging Vick's fair treatment. "We're always trying to brush everything up under the rug when it comes to racial things."
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, leader of the most vocal Vick protests, says the issue isn't racial.
"We're reacting very strongly to this case because Michael Vick is someone who's a hero ... If this were Peyton Manning or Brett Favre, we'd be out there," spokesman Dan Shannon said.
Both NFL quarterbacks are white.
Vick's case is a "crack in the dam" of American racial tension, explained Jeff Menzise, assistant director of the Race Relations Institute at Fisk University in Tennessee.
Whites, he said, may have underlying anger at blacks they feel constantly play the race card. Blacks, meanwhile, may feel whites rush to judge black suspects, but are more lenient to white ones, Menzise said. A case like Vick's offers a vent for those frustrations.
"When you dam up a river, any crack in that dam and every drop of water is going to try and get out," he said.
Menzise said blacks may despise dogfighting but support Vick as a figure of black success in a society in which there are relatively few.
At his Richmond clothing store, Brown said he'll continue stocking Vick merchandise, though others have pulled it from shelves. He likened black support for Vick's cause to the support for O.J. Simpson's acquittal.
"Black people didn't care about O.J.," he said. "But we felt like we finally won."
___ Norfolk correspondent Sonja Barisic contributed to this report.


++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Sound like bull-sh1t to me...

It isn't about race or money or any of that CRAP!!!

It's about someone thinking they're ABOVE THE LAW, and it's about doing the WRONG THING!!!

He's an ***** and he tortures INNOCENT ANIMALS!!

Who's going to be his first HUMAN vick-tim???? I'm speculating that it's only a matter of time...

Do we have any volunteers from the many people who think this is racially motivated???

I didn't think so....