Why Michael Vick May Never Be Truly Free: Addendum: Vick Reinstaspended – DeMaurice Smith on the Jim Rome Show
July 26, 2009 by dwil
Ben Roethlisberger can have a past that looks like this and still be perceived as a true leader.
They will never learn.
ESPN per Vince Doria appears to be sticking to the lies they told the press regarding their failure to report in a timely fashion Andrea McNulty’s allegations against Ben Roethlisber. Here is how Doria explained his thinking to Richard Sandomir of the New York Times:
ESPN’s refusal to report the story gave rise to criticism that it was not only protecting Roethlisberger’s reputation, but it was also shielding its TV partner, the N.F.L. It had taken a seemingly inviolate position that accusations in a civil suit could be false, yet incendiary enough to damage Roethlisberger’s reputation.
“Damage to his reputation is not our only criteria, but it’s the driving force in making this decision,” Vince Doria, the network’s senior vice president and director of news, said Wednesday afternoon while defending the decision not to report the story. He said the network was historically very cautious when “people have filed civil lawsuits alleging sexual misconduct, which is among the most serious and damaging charges you can make.”
However, as we have noted here at SOMM – that includes commenters – Los Angeles Lakers backup guard Shannon Brown was not afforded that luxury. Why? Sandomir expounds, while Doria again explains:
But ESPN reported last month on the intent of a woman to file a civil lawsuit against Los Angeles Lakers guard Shannon Brown on sex-related charges; Doria said it was reported because it occurred during the playoffs and could affect the player and the team.
Oops! Vince cried wolf in the case of Roethlisberger and used “damage to his reputation” as a “driving force” for not reporting the civil suit.
But.
Doria then says it was fine and dandy to report the plans to file a lawsuit against Brown because, as paraphrased by Sandomir, ‘it occurred durning the playoffs and could affect the player and the team.’
Sooooooo… if the claim occurs during the offseason you worry about how a sexual assault allegation might affect an athlete’s reputation, or, in other words, how it might affect the player and the team.
But.
If the allegation occurs during the playoffs – the most important time of the season for sports that use playoff systems – there is no concern about how the reporting of the allegation might affect the player and the team?
Vince Doria. You wanna run that logic by me again?
Now, in racial fairness, Sandomir brought up the fact that ESPN also did not report the allegations made by a woman that Michael Vick knowingly gave her herpes:
There were no criminal charges,” Doria said, “and Vick had no history of that behavior.” Similarly, he added, “There has been no criminal complaint against Ben Roethlisberger and he has no track record of the behavior.”
But.
When a woman – falsely, so it ends – claimed that former MLB star and possible Hall of Fame member, Roberto Alomar knowingly gave her AIDS through unprotected sex, ESPN dutifully filed a report as soon as the news broke.
What we have so far is, NFL player – Vick – protected. NFL player – Roethlisberger, protected by ESPN. Former MLB great and backup NBA player, unprotected by ESPN. And we have an excuse provided by the Senior VP of News at ESPN providing a bogus, or at least wholly inconsistent, line of reasoning for protecting the NFL players.
Perhaps, as Sandomir speculates, the network, per Doria, was shielding “The Shield.” Perhaps this is an example of what a mainstream sports journalist – in a conversation with me – said of the NFL:
“The NFL is the new Mafia.”
If Sandomir and the unnamed journalist have correctly surmised that ESPN acts first to protect the NFL above all other sports and the NFL is Mafia-like in its ability to exert influence over a large portion of society, there is another side to this equation and it is this: the NFL will act to protect you at all costs until you, for whatever reason, run afoul of their system. Then the sports media can beat you like a dog —— errrrr, like a red-headed stepchild, since some people value the lives of animals more than humans.
Presently, the primary of those red-headed stepchildren is Vick.
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There will always be unanswered questions here with the entire Vick affair. Was his crime primarily cultural? How much did Vick’s celebrity and race play in the media coverage of the investigation, of the investigation itself? How much of the investigation and the resultant media coverage was driven by various animal rights groups?
How is it possible for Wayne Pacelle, CEO of the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) to be a CEO when it is illegal for non-profit groups to be led by person with the title Chief Executive Officer because, in corporate law, that title is reserved for incorporated businesses, only? Why was there no investigation of the over one million dollars donated to the HSUS that was to be used directly for the welfare of the dogs on Vick’s land, that, in fact went directly to Pacelle’s and the HSUS’s coffers because the courts ordered Vick to pay for the care of the dogs? How did, one day Vick’s cousin Davon Boddie, get caught with four ounces of pot and the next day, April 25,2007 a slew of police and animal control officers show up at the Boddie home which was owned by Vick? How did the government get away with the fact that few, if any of the dogs actually showed signs of dog fighting?
Despite these questions and more, Vick was given a 23-month sentence and served his time in a federal prison for what Virginia Commonwealth Attorney Gerald Poindexter termed, “a misdemeanor turned into a federal case.” And that statement brings more problems and questions to light.
I recently watched a documentary that detailed the federal court case and federal imprisonment of comedian Tommy Chong. Chong was arrested for selling marijuana paraphernalia – bongs – in a show of force reminiscent of that of the BALCO raid. Then Homeland Security chief (and former governor of Pennsylvania), Tom Ridge used the DEA and Pennsylvania judge Mary Beth Buchannan as a figurative pit bull to substantiate the newly-found Old West-style of passing judgement on its citizens by the Bush Administration, who claimed that money derived from drug sales was money given to Osama Bin Laden and Al-Qaeda.
During the documentary lawyers participating in the case and lawyers who defend citizens in federal cases intimated that it is nearly impossible for a defendant to win a federal court case; that federal law is so skewed in U.S. attorney’s favor, that the law does not border on but is in direct opposition to many of the tenets of the Constitution.
And it was in this rigged legal environment Michael Vick was convicted. In light of the statements made by the lawyers in the Chong documentary I feel safe in saying that Vick was one defendant with a winnable court case and that was the sole purpose for threatening Vick and his attorneys with prosecuting the case under laws created solely to crush the Mafia, RICO – anti-racketeering – law.
- Any violation of state statutes against gambling, murder, kidnapping, extortion, arson, robbery, bribery, dealing in obscene matter, or dealing in a controlled substance or listed chemical (as defined in the Controlled Substances Act);
- Any act of bribery, counterfeiting, theft, embezzlement, fraud, dealing in obscene matter, obstruction of justice, slavery, racketeering, gambling, money laundering, commission of murder-for-hire, and several other offenses covered under the Federal criminal code (Title 18);
- Embezzlement of union funds;
- Bankruptcy or securities fraud;
- Drug trafficking;
- Money laundering and related offenses;
- Bringing in, aiding or assisting aliens in illegally entering the country (if the action was for financial gain);
- Acts of terrorism.
RICO law is so pervasive that it is nearly impossible for a defendant to win a case against it.
When looking back on the Vick case and, at the same time looking at RICO law it is apparent that federal prosecutors were willing to bring forth men imprisoned in South Carolina who came forth under the most specious circumstances and claimed they witnessed Vick gambling at dogfighting events; they were willing to gather and use a man who refused to allow his face to be shown and refused to use his actual voice in a so-called investigative report by ESPN’s Kelly Naqi to substantiate that his dogs actually fought against Vick’s dogs and he, personally, won money on those dog fights from Vick; they were willing to use the bust of Vick’s cousin Davon Boddie for marijuana as a pretext to say Vick was involved in drug trafficking.
Was a dog fighting case worth that type of behavior from our government? Or was the Vick case yet another example of the influence the NFL has in our society?
Finally, how much a part did ESPN, owned by the powerful, right wing Disney Corp. and fashioned after its parent company, play in ensuring the Vickdog fighting story climaxed with him doing prison time?
For ESPN with the Michael Vick case, no expense was spared, while journalism ethics flew out the window. Early on ESPN.com was used to only release stories that pointed to Vick’s guilt. At that point in time investigators had obtained three search warrants. In a memorable scene on a Friday, Naqi was videotaped in Vick’s driveway, no one else was there. The police’s blanket search revealed nothing; video of the day before showed policemen and women walking toward vans with empty evidence boxes.
But there stood Naqi looking puzzled and more than a little defeated. She was expecting a big hunt for evidence since the day before seemed to render so little in the way of meaningful sensational material items pointing to Vick’s guilt.
But no one other than Naqi and her video crew stood on Michael Vick’s Surry County property.
I remember chuckling at the irony of Naqi standing there alone and confused that her efforts and the efforts of her employers to give the public moment after moment of lurid details of this other, devilish life led by Michael Vick, had fizzled down to one wind-blown reporter on a chilly spring day wondering where her story went. Poindexter refused to serve the third search warrant because the investigation was resembling a witch hunt and ESPN reacted in horror and redoubled its efforts to push the Vick story down a public growing weary of the lack of movement in the case.
Then on July 7, as the coverage reached a fever pitch, ESPN’s resident NFL insider Chris Mortensen announced that reliable sources from the NFL league office told him there would be no indictment of Vick. On July 8 I published a commentary replete with a photo of Vick holding up double middle digit bullets at a press conference (unrelated to the announcement). The ESPN article announcing the non-indictment of Vick began with the news:
Federal authorities have filed court documents outlining an alleged dogfighting operation at a property owned by Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick, The Associated Press reported Friday.
Vick is not named in the documents.
Additionally, Vick is unlikely to be indicted in the dogfighting federal investigation, according to information gathered by the NFL and Atlanta Falcons, sources tell ESPN’s Chris Mortensen. The authorities have told the Falcons and league that there has not been any evidence that can be tied to Vick with the alleged dogfighting ring, the sources said.
The law enforcement authorities have privately told league and team officials that at least three people are expected to be indicted but the identities of those individuals were unknown.
The documents filed in U.S. District Court in Richmond and obtained Friday by The Associated Press contain the address of the home that has been the center of the investigation. The filing comes on a day when federal agents searched Vick’s property for a second time, using a backhoe to dig in an area about 10 feet wide by 20 feet wide.
For the next 24 hours both sports blogs and ESPN went crazy. No one wanted to believe that after the tremendous amount of venom that was collectively spewed largely by white independent and mainstream writers, that Michael Vick was going to walk away from this investigation and the charges scott free.
The following day I wrote:
Michael Vick will not be indicted in the dog fighting flap. That’s bad news for the machine that invested so much time and money manipulating news to give the appearance that Vick is just a low-life nigger – oops, “thug” – who has a list of maleficent acts rivaling that of Adam Jones. You know who you are and you know you made that statement on national television.
Then, there are the bloggers, the independent writers without contracts demanding exclusivity. When the Vick story broke and then early on when the whitecaps were breaking harshly all around Vicks’ head, you were fighting to break any negative news you could find. You were so very proud to provide your redneck, racist readers with links to your prior stories so that they could walk in your shoes; so you could smirk along with the big boys, hoping that on Vick’s back, you might rub shoulders with the sports writing hoi polloi. But yesterday you wrote that curt little three paragraph thing; one paragraph was a quote. And with your second written paragraph you’re still on the Vick is guilty tip.
What happened to all the links with the damning evidence, blogger boy? Is the “evidence” in just you saying it’s “Vick’s home,” “Vick’s property?” Is it your word that Vick could land in trouble with NFL league offices because he owns land wher dog fighting may have taken place, or are these your wishes? Since you have no factual evidence to back your claims, no one from the league offices who provided you with this knowledge, it must be true because you say it is so. Yes?
Apparently it never occurred to you that there are ethics involved in this profession called journalism
Is it in all the links to prior writings and the opinion pieces? Remember, you used Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports instead of Virginian -Pilot reports for your information, unless it was convenient for you. That’s akin to choosing to believe the guy who “heard” that your girlfriend was screwing another guy when she told you she was going to the store because you’re too much of a punk to confront your girlfriend yourself; you might find out an unwelcome truth.
There’s no indictment forthcoming – there is no, “if it turns out to be true.”
What’s up with the columnist who, to this day, says Vick is guilty; just said it Friday on national television? You and your co-worker, you know, your buddy with the same name as a former NFL QB and Super Bowl head coach. Neither of you had the guts to quote from the Virginian-Pilot. You paraphrased quotes from the Commonwealth Attorney Gerald Poindexter just so you could manipulate his image to make him appear like a black man pandering to the black athlete – all for your white readership.
Every column you wrote condemned Vick and Falcons owner Arthur Blank for keeping Vick in Atlanta. Every column, you used your buddy’s manipulated half-truths to position yourself one the side of white – I mean, right. But the whole time you pontificated on Vick’s niggerness – damn, I did it again, I meant “thugness” – in your paper and when you guested on television, you were wrong – same with your half-truth writin’ boy.
Who’s burning in Rome now? Bojanglers.
The primary offenders were every writer at ESPN who committed words to the Vick case to that point, Mike Florio of the rumor mill blog, Pro Football Talk, and Terence Moore, then of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. So sure was the NFL’s inner circle of this news Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank took his wife and went on vacation to Africa and Goodell went quiet. Vick was caught entering a night club and told a cameraman he was confident that all would be well in the end; actually, he was defiant.
I, too was defiant. Up to that point in the case, no writer had committed as many words to Vick’s predicament. The article announcing Mortensen’s findings was the eighth article of about 2,000 words I wrote. I knew the case had no legs. There was not one reputable or disreputable alleged witness who could place Michael Vick at the scene of any of the dog fights he was said to attend. No one ever said Vick was a constant visitor to the property in Surry County. The home appeared to be a case of Vick, a poor, young Black man who happened to hit the genetic and the NFL lottery and become suddenly so wealthy that he could afford to purchase his cousin a home, far away from the life-and-death scramble of daily existence in the ghetto. It was Michael Vick taking care of his people.
For nine days, despite the public protestations of Mortensen, ESPN tried to insinuate that there was an indictment of Vick coming down the road. The bloggers followed suit in an effort to cover for the realization that they had outed themselves as racists, despite their protestations otherwise. They hopped on the ESPN bandwagon and rode the train to the station.
And on July 17, 2007, in a stunning reversal, an indictment against Michael Vick appeared out of nowhere.
Vick supporters, including me, were in shock.
Something happened between Bob McDonnell’s Virginia attorney general office and governor Tim Kaine’s desk. Somewhere, someone in or between those two offices called in a federal favor. No indictment of Vick was coming from the state of Virginia, but suddenly the Vick case became a Federal case? Someone, somewhere wanted Michael Vick arrested and imprisoned. And because the prime mover of the continuing talk that an indictment was forthcoming in the Vick case originated from ESPN and ESPN.com, who at the network knew what? What suddenly changed in the Vick case could be understood from the charges themselves:
The Falcons quarterback was indicted for conspiracy to travel in interstate commerce in aid of unlawful activities and to sponsor a dog in animal fighting venture in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District in Richmond, Va. Three others — Purnell Peace, Quanis Phillips and Tony Taylor — also were indicted by the grand jury on the same charges.
The allegation of interstate travel to fight dogs was the federal crime. Somehow, somewhere one of the three other defendants not named Michael Vick decided it was in his best interest to admit to a crime that, in the end, would never have to be proven true.
On July 17 Arthur Blank cut short his planned two-week vacation in Africa and immediately flew back to Atlanta. On July 26, Michael Vick pled not guilty to the charges. However, on July 30 one Tony Taylor pleaded guilty to the charges against him and agreed to roll over on Vick and the other two defendants.For a week or so Vick maintained his innocence. Then the threat of the use of RICO law to prosecute Vick was levied; this federal gambit sealed Vick’s fate as 17 days later Vick Purnell Peace, and Quanis Phillips all pleaded guilty to the federal charges before them.
You know the rest.
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Today Michael Vick is no longer a federal, socio-political prisoner. He is no longer fodder for an administration with a justice department we all now know was as crooked as the day was and is long. And though Michael Vick was more than likely no better than most high-profile professional athletes who feel the world is at their beck and call and treat the people in it that way.
But he was also no worse than any other athlete in a high-profile position. That is, until ESPN and the HSUS and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), and the justice department saw Michael Vick as an easy mark they could use to make profits soar, make donations soar, make government careers soar.
In the time after Vick’s conviction, ESPN has been roundly panned for the tenor of its reporting of the Vick case. There were promises of doing it better next time made by Vince Doria and ESPN.com managing editor, Rob King – platitudes made through an ESPN ombudsman’s letters to the readers of ESPN.com and viewers of the network.
After all that, you would think that today ESPN would let the chips fall where they may and leave the happenings with Vick to the NFL league office.
But no.
In the time leading up to Vick’s release from federal custody of any sort, ESPN turned its collective attention to the matter of what NFL commissioner Roger Goodell will do with Vick. After days of televised internal discussion and debate, ESPN’s talking heads seemed to come to the relative consensus that Michael Vick should receive a four-game suspension from Goodell. Soon after this consensus was reached, Chris Mortensen wrote an article saying “sources” told him that Vick would indeed receive the ESPN-prescribed suspension.
Quickly, though, Goodell denounced Mortensen’s report and the network for reporting this, according to Goodell, non-truth.
But.
Despite the fact that the commissioner and NFL league office has continued to deny Mortensen’s and the network’s and the .com’s claims, the ESPN media machine, on July 24 there is an updated version of an article in the webpages of ESPN.com with the headline, “Sources: Suspension still likely:”
While NFL commissioner Roger Goodell is trying to reach a conclusion on a conditional reinstatement of Michael Vick, sources maintain that Goodell is expected to suspend Vick for the start of the 2009 season.
One source has pegged the likely suspension at four games, but another source said Goodell is contemplating something “between a two-to-six-game suspension” and reaffirmed that a decision is expected no later than next week, possibly by Monday.
NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said Thursday night: “This is a serious matter. We are engaging in a careful and thoughtful process and no decisions have been made.”
As late as Friday, when the Mortensen Suspension article was last updated, ESPN-paid writers and talking heads concurred that Vick should receive a four-game suspension from Goodell. On Friday, even Scoop Jackson, the man whose stated purpose was once to step into the shoes of the late Ralph Wiley, the man who fills his commentaries with urban vernacular stated that if Goodell is to be consistent in his suspension policy he must suspend Vick for four games.
No one at the network or the .com, though took pause to think…. when Michael Vick was awaiting his sentence Roger Goodell suspended the former Atlanta Falcons quarterback indefinitely, with the suspension to run concurrent with whatever sentence he received.
Michael Vick has already served a suspension handed down to him by the NFL commissioner.
To be handed another suspension is tantamount to a double-jeopardy criminal sentence where the guilty is punished twice for the same crime. If Roger Goodell suspends Vick once more, it will be the first time he has done so to an NFL player. It would be a wholly inconsistent act for the commissioner. It would also set an uncomfortable precedent for the NFL; that a player can expect to be publicly browbeaten endlessly by the man who represents the team owners; that NFL players are truly well-paid slaves who are subject to repeated trips to the whipping post, if it is the whim of Goodell; and that Goodell can be swayed by the wishes of a sports news outlet, no matter how powerful that outlet is, Goodell would appear to be its personal house boy, rather than the man who holds the cards to the outlet’s future financial viability.
Today, in light of the Vick case, in light of Doria’s blatant lie to Richard Sandomir, in light of their willingness to stretch credulity to the breaking point, why should anyone believe anything that is not a score that originates from ESPN?
Because they believe they are just powerful enough to pull off a ploy like ensuring Vick is suspended for four games, thus making ESPN appear prescient to the public, while ensuring ESPN can continue to use Vick to make millions of dollars daily, as long as ESPN can maintain his image as a Black villain for their largely White viewer and reader and listenership, and their White corporate advertisers.
What should be the first day of the rest of Michael Vick’s life has been put on hold because some White men with co-signing by a Black man, with further co-signing by other Black faces that give the illusion of diversity but in reality are just more White voices with urban inflections, want Vick to continue to be their pawn.
And as long as they can manipulate the discourse surrounding Michael Vick, ESPN can continue to create the illusion that treating a Black man as three-fifths of a man still works in America.
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Addendum:
It is now known that Michael Vick was “conditionally reinstated by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell:
Michael Vick was reinstated by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell on Monday and could play in regular-season games as early as October.
Vick can immediately participate in preseason practices, workouts and meetings and can play in the final two preseason games — if he can find a team that will sign him. A number of teams have already said they would not.
“Needless to say, your margin for error is extremely limited,” Goodell said in a letter to Vick. “I urge you to take full advantage of the resources available to support you and to dedicate yourself to rebuilding your life and your career. If you do this, the NFL will support you.”
This is a carefully crafted suspension, make no bones about it; a way for Goodell to have his cake and eat it, too. All but two owners silently gave Goodell the go-ahead to reinstate Vick, with the New York Giants and Jets saying they will not pursue the former Atlanta Falcons quarterback.
Now, let’s see what NFLPA point man (Executive Director), the man who just so happens to be President Obama’s buddy, DeMaurice Smith, has to say about Goodell’s “reinstaspension” of Michael Vick.
Oh wait! Smith is a guest on Jim Rome’s show. Here’s Smith’s opening statement:
I have to tell ya, as a person who spent the majority or a significant portion of his career as a prosecutor I can tell ya, the ability for somebody who has paid their debt to get back into society, to start earning a living, to be engaged in a business that they love – look, that is a substantial step forward for getting back into the community.
The question:
Rome: Does the punishment fit the crime or was it punitive?
Smith: I’m not gonna guess about that. What I do now is this, he paid a substantial price, he spent a significant amount of time in jail – I’m a dog-lover. And everybody who knows about what happened certainly has strong feelings about it. I think you should. But he paid his debt and I know he’s going to be working with someone you have a tremendous amount of respect for, Tony Dungy. There’s a step-by-step process where he’s gonna be evaluated in order to work back. But for a guy who just got off the phone with Michael, I’ll tell you he’s thrilled to come back.
The NFL players sure did themselves yet another disservice by voting Smith into the position as leader of their union. My gut tells me Smith is as non-committal as they come and will sell the players right down the river to having a union in name, only. It will have no teeth and no power to affect any meaningful change.
And I could swear that right after he finished talking with Rome, Smith he laid down on his back with his arms and feet in the air in the animal submissive position for the Blond Ghost.
Great article D.
Good catch on Wayne Pacelle being CEO.
Another thing I could have sworn that ESPN.com did run an article of Vick and the lady that took him to court. Now it wasn’t on the main page but I swear it was on the NFL page.
This was also around the time that Urlacher was taken to court for child support and ESPN/ESPN.com didn’t touch it.
Check this out D. I was listening the Batchler Pad last week and a relative of one of the DAs in that area, called in and gave some info on how it all went down. Well the word is that some of the good ole boys felt that Gerald Poindexter was giving Vick a pass because he was black and a home town hero.
So some of the dudes in Gerald Poindexter department decided to contact the federal government and drop a dime.
Another thing D waeren’t the dog fighting laws changed like 7 days before the home was raided???
So whats your feeling D. Do you think the NFL and ESPN is working hand and hand to try when it comes to this suspension info.
Its seems that they are trying to force Vick to the UFL for those 6 to 8 games. See how the media and fans accept him. Then if it works out let him come back into the NFL mid way through the season.
But I have heard others state that they believe that the NFL doesn’t want him to go there………..and would rather reinstate him and let him play.
I just can’t see this happening……………it seems as though from day one that the UFL and NFL have been working togther. Everyone knows that the UFL wants to be a farm system for the NFL.
Plus knowing how NFL owners have their hands in everything (with their connections to the AFL). I wouldn’t doubt that a few of the owners have invested in the UFL in some capacity.
O-
It makes sense that someone called in a favor because they were after Vick and they felt he was getting a pass…. and yes they were changed just before the raid – and that is the “misdemeanor” part of Poindexter’s statement.
Yes the Big Disney and the NFL work together… I don’t know if they are necessarily working together now on a possible second suspension of Vick, as I feel ESPN is driving their agenda and forcing Goodell’s hand – making it so he must hand out a second suspension, which is entirely inconsistent with any of his other actions of this sort.
The UFL has yet to be fully explained in the press, which I do find odd. And the team owners seem reluctant to give up much info…. all of which lead me, as do you, to believe that there is much more to this venture than we may ever now.
I see you got the same idea from ESPN’s coverage that I did. That they are trying to influence what happens to Vick from here on out. It seems like the Big Disney is trying to influence hearts and minds more every day to think like they want. (After all, they were the ones that made “Saint” Tebow and “Gritty” Hansbrough into the greatest college players alive in their respective sports.)
Just had to speak about this. Terrell Owens said that they should leave Vick alone! He stated correctly that he had done his time and if Goodell wants to suspend him any more, than he should go to jail for the same amount of time in jail that Vick did. Also, T.O. stated that the union needs to step up for Vick and questioned why more people in the NFL aren’t speaking up for Vick. Good to see that T.O. has the guts to. Would like to see more NFL players stepping up. Of course, retaliation from the Big Disney and/or the NFL might be coming for him after that.
Last night, I saw a commercial featuring Big Ben for Dick’s Sporting Goods. Hmmm……I remember when Kobe got in trouble, all of his national endorsements were either dropped, or said they weren’t going to use him in advertising. I’d like to see someone explain this to me.
Dwil – another great one. I think the break did you well man. At this point, the only person I think I have defending Vick was rhoden yesterday on the sports reporters. But after defending Vick and McNulty, it may be awhile before he is invited back.
Also, I, like you, was pretty shocked when the Feds picked up the case. At that point, ad you state, Vick was done for. I mean, they came after him on some real we’re taking down Al Capone shit. It boggles my mind.
The best part though was how they turned the screws on Poindexter and made it seem like HE was the one doing something wrong and letting Vick off easy.
This morning TO was being attacked for defending Vick. Again, it boggles my mind. Why is it ok to harm a human but dogfighting is unforgivable?
Terrel Owens and Michael Irvin are two high profile player/ex-player to see not re-instating Vick as being unfair. Owens had even insisted trhat others have done worse and not received the level of hate from all around. Ownes then called out the Players (Ass) ociation and suggested that the get to advocating for him.
Now in light of what the past president did or did not do as the representatives of the players and with the last election, which turned out extremely suspicious, how do you see this playing out with that group?
This posting has brought all the elements together in one tight package, ESPN, PETA< HSUS and the NFL is called out for the devils they are. Will the players lobby for the association to do the right thing after not doing so over 23 month ago?
I see kos and Esquire caught that T.O. statement too. You know the fools will say it’s Owens being Owens.
sankofa-
TO wants Goodell to serve 23 months!… and is one of about 10 players who have talked openly – as open as “tweets” are or can be – about this shit w/ vick or have compared vick w/ roethlisberger…. This is important because if this snowballs with the players, the NFL will have a potential problem on its hands. Now, can these cats realize that ESPN is as responsible for Vick’s situation as anyone not in the Justice Dept. or Va. Commonwealth Attorney’s office?
….and thanks Esq.
everyone -
Rhoden wrote further about T.O. speaking his mind about the Players Association needing to step up this morning in the NY Times:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/27/sports/football/27rhoden.html?ref=sports
Esquire -
They only allow William Rhoden on Sports Reporters about once a month anyway! My theory is they only allow him there so that they can say they have a dissenting view. Kind of like Fox News used to have Colmes with Hannity, (Colmes being the only “liberal” on the network) except that Colmes had his lunch taken from him every day, and Rhoden ain’t having that!
Origin
ESPN wrote about Ron Mexico, they just jumped on it late. And it wasn’t because of public outcry, it was because everybody ele was making the good jokes. After they first reported on it, it then became regular fodder for the jokesters at Page 2.
Dwil
Some folks do their time, and things go away. Other folks do time, and they continue doing it for the rest of their lives. Vick is going to be in that latter category. It’s a shame, but I can’t see things going any other way.
Also, Doria’s logic on Shannon Brown is such a big stinking pile of crap, I had to check my feet before I posted because of the smell.
Big Man-
Wait! Doria is playing semantics games w/ the public…. ESPN did not report the herpes-Ron Mexiaco-etc. However, their writers wrote columns about it – they did crack jokes about it, get snarky about it…. So, not only does he play logic twisters but he also plays Mr. Law with his words.
And the real twist of it is, if I wrote that they did report R. Mex. it would be me – or anyone else who made that mistake – getting criticized for being misrepresenting ESPN and therefore lying.
Slick, ain’t he?!
Alright now…..is there an uprising in the fields?
Several NFL players, including Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald, responded with support of Owens’ campaign for Vick.
– Fitzgerald: “im in support of mike vick too man.I wanna c him back in action being the human highlight film he is.Im with ya bro.”
– Vikings TE Visanthe Shiancoe: “Never heard him complain or wine… I respect him. Let the man play.”
– Cardinals DE Darnell Dockett: “he did time and lost his shoe deal, and paid fines. Dear Commissioner please reinstate mike vick. PLEASE.”
– Rams RB Steven Jackson: “Don’t agree with 4 games, 23 months is enough.” … “He will not be able 2 vote anymore. He has lost enough, allow the man 2 move on with his life. We dnt have a heaven or a hell 2 put him n.”
Said Owens when he met reporters on Sunday, “The guy’s already suffered so much. And to add a four-game suspension on a two-year prison sentence, that’s ridiculous.”
http://blogs.usatoday.com/thehuddle/2009/07/terrell-owens-rounding-up-support-for-michael-vick-on-twitter.html
Conditional reinstatement
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4359354
“This step-by-step approach is not meant to be a further punishment and should not be viewed as such,” Goodell wrote in a letter to Vick, according to the NFL’s announcement. “Instead, it is intended to maximize the prospect that you can successfully resume your career and your life. I believe that a transitional approach with a strong network of support will give you the best opportunity to manage effectively the various issues and pressures that you will inevitably face in the coming weeks and months and earn your full reinstatement.”
Conditional reinstatement with the opportunity to apply for full reinstatement by game 6? The comish is one slick bastard. He gets to effectively lenghten Vick suspension another 5 games without officially doing so.
He can participate in all team activities, except games. So he is suspended until Game 6.
LOL
Too bad he wasn’t found with cocaine.
PLEASE READ THE ADDENDUM AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS ARTICLE… DEMAURICE SMITH SPEAKS -SORT OF…..
I thought it was a unusual to hear about a ‘rumor’ that Pete Rose may be reinstated on the same day that Goodell was going to come out with his statement. TYPICAL ESPN…Normally T.O.’s responses would receive an exponential response, but it was rather subdued.
ESPN to a large extent tried to DOWNPLAY THE T.O. COMMENTS because if other players feel more compelled to speak up, it may have made a bigger impact. News of the Burress popped up as a story along with Rose so T.O.’s comments about Vick and saying that Goodell should spend 23 months in jail himself…was somewhat put on the backburner.
1. Jack Johnson
2. Jackie Robinson
3. Paul Roberson
4. Mohammed Ali
All these guys faced tremendous media scrutiny and had been accused of a crime at the high point of their careers.
I don’t know where Vick dilemma fits in, but it is up there…
That sure was a pathetic response Demaurice Smith gave.
Goodell’s actions are unprecedented and should be challenged.
This is issue of application of punishment is BIGGER THAN MICHAEL VICK…
Is Goodell football’s version of Bowie Kuhn? We all know the story of what he thought of Hank Aaron’s pursuit of Babe Ruth’s record…and the story of Curt Flood.
Plus I was struck by this passage by DWIL:
….”To be handed another suspension is tantamount to a double-jeopardy criminal sentence where the guilty is punished twice for the same crime. If Roger Goodell suspends Vick once more, it will be the first time he has done so to an NFL player. It would be a wholly inconsistent act for the commissioner. It would also set an uncomfortable precedent for the NFL; that a player can expect to be publicly browbeaten endlessly by the man who represents the team owners; that NFL players are truly well-paid slaves who are subject to repeated trips to the whipping post, if it is the whim of Goodell; and that Goodell can be swayed by the wishes of a sports news outlet, no matter how powerful that outlet is, Goodell would appear to be its personal house boy, rather than the man who holds the cards to the outlet’s future financial viability….”
“Well-paid slaves…” I heard this a generation ago in regards to Curt Flood…
Miranda:
DeMaurice Smith came off very weak on the Jim Rome Show… T.O. comments represented what guys around the league feel about Vick’s punishment…Players might be REGRETTING right now that they voted for him..
The NFLPA is starting to remind me of the NHLPA when Alan Eagleson was in charge, ripping off the some of the players he represented.
As for ESPN, credibility counts. ” Outside The Lines ” and “E:60″ have zero credibility now and forever. What if Bob Ley or Jeremy Schaap had the guts to call ESPN on this bullshit? What could they have done to them that wouldn’t have seemed vindictive? ESPN=TMZ, there is no difference anymore.
Patrick, excellent list. Curt Flood could be #5.
Curt Flood spoke his mind in 1970 and felt he was being wronged by Kuhn (who some say was a racist…
Flood’s letter to Kuhn
December 24, 1969
“After twelve years in the Major Leagues, I do not feel I am a piece of property to be bought and sold irrespective of my wishes. I believe that any system which produces that result violates my basic rights as a citizen and is inconsistent with the laws of the United States and of the sovereign States.
It is my desire to play baseball in 1970, and I am capable of playing. I have received a contract offer from the Philadelphia Club, but I believe I have the right to consider offers from other clubs before making any decisions. I, therefore, request that you make known to all Major League Clubs my feelings in this matter, and advise them of my availability for the 1970 season.
Fax: 202-756-9310
Email: nflpaexecutivedept@nflplayers.com
DeMaurice Smith, Executive Director
Clark Gaines, Assistant Executive Director
Wait a minute, this is confusing. I just saw reports on NFL Network and ESPN that MV could actually play in week 1, it doesn’t have to be until week 6.
Miranda-
I heard ESPN reporting this. After listening to Smith, I’m sure they’re wrong. And I don’t even know what condition exists in the reinsuspendate that wold make them think this.
Now bear in mind, ESPN is the NFL’s mouthpiece – other than NFL Network… and I’m headed to NFLN now…. So I’ll let you know the lowdown…
EVERYONE-
I AM A GUEST ON THE MARK GRAY SHOW (WOL-AM, WASHINGTON, D.C.) TONIGHT FROM 7:35 TO 8 P.M. CHECK ME OUT IF YOU CAN… ROETHLISBERGER AND VICK ARE THE TOPICS!
Miranda:
The word ‘conditional’ is a very ambiguous word. Goodell may be implying at the end of the preseason that he will CONSULT with ESPN’s Vince Doria, the Humane Society, PETA and even Arthur Blank to get directives from them…
I hope more players speak out PUBLICLY like T.O. The players have influence, the black media has influence–more influence than PETA and the Humane society combined!. ESPN has drowned out the T.O. comments and Goodell hasn’t responded nor wants to respond. However, if more players speak up, Goodell will have to respond…and someone needs to challenge why is there a different standard of punishment and rebuke for black NFL players than the white counterparts?
These athletes can’t afford to stay silent, because it could be them…
It’s not about the dogs, but the double standard in relation to the application of punishment.
Why hasn’t the media asked Goodell about what he will do with Big Ben?
What Goodell is doing to Vick is unprecedented and should be and can be challenged in a Court of Law….
D..one other thing that I find wierd..”6 weeks”….aren’t most suspensions if they’re not a full season or indefinite, given by a set number of games? 2 games, 4 games, etc….but “6 weeks”?? Given that the bye weeks start in week 4 or 5, its not like it would be 6 games necessarily, that’s why I thought the “weeks” suspension was suspect and why its being reported that based on the language, it could be less. I mean its not like Mike Vick can just jump back into a training camp and go….”6 weeks” sounds like Tom Shaw’s answer to how long his training regimen for Vick will last to get him into tip top shape.
Who watched Goodell’s press conference? Was it me or did he look and sound nervous? What was that about? I’m no “body language expert” (snark) but he seemed a tad bit uneasy.
oh, about that “body language expert”:
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/Body-language-expert-says-Roethlisberger-is-tell?urn=nfl,178490
well, that settles it then!! throw the darn suit out!
“Why hasn’t the media asked Goodell about what he will do with Big Ben?”
That’s actually a big problem for Goodell. While my thoughts on the current state of the actual claim against BR are clear, Goodell has suspended a lot of guys, overwhelmingly black, for all sort of offenses, even minor criminal charges or offenses. The BR case is a civil claim but it does have major criminal issue at the center of it and apparently all Goodell will do now is “monitor” the situation.
Great points everyone.
As always Patrick you lay the smack down.
Sista Miranda I know you are one of the best when it comes to figuring out the big picture with this vick story the last 2 years.
So what do you think is up with the suspension and where does Vick go from hear.
Seems as you always have your finger on the pulse of whats going on.
@ Bigman………….thanks I knew those bastards at ESPN had covered the Vick story, with the young lady.
Yes he did Miranda……………amd it even seemed to me that he was lying.
But you know I don’t like to be lied to either.
I tell you what…………..IMO the Big Ben incident may have been a blessing in disguise for Vick. In that it forced Goodell to make a quicker decision on his case in order to push big ben to the back burner.
Realize last week they were saying that goodell wouldn’t make a decision for 2 to 3 weeks…………………then Big Ben happened.
Also want to say that its good to see the players from T.O and the rest for speaking out about Vick.
But realize they spoke out for Vick even before he did his time. Remember the media tried to hang Mcnabb and a few other players for saying that their prayers were with Vick and hoped that he wouldn’t have to do time.
Another thing is it common for suspended players to be able to play the last 2 preseason games????
Anyway its good to know that massa goodell let Vick back on the plantation.
I am also glad that Vick knows its a privilege to play football for a bunch of money grubbing owners. While ignorant fans wish harm to you while calling you all types of slurs. At the same time the athletic moves that you perform can get you killed on the field or help end your life before you are 60.
Boy the life of a slave on a plantation…………ohhhhh the privilege.
Origin, I completely agree and was just saying the same thing to a friend yesterday, Big Ben unfortunately, was probably the catalyst for Goodell having to go ahead and rule on Vick right away. Anything to keep the light of Ben, my God, the coverage is bananas. You would think Vick was running cocaine up the eastern seaboard using military ships the way he’s being covered.
O-
For real O. Mike got reinsuspendated by Big Bwana, the Blond Ghost.
espn looks even worse as both the nfl network and nfl.com reported the big ben story and they didnt. they have no real excuse.
“I am also glad that Vick knows its a privilege to play football for a bunch of money grubbing owners.”
AArrggghh, don’t get me started. The “privilege” meme is one of the most obnoxious things out there. It is neither a privilege nor a right to play in the NFL. Those players haved busted their asses and earned the right to be in the League. It’s not like they’ve been handed some special benefincence from Mount Goodell and have to be eternally “grateful negroes” about being granted such a blessing. What BS.
Can ypu even imagine telling other folks who are in the topr 1/10 of 1% of their field that being should be grateful for the “privilege” of being the best investment banker working at Goldman or the best lawyer working at Skadden? They would laugh in your face and tell you to kiss their asses and that they earned the right to be there. It seems like only athletes, especially black ones, have to be grateful for the privilege of being the best in their chosen field and playing their sports.
also espn can be very childish when it comes to breaking football stories. they have an nfl roster full of reporters. yet if someone outside of espn scoops them. they will ignore the story. jay glazer, who is more into mma than the nfl, out scoops them regularly. they get their panties in a bunch every time he does it.
chris mortensen was even called out by a player as he refused to give him a story and went with glazer instead. supposedly mort said,”if i dont report it. it isnt important.” the old espn ombudman chatised mort and the network for that behavior.
ks, I completely agree. That “privilege” meme pisses me off to NO end. Thank you Jamie Dukes for telling Rich Eisen and Mike Lombardi that it would be stupid for Vick to answer questions from the media, he can give a statement with no questions just like Ben did last week. Vick doesnt “owe” anyone any answers about shit. Gawd these numbnuts make me sick!
DeMaurice Smith was definitely left something to be desired. I have always thought it was the shame that the players who need strong union leadership the most due to the nature of the game always seem to have the weakest leadership. The union should be fighting this, period. While I don’t think Vick should be suspended at all at this point, I also think if someone would push back at Goddell he’d drop this down to just a game or two.
Even if he can’t get the games down, Smith needs to be watching out for Vick. I think Goddell’s language was that his margin for error was extremely limited. What exactly does that mean? I think the player’s union and Vick’s agent need to get a damn clear explanation of that. A few weeks back rumors were circulating that Vick was at a strip club or something in VA. Not sure how widely reported that was, but I definitely heard about it hear in the District. Looks to be false, but all it takes is for ESPN to grab a hold of one of those rumors and run with and Vick could easily be looking at a complete ban from football.
Miranda – I thought Goddell’s body language was off as well. Its like, whether he wanted to give Vick more or less games, it just didn’t seem like he was all that thrilled about what he was doing out there.
Remember: the WWL didn’t cover the Big Ben story because it was just a civil suit.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4359721
“And I could swear that right after he finished talking with Rome, Smith he laid down on his back with his arms and feet in the air in the animal submissive position for the Blond Ghost”
That’s funny! But that’s what bitches/kneegrows do … (ass) sume the position for the apha dog/ape/ Caucasian man.
I’m still waiting for Vick to act mannish. Maybe down the line when his feet are set once agin on solid ground, but he best not ever forget or trust mutha phuckers to easy.
…..”I think Goddell’s language was that his margin for error was extremely limited. What exactly does that mean? I think the player’s union and Vick’s agent need to get a damn clear explanation of that. A few weeks back rumors were circulating that Vick was at a strip club or something in VA….”
It might not be Vick, but some NFL player is going to take Goodell to court… and win. ‘The Blond Ghost’ has overstepped his bounds and now there is a pattern of double standards between white NFL players and black NFL players.
Roger Goodell is less louder version of RUSH LIMBAUGH. Goodell is married to Fox News Channel anchor Jane Skinner. Goodell is the son of the late United States Senator Charles E. Goodell, a Republican from New York.
More people got to call this guy out. He should NOT have been appointed and/or voted as Commissioner in the first place.
Patrick, not saying I don’t agree with you, I’m just curious, but why would ESPN put Owens’ statements as a headlines story on their website if they were trying to downplay it?
David,
The gatekeepers at ESPN on Sunday night/early Monday morning did play up the story on their media platforms, but it didn’t stay for very long.
In my opinion, ESPN didn’t want to play up the potential growing dissent of the players in regards to the application of punishment.
ESPN usually don’t have a problem stretching out T.O.’s comments and making it into a week-long story or ongoing controversy.
But this was different…. T.O. was taking a principled stand. And challenging his fellow NFL players to do the same. This isn’t exclusively about Michael Vick. This is bigger than Michael Vick…and more and more players are realizing this and Big Ben’s ‘situation’ has made it crystal clear THAT Goodell may be football’s version of Rush Limbaugh.
Doria and his gatekeepers wanted to quell this or nip this in the bud with more ‘breaking news distractions’ (i.e. Pete Rose, Plaxico, etc.)
Roger Goodell looked nervous out there(at his own press conference) at the podium and if players are OPENLY QUESTIONING HIM via ESPN and other media, it can change the media landscape and help Vick.
The longer ESPN give T.O.’s comments time to simmer on other media platforms , THEY MIGHT CHANGE THE CONVERSATION — FOR ONCE– AND FORCE ESPN TO LOOK AT THEMSELVES…
Goodell is probably most afraid of PUBLICLY BEING CALLED A RACIST… The way he has applied punishments between black and white players is evident. When Goodell talks about Vick lying in his face in April 2007 (during a pending investigation) is a little misleading because Vick said himself that he made mistakes and left the house in the wrong hands… BILL BELICHECK actually lied in Goodell’s face… WHAT IF A PLAYER CALL GOODELL OUT ON HOW HE HANDLED SPYGATE and BELICHECK?
And T.O. is generally known as ‘me-me’ person, but he went out of his way to express a sentiment and at first it was shocking..usually if someone says something pro-Vick, ESPN would jump on it, but the powers-to-be (Doria and friends) decided to play down the Goodell-Owens angle in regards to Owens saying Goodell should spend time in jail..
Owens wants a fight..he is used to it.. Owens’ public defense of Vick reminded me of Shannon Sharpe defense of Ray Lewis in 2000 at the Super Bowl.
Almost out of the blue on Monday morning’s SPORTSCENTER they were already pivoting or diverting toward the ‘rumor’ that Pete Rose could be re-instated or that Selig is ‘thinking’ about it..
ESPN didn’t want no part of T.O. and didn’t want to pursue T.O. in regards to ‘clarifying’ his comments… that means Goodell would have to respond…
Patrick – definitely some interesting lines of thought.
Patrick I couldn’t agree more.
Where to start with this debacle? What the heck is showing the proper remorse? Thats right up there with answering how many needles can fit on the head of a pin or how many bubbles are in a bar of soap. That smacks of 2K9 Jim Crowism!! The owners that he is working for are getting a pass in all of this mess. They hired him, I haven’t heard any of them object. They are the true Bwana’s in all of this. Vick made plenty of money for anyone that went to one of his games or watched him on TV. Lets be real the only players folks really tune in to see are folks like Vick, T.O., Tom Brady, Donovan McNabb, etc. Do the Colts sell out all of their road games because folks want to see Peyton Manning put it down. The media can talk all the character shit they want but people want to be entertained and folks like Vick entertain. C’mon now if Kurt Warner or Ben Roethiesberger played for the Falcons would you shell out $200 bucks for a ticket just to see them? Hell no!!!
As for the outcry over the dogs. A whole lot of people down here in Atlanta are saying the same thing, how can you get more time for killing a dog than killing a person. That is the story that is not being told by ESPN or any other media outlet. As folks used to say, “the streets is talking”. Nobody wants to acknowledge that in print or on air. You may, may get a reference to Vick having his supporters but never to the racial under-current that many here in Atlanta feel was present in the coverage, investigation and sentencing. As usual though our voices are not being heard by the MSM. The media treats racism like radiation.
I bet Arthur Blank is hearing our voices though. With Vick he had a waiting list of fans that wanted to get season tickets but without him you can still get tickets as easy as you can get Atlanta Dream tickets. Even with the success of the team last year and its G.W.H. Matt Ryan. Please believe that the media down here and across the nation are gassing him up as a savior but a lot of the people down here aren’t buying it and they aren’t buying a lot of tickets or Falcons’ gear.
As for T.O., you gotta love it! He is one brother that has a back bone. If his story gets much play the Fix-S-P-N will trot out a porch monkey in the league to disagree with the NFLPA showing him some love. Failing that, they still employ 3 of the biggest sambo’s you ever want to see: Tom Jackson, Keyshawn Johnson and Cris Carter. Those man-tanners will say whatever massah wants them too, they don’t even have to be told. They will come on air bearing their teeth, shiny skin and bulging eyes and do what is expected of them: Sell out!
I don’t expect too much of DeMaurice either. In the words of the late great King of Soul, James Brown, “Like a dull knife that just ain’t cutting;Just talking loud and saying nothing.” He is like too many African-Americans that have climbed the corporate ladder and are in positions of leadership, they want to hang on to their piece of the pie and everyone else can get on their knees and look for crumbs. If he was going to take a position on Vick he would have been out in front of the issue not behind. I mean leaders should lead, right? Looks like this little 5-footer is holding his finger up to the wind and seeing which way public opinion is blowing before he takes a position. He’s a smaller version of Gene Upshaw.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/columns/story?columnist=bryant_howard&id=4359839
…”Goodell’s failure in the Vick ruling comes from trying to associate a harsh punishment with toughness. Suspending Vick further is nothing more than the latest example of false muscle, his actions suggesting that even a federal conviction and prison sentence aren’t sanction enough. And now the commissioner has opened himself up to hypocrisy sure to come, for clearly the Vick suspension will serve as precedent in perpetuity for every future player infraction. Otherwise, Goodell will look small and vindictive, very much as he does today….”
….”Goodell had an opportunity to be the bigger person Monday, but he chose to kick a fallen man one last time, for extra measure….”
…..” I bet Arthur Blank is hearing our voices though. With Vick he had a waiting list of fans that wanted to get season tickets but without him you can still get tickets as easy as you can get Atlanta Dream tickets. Even with the success of the team last year and its G.W.H. Matt Ryan. Please believe that the media down here and across the nation are gassing him up as a savior but a lot of the people down here aren’t buying it and they aren’t buying a lot of tickets or Falcons’ gear…..”
Mactown:
One of Arthur Blank’s biggest fears is if Vick comes back , has success and leads a team to the playoffs… PLUS FACING THE FALCONS… Can you imagine if Vick was signed by San Fran or Miami…maybe Dallas (if Romo falters)? To me Mr. Blank has colluded with Goodell in keeping Vick off the field until Week 6…
Look at the schedule from Week 1 to Week 6 for Atlanta: It includes San Fran and Miami and even New England.. Blank might not know which team will eventually sign Vick… if it is Miami (a WEEK 1 opponent), Vick may come back by WEEK 2, but if it is Dallas or San Fran, the Commissioner w/Blank’s silent blessing will keep Vick OFF THE FIELD until Week 6 …
You’re right about Matt Ryan. He is being built up as a savior, but Blank fears he will have a sophomore slump and may be put in a permanent funk if Vick comes to Georgia Dome with his NEW TEAM and destroys them.
It’s not about the dogs. It’s not about PETA.
It’s about protecting Blank. It’s about protecting Matt Ryan’s sanity…so he won’t turn into Matt Leinart.
Blank has already started to take on extra investors, because he can’t handle the financial obligations of running that Falcons franchise. And eventually he will regret giving Ryan 12 million dollars a year (John Abraham and Roddy White’s contract years are coming up soon), and those years of waiting lists of season ticket holders that Blank was accustomed to during the Vick years WILL NOT HAPPEN UNDER RYAN…
I must say that Patrick provides some interesting thoughts. Lots of good stuff to chew on.
Patrick
Blank is a POS. He talks a good game but his walk is altogether different. He has had 3 chances to name a new head coach and each time he picked a no-name White guy instead of a coach of color. This in spite of the fact that he sits on the NFL Workplace Diversity committee and he owns the team in a market that has/had probably the most African-American season ticket-holders in the NFL.
He thinks these ‘necks down here are gonna follow the Falcons like they do the Georgia Bulldogs. WRONG!!! The only thing the Falcons are going to have in common with the Bulldogs is the inability of either team to win a national title or a Super Bowl. The real MVP of the Falcons is Michael Turner not the G.W.H.
The Ed Show on MSNBC had a segment on Vick with Stephen A. Smith and this moron from PETA.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30031533/
(click on the link “Vick back too quick?”)
Ed Schultz is straight with no chaser…just tells it.
Wow, Miranda — that PETA guy will not let up about the “brain scan”. I know that DWil has already written about this, but the way that dude kept pressing was ridiculous. THAT guy needs a brain scan. Sickening.
–cosign about Patrick
–I am loving Terrell Owens right now
–The possible suspension ‘double-jeopardy” point that DWil makes is just one more horrible precedent that Goodell dangles around. It would be nice to see this point made on TV.
– Now it seems to me that if you are caught in a RICO case, then you pretty much have to plead guilty whether you are guilty or not. What innocent man wants to roll the dice on 5%?
That dude from PETA was a buster! Stephen A. looked like he wanted to give that fool the business. If anybody needs a brain scan its the crew from PETA. Check out this link.
http://www.animalscam.com/peta_7things.cfm
Just to give it context as to how foolish PETA is, right after that segment, Ed went to his panel for the night which included Ron Christie….now if you don’t know who Ron Christie is…this negro never met a progressive idea he liked, I swear to God I think some days Ron Christie wishes he could be a slave….but today, even Ron Christie said he was offended by the idea of a brain scan and he…yes he did y’all…he pulled out HIS CARD…slammed it on the table deuce-style and said he was offended because the idea of a brain scan implied some abnormalcy with African-americans or something to that effect – and said Vick paid his debt and should be allowed to pursue his living.
get right y’all, the end is obviously coming soon…..Ron Christie?? Hell, the end may be here tomorrow.
Hey, just thought you’d be interested in this blog article:
http://straightbangin.blogspot.com/2009/07/synagogue-of-satan.html
Its probably the best Vick article I’ve read that hasn’t been on this website.
Many seem to forget that Vick went to PETA headquarters in October 2007, and PASSED a PETA (Animal Empathy Course)….
He met with Ingrid Newkirk, the president of PETA and the following is what PETA spokesman Dan Shannon said after Vick took the course…
“He was asking questions, following up on points we were making, taking notes,” Shannon said. “He seemed to be putting an honest effort into trying to get something out of the course.”
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3046273&campaign=rss&source=ESPNHeadlines
I don’t know if MSNBC’s Ed knew this in regards to Vick already visiting PETA face-to-face…
I am not blaming Ed, but a lot of people in the media still don’t have a grasp on all the facts involving the Michael Vick story.
Now PETA used those answers a YEAR LATER and tried to further smear Vick in the press..so when PETA says anything it really should be taken with a grain of salt… These folks are somewhat similar to the ‘birthers’ in regards to Obama, they are NEVER SATISFIED.
“now if you don’t know who Ron Christie is…this negro never met a progressive idea he liked, I swear to God I think some days Ron Christie wishes he could be a slave…”
lol @ Miranda.
And right on cue, all this media talk of Plax and Vick have taken over the spotlight while Big Ben was whisked away out the back door.
Fuck Ron Christie…
Damn, is this the tipping point?