“I don’t know if [Mike Vick] was fighting dogs or not, but it’s his property, it’s his dog. If that’s what he wants to do, do it. I think people should mind their business. … It can’t be too bad of a crime.”
This was a sampling of the idiocy that dribbled from the mouth of Washington Redskins running back Clinton Portis on Monday, as he so chivalrously defended the Atlanta Falcons quarterback, who owns a residence suspected of playing host to a dog fighting ring. Apparently that memo about the NFL cracking down on criminal behavior didn’t reach the nation’s capitol. Figures.
Before going on, I should come clean. For most of my life, my family’s been privy to the companionship of man’s best friend(s). When I was 10, my birthday present was Jake - a black Lab, who was my best buddy through adolescence and those awkward teen years. After that, we got Molly. Along the way came their son, Mickey.
Just about the saddest day of my life was the day we put Jake to sleep. Just about the saddest movie I’ve ever seen was Old Yeller.
Basically, I’m a dog kinda guy.
I think people, who in any way involve themselves with or condone dog fighting, are criminals and cowards. Sickening human beings, basically. Portis might be a helluva running back and Vick might be a helluva quarterback, but character, compassion and decency are certainly lacking with these two.
Dog fighting is disgusting and deplorable. It’s not boxing or mixed-martial arts, it’s not a fight. It’s animals, pitted against each other by men with dollar signs and bloodlust dancing through their heads, killing each other.
To allow such an act to occur shows a lack of compassion and respect for animals I can’t fathom. I understand there’s different cultures, there’s different beliefs. Some believe bull fighting is glorious. I think it’s legalized slaughter sprinkled with false bravery. Here in the good ole US of A, dog fighting is a crime, though. And with the NFL’s recent run of punishment, I’m hoping for Jake, Molly, Mickey and every pit bull that was only uncaged to fight for its life, that the NFL, right along with law enforcement, comes up with a fit punishment.
From everything I’ve ever heard or read, punishments involving crimes against animals aren’t all that steep. They’re just animals, after all. A rooster here, a pit bull there. Just animals who have no choice in life, but to react to the situations that immoral deviants put them into.
“In the recent interview I gave concerning dog fighting, I want to make it clear I do not take part in dog fighting or condone dog fighting in any manner,” Portis later said in a statement.
It was as if, like many an athlete before him, he let the media know the truth, and, after a stern behind-the-scenes talking to, scrambled to take back the words that had already revealed his true feelings. He didn’t agree with his coach’s play calling. He didn’t think the defense was holding up its end. But this isn’t anything like that. This isn’t about being a bad teammate or a bad role model, it’s about being a bad person.
Plain and simple.
Grant: Why are you so RUFF on brother Clinton
Comment by ernest t — May 23, 2007 @ 2:17 pm
As A Proud American Combat Vet and Human(e) Being. I say feed vick and his security to the 66 dogs he had that had to be destroyed because of his Thick Ignorance and Total Lack of Foundation and Respect for Anything.
Let’s see if he understands that. He and others like him need to serve THEIR COUNTRY and Prove their worth as True Law Abiding Americans (Thankful for being a US Citizen).
People like him need to go to Africa or The Phillipines or Lebanon Respectfully and LEARN SOMETHING ABOUT BEING THANKFUL, HUMBLE and APPRECIATIVE!!!
OH, I Forgot OUR VALUE SYSTEM in Our Beloved America is based upon Greed, Murder, Disception, Exploitation, Racism, Arrogance and Crime.
Comment by Marsallus Williams — May 23, 2007 @ 4:17 pm
Way to tell it like it is. This guy really has a way with words!
Comment by Chris — May 23, 2007 @ 6:46 pm
Hopefully the NFL will throw Vick to the dogs. He’s about as innocent as O.J., and Barry. Clinton Portis should be sterilized. Do we want others with his mental capacity running around in the future, whether for an NFL team or not? Thanks for taking a stand on values. Right is right, wrong is wrong. There’s no gray area here.
Comment by Skip — May 24, 2007 @ 9:59 am
This guy is a bad person, and no matter what he thinks, he is a role model, being in the public eye, especially in sports, these are who our children look up to and this behavior teaches others that it is okay to treat other living things with no remorse or compassion. We wonder why the world is so horrible. Because we have role models like this.
Good blog, wonderful writter.
Comment by Dani — May 24, 2007 @ 11:20 pm
Once again, Michael Vick shows why he should not be considered a role model and why my son’s #7 Falcon’s jersey is going in the trash! If Portis’ jeresey had been worth buying BEFORE his idiotic statements, it would be there as well. Thanks for brining this to the attention of the public and for showing the true colors of two truly stupid and heartless human beings.
Comment by Shane Rickman — May 26, 2007 @ 3:18 pm
Dogs aren’t merely “property” - they’re living creatures, who provide a lot more loyalty and affection that some people appear to know the meaning of.
There’s absolutely no excuse for such sickening cruelty as dog-fighting, or for the behavior of these so-called sportsmen.
It isn’t just their jerseys that should be in the trash - if the NFL wants any credibility, their careers have surely to be headed in the same direction.
I suggest they both could use a transfer - not to another team, but to the front line in Iraq or Afghanistan, where they can find out for themselves what fighting to the death is really like.
Comment by Aislinn O'Connor — November 15, 2007 @ 6:33 pm