Vicked

I'm trying to wrap my mind on the issue of Michael Vick's decision Monday to plead guilty to federal dogfighting charges. Let me first acknowledge that his alleged actions are in fact a violation of the law. Dog fighting is illegal, true. He should have never participated in any aspect of it, whether it was organizing, breeding dogs or just placing bets. It was straight stupid for him to be there period. But, yes, there is a but, but, should his career be put in jeopardy over all of this? Let me just say this, a Tennessee woman just spent what, sixty some odd days in a mental house for shooting her husband in the back while he was asleep, and yet, Vick faces jail time and losing millions because he chose to participate in some illegal dog activities. Something aint too right about that picture.

Now lets just be real for a moment. I know cats in Memphis that have/were/are involved in Dog fighting. It's somewhat of a hood ultimate fighting type thing. The same cats that like that violent ultimate fighting crap that comes on TV, are some of the same cats that will bet money on dogs fighting to the death. Personally, its all sickening to me. But back to Vick, this cat grew up grew up living in a public housing project in Newport, Virginia. I'd probably imagine that he grew up watching dope boys fight dogs, and in the back of his mind he probably imagined one day when he was paid like them, he was gonna do dog fights too. Those were his surroundings back then, that's what he grew up seeing. It's funny because, people literally expect that once these brothas get their hands on some money, they instantly expect them men to somehow perhaps through osmosis inherit class and culture. Let me say that again, some people really expect a person born and raised in the heart of the hood to somehow instantaneously become outstanding citizens the moment that check hits the bank. Shit aint happening, they simply become hood cats with clean money. That said....

Let's be real too, most black folk treat their dogs like white folks treated their slaves back in the day, while whites treat their dogs like humans. Seriously, how many of ya'll remember back in the day, your relative that had a dog that stayed in the back yard, probably named "King", sleeping under the porch, getting leftovers, and rarely if if ever taking a trip to the vet. Shoot, if the dog got sick, what yo folk do?....take the dog for that one time, one way trip in the family car. But you go over your white friends house and their dog is running wild in the house, with a tight dog house in the back yard, dining on that good healthy dog food with vitamin supplements, looking well groomed, waiting to take that daily chained walk with its master.

So, you have to at least acknowledge there is a difference in the perception of Vick's actions. Some folk think, though illegal, it's no big deal, and to others, it's almost as worse as murder. Should he be punished for his actions? Sure I guess, it was illegal. Should he be facing jail time in the pen, and face losing 15 to 20 million in signing bonus money? Hmmm...I dare give an answer to that one.....