Football fanatics are just that... fanatics.  They don't care what the
players do as long as they play ball.  Just IMHO, but I think we accord
these people entirely too much lattitude (and defitely over-pay them) just
to throw a dang ball around.

Jill

It's the South, in large swathes (not all of the South,'kay?).  They
sit there and say, "Those were dogs, and they were NOT hunting dogs,
they were not family pets."

They will say that praying for Vick is praying for him to learn the
error of his ways, and not repeat his past mistakes (as many
professional athletes seem to be incapable of doing).

I do not agree with what he did, nor do I agree that showing up early
to start serving time deserves leniency.  People will do what they
have always done.

He will get out, he will get another chance in the NFL (though maybe
not the Falcons), if he falls again, he will be given another chance,
if he falls again (see Ricky Williams and substance abuse).

http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/sports/falcons/stories/2007/12/03/v...

Got that right!  Of course I would feel bad for the Quisenart; all that
scum inside.

If you look at the poll results they may not be as bad as you think.  
Since the 12-18 selection has half the responses as the over 2 years I
expect the under 1 year choice are the aholes .. err .. I mean fans.  If
you look at the actual numbers and consider this is the sports page
selected it is not too bad.

Andy

I agree, Sam. I have this fear that with enough time past since all of
the publicity people will have gone onto other things and a message
will be sent that this wasn't really a serious crime but rather a
situation sensationalized by the press.  We need to make sure our
young people know that dog fighting isn't acceptable and it isn't
something we forget about.  We need as much noise now, the week before
Michael Vick is sentenced as we did when he was charged.  Did you know
he presented himself at prison in hopes of giving the judge the
impression he was accepting his fate and maybe that will help him get
a lighter sentence?  There were actually comments made such as:

"Wearing jerseys with Vick's No. 7, speaker after speaker at the
Saint Philip African Methodist Episcopal Church on Candler Road sang
the same refrain from the pulpit: we don't condone the deed, but let's
not condemn the doer." <boggle> huh? </boggle>

Another statement: ""I don't know the 'why' that happened with Michael
Vick. Only Michael Vick knows the 'why,' and he's got plenty of time
to think about it," said speaker Darlene Arline, sporting a red jersey
autographed by the football star. "But we can't punish him anymore."

JC: Why not?

Gerald Rose, founder of the civil rights group New Order, said he has
spoken out in support of Vick since the indictment, and he plans on
travelling to Richmond for the sentencing next Monday."I'm not
supporting dog fights," he said. "I'm in support of giving a man a
second chance."

JC: Michael Vick has had so many second chances that he thinks he is
untouchable! What are we going to give him next? The key to the city
that opens every door of every business in the city?

The event had all the trappings of a Sunday morning church service.
There were readings from the Bible, call-and-response singings and a
rousing recitation by the Rev. Elaine Campbell of a poem she wrote
especially for Vick:

"A gifted football player ordained by God, To status of star player
and earthly nods. Michael, your season will come again, much like
changing winds."

"He put Georgia back on the map," Campbell said. "Bring him back to
Atlanta and let him finish what he came her to do - take us to the
Super Bowl."

JC: Do you want to know who should be putting The Falcons on the map?
Warrek Dunn with his willingness to provide homes for single parent
families. He's a nice young man who is working had to put his money
back into his community.

They say it takes a community to raise a child. I truley beleive that
it is our responsibility to teach children by examle what is right and
what is wrong. What we will accept and what we won't.  I do not
believe it has anything to do with christianity, jewism, islamic,
roman catholic, etc. It has everything to do with the Golden Rule that
shows up in some sort of language in all organized beliefs.  I think
that at some point, if over 50% have chosen less than 1 year children
will hear their parents discussing this over the dinner table and will
realize that its all right to do wrong if you're famous. (I voted for
a long sentence for Paris and cheered when Brittney lost custody of
her children).  Wrong should be punished and the punishment should fit
the crime. Period.

Julie
stepping down off her soap box again

It is unclear if Vick will ever play in the NFL again.

Once the Falcons' franchise star who electrified crowds with his
dazzling play, Vick sits in a Virginia jail awaiting sentencing. He
has pleaded guilty, but parsed his words carefully as to whether he
actually killed pit bulls himself.

Under terms of his plea deal, federal prosecutors agreed Vick should
have a sentencing guideline range of 12 months to 18 months in prison.
The prosecution also has said it will recommend that Vick be sentenced
on the lower end of the guidelines.

Two of his friends and co-defendants in the dogfighting operation were
recently handed prison terms of 18 months and 21 months.

After Monday's vigil, attendee Calvin Hawkins, 60, said "Prayer always
helps."

"We all make mistakes," he added, "and we all need a chance at
redemption."

There's another poll available:

http://sodahead.com/poll/13209/?link=bmv_name3&gclid=COLl2a72kZACFVB1OAodORGGAQ

or

http://tinyurl.com/3ca9or

On this poll I voted for the judge to ignore the plea agreement (I think
they can do that??) and go with 5 years.

Jill

You know you can vote once per hour.  I'm sure that will help those of
us who want the people to know what a creep Vick is.

Pam S.