one of the more interesting public relations stories in sports over recent years has been the michael vick dogfighting case. the storyline gets that much more interesting when you consider just how well the player is doing on the field this football season behind his jail time, and how he is once again the kind of public figure to whom our youth aspire. now, the player wants a pet dog. i’m all for it. i would venture to say that the majority of americans support redemption where three factors are squarely in play — 1) the person has not committed murder; 2) the person has “done their time” (or better yet, continues to rehabilitate from a crime through public service), and 3) the person is uniquely talented and capable of great influence once rehabbed.
in the case of vick, the point of greatest (and most conflicted) interest is the murder clip. the man hurt and murdered animals — an undeniably awful and unacceptable act. but here’s the catch. we all have blood on our hands. our national culture (which goes far beyond a micro culture where dogfighting is accepted) has no problem with hurting and or killing animals for sport. shocking? it certainly should not be. we know it to be true. ever rescue a greyhound after its racing days are over (or know someone who has)? you would know that they are killed if a suitable home is not found. just about everyone knows that racehorses are put down where a substantial injury occurs during the sport of a derby. the injuries would not naturally happen if the creatures weren’t being forced to race for sport. if you’ve ever seen a cock or a dog fight, then you know that it’s a fight to the death. even something innocent like a circus showcases animals whose lives are no doubt being restrained or shortened for our amusement.
i don’t know much about dogfighting, or other types of animal competition and entertainment for that matter, but my understanding is that most respect what the animals are capable of doing — the honest nature of it. pit bulls are incredibly strong, horses and greyhounds are amazingly fast, cocks are ferocious fighters, etc. it’s a little sickening that people want to watch this activity knowing that the animals’ health is immediately at stake. that’s where the rehab is most needed. remove the public’s desire to watch senseless acts of animal abuse and violence. to hang vick and his accomplices alone where many, many americans have shown a taste for this sort of blood is a bit misguided.
i do like that vick is actively campaigning against his former actions and habits. that is positive. i would like to see sports illustrated expose other forms of animal competition and entertainment, and give its fan something to really think about in that process.
