1. I will not watch a single minute of a NFL game this year, that includes the Super Bowl.
2. No reading about the NFL (websites, papers, magazines).
3. When a NFL story comes up on the television I will change the channel.
4. No fantasy football.
5. No playing Madden.
So those are the rules for now. Now for the story.
At the end of April this past spring the story broke that Vick could be involved in dog fighting. There was no concrete evidence at this point. It made me feel sick. I initially thought that he could just be one bad apple and I can't judge the NFL based on one bad apple (even though they have many). The following day, Vick started to take some heat so the media asked other players what they thought of his situation. A couple of players on the Washington Redskins stuck right up for Vick. Their argument was that the dogs were Vick's property and he could do what he pleased with his property. Property. Property. He could do what he wanted with his property. The word property there is what really set me off.
Not to go all animal rights on everyone here but have you ever had a pet? A dog, a cat? Would you consider that pet your property or would you consider it your friend, companion, or family member? Within a couple of hours of multiple players sticking up for Vick (fellow All Pro RB Clinton Portis was one that stuck up for Vick) the NFL had to make a statement saying it did not condone dog fighting or cruelty to animals. I don't think your league is quite up to snuff when you have to make a formal statement about not supporting cruelty to animals. In my estimation the NFL was in some pretty serious trouble.
It was around this time pictures started to surface of the home owned by Vick where the suspected dog fighting was taking place. Notice the black windowless buildings back behind the house surrounded by the black fence. In the evening, from the road, it was appear as though there was nothing on that land other than the huge white house. It was in these houses that authorities found dog fighting pits, blood, teeth, and other evidence suggesting dog fighting. Just look at the amount of work that went into putting this all together.
Once I saw this pictures and heard the support of fellow NFL players is when I made my decision to boycott the NFL. I wrote Commissioner Goodell letting him know that because of the way NFL players were sticking up for dog fighting that I would be boycotting his league for the entire 2007 NFL season. I couldn't figure out how to post the letter on here without messing up the rest of the post, so just see the post above this one for a copy of the letter I got from the NFL.
Now the Vick thing is blowing up and it's all over the news. The guy is in major trouble. I understand that not everyone is as outraged about this as I am, I'm comfortable with that. It's just when I read about this and what happened to some of those dogs it gets me right in the pit of my stomach and makes me feel just awful. I hope the NFL/World can grasp the seriousness of this issues and how cruel it really is.
7 comments:
Blake, I applaud you for taking a stance and sticking to it. I believe if Vick is convicted he should be banned from the NFL. We all know that because Vick has money he will only get probation and community service if he is convicted. I also saw the comments from Portis and was absolutely disgusted. I think he and anyone else that supports Vick publicly should be suspended. Good job, Blake.
Thanks for the comment. Isn't it sad that we all pretty much think that even if he's found guilty he won't see a moment in jail? Sends a pretty mixed message. Thanks again for the comment.
You know I'm not a animal rights fanatic. I do not support Vick on this one however. It leaves me speechless.
First, I don't remember where I got the link to this blog, and while I'm a devotee, I really only care about baseball and just skip over everything else. Except this.
Blake, are you a fan of MTV Cribs? Well, I watch it whenever I see that its on, and I have logged some serious hours watching celebrities give tours of their houses. Some of the displays of excess in that show are positively appalling. And who are the worst offenders? By far and away, they are professional athletes. Pro football and basketball players account for many of the most conceited, vomit-inducing appearances on the show. I guess this doesnt have a whole lot to do with this Vick business, but I thought I would point it out anyway. Perhaps its another reason not to give any money to the NFL. They obviously have enough.
Oh yeah, I'd like to meet NFL Public Relations as well. He sounds like a real stand-up guy. To change one's name to his job title...thats a dedicated worker.
I think those thoughts from Adam are right on.
It goes back to seeing the value in what you have versus the work you have put into it. I am not saying that the gusy in the NFL don't work hard but 99% of the guys are VERY young, have never been taught accountability for their actions outside of the area/stadium/sportsworld. Its like winning the lottery.
Bare with this example, bec it does fit. One of my favorite trashy TV shows is "Hogan Knows Best". The show is pretty funny but mostly addicting. His wife and two kids have EVERY material possession they could ever want and they just expect more and more. Hulk made an incredibly insightful comment. He pulled out his cell phone. It wasn't an Iphone, Blackberry, or antyhing like that. It was your plain old, no camera, no screen on the outside...just a phone. To call people.
He said, "I am the only person in this family with the same cell phone as when we started our plan. THat's because I am the only one that understands the value of money." If you look back, you can credit Hogan for everything that the worlf of Pro wrestling became (whether you like it or not, it is a mulitbillion dollar industry).
Hogan worked for it. These other guys (i.e. our friends that spoil themselves on Cribs, Vick, etc.) didn't.
That is the basis of the where this kind of behaviro comes from.
Am I off on this?
To echo the comments of Bailey and Rob, I would like to mention how damaging the whole Vick case is to the idea of "Athlete as role-model." People complain about the decadence and simultaneous influence of hip-hop stars but often don't mention these pro-athletes whose lifestyles are just as wasteful and trite.
Young people see this childish obsession with money, mansions, and Hummers and hope to copy that behavior.
If we can't find honorable men in our sports, where can we turn to? In an age where there are NO respectable folks in national leadership, sports figures were our only hope. Now, with all the doping and dog-fighting, that arena has failed us as well.
Maybe that's why superhero movies have become so popular lately. We have no real heroes so we have to rely on comic book inspiration from Spiderman.
"I've got nothing, Ma, to live up to." - Bob Dylan
Glad to see the comments and for the most part I agree with it all. The biggest thing is the role model issue. I don't think its anyone persons responsibility to be a role model, if people want to buy Hummers and have huge houses and all of that other crap so be it (we made our beds as Americans on that one, now must lay in it) but it sure would be nice if an athlete would be a good one from time to time.
I don't know that I've ever watched a full episode of "Cribs" but I have seen clips of it before and it's sick. It's even more sick that there is a market for it and I'm guessing most viewers (no offense Adam) are like Adam. I'm gonna guess that most viewers think that show is just so cool and love all of the stuff on there.
Being someone who has spent the last 7 or 8 years working with teens, kids LOVE that crap. They love it. They loved "The OC" for the excess. They love "Cribs", they love that show with Flava Flav, I'm sure talking about these shows makes up 10% of their day. It's strange. They think Paris Hilton is funny and someone to look up to.
At any rate, it's time to look elsewhere for admirable people, I guess.
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