Jesse Jackson is officially in on the Michael Vick action. He told the NY times that he thinks NFL owners are colluding against Vick.
I respect the reverend, but he is way off on this one. Let me list three of his quotes to the Times and quickly refute each:
I want to make it an issue. I want teams to explain why they have a quarterback who has less skills but is playing or at least is on the taxi squad, and a guy with more skills can’t get into training camp.
OK, this one is easy. Michael Vick is not wanted by any team at this time because he was recently convicted of running an illegal dogfighting ring over the course of five years. Owners don’t only have to consider Vick’s skill. They have to consider whether he is someone they want to invest millions of dollars into. How did that work out for Atlanta? They also have to consider the media circus that would follow him into camp. No team needs that kind of drama while they are going over the ‘X’s’ and ‘O’s’. Once the season starts and teams have training camp behind them, I imagine interest in Vick will increase.
I wonder how Jackson felt when former Atlanta Brave John Rocker was relegated to the minor leagues before his career fell apart. Personally, I thought that he deserved exactly what he got. But I suppose Jackson wouldn’t have wanted him demoted and disciplined after his racist rants became public. After all, he had a lot more skills than many other pitchers in the majors at the time of the incident.
Democracy does not guarantee success. Democracy guarantees an opportunity. It’s not fair to de facto try to lock him out of his right to compete. If he can’t make the team, don’t let him play. If he can, let him work.
OK, the people surrounding Reverend Jackson are probably too scared to tell him this, so I will. That just simply makes no sense. Democracy guarantees an opportunity? What does democracy even have to do with this? Democracy guarantees you a vote. It doesn’t guarantee that you won’t be judged by the world at large, and perspective employers, for your past deeds. Maybe we should set up a vote in each town with an NFL team and see how each city’s citizens feel about Michael Vick playing on their team. I am not so sure the democratic process would be on Vick’s side in most towns.
If the guy has paid his dues to the criminal justice system, paid his debt to the N.F.L. and shows remorse, what else does he need to do?
That is an excellent point, and I agree. But I think my first answer deals with this point as well. It is not only about right and wrong. It is about business. Why would anybody be comfortable investing in Michael Vick right now? Does Jackson want to put up some of his own cash up to guarantee Vick won’t go off and do something crazy again?
Finally, Jackson told the Times that he compares Michael Vick to Jackie Robinson because both of them had to find an owner willing to make a controversial signing. This is a direct slap in the face to Jackie Robinson. The “color line” and the “convicted dogfighting felon line” are located in completely different universes.
Jackie Robinson scratched and clawed for every opportunity he earned. Far more than he should have had to. And he didn’t only do it for himself. He did it to make things better for the future.
Michael Vick was a beneficiary of Jackson’s legacy. Only a few years ago, he was awarded a 100 million dollar contract by the Atlanta Falcons. He was more than given an opportunity.
But he let it go to the dogs.
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cawren says:
Vick has a right to prove he is a changed man
But he DESERVES NOTHING.
How many felons are welcomed back to their previous Jobs?
Few to none.
This man tortured dogs over and over and over...
Hanging, drowning, electrocuting
Not a momentary laps in judgment not a mistake. He laughed with his buddies, bet and did it again and again..
My advice take a year off, working, showing you mean business about redemption. Talking to kids in the most vulnerable community's about the horrors of dog fighting.
Walk the walk
Perhaps then he might gain some ground.
I wonder how many "free to good home" ads are answered in order to collect the "bait" animals to train fighting dogs?
Puppies… Stray dogs.. Tape their mouth shut… Rip em up… Bait
Mason Lerner says:
I take it you will be spearheading the "No" vote committee in your town, Cawren?
Jude says:
What a slap in the face to Jackie Robinson from Jesse Jackson. Seems Jesse is desperate for press to support Vick while standing on the back of Jackie Robinson. Shame on him. He and Vick deserve one another.
Mason Lerner says:
I agree completely.
Alex says:
I agree with Jesse Jackson and I believe that you all are apart of "Old American thinking" and the ones that facilitate this bias "BS" with your double standards. Why don't take up for the women and children abused by NFL players or killed even! How bout that, I got a list for you. This whole Mike Vick mess is BS everybody knows the only reason he did fed time was because he "Financed" the operation and his buddies were the ones that did those acts. The only reason he agreed to what the feds wanted was because his friends who got 30 and 60 days in prison for killing dogs turned on him, where's the out rage for them. Get mad at Vick then you should be mad at
Mike Pittman (Tampa Bay) Rams Hummer into Wife & 2yr old Child (Plead Guilty)
Penalty: Three Game Suspension still in the league no protest for him
Larry Johnson (Chiefs) arrested charged w/ domestic battery, Aggravated Assault, Felony
Penalty: No Suspension, 120 hours of community service
James Harrison (Steelers) arrested charged with assaulting girlfriend
Penalty: No Suspension (Pro Bowl Linebacker)
Kalvin Pearson (Lions) arrested charged with domestic violence Strangulation of Pregnant woman.
Penalty: No Suspension
Larry Fitzgerald (Cardinals) Beat up Mother of Child
Penalty: No Suspension,
oh and how about Brandon Marshall from the Broncos beating his woman... put your care and concern where is should be. In fact why don't you reveal the number of dogs PETA kills a year. Where is the protest against that?
Mason Lerner says:
Alex,
First of all I am in no way a part of “old American thinking.” Second of all, in regard to the double standard, you are not telling me anything that I don’t know. I wrote a post about that double standard only days ago. And I don’t intend to let the matter drop. What are you doing for the cause besides half-informed internet ranting?
And while this double standard certainly exists, it does not make Michael Vick's crime any less heinous. “The only reason” he did federal time is because it was a federal crime. I honestly find it pathetic that you have the nerve to say he “only” financed it. They were horrible crimes. John Gotti wasn’t usually the guy pulling the trigger, but he was no less responsible for the things done in his name.
And I would really like to hear how the struggles of a guy who signed a 100 million dollar contract compares to Jackie Robinson. I would love to hear that, granted I could hold the puke in my mouth until the end of the explanation.
If Jesse Jackson were to mount a concerted effort to implement serious prison reform in the United States, I would love to be a part of that. But this is just grandstanding.
Thanks very much for reading. Even though we disagree completely, it is always interesting to hear other people’s views. Just don’t assume you know anything about my “thinking” after reading one post. Michael Vick does not equal Jackie Robinson. To imply otherwise is small minded and insulting. It's just that simple.
redspeedo1 says:
Jesse, what is wrong with you. You used to be
a serious, constructive man with big ideas and the leadership
ability to help kids stay in school and fight government corruption.
Now you are defending Michael Vick, dog killer! Jesse, get your life
back. Vick should only be able to play if one of the animals he
murdered comes back from the grave.
Mason Lerner says:
"You used to be a serious, constructive man with big ideas and the leadership ability to help kids stay in school and fight government corruption."
Exactly. It seems like he is emulating the Ralph Nader career arc.
Jeff Wagenheim says:
Your comparison of Vick with John Rocker is way more apt than Jesse's comparison of Vick with Jackie Robinson. I don't see Jackie in this story in any way, shape or form. Does Jesse really believe the nonsense he's spouting, or is he just trying to remain relevant by sounding outrageous?
Mason Lerner says:
I think Jesse Jackson just wants to seem relevant. In this case, he is taking advantage of a long proven history of discrimination against African-American professionally and within the criminal justice system to get some face time. That is my opinion.