Executed? Vick?
Philly.com, Inquirer, and Daily News coverage of the Eagles
Executed? Vick?
Phil Sheridan, Inquirer Columnist
Well, Michael Vick now has even more in common with Donovan McNabb than just his old job under his former coach. Just as McNabb was frequently blindsided by off-the-wall attacks (Rush Limbaugh, Bernard Hopkins, etc.), Vick last night took an unlikely shot from Fox News commentator Tucker Carlson.
Guest hosting Sean Hannity's show, Carlson noted that President Obama had praised Eagles owner Jeff Lurie for given Vick a second chance after his incarceration on charges related to a dogfighting ring.
"I'm a Christian," Carlson said, a preface that is often followed by un-Christian remarks. I've made mistakes myself. I believe fervently in second chances. But Michael Vick killed dogs and he did in a heartless and cruel way. I think personally he should have been executed for that. He wasn't."
Couple quick things: I was as critical of the Eagles for signing Vick as anyone in the local media. I still feel deep discomfort at the idea of Philadelphians -- my people, my family, my friends -- rooting for a guy who did the things he has admitted doing, just because he's a good football player. But executed? That's just batstuff.
Carlson went on, saying it was "beyond the pale" for the President of the United States to be "getting behind someone who murdered dogs." And so we see what this is really about -- the relentless and mindless need for some media members to attack Obama no matter what he says or does.
The political discourse in this country is conducted at levels below insulting. Good thing our sports conversations are so rational and civilized. Cough, cough.
Here's the video:
- The fact is that athletes are role models, and one of the reasons they are, is that they followed their dreams and are getting paid to do so.
— foreclosure11 - Your silly name indicates that you probably support abortion-you know...the murder of human babies.
- If thats the case, then everyone who fish or hunt are murderers as well? I understand if you don't like the guy because of what he did, but to say he is a murderer? I think you have a warped view of reality when you place an animal's life on the same level as a human being. — penncrow19
- Um...do people hunt by body slamming animals to death or electrocuting them? Do they keep deer locked in pens to be brutalized over and over in the ring? Your an idiot. — amanda718
- um, they do much worse than that. have u ever gone fishing? beating, slamming, suffocating, and all in fun. in fact, they even sometimes televise these sports. care to reconsider? — pbowers
- Um..yes, they do. There is a lot of amimal abuse that happens in hunting when animals do not die right away and some people are just plain sadistic, regardless of the legalitly of their acts. It's not a zero-sum game, as evidenced by the fact that he is playing, doing well both on the filed and off in rehabbing himself and his image, your myopic stance on the whole ordeal notwithstanding.
- Quick question for you Penncrow. How many hunters do you know that ran a criminal organization for several years/ Isn't that worse than hunting? I find the hanging and electrocuting of dogs for no reason to be repulsive and evil, but running a criminal organization is the main reason he should still be in jail. — Kruntz
- Murder? Had a bacon cheeseburger at lunch. Some people actually get paid to murder poor defenseless animals. Imagine that! Premeditated killing of cows and pigs IN COLD BLOOD. This whole thing is ridiculous... — Grazman
- So totally with you Grazman ! It is crazy to me that these holier-than-thou types get so excited about Vick when they typically make decisions every day that lead to the torture of animals.
- Vick didn't do a day for killing dogs. He went up for running interstate gambling operations. NO ONE has ever been convicted of pre-meditated murder for killing dogs. Gotta be a human to get that sentence. Why let facts get in the way of a good rant though huh?
- Actually he did go to jail for dog fighting, that's why a condition of his parole is he cannot have a dog. Dog fighting is a specific, defined crime, it is not interstate gambling. You are right that there's no such thing as murder for animals, it's called animal cruelty. Murder by definition is the killing of another human being. Check a dictionary. — fugazi3000
- You need to stop LYING!! If your such a die-hard Eagles Fan you would love to see the Eagles win and win in some of the most memorable fasions and ways that they have been winning! Over our most HATED FOES like the Giants, Cowboys, and Redskins which by the way would not have been done with ANY OTHER QUATERBACK EXCEPT MICHAEL VICK. If you can't get behind(and it seems that you can't)the Eagles who gave Vick a second chance,and your heart is still not in it. Abandon Ship! Be a Fan of some other team! Because being a True Eagles Fan is VERY HARD!! I've been a REAl EAGLES FAN since I was born in 1969, and I just like any real relationship I've had ups and downs and I know that there is a thin line between Love and Hate but no matter how mad I get at My Eagles I'll always Love them and my Heart is always in it!! — Reesewc20s
- But let me ask you this, could you root for a team that has a man that tortures women or how about a muderer for MVP? Why is Vick any different? What Donte Stallworth did hurt many more people than just a dog he took a father and a husband away from a family for petes sake! All Vick did was kill roties and pitbulls dogs most of you would either kill hurt or call the cops to get rid of them if they where a stray near your property and you would do this all while your kids watched on and learned from you this what you do out of fear. But I will say you are right on one point, that Vick should not be in a position of role model for children, the people your children look to as role modles is not a profesional sport franchises responsablity it is ours as parents to be the role model and teach them how to be the type of person that they need to be. Why would you depend on an athlete to do this? You talking about people who if you new them personaly say in collage or high school would have looked down on you because your not as good at running and jumping as they are. Just remember sports are enertainment not life. Oh yeah while you are looking for role models for your kids how about taking to see Iron man the star of that movie now he's a fine super hero role model,I only use that analogy because it's sports like movies it's to entertain you not raise your kids.
— hatchet 
I am as disgusted as anyone by what Vick did, but just me personally, I moved on from it because I believe he truly is remorseful for his disgusting acts, and is doing the right things now. And I'm not gonna tell anyone how to feel about him, whether ya love Vick or hate him. It's your opinion...but damn, I wonder if Tucker Carlson realizes what the implications of saying something like that can turn out to be. While selfishly trying to take a swipe at Obama, he just wished death on one of the most well known athletes in the US. Just dumb.
