Beat A Woman? Play On! Beat A Dog? Your Gone!

[Nbadan]

Vick is scum, but does the punishment fit the crime?

Beat a Woman? Play On; Beat a Dog? You're Gone


(WOMENSENEWS)--National Football League superstar Michael Vick is in trouble, serious trouble. Federal prosecutors charged the Atlanta Falcons' quarterback with animal abuse for his role as the alleged leader of a dog-fighting ring and, after denying it for months, Vick pleaded guilty on Monday. He faces stiff sentencing.

He's in big trouble with the NFL too, which has said he might never play professionally again. According to Gene Upshaw, executive director of the NFL's Player Association, "the practice of dog-fighting is offensive and completely unacceptable."

I just wish the NFL had the same outrage toward spousal abuse and other forms of domestic violence. But they don't. Not by a long shot.

Scores of NFL players as well as players from the National Basketball Association and Major League Baseball have been convicted of domestic abuse, yet they play on with no fear of losing their careers. Most pay small fines, if that, and are back on the field immediately.

The message is clear. Beat a woman? Play on. Beat a dog? You're gone.

Link (http://www.womensenews.org/article.cfm?aid=3285)

Last summer Philadelphia Phillies' pitcher Brett Myers assaulted his wife on a public Boston street and was charged with assault and battery. Major League Baseball did not penalize him, shrugging it off as an off-field incident. Are they saying a player needs to abuse his spouse during a game to get sanctioned? If so, just how does that work?

[FromWayDowntown]

I'd agree that the professional sports leagues have been lax in their treatment of crimes like spousal abuse committed by their players.

I also think, though, that it's premature to say that things haven't changed -- at least in the NFL. The new Commissioner has a new, much tougher notion of discipline, as evidenced by his long suspensions of Pacman Jones and Chris Henry. Henry will miss half of this season (at least) for his recurring problem with driving under the influence. Before Commissioner Goodell took over, such crimes were almost never dealt with by the league, as punishment was handled by teams. Goodell seems intent on being more proactive from a macro standpoint on dealing with players who significantly break the law, and I suspect that the penalties already imposed on Vick suggest strongly that Goodell will deal harshly with those crimes.

The other leagues may follow suit and they may not. There's a fine line to walk here -- the leagues could get themselves into trouble by handing out harsh penalties to those who are only accused of such crimes. The league owes no presumption of innocence (see Vick and Pacman) but at the same time has seen that punishments based solely on accusations can sometimes be grossly premature (see Duke lacrosse).

[Spurminator]

I may be in the minority here, but I do think running an illegal underground gambling ring involving the mutilation, electrocution and killings of dozens of dogs over a long period of time is worse than an isolated incident where a man hits his wife in a fit of rage.

If we're talking about someone with a history of spousal abuse, that may be different.

[DarkReign]

Wait, so did this pitcher beat his wife for sport, crossing state borders with the implicit purpose of others and he illegally gambling on the outcome?

If not, dumb analogy.

[johnsmith]

Vick is scum, but does the punishment fit the crime?

Beat a Woman? Play On; Beat a Dog? You're Gone



Link (http://www.womensenews.org/article.cfm?aid=3285)

Last summer Philadelphia Phillies' pitcher Brett Myers assaulted his wife on a public Boston street and was charged with assault and battery. Major League Baseball did not penalize him, shrugging it off as an off-field incident. Are they saying a player needs to abuse his spouse during a game to get sanctioned? If so, just how does that work?


Reading womensnews now eh Dan?

[FromWayDowntown]

This thread is begging for an appearance by that mikejones dude who thinks that suffrage should be abolished.

[Oh, Gee!!]

This thread is begging for an appearance by that mikejones dude who thinks that suffrage should be abolished.


http://www.thecurseof1920.com/

In 1920, a three-pronged Curse was unleashed upon America and the world, effecting the most dramatic and destructive changes to man since the Garden of Eden. This three-pronged Curse is: the women’s rights movement; jazz, rock ‘n’ roll, and rap; and abortion and euthanasia.

[Whisky Dog]

Chances are those dogs would treat Brett Myers better than his wife.

[xrayzebra]

http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z273/xrayzebra/VICK.jpg

The jury has been selected for Vicks trial.....

[smeagol]

http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z273/xrayzebra/VICK.jpg

The jury has been selected for Vicks trial.....

Where's Spike from Loony Tunes? He would've been much scarier than those muts.

[Nbadan]

No gambling charges for Vick...

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick files plea in federal court, admits dogfighting
By LARRY O'DELL, Associated Press Writer
August 24, 2007


RICHMOND, Va. (AP) -- Michael Vick filed his plea agreement in federal court Friday admitting to conspiracy in a dogfighting ring and helping kill pit bulls. He denied ever betting on the fights, only bankrolling them.

The Atlanta Falcons quarterback is scheduled to formally enter his plea Monday in U.S. District Court. He signed the plea agreement Thursday.

"Most of the Bad Newz Kennels operation and gambling monies were provided by Vick," a summary of facts in the case said, echoing language in plea agreements by three co-defendants who previously pleaded guilty.

The statement said that when the kennel's dogs won, the gambling proceeds were generally shared by Vick's three co-defendants -- Tony Taylor, Purnell Peace and Quanis Phillips.

"Vick did not gamble by placing side bets on any of the fights. Vick did not receive any of the proceeds of the purses that were won by Bad Newz Kennels," the summary said.

According to the statement, Vick also was involved with the others in killing six to eight dogs that did not perform well in testing sessions last April. The dogs were executed by drowning or hanging.

"Vick agrees and stipulates that these dogs all died as a result of the collective efforts" of Vick and two of the co-defendants, Phillips and Peace, the statement said.

In the plea agreement, the government committed to recommending a sentence on the low end of the federal sentencing guideline range of a year to 18 months. However, the conspiracy charge is punishable by up to five years in prison, and the judge is not bound by any recommendation or by the sentencing guidelines.

Yahoo (http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ap-michaelvick&prov=ap&type=lgns)

Paving the way for a Vick return........

[Melmart1]

http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z273/xrayzebra/VICK.jpg

The jury has been selected for Vicks trial.....
Is Goofy a dog? Has it ever really been established what kind of animal Goofy is, exactly?

[Whisky Dog]

What else would Goofy be?

[Melmart1]

Pluto is a dog. He barks and walks on all fours. Goofy walks upright and talks instead of barks. Are there more than one type of dog in the world of Disney?

[Whisky Dog]

Pluto is a dog. He barks and walks on all fours. Goofy walks upright and talks instead of barks. Are there more than one type of dog in the world of Disney?

Actually, Pluto was the one I was thinking of instead of Goofy. I guess Goofy is just a freak. Hence the name.

[E20]

Is Goofy a dog? Has it ever really been established what kind of animal Goofy is, exactly?
Yes, Goofy is a dog. It would have been bad if they put Dino.