goodbye Vick

Comments regarding the sentencing of Michael Vick. Somehow I wouldn't expect them to be logical.

• Let me get this straight. Danny Heatley caused the death of a human being and receives probation. Vick killed dogs and received 23 months in jail. And people think this is logical?
• This is so insane and stupid. People do this all day long and not going to stop. Black men are more likely to receive tougher sentencing than any race. One last point all those who are against dog fighting and Vick, I hope you don't eat meat if you do you are contradicting yourself. Haters!!!!!!!
• Well it just proves how messed up this country is when you can get more time and be crucified for killing a vicious dog, but if you are a wife beater, child molester, or murderer, you can get off.
• Both Vick brothers are examples of an incredible waste of talent. They were given more opportunity than they earned or deserved and only squandered it. They are far from being victims. What makes this story even more sensational is that they are actually being held accountable for their actions. No wonder people are having such a hard time digesting it - it rarely happens in any walk of life. Wouldn't it be nice to think accountability is a new trend. Don't hold your breath.

For those not familiar Danny Heatley is a hockey player who played in Atlanta and killed a man (a teammate and passenger) because he was slightly drunk and speeding. Vehicular manslaughter is a crime which is indeed severe. But he did not viciously intend for his actions to cause death and pain, they were merely criminally stupid. Vick's actions were intended to cause pain and death (to dogs). When he owns up to that mistake of judgment, people will look less harshly at him. Much of the reason a judge increased his sentence is that very problem.

The second one, people who are against dog fighting are being hypocritical if they eat meat? This requires no examination and recriminations for its stupidity is obvious. It might be true that black men are going to receive tougher sentences, this has been stated frequently and may have enough empirical data to make sense. But Vick actually is receiving a lessened sentence for his conviction than is typical. So it doesn't actually apply.

Vicious dogs have more and better lawyers than children and abused wives. But it is a fairly messed up country when scum who abuse women and children (or anybody else for that matter) get off. Of the things that matter however to the actual case itself, the fact that our country has a justice system problem and inequity is irrelevant.

I agree with the last point. The greatest crime being committed here is Vick against himself and his fans by making foolish choices with his time and money off the field. A man with such great athletic ability, for which he was well-paid, squanders this by choosing poorly the people he free associates with and how he treats them. That's pretty bad in and of itself. But Vick is no victim. He did this to himself.