Saturday, August 18, 2007
If convicted ... No
Jeff Gilbert
Gilbert is the sports editor for The Roanoke Times
Recent columns
Quanis Phillips says in his plea agreement that Michael Vick participated in the execution of about eight dogs by either drowning them or hanging them.
Does that surprise you? It did me. Perhaps most of you are like me.
I've seen the headlines and read most of what's been published in the paper. But I haven't been reading up on it on the Internet, and that includes taking time to read the 18-page indictment against Vick, Phillips, Purnell Peace and Tony Taylor.
When I saw the accusation Phillips made in his statement Friday in Richmond, I e-mailed Aaron McFarling.
His response: This isn't anything new. He told me to read the indictment.
So I did.
The grand jury witnesses give lots of details claiming Vick was at dogfights and conspired to run a dogfighting business -- all charges I was aware of and truly heinous crimes if they are true.
Then I got to this part: "In or about March of 2003, Peace, after consulting with Vick about the losing female pit bull's condition, executed the losing dog by wetting the dog down with water and electrocuting the animal."
Gave me the chills.
I continued to read, and near the end came upon this: "In or about April 2007, Peace, Phillips, and Vick executed approximately 8 dogs that did not perform well in 'testing' sessions at 1915 Moonlight Road by various methods, including hanging, drowning, and slamming at least one dog's body to the ground."
Did Michael Vick really do this? That's not for me to investigate or decide.
But I have decided this: If Michael Vick is guilty of these felonious charges, he should go to prison and his NFL career should be over.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has already suspended players for half seasons and full seasons for lesser crimes. How could a lifetime ban for anything like what Vick is accused of be too much?
Vick is accused of violent crimes. Not just one, but many and over a long period of time. If true, this is not a one-time offense. It is a pattern of unconscionable choices that should have severe consequences.
Goodell will have to suspend Vick for life if he doesn't want him back in the league because some unprincipled owner will need a quarterback and sign him.
So if Vick does serve time, what about forgiveness? Sure. If he is a criminal, admits it and pays his debt to society, then we should all have room for forgiveness.
A second chance?
Not this time.
Some crimes are too great for second chances.
This is being called a dogfighting ring. If the things in the indictment and plea bargains are true, it's more than that. It's a dog-killing ring.
We shouldn't be afraid to call it that.
