Bad sports, good sports: A party for Vick? I don’t want to see the guest list.

Posted on August 3rd, 2009 by Alan Spoll

Have you ever had one of those moments where you see a headline and it completely makes your head spin? You almost think that you must have looked like you were in a cartoon at that moment, eyes bugging out six inches from your head while still remaining attached. I had one of those moments this weekend when I read the following headline: “Newport News to hold celebration for Michael Vick.“

Vick was conditionally reinstated to the NFL this week. He can participate in training camp activities, but can not participate in games until at least week six. If someone signs him, that is, which has not yet happened. In case you were not aware, Vick was recently released after spending the last year and a half in prison (with some house arrest in the latter portion of it) after being convicted of numerous charges related to dog fighting.

I regularly listen to sports talk radio, and the subject of Vick has come up often recently. I constantly hear people defending Vick, usually writing off the entire incident with something like ‘it’s just dogs.” As a dog lover, I find it hard to imagine that people can be so callous. People do a lot of bad things. People do much worse things than Michael Vick did. But what essentially amounts to the torture and killing of dogs is not something I can make excuses for in any way at all. It’s not much of a stretch, in my eyes, from drowning dogs to killing people.

Anyway, back to the headline. Vick grew up in Newport News, Virginia. Somehow, the city feels it appropriate to not just excuse what Vick did, but to celebrate it in some way. Yes, I see the note in the story that suggests that the event is “geared to toward promoting the doctrine of nonviolence.” I respectfully submit that they would do a far better job promoting their cause by condemning Michael Vick and everything he stands for, rather than by celebrating him. Yes, he did his time. Some of it, anyway. It remains to be seen if he has learned the error of his ways.

Bad sports, continued:

2) I assume many of you thought my lead story this week might have been about Brett Favre. I decided to limit my commentary on the newest twist to the story to this brief blurb. Favre announced this week that he would not be joining the Minnesota Vikings this season, choosing to remain retired. I have this under Bad Sports because the very fact that I am still reading about Brett Favre’s every breath each day makes me wish that professional football wasn’t such a big part of my life. Is there any reason I should believe this is the last we will hear of this story?

3) Another great headline this week. “Irvin comes to defense of Romo.” It’s just too good.

Good sports:

1) Melky Cabrera hit for the cycle in the Yankees win on Sunday. Great feat. And it’s fun to write about someone named Melky.

2) Milorad Cavic and his soon-to-be illegal racing suit put the challenge to Michael Phelps recently by beating him and essentially mocking him. Saturday, Phelps fought back the best way he knows how, setting a new record in the 100 meters.

3) Rarely has a filly so clearly been better than all of the colts out there. Rachel Alexandra very clearly is. The Haskell is the latest win in her extremely impressive career.

Bad Sports, Good Sports appears every Monday

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Alan Spoll

Alan Spoll is a software quality assurance director from the suburbs of Philadelphia where he lives with his wonderful wife and children. He has spent his entire life as a passionate fan of the Eagles, Phillies, Sixers, Flyers, and Penn State. Recent Phillies success aside, you will understand his natural negativity. Follow me on Twitter - @DocAlan02