Bad sports, good sports: demonstrating in support of Vick?

Posted on August 31st, 2009 by Alan Spoll

On Wednesday, an announcement was made that there would be a massive demonstration outside of Lincoln Financial Field before the Eagles preseason game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, the game in which Michael Vick would make his on-field debut as an Eagle. No surprise there, right? Many people (myself included) were outraged by Vick’s signing. It was inevitable that there would be demonstrations. Reading deeper into the announcement, though, I discovered that this demonstration would be in support of Vick, rather than against him. Huh?

Yes, you read that correctly. J. Whyatt Mondesire, the head of the Philadelphia chapter of the NAACP, was the one making the announcement. He stated that a number of different organizations would be banding together to show their support for Vick, who they feel is being treated unfairly by the various animal rights groups that have been speaking out against the embattled quarterback.

I continue to be astonished by the complete lack of sense that some people possess. Even if you feel that Vick has “paid his debt to society” (and boy am I getting tired of hearing that phrase), do they really not see the absurdity of leading a demonstration in support of this man? Whether it’s the case or not, this support says to me that the NAACP thinks what Vick did is okay. It also says to me that they feel that once a prison sentence has been served, the person is completely absolved of their crimes, regardless of whether or not they feel any remorse for what they did, or have learned any lessons from it. I am not stating that Vick fits those descriptions…I am just saying that I have no idea whether he does or not. Thus far, all we have seen is some carefully planned public relations moves. Only time and actions will tell if Vick is truly reformed. Mondesire and his organization will have you believe that the question has already been answered, and no one should even be questioning Vick’s signing.

I heard Mondesire being interviewed on the radio, and he spoke about his organization’s focus on re-integrating felons into society once they have been released from prison. I am certain that this is a real problem that deserves attention. Not allowing these people the chance to restart their lives is tantamount to keeping them in prison forever. I get that, and I sympathize with it. Stating that opposition to Vick “denies Michael Vick’s basic civil rights, denies him his ability to make a living” is ludicrous, however. Playing in the NFL is not a right. I am certain he could make a living, even if he wasn’t being paid a million and a half dollars by the Philadelphia Eagles. Having a job like that is a privilege, not a right. A privilege I am not sure he deserves.

By the way, the “massive” demonstration completely failed to materialize. I guess maybe others thought it was an outrageous idea as well.

Bad sports, continued:

2) Tim Donaghy, the former NBA referee who went to jail last year after being convicted of fixing basketball games for money, is headed back to jail. His stint at a halfway house in Tampa is ending because he apparently chose to not show up for work. Stupid, stupid, stupid.

3) Current and former football players at the University of Michigan are claiming that the team regularly breaks NCAA regulations regarding the number of hours that can be spent on team-related activities. As much as fans of competing teams dislike Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez, it’s starting to be clear that his own players aren’t too fond of him either.

Good sports:

1) Chula Vista, a team from the suburbs of San Diego, won the Little League World Series on Sunday, defeating a Chinese team from Taipei. It was the fifth straight LLWS title for the U.S.

2) Earlier last week, a Canadian team from Vancouver won their game against a German team on a two-run single by Katie Reyes, who played first base. It is believed that this was the first game-winning hit by a girl in a Little League World Series game. Way to go, Katie.

3) You know Serena and Venus Williams as champion tennis players. You can now also know them as NFL owners. The sisters purchased an ownership stake in the Miami Dolphins, becoming the first female African-American owners in the National Football League.

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