Vick, racism and a second chance

By John McMullen  |   Wednesday, May 20, 2009  |  Comments( 2 )

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Most people don't understand what racism is.

Simply put, it's a hatred or intolerance of another race -- a belief that inherent differences among us determine cultural or individual achievement, usually involving the idea that one's own race is superior and has the right to rule others.

Today, it seems like any criticism hurled at someone outside one's race is automatically labeled as racism.

Of course, nothing could be further from the truth; however, the specter of racism is often used by educated con men on a bully pulpit concerned with padding their own egos and power.

As a white man with a column and radio show, I have been vilified for taking strong stances against a disgusting human being -- Michael Vick.

Why?

Because he happens to be an African-American -- a fact that is inconsequential to me. If the ex-Falcons quarterback was a fellow Irish-American, none of my beliefs would change one iota.

I don't hate Michael Vick because he's black and I certainly don't think I am better than him because I'm white. I pity him because he hanged and drowned dogs, and I think I am better human being than him because I have the moral compass to understand that's wrong.

And while logic often flies in the face of ignorance, too often the ignorant rule.

Take Stephon Marbury and Roy Jones, who felt the need to defend the indefensible.

"I think it's tough that we build Michael Vick up and then we break him down," Marbury said after the Vick story broke. "I think he's one of the superb athletes, and he's a good human being. I just think that he fell into a bad situation."

Jones went even further...

"People tend to talk so hard against people. They make it such a bad thing, like dog fighting is worse than killing someone," Jones said in Newsday.

"I'm not a dog fighter. I've never been to a dog fight. But just because they have the animals doesn't mean they are fighting the animals. Michael Vick doesn't have that kind of time to train and raise dogs... I like bulldogs and I like their mentality."

"They are making this so bad, but really two dogs fighting can happen in anyone's backyard or on the street. It happened in my backyard, two of my dogs fought and one died."

I guess all the evil racists of the world built Vick up so they could tear him down.

A more reasonable explanation would be that things like drowning and hanging animals disqualify you from the "good human being" club to most. But, maybe people like me just don't get it...

"Fighting animals don't necessarily get mistreated," Jones told the Green Valley News. "They get treated just the way I get treated."

Yep, I must have missed when Jones got hanged, electrocuted and drowned after losing to a lug like Antonio Tarver.

Vick left a Kansas prison before dawn Wednesday to finish his 23-month sentence in home confinement in Virginia, the latest step in his attempt at NFL reinstatement.

"It's a happy day for him to be starting this part of the process," Larry Woodward, Vick's Virginia-based attorney, said. "He looks forward to meeting the challenges he has to meet."

Those challenges?

To rehabilitate his tarnished image and convince one of the NFL's crazier owners to take the public relations hit and sign a real-life monster.

Kevin Sullivan, the White House communications director under President George W. Bush, has recommended a four-point plan for Vick -- Be genuine, be humble, be accountable and be generous.

Not exactly the old Vick's wheelhouse.

But Vick has paid his debt to society, lost millions, and offered an apology and a pledge to help eradicate animal cruelty.

Once Vick is reinstated, a Jerry Jones or Al Davis type will take the plunge, droning on about how America is built on second chances.

In fact, Falcons owner Arthur Blank already said Wednesday that Vick merits that second chance.

Ain't America great?
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About John McMullen

John is the managing editor of The Phanatic Magazine, the assistant managing editor of The Sports Network and the co-host of the highly rated 'Johns on Sports' radio show on WTBQ in New York. Every Saturday from 6:30-9 p.m. (et) you can hear John along with his co-host, John Gottlieb, talk to the ...
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