Debbie Schlussel: Nike, NFL Must Dump Michael Vick
Despite a federal indictment alleging that NFL star Michael Vick of the Atlanta Falcons a/k/a "Ookie"
executed approximately eight dogs . . . by various methods, including hanging, drowning, and slamming at least one dog's body to the ground.
Other allegations are that Vick and his friends filed down dogs' teeth to make them more sharp and kept them on a short leash to make them more violent against other dogs, once they were released to attack with the razor-sharp teeth.
Oh, and BTW, where is PETA? (UPDATE: PETA now calling for Vick's ouster from NFL.) Time for them to protest "water-boarding" of innocent dogs, the same way their comrades on the left are upset it's rightfully being done against Islamic terrorists who want to murder us.
Given all this, you'd think the NFL would release Vick, or at least, suspend him until the case is decided. With any other employer, that's what would happen--he'd have been sent packing and escorted out by security guards, long ago. But not with the NFL, home of triple-murderer Ray Lewis. Even with newer, ostensibly tougher Commissioner Roger Goodell, the league is taking a wait-and-see, we-don't-want-to-lose-a-barbaric-star attitude. If he can suspend Pacman Jones and Tank Johnson, he can dump Vick, too.
This is not the first time the NFL has looked the other way on Vick. As you'll recall, in January, I wrote about Vick being caught at the Miami International Airport, with a water bottle containing a hidden compartment containing dark particulate matter that looks and smells like marijuana. The Miami-Dade Police conveniently lost the videotape and charges were dropped against Vick. Still, we know what he was up to. And so does the NFL, which is not bound by rules of evidence governing a court.
Shame on Nike, too. While the company is pulling Vick's latest show, the Air Zoom Vick V, it refuses to pull his contract (which presumably has a morals clause) or his three jerseys (bearing his name) and four previous shoe models from stores.
Nike and the NFL must take a stand against barbarism. What Vick did is disgusting. Barbarism like that against animals demonstrates a capacity to do the same with humans.
Time for NIKE and the NFL to get off the fence and quit enabling money-making barbarians. Cut Michael Vick loose.
What's next, Nike-sponsored dog fights? I challenge someone to produce the parody t-shirts. Maybe that will be enough to embarrass the unethical swoosh-mongers.
Posted by Debbie on July 20, 2007 12:24 PM to Debbie Schlussel