Time Served

I am not sure if you heard but Michael Vick was granted his release from prison today.  He will be held in house arrest, usually would be a half-way house but there is no available space, until July when he will be released for good.  In the NFL Vick is already being labeled goods.  Oh yeah some teams are showing some interest,  but are hesitant to sign him.  It seems that PETA has labeled Michael Vick public enemy number one and has vowed to boycott, protest, and generally raise hell for, any team that attempts to sign him.  I actually have a huge problem with this stance by PETA.   But we will get at that in just one second.  Today I will ask and answer the question, does Mike deserve to be reinstated by the NFL?

On many occasions we all have discussed and expressed disdain for the delinquents in the NFL.  Professional athletes seem to live on this fantasy plane where the law does not apply to them.  When they are spitting in women's faces and "allegedly" ordering hits on human beings we are upset but not pissed off.  Michael Vick did a disgusting and indefensible crime.  I, in no way, think that what he did is acceptable.  I am about to say something that will be highly controversial so I want all of my readers to prepare themselves.  Michael Vick should be immediately reinstated by the NFL.  He broke the law and was punished harshly for it.  I did the research and most of the sickos that are bagged for these same offenses rarely get prison time.  Usually they get off with a hefty fine and a lot of probation, but very rarely get prison time.  Michael Vick was a patsy.  PETA wanted a hangman and they got one.  Mike fucked up but PETA drowned him.   PETA, I believe, is an extremist organization full of wackos.  Vick was taken down because of his standing in pop culture, not solely because of the crimes he committed.  That my friends is injustice. 

"Why", you ask, "should Vick be immediately reinstated?"  There are so many open cases against guys that are actively participating in the NFL that is ridiculous.  None of them are currently serving suspensions, or served very short suspensions.  These are guys that assaulted women, endangered lives by driving drunk, carried unlicensed guns, and generally acted like assholes.  No one is asking for their heads.   In this country men are sent to prison as a means of rehabilitation.  We want bad guys to go to prison to learn their lesson but when they get out we don't want to believe that the job is done.  We, as Americans, cannot have it both ways.  We want people like Vick to pay for what he has done, then when they pay their penance we want them to be subject to further punishment.  Doesn't make any sense to me.  There are hundreds of guys in the NFL who have payed no price for their crimes.  I say let Vick play and leave him alone.  He has payed for his crimes and seems as sorry as anyone that he did it, or got caught. 

  I would like to spend a whole small paragraph in my sports blog being political.  I can do that because it is my blog.  PETA is garbage.  Good intentions often lead to bad ideas.  The idea behind PETA is commendable.  Protecting the small animals without a voice of there own.  I have a question; where is the PETH.  That's right People for the Ethical Treatment of Humans.  We are quicker to stand up for animals than people.  PETA gets more accomplished than any civil rights movement ever did.  I am all for treating animals kindly, but until there is ethical treatment for all human beings, PETA should take a back seat. 

So the answer to the question is yes, reinstate Vick immediately.  He messed up huge.  But he payed for it, and not by a lame statement from his publicists or a press conference apology, but by a real life prison term.  Vick is a disgusting and repugnant individual, but he payed his price so we should let him off with his time served.  Live like no one is watching but don't do anything that you don't want someone to see you do.