12 on 7

As many of you heard, Michael Vick is back on the street. He spent nearly 2 yrs in jail and is now on house arrest following his felony conviction for bank rolling an illegal dogfighting ring. Vick, the former #1 overall pick by the Atlanta Falcons, is currently serving a suspension that was handed down by the NFL's commissioner Roger Goddell. Vick will be on house arrest for 2 months. After he completes that, he will apply to be re-instated back into the NFL. Vick's release from prison and the possibility of a return has sparked a huge debate. Some believe that Vick should NEVER be let back in the NFL. Others believe that he's paid his debt to society and he should have the opportunity to play again if a team wants him. Everybody has an opinion on it. Here's my take...

I think I've been able to view Vick's situation from a different perspective. I'm a fan. Not only am a fan of the Falcons but I watched every game that Mike Vick ever played for my team. Unlike these smucks who've watched Vick on SportsCenter highlights for years. They don't have a clue. I have also owned a dog or 2 for most of my life. I love dogs. I'd own a dog right now if I could. My first memories on this earth involve me and my dog.

Let me preface my statements by saying that what Vick did was horrible and cruel. NO ANIMAL DESERVES THAT! Vick was dead wrong. He can't blame it on ignorance. He knew what he was doing was wrong. To be honest, if he had never gotten into trouble...he'd probably STILL be fighting dogs. Not only what he did was horrible, it was downright stupid. Vick's contract was worth 130 million. There's no way that you should risk 130 million for a few thousand dollar bets. That's what he did. I'll never understand that. You squander millions for thousands??? Now...I wasn't the best student in math...but I know that's backwards. Nevertheless, Vick did time for the crime that he committed. Personally, I don't think he should've served time. But he broke the law and that's it. I don't think you should go to jail for driving 75mph in a 35mph speed zone but if that's what the law is...then you have to obey the law. Vick has paid his debt to society. He doesn't owe me an apology. He doesn't owe me any money. He has kids that he has to take care of. He has a family to provide for. He has a life to live. I can't tell him how he should do it.

The big debate is "should Vick be allowed to play in the NFL again." Some say that he should be allowed to come back. However, there is a huge segment of the sports community that thinks that he should be suspended and not be allowed to play again. Huh? Are you kidding me? It's funny to me how people find "certain things" to stand on their morals. Don't get me wrong...dogfighting is a cruel. But would you want a dude on your team who is a convicted felon for dogfighting (Vick) or a dude who has been convicted of another crime? The NFL is full of dudes who have been in trouble with the law. Wanna dude who killed another human while he was drunk behind the wheel...go pick Leonard Little. Wanna dude who has been brought up on domestic charges for smacking women and even spitting on women...go pick Larry Johnson . Wanna dude who was "involved" but charged with obstructing justice in murder investigation...go pick Ray Lewis. Wanna dude who started a fight in a strip club and a hail of bullets that left a man paralyzed for life...go pick Adam "Pacman" Jones. I could go on and on. The bottom line is that there is crime in society so you;re gonna have crime in professional sports. I'm not absolving Vick for his horrendous act but I don't think killing another human is the same. These dudes are STILL in the NFL but people are saying that Vick shouldn't be allowed back in? Get off your high horse.

Most of Vick's downfall is his own fault. However, some of the blame falls at the feet of his former employer, the Atlanta Falcons. No...the Falcons didn't put 4 grand on lil Sparky. The Falcons made far too many concessions for Vick. The Falcons were too busy trying to cash in on the "Mike Vick Experience". They were too busy trying to make him the face of the franchise and he had no interest in that. Vick is a quiet dude. He was the star who didn't want to be the star. There were far too many times when Vick was the last one on the practice field and the 1st one to leave. You can't be the franchise QB and do that. I have friends in the Falcons front office and they all say that there was too much "coddling the superstar QB." No one will openly say that the Falcons knew that Vick was fighting dogs but they all say that the "Falcons knew SOMETHING was going with him." I can't put alotta blame on the Falcons. Vick was getting paid as much as Peyton Manning and Tom Brady. Too bad he didn't dedicate himself to the game like they do.

For those who say Vick should "come back and play another position"...save your breath. The dude made the Pro Bowl 3 out of 5 yrs as a starter. You don't get to be an All-Star just b/c you're mediocre. If Vick came back tomorrow, he's better than half the QB's in the NFL right now. Vick is a tremendous athlete and a decent QB. He needs a lotta work on his game. I remember when people would be critical of him for running too much but if you watched any Falcons games...you'd know why he was running. The Falcons had a horrible offensive line. And we had the worst wide receivers in the NFL...hands down. For as much as the Falcons profited from Vick, they never surrounded him with a decent offensive line nor a great wide receiver. However, things have changed for the Falcons. They made the playoffs last year and have a very good QB in Matt Ryan. Some will say that the whole Vick saga has to do with race. I don't think it does. I know white people who loved Vick and rooted harder for him than anybody else. I know black people who don't like Vick.

In the end, everybody deserves a second chance.

"The value of compassion cannot be over-emphasized. Anyone can criticize. It takes a true believer to be compassionate. No greater burden can be borne by an individual than to know no one cares or understands."- Arthur H. Stainback

watchwhutusay2me

If you've ever read this blog, you'll learn one thing about me...I'm very careful with words. I always have been. It's a trait that I learned from my Dad. You have to be careful about what you say, how you say it, and more importantly...how it can be interpereted.

Case in point. The NBA Playoffs are in full swing right now. Teams are doing whatever they can to win and move toward winning the championship. Sometimes peoples emotions can get the best of them. And sometimes feelings...and words can change things. In the series between the Dallas Mavericks and the Denver Nuggets, the competitive forces spilled off the courts and things got crazy off the court. After getting beat by Denver on a last second shot, the Mavs were distraught. They complained to the refs about the Denver's "rough play" and their tactics. After the game, the Mavericks owner, Mark Cuban, was furious. If you know anything about Cuban, you'll know that he's a man who doesn't hold his tongue. Cuban, a self made billionare, is very competitve. Feeling the frustrations of a tough playoff loss, Cuban said something that he would later regret saying.

As Cuban was walking toward the Mavericks locker room where he was headed to see his players, he came upon some fans. Some of the fans were Maverick fans...and some were Denver Nuggets fans. One of the Nuggets fans that he walked past was the mother of the Nuggets starting power forward Kenyon Martin. Cuban should have just walked past the lady because she didn't say anything to him. But he opened his mouth. According to reports, he said to her..."Your son is a punk! That team is a bunch of thugs!!!"

Then he stormed off.

Hold up!!! Did you just tell that woman that her son is a punk and a thug? Are you kidding me????

I can understand being frustrated but that was out of line. That was ignorant. I have a problem with the whole situation. Here's my take...

In my humble opinion, the word "thug" gives off an extreme negative image. Growing up, a thug was somebody who'd beat you up and take your money...or somebody who'd hide in an alley and steal an old lady's purse. Nowadays, the term "thug" means something totally different. I think "thug" is the new way of saying the N word. Before you start thinking that the last statement was racist, I've heard white, black, and hispanic people use that term in that way. And that is my perception of the word. It's a "cleaner" way of saying the N word (and I'm not gonna talk about the use of the N word b/c that's another subject for another day). Do I think Cuban is racist? I dunno. I doubt it. But I don't know the man.

Secondly, Kenyon's mom had nothing to do with what happened on the court. Why even bring her into it?

Thirdly, that was very cowardly. As a man, you say what you have to say about another man...to his face. Mark Cuban is about 5-9. Kenyon Martin is 6-10. He could probably break that dude in half if he wanted to. He would have never called Keyon Martin a thug or a punk in his face.

Lastly, he crossed the lines. He later apologized and offered to take Martin and his family out to dinner. He even offered his family a suite at the Mavericks Arena. Too little...to late. Let's take it away from the NBA and put it in perspective. What if you were leaving work and your supervisor walked up to your mom, who came to your job to see you, and called you a punk or a thug...or worse? Let's just say that he had better be glad that he didn't say it in front of MY mom. He would have got his ass kicked!

sometimesiwunder

sometimesiwunder...

when did it become cool to make a fool of yourself on national tv...

when did it become cool to lack respect and self discipline...

when did it become cool to allow young kids to cuss at grown people...

when did it become cool to expect maximum results despite giving lackluster efforts...

when did it become cool to be dumb...

when did it become cool to disrespect women...

when did it become cool to be a hoe...and be proud of it...

when did it become cool to have kids and not be in their lives to watch them grow...

when did it become cool to spend money foolishly...

when did it become cool to tell every detail about your business...

when did it become cool to be proud to lose control...

when did it become cool to love him/her...more than you love yourself...

when did it become cool to have your pants fallin off your azz...

when did it become cool to worry about color...

when did it become cool not to care...

if this defines cool...well...





i guess i'm lame.

off tha dome

random thoughts...

who knew that swine would cause so much of a fuss???

this swine flu will NOT stop me from eating bacon. i mean...breakfast ain't breakfast without bacon

chicago bulls vs boston celtics was one of the best nba series that i've ever seen. why can't every game be like those games?

prez obama still has some openings in his administration. maybe i should email him my resume

ladies...what is a bigger turn off...a 30 yr old man who plays video games for more than 5 hrs a day or a 30 yr old man who lives at home with his parents who have money?

fellas...what is a bigger turn off...a woman with no kids and no job or a woman with 2 jobs and 2 kids?

i guess you can say that you don't wanna be around me when i have my phone in my hand...nobody is safe. dude was snoring.

i could've sworn that i saw sarah palin alongside the highway the other day...picking up trash.

i really don't understand the whole "first 100 days thing" for prez o. i'm willin to bet that bush spent 70 of his first 100 days on vacation.

don't you hate to see kids on their way to school with NO books in their hands?

ok...ok...enough of the ray j show talk. i don't know who danger is and i don't wanna know.

did i hear correctly??? rick ross said he wants to battle eminem??? puleeez! rick ross don't wanna battle me! and i can't rap!

i turned the radio on today and i could only take it for 10 mins. radio sucks

my boy mr.socialite had a great line the other day. he said "he paid $299 for a piece of crack." i did too. lol. i hardly ever put the crackberry down.

something about spring puts a smile on your face

if i see one more dude saggin with his pants fallin off his ass, i'ma sceam!!!

gonna invest heavily into hand sanitizer

shout out to my boy e aka eclectic relaxation aka the king of randomness. he's shuttin down his blog. gonna miss u fam. come thru and holla at me.

i'm growin' a lil tired of the overusage of the word "swagger" or "swag". you shouldn't have to turn your swag on. it should always stay on

words to live by..."if you stay ready...you don't ever have go get ready."

Nia Long...Nia Long...Nia Long