Eagles Sign Michael Vick... Wunnerful

Last Thursday night, I was minding my own beeswax, excited to watch the Eagles first pre-season game against the New England Patriots. I'm an Eagles fan over 40 years Some time in the second quarter, their season ended (for me anyway!). They announced the signing of Michael Vick, fresh out of the slammer for his role in personally torturing dogs, staging dog fights, and killing dogs in brutal ways. It's been difficult to listen to any more about this in the days following the big announcement. I can't recall any decision in the Philly sports world that ever split the fans as much as this did. On the side of Vick were first his fellow football buds, all sticking together as boys in the millionaire's club would. That I expected, from the players. But when the owner, GM, coach also came out and made the decision to pick him up, half of the city's collective jaw dropped, and like going to the dentist and having novacaine shots, we drooled and found it hard to speak. That initial shock has worn off, and I for one, am sick of the arguments for why it's a good move.

Let's start with the "Everyone Deserves a Second Chance" line. First off, NO, they do not ALL deserve that. When you intentionally hurt children, handicapped, elderly OR animals, you lost the second chance rights. Not saying he should stay in prison, but he should be able to get a job, along with all other unemployed people, maybe he could work for an animal shelter! But to let him win the lottery, uhmm, I mean give him another $1,000,000 contract, is just wrong. Second chance?? and how will he SHOW he has changed in the animal cruelty area? He WON'T drown\electrocute\hang dogs any more? Oh, how WILL he ever be able to control himself to NOT do those things, that's asking a LOT of him !?! Everyone doesn't deserve the second chance, would a nurse that killed elderly be allowed back in a nursing home? Where are all the "second chancers" for Pete Rose, who only gambled on baseball. Not saying he belongs in baseball as a manager (but yes to the Hall of Fame!), but doesn't he fall into the "everyone" who deserves a second chance?

How about the "I made a mistake"? Yea right, he means the mistake of getting caught. He'd still be harming dogs today if he wasn't caught. I don't buy the "way he was brought up" as it being normal to raise dogs to fight. He wasn't a backwoods bumpkin then, he was a multi-millionaire, and supposedly college-educated, so he damn well knew what he was doing was very wrong and brutal. Stupid too. Makes you wonder who all these high rollers were, that bet on the dogs, maybe other NFL players?!? Someone with a lot of money to bet.

For the people saying "I'm ok with him coming back to the NFL, just not MY team!", that is a bunch of crap. you either agree with him being given a "second chance", or you do NOT agree.

And no, I'm not perfect, but on this issue, maybe I am, as I'd never drown a dog, etc... I'm boycotting the Philadelphia Eagles because they took our team hostage with this bad decision. We'll get the team back one day! Owners, GM's, coaches and dog killers come and go, the fans will always be here when all that changes! Hope Vick gets his personal life in order, but has a lot of ruff days on the field.