Posted on 07/31/2007 11:34:49 AM PDT by Red in Blue PA
The national backlash Deion received for his perceived defense of Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick and dismissal of dogfighting started on Thursday after ESPN Radio dissected his column. It just happened to be the same day Vick was in a Richmond, Va., court pleading not guilty to federal dogfighting charges.
Understandably, the NFL did not like that one of the faces of its network was being portrayed as a Vick apologist. Deion sent a column responding to the criticism to The News-Press and the NFL Network on Friday morning.
(Excerpt) Read more at ajc.com ...
Its also getting ripped to shreds at The Sporting News NFL forum.
For good reason, btw.
As I noted there, I’m tired of Deion’s ‘pimp with good intentions’ schtick too.
Finally, the NFL is doing something right for once!
Let’s see, who has come out in support of Vick on the heinous animal crimes so far?
Emmitt Smith
Deion Sanders
Michael Irvin
The NAACP
Their backing of Vick the dog torturer speaks volumes about their character, or more accurately, their lack of it.
When will these thugs be dropped as commentators? They are thugs in suits, nothing more.
three former cowboys. two of them, sanders and smith backed irvin on his cocaine and drug uses a few times to many while he was a player.
Its the only mentality they know and the leagues and owners condone it. Look at how uniforms have changed to gang colors.
Can you say “OJ Case”?
‘When will these thugs be dropped as commentators? They are thugs in suits, nothing more.’
I admit, I’m a bit torn on that aspect. Personally, I’ve gotten quite a bit out of Deion’s commentary, especiall on the NFL Networks Sunday night wrap up show, and during his occasional hosting duties or sidekick to Eisen.
But he, and all the rest, need to stop trying to justify the inexcusable. Lest whats happening to Deion for the past couple of days happen again in the future...because its a statistical certainty there will be ‘incidents’ throughout the year with various players.
Lets hope this gets the point across you are making.
Let’s see, who has come out in support of Vick on the heinous animal crimes so far?
Emmitt Smith
Deion Sanders
Michael Irvin
The NAACP
You forgot Clinton Portis.
On the first day that this story was in the news, I head an ESPN football analyst say that Vick is a spokesman for the NFL dog fighting subculture. Spokesman might not have been his exact word, but he definitely did say “NFL dog fighting subculture.” I haven’t heard any more about this since that day, but I suspect there is a story waiting for an investigative journalist.
This is VERY bad publicity for the NFL. I can only presume (and hope) that they are going to pursue all of the rotten apples and not just Vick.
Personally, I don’t see this issue going away anytime soon.
As they say, sunlight is the best disinfectant.
Clinton Portis of the Washington Redskins suggested people leave Vick alone, that these were his dogs, and he can do what he wants in the privacy of his home, or something like it. If I am not mistaken, he was later ordered to backpedal.
Yes, I forgot Portis. From his quotes, it sounds like he is also a participant in the sport, errrr, sociopathic behavior.
I’ll leave Vick and Portis alone by not watching their games. Not that it will matter much in the multi-billion dollar industry that is the NFL.
Okay - no more respect for Smith and Sanders. I guess I thought they had more sense.
Does anybody have the spiked column? Deion wasn’t too shy about going to bat for Vick last week. I don’t see what he could have said this week that was more out there than that.
Does anybody have the spiked column? Deion wasn’t too shy about going to bat for Vick last week. I don’t see what he could have said this week that was more out there than that.
Okay - no more respect for Smith and Sanders. I guess I thought they had more sense.
At least on topics off the field.
Smith disappointed me far more than Deion.
If Vick is found guilty of a crime then toss his butt in jail, if he’s found guilty then he’s free to live his life...all this crap in the media, as justified as it may be in some respects, is wrong if we believe in the fundamnetal fairness of our judicial process. I don’t care if the defendent is Scooter Libby, William Jefferson - Democrat Lousianna, Bill Clinton, or Michael Vick - this media circus about pending criminal prosecutions is the modern version of scandal sheets - and about as helpful.
What is especially annoying to me about this Vick issue is that it’s distracting attention from such issues as the growing good news from Iraq, the immigration/border security issue that is far from dead, tax issues, and a who host of substantial things far more important than Vick and his alleged offenses.
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