Vick’s barbarism shines light on animal cruelty

Michael Vick, July 26: "Today in court I pleaded innocent to the allegations made against me. I take these charges very seriously and I look forward to clearing my good name. I respectfully ask all of you to hold your judgment until all of the facts are shown."

Gee, is it OK to judge him now, or should we wait until it's determined exactly how many days he will spend demonstrating to fellow inmates how an NFL quarterback lifts weights in between folding prison laundry?

Vick accepted a plea deal Monday in the federal dogfighting charges against him, a conclusion of guilt that became more and more transparent each time one of his three co-defendants chose to avoid less jail time by agreeing to take the stand and throw him under the nearest modified treadmill.

(Assuming, of course, there wasn't a pit bull on it being trained for his next scuffle inside the blood-stained pit.)

So much about Vick is not worth the time we spend assessing his fate and future. The question of how long the NFL will suspend him once the plea is officially entered. The chance some team will be so desperate for fresh legs and a wild arm a few years from now, it will offer Vick a second chance while tolerating daily PETA protests. Whether time served and the planet's most forgiving society will openly pardon Vick. Whether all those kids who love imitating him on the playground but who also cherish little Fido will again wear his jersey.

So much not to care about today.

This is where our attention should focus: All the good that came from those contemptible acts Vick and his dog-killing posse have admitted to.

Yes, the good.

Joe Blow didn't create this storm of appalling behavior. Michael Vick did. Joe Blow didn't expose all those cowards hiding in the woods with their rape stands and pry bars. An NFL star did. A larger-than-life figure. Thank goodness, too.

If it had to happen -- if a picture needed to be painted for a nation about what an immoral and gutless and disgusting act dogfighting is -- better it be such a famous individual holding the brush.

"Absolutely," said Lisa Kirk of Bullie Buddies of Las Vegas, whose company received between 10 to 20 calls daily about rescuing pit bulls before Vick was indicted. "He brought light to a very serious and sad issue.

"Our volunteer numbers have gone way up because of his case. We're getting more calls about (abused) dogs all the time now. People who had no idea this problem existed across the country and even here in Las Vegas are far more aware because it was (Vick) who was involved.

"If there is a silver lining to any of this, it's that the common person out there now understands what happens with these dogs. They understand the brutality of it, all the pain the dogs endure, that even the ones who win usually die from blood loss.

"When someone like (Vick) pleads guilty to this, all those people sit up and say, 'Wow, it really is happening.' "

It won't change everyone. There are pockets in this country that will always accept dogfighting as part of their culture, that will never understand why such a fuss was made these last few months, that can't comprehend today the idea of someone spending years in jail for training dogs to be vicious creatures so Jimmy and the boys can bet which pit bull will survive come Friday night. Ignorance, mind you, will always have its place in the uneducated mind.

It will change many for the good, though. It already has. More volunteers. More calls about abused dogs. More awareness.

Michael Vick, via a statement from his attorney, Aug. 20: "Mr. Vick has agreed to enter a plea of guilty to those charges and to accept full responsibility for his actions and the mistakes he has made. Michael wishes to apologize again to everyone who has been hurt by this matter."

Guess that means we can judge him now and at the same time thank him.

If Michael Vick hadn't turned out to be such a loathsome individual, the mere notion of dogfighting would still be tucked away in those woods with all the degenerates who practice it.

Fortunately, a prominent face defined the tragedy.

You know, the guy who is going to clear his good name any day now.

Ed Graney can be reached at 383-4618 or egraney@reviewjournal.com.