Comments on: Stephon Marbury defends Vick

By: T-Bone

T-Bone — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 23:34:07 +0000

I think there are a LOT of professional athletes hoping Vick doesn’t do to them what Vick’s friends did to him. Marbury may be one of them.

By: Anthony Stalter

Anthony Stalter — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 20:22:05 +0000

Good point about what cops target Jeff – you’re right, they’re not just after some dope, but they hope to uncover something much bigger.

I wonder if some journal with the resources will try to exploit the undercover world of dog fighting in sports. Although from what I hear, it’s damn near impossible to catch dogfights when they happen because those involved go to great lengths to keep it a secret society. It’s why Vick went six-plus years without anyone (seemingly) having a clue what he was up to…

By: Jeff

Jeff — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 14:33:37 +0000

I have little doubt that dogfighting is a regular happening in certain venues – I sincerely hope that Vick’s high profile case gets some more attention focused on this. I imagine it’s a lot like a drug ring. From a law enforcement point of view, you never just bust a dope outfit – you’re busting up a criminal enterprise which usually involves gangs, theft, robberies, the sex trade, extortion, illegal weapons and even murder for hire.

Pulling this into the clear light of day is like raking out a corner of your yard you’ve ignored for a while. You just never know what you’re gonna find in there. This is pretty far afield for a sports blog, but I think you’re correct AS. There’s more here than meets the eye, and I think that scares some folks.

By: Anthony Stalter

Anthony Stalter — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 12:50:03 +0000

I think comments like Starbury’s must have Stern – and even Goodell for that matter – very concerned about the likely possibility other prominent athletes are into dog fighting. This might just be a case of one athlete protecting another, but there’s strong indications that dog fighting doesn’t start and end at one Michael Dewayne Vick…

By: John Paulsen

John Paulsen — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 04:14:34 +0000

Well said, Jeff. I wish Marbury put that much care and thought into his words.

By: Jeff

Jeff — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 02:20:38 +0000

As a hunter – this bugged me.

When VIck and his buddies sit down and eat the dogs they kill, I’ll consider it. I have nothing against people around the world who view dogs as food animals. That’s just the way it is sometimes.

Deer hunters in my home state donated over 300,000 pounds of meat to food pantries last year alone and brought millions of dollars of license fees into the state.

The deer herd in my home state is healthier now than it was twenty years ago because of solid management practices. The does have more multiple births, and those fawn survive at much higher rates.

Ever try to stalk and kill a whitetail deer? It’s not the easiest thing you’ve ever tried. Do I need to explain the difference between fair chase and slaughtering a captive animal for nothing more than the amusement factor of killing something?

I practice throughout the year and maintain my equipment meticulously so that when the time comes, I can kill quickly and percisely with a minimum of suffering on the part of the animal. I won’t say it always goes as planned, but it is never my intent to cause pain or torment the animals.