I agree. I don't know if dropping him is what necessarily needs to be done here. Maybe Nike can keep him and do a campaign that teaches young men, especially black youths that this is wrong and why. I grew up hearing about young men fighting dogs. Fighting animals is something very prevelant in poor communities whether it be dogs in the black community or cock fighting in the Latin Community. In todays society we easily convict people in situations like these without even knowing why they do it, or where they come from. You call Nike and campaign for them to for him to drop him, he loses money. if the football association drops him he loses money. Who does that hurt? Yeah it hurts the man involved, his kids and his whole family if they relied on him to help them get out of poverty and have a better life. With the media attention this has right now. I think the thing to do is use this to teach others why its wrong. This will do much more than trying to kill the mans career and punishing family members that may depend on his success. Use this opportunity to educate millions and make a difference.

Michael Vick is a horrible person... obviously he needs to be dropped from nike & i think he needs to be dropped from the NFL... He has too much money on his hands... I am so disgusted about this... He is really evil to hurt animals. I hope he gets what is coming to him.

but you see. Its easy to see it from that point o view, but what I am tell yall is that the problem is wide spread not just one man. Taking one man out the game doesn't stop others from playing. There are so many other young back kids who are also doing it. He didn't start doing this as an FL hobby, its more than likely he has been participating in it since he was young like so many Young men i have grown up with.This is a chance to educate more young men, that this is not an acceptable pass time. If things happen the way you all want them to, then all the other men, and young ,men doing it will think that he was the one who got caught, and they aint stupid enough to get caught. Your hatred for one man will not stop the widespread abuse

You're right - it's widespread and maybe all these headlines will be a wake up call.

I have NO problem hoping Vickgets the boot from the NFL - gets dropped by NIKE and does jail time. What he's been doing for YEARS is just disgusting. It's sport to them - and if kids don't see it as a serious crime then they'll continue to think it's ok to fight dogs.

You do know they sometimes use small breed dogs as BAIT right ? Someone shared a story that after a dog fighting ring was broken up... they found small collars & Tags of missing dogs.:( :( :(

and they aren't going after just him - this VIDEO and article came out right after VICK hit the headlines here in Houston - these lowlife's even took VIDEO ...it's graphic - but it shows the mentality of these JERKS that fight dogs - http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/...o/4980346.html his Indictment may be good for all the dogs out there in cages waiting for their next fight

I'm all for innocent till proven guilty - but what they took from his home says it all - there was indisputable evidence and the Federal Government doesn't hand out inditements unless they KNOW they'll win - I was reading they have a 99% sucess rate - I wouldn't classify peoples feelings of disgust as HATRED - but yes - I do hate any animal abuser and judging from the response he's getting - there's a good part of the country that hates it too.

Vick is going DOWN.:thumbup:

ps...before I get jumped on for calling the kids in the video I posted above 'lowlifes' - this is not about race or it being an ethnic thing - it isn't.

There was a big news story in Houston just recently where other kids video taped themselves training their dog to kill a cat - it was horrible - they were interviewed about the tape and the whole time they were laughing and asking what was the big deal ?:(

Thas the thing. Your dealing with kids with no parental supervision. and young men with that jimmy dean no fear thing going on. These are some of the same kids that kill other kids over less. Vick will seem like a martyr not a warning. trust me i know. Education needs to start at a young age in the bad neighborhood and good neighborhoods where it happens in basements so neighbors cant see. I know its not a race thing because i know its a "black thing" and just putting one black man in jail or whatever is not going to stop dogs from being abused. thas the sad thing about all this.

just saw the video, and the thing is you cannot help those kids.... you have to teach them that its wrong at a young age and not cool at all. . Taking Vick down wont phase the thousands of young black men already doing this. I know their mentality. I say make Vick go around and teach elementary kids that its not cool to abuse any type of dog and see that no matter what type of dog it is , it feels, hurts and bleeds just like we do. Take a bull dog, which resembles a pit and let the young kids see one who is trained and sociable and plant the seeds early..

From that video i can see all my friends who were dumb at that age, and even though i was bought up in a nice middle class home. Those guys in the video are like the friends and neighbors that i lost to the streets so long ago. Ignorant and thinking they are grown. Hating Vick wont come close to stopping the problem.

God bless

no this isn't a black or white thing ....but you're right - it's a 'status' thing these days - or the 'in' thing with some kids :( :( and has been going on a long time

The bottom line is no matter what color the person - it's still Cruelty to Animals & maybe the exposure will wake up enough people to start reporting the jerks who fight dogs for money.

edited to add - i think what you said about Vick going to schools is a good idea ..that and when they fine him - pass the proceeds over to rehab for the dogs rescued from people like him

All I know is that this is absolutely disgusting and this man needs to pay for what he has done for all these years. I just read an article that said Nike suspended Vick's line. Yes, I believe if this guy is convicted it will be a wake up call to a lot of kids. I think some kids won't get into dogfighting because of the risks. The things I have read about dogfighting are so disgusting. Not only do they use small dogs as bait. If their dog doesn't win, or they aren't pleased with their dog, part of their fun is to torture the animal until it's death or near death. They beat them, throw them down on the ground, hold them by their back legs. I can't even post anymore, I'm about to be sick with all of this.

But i heard it could take a long time before his Courtdate (up to a yr) you know how these Laywers can drag things out...:mad:

I agree.....Dog Fighting has been going on a long long time especially in rural parts of the country - it's too bad it took a Major League Football player to get caught to make it national news - :( but since it is becoming more popular it really needs all the media attention it can get... maybe it will be a wake up call for the whole country

yes it is a black thing meaning its something that is happening all the time in the black community and something really needs to be done about it because this is HUGE in specifically in the black community. For someone to earn millions and basically build a "Dog abuse activity farm"Either tells you that he didnt know it was wrong, or grew up thinking it was ok to the point that even as an adult knowing that it may get him in trouble doesnt phase him. There are so many other black men who probably have the same outlook on it. "They say its illegal, but I ain't never got caught doing it so I will continue," kinda syndrome is happening.

I am not trying to be hurtful and exclude white people, so sorry if i offend, but i really haven't seen a lot of white people fighting dogs with the back people. Just like i don't see a lot of black people fighting cocks. My whole point is whether you want to listen to to me saying its happening in the black community, and on CNN and the other news stations showcase that this is a social among black people Its happening. At least CNN and another News channel did a story on this specific part of this and put it to light that someone needs to go into these communities and unlearn this behavior. I was really happy to see that someone did their homework in the problem.

God Bless
Kisses!

The Humane Society had a big protest outside the Nike headquarters here in OR!!! I believe he will be dropped from the Nike ads once he is 'proven guilty' by the court of law. And he should be put in jail for a long long time - this is disgusting!!!

Considering that he'll probably be in jail for quite some time, they wouldn't have any reason to continue their relationship with him; even though, I'm sure that there's plenty of Nikes being bought by felons everyday. I can't recall who right now, but there was one sponsor he had that backed out of the deal...I thought it was for shoes????

I know what you're saying and I agree it's a problem - I was more responding to the comment about 'another black man' going to jail - and agree with everything you just said - I was more saying white or black.... any public figure would get the same attention that's all :)

These people who do it DO know it's wrong which is why it's kept so secret and you're right if they don't stop it now - there'll be a whole bunch more adult sadists out there who came up dog fighting.....maybe with all this attention people will start talking more. I think it's just sickening that people bring kids to these fights and it's no wonder so many grow up thinking it's ok :(