Posted on 07/23/2007 10:46:58 AM PDT by newgeezer
All the breathless debates about Michael Vick are missing the point. The bigger issue has nothing to do with whether or not he deserves the right of due process, or whether NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell should suspend him, or whether Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank should enable him or give him tough love. It's not even about whether ... Nike should be launching another designer shoe with his name on it.
All of those are minor distractions from ...:
How did someone like Michael Vick ever come to exist?
Are we really ready to have that conversation? Do we dare explore how a young man of such unique athletic gifts and such obvious on-field marketing appeal was allowed to turn into just another unfortunate mug shot and potential ruined life? How did that remarkable athlete get a $100 million contract with the Falcons, become Nike's poster boy, rake in endorsements ..., then find himself on the verge of blowing it all because of an incredible tale that seems to come straight out of some hardcore gangsta rap video?
... The ultimate symbols of black athletes in our society used to be men of substance and positive image. Men with social conscience and resolve such as Jackie Robinson, Curt Flood, Jim Brown, ... They carried a burden and deep-rooted responsibility to portray themselves with a sense of dignity, pride and purpose. Even ... rebels such as Muhammad Ali ... stood for something more meaningful than a multimillion-dollar shoe deal.
But somewhere between Jackie Robinson and Michael Vick, ... "Street cred" became the anthem of the modern black athlete, this misguided notion that the only way to appeal to the young demographic of the sneaker-buying public was to adopt the negative attitudes of the thug life popularized by black hip-hop/gangster rappers. ...
(Excerpt) Read more at stltoday.com ...
The article dealt with more than just hip-hop...
The NBA players are hardly role models as well — the PGA donates more to charity than the NBA. The NBA just flaunts their community service — you don’t endless public service spots on the PGA, or baseball — compared to the NBA self-glorification.
Gangsta Rap doesn’t lead - it reflects what is already accepted, ie., the rotten culture that’s out there.
Bill Cosby is a lone (black) voice in the wilderness. Juan Williams likes to quote him, but in actuality gives Cosby lip service regarding his own behavior. He’s a shill for the community.
Why am I not surprised by the Michael Vick situation.
It’s not just the black kids.
‘That’s not how I read it at all. But, now that you mention it, I can see how one might.’
Yep. Those defending this turd are pulling out all the stops, blaming everything under the sun for Vick’s sick, twisted view of whats ‘sporting’.
For the past couple of weeks its been done over at The Sporting News website, but its telling Vick’s defenders are becoming fewer and fewer with each passing day.
I’ve seen posters blaming ‘the breed’ ‘racism’ ‘bigotry’ etc etc etc.
This is just a smoother attempt in my opinion. And it too falls way way short.
You left out many of the black “comedians.”
I long for the days of Barry Sanders and Walter Payton. Score a touchdown, hand the ball to the ref and get off the field. None of this “Look at how great I am” crap.
The author used ‘african-american’ only once in the article. Pretty amazing in its ownself.
First, know that no one I know would call me an “animal rights” person of any sort. I believe God gave us dominion over the animal kingdom and, when it comes down to animals vs. people, I side with people.
Now, given what you wrote about cockfighting and “senseless entertainment” and there being no moral difference between that sort of thing and watching an “action flick,” I’m curious...
Do you believe there’s nothing morally wrong with people torturing animals (their own animals, of course)? In other words, should you and I be able to buy puppies or kittens or whatever and treat them any way we want, without any consequences whatsoever?
Who is Mike Vicks dad? Anyone? Did Vick grow up with coaches who act like dads (but really, how far will you go when your whole team is centered around one player?)
I believe in American culture and history, there are two animals that we as Americans demand good treatment of and that is dogs and horses. I think its just part of our culture and heritage. Cats? Thats another story.
Owl_Eagle
If what I just wrote made you sad or angry,
it was probably just a joke.
I hear what you're saying, and lord knows the white kids have certainly adopted hip hop dress, but, at least around here, I don't hear white kids being 'loud and wrong' out in public, which is what I find most disturbing and annoying.
Who would believe that Jimmy Stewart would date Paris Hilton were they contemporaries?
I could have sworn that Will Rogers once said, “Once a man’s been a politician, he’s no longer fit for honest work,” but I can’t absolutely verify it.
Hip hop culture is just a symptom, it’s not the disease. The real problem here is a society that refuses to police itself. It celebrates reprobate and villifies the truly good. We are no longer allowed to judge and condemn the errant. It’s not their fault. They’re just a product of a fatherless home, racism, homophobia, islamaphobia, depression, anxiety, ADD, ADHD, poverty, inattentive mother, overbearing mother, too much TV violence, too many video games, cigarettes, trans-fats, lead paint, Alar poisoning, global warming, clergy abuse, bad schools, open borders or George Bush. Name a discretion, they’ve got an excuse. No one is accountable; no one deserves reproach. Walk into any shopping mall in any city in America and you are assaulted with language once reserved for the lowliest of sailors. And it’s coming from all ages and colors and no one even bats an eye. Hip hop is only a problem because we tolerate it, just like the potty mouths at the mall. Michael Vick is not a victim of hip hop; he’s just another example of turinng a blind eye to a problem, He was low-rent before he became a star, and continued to be low-rent after. Music and culture had nothing to do with his problem. He made a decision and no one called him on it; agents, managers, owners, teammates, or the press. Now he is paying a price in the legal system. How long before we hear what his excuse is? Who will be the first to jump to his defense.
Thank you for being part of the FR forum and giving your perspective. We need it.
Gale Sayers, Walter Payton, Willie Stargell...
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