Rich- As far as I'm concerned, the sentence is not even close to being enough. It may not be very PC, but I say "LET'S MAKE AN EXAMPLE OF HIM!!!" Let's use this guy to send a message to everyone that dog fighting will not be tolerated!!! Let's take advantage of the fact that this is a celebrity (isn't that the only reason this made the news?) and use it to scare the bejeezus out of others!

Rich, it seems like you and BLRGuy are a pea-in-a-pod. As an avid sports fan, I believe that what Michael did is disgusting and repulsive. As a dog lover and a pet owner, I think that Michael needs to be put in a pit with a 500 lb convict and let them fight it out and see exactly what he has been doing to those dogs. 

Elaine - He is going to prison for 23 months and I just don't know where I come down on the length of this sentence. While I don't think he should get as much time as a rapist I do think it is important that he serve serious time. Is 23 months serious time? I do think that a strong message must be sent. He knew when he signed his multi-million dollar contract that he was accepting his role as a public figure and their is GREAT responsibility that comes along with it. I am tired of this BAD BEHAVIOR by movie stars, athletes, and musicians. I am sick of them getting off easy because of who they are. They must take responsibility for their actions; this will show the average person that their behavior is UNACCEPTABLE and definitely not to be emulated!

Danny - He will probably encounter this in prison with his fellow inmates! As for the uncanny similiar posts by BLRGuy, their can only be one explanation; as Bette Midler's character in Big Business proclaimed, "They're pod people!"

I think rapists should get much longer sentences, as well as this guy.  This is brutal and disgusting behavior and cannot be tolerated. Crimes against women & children tend to be punished too lightly in my opinion, and against animals punishment is usually non-existent so I'm glad he got at least this.

Chris - I agree 100% with you. This behavior cannot be tolerated! On the crimes against women and children issue, here is a link to a great blog on that topic by Danny Thornton; and I definitely agree that sentencing for crimes against women and children should be harsher.

Rich, thanks for the plug. It is greatly appreciated. I hope Vick is not too attached to his teeth.

And I say HURRAY!!  He should have gotten life.  I have no tolerance for animal abuse.

Gayle - If you read the Link in the blog to the Atlanta Journal Constitution story then I'm sure you found even the vague description of how he hanged one of the dogs beyond disturbing. His crime is horrific in nature and I fully support him going to prison for an extended period of time and I am tired of people sticking up for him or trying to lessen his culpability.

Rich,I think we were all on the same page with this one....23 months is just too lenient....especially since he has been in more trouble since...oh well....you or I try something and see what happens

BLRGuy - I am with you. Any regular person (read non-celebrity) with the same track record for bad behavior would have gotten the full five year sentence. I am not really suprised that his lawyer said Vick was upset by the sentence. Of course Vick expected to get the federally required minimum because leniency and less accountability is par for the course with these spoiled celebrities.

The sentencing is not enough.  I would suggest putting an angry do in there with him, but that would be cruelty to animals.

OMG!  VICK didnt perform well as expected on the Falcons, so why dont we hang, beat, torture him!!???  What he did, he did for pure enjoyment only! He dang sure didnt need the money.  He should have gotten the full 5 years.  NOT TO mention, I hate to say this.....but if he were white, Neither Shirley Franklin, Hank Aaron or George Foreman would have had a word to say to the judge.  I am sick of hearing people say that dog fighting is common in the black community......is that the excuse that is giving for drugs too???  And how can they say Vick is a role model.....he was just busted with ILLEGAL drugs....AND HONESTLY ...even worse he will be hailed as a superstar in prison!  I hope he gets further time from the STATE charges in April ...and Hope he never plays football again.  I dont want any kids to see him as a role model!! 

Martin - It aggravates me further that the Atlanta Mayor (among others) would write to the Judge asking for leniency. Here is a Link which includes the actual letter. It is outrageous!

HOW IS IT the MAYOR of Atlanta can call this guy a Role Model?  Hanging a dog, drugs, lies, doesnt accept responsibilty......we should take a look at our "MAYOR" on at the next election...if this is her idea of what a role model looks like!

ME - I agree that Vick probably got a more lenient sentence because of his celebrity status. Though I strongly disagree with Mayor Franklin, Henry Aaron, ang George Foreman's efforts to garner a lenient sentence for Vick, I do not accept the premise that they did this because of his race. I do believe that they had the best intrests (though again I strongly disagree whatever the intent) of the city of Atlanta in mind.

WLQ - I agree that Mayor Franklin should have thought more seriously of the reprecussions of trying to help him obtain a more lenient sentence. However, I have found NO evidence to support the drug assertions. Here is a link to the Atlanta Journal Constitution article on the Miami Airport incident.

23 months is far too short for the crimes he committed against these animals. I only hope the State charges he faces will have a different outcome on sentencing. He will likely be allowed back into the NFL (though I wouldn't like to see him back) as they are a forgiving instititution.

The dog fighting operation supposedly began in early 2001...that's 6 years (72 months) and he only serves 23 (1 month shy of 2 full years) for this operation? CRIMINAL!

At least 9 dogs killed. The sentence served will be 2.5555 months per dog killed...CRIMINAL!

What is criminal is the shortness of his sentence and those individuals pleading leniency for him. That is totally disgusting! That is definitely NOT the right message to be sending to the public. Where were these same individuals when the dogs were being killed? (Yes, I know it didn't happen in Atlanta, but still...). Their actions show they have no feelings nor comprehension of what Vick did and was a part of. If he wasn't a celebrity, would they have come out of the woodwork for him? I think not!

It has been shown that animal cruelty leads to other forms of violence. I for one am glad he will be off the street for a while. My only thought is, has he really learned his lesson and will he return to this kind of lifestyle when he gets out? Only time will tell, as I don't really think he is as remorseful as the mayor states.

Cris - I was speaking to an attorney yesterday who said Vick will most likely get to serve whatever the state penalty is concurrently with the federal penalty. That means the time he has served on the federal case will most likely be deducted from his state sentence! If the state sentence isn't longer than 23 months then the state is simply wasting their time and taxpayer dollars. That is insane!

I am friggin amazed at OUR MAYOR!!!a GRANDMOTHER,MOTHER,WOMAN,PUBLIC FIGURE IN GOVERNMENT!!!!WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON!!! i ALMOST BECAME A REPUBLICAN TODAY!!!!!!FRIGGIN AMAZING!!!!!Vick with MILLIONS with many dogs who I know had a vet come to him couldn't put a dog to sleep. He had to HANG it. I don't care what people's excuse is for supporting him,being black,loving football,whatever,HE TORTURED DOGS. I wore my antidogfighting shirt all the way down Peachtree. I wish I could hear how friggin sad his mother is again too.,Ask my son Daniel what I would do to him if he did that?He would be lucky to make it to court.I would BEG the judge to lock him up. PERIOD. Come on Atlanta,please. This is friggin amazing.

23 Months isn't enough as far as I'm concerned.  I hope he never has the chance to play in the NFL again after what he's done.  in regards to the drug claims...  Vick failed a court ordered drug test after he pleaded, and his lawyer claimed he was "self medicating" due to depression over the whole incident.....

Rebecca - You are right. There is no excuse and it is appallaing our mayor is making excuses. No doubt about the fact that he DID TORTURE and KILL DOGS and it is UNACCEPTABLE.

Jonathan - I stand corrected on the drug issue. I had forgotten he had failed the court ordered drug test. I mistakenly thought the commentor was referring to the Miami Airport incident.

If you are an animal lover be sure to check out Mayor Franklin's letter to the judge

Your mayor is probably going to be out of a job come the next election, huh?

Jim - It definitely does not look good for her. There have been numerous scandals surrounding her office including the police shooting of an elderly woman in her home last year 

Stephen & Chris - I know that you are in the market to make money, we all are. I just hope that Vick does not profit due to the notariety of his crime. While many feel he should be allowed to play again in the NFL once he serves his sentence, it will remain to be seen the condition he is in when he gets out of prison. It is startling that the State of Virginia does not have some means to seize and sell this property as it was not only the scene of heinous crimes but the staging ground for a criminal enterprise.

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Rich- bravo