"You Gotta Be Kidding!"
by Mickey Charles, CEO Sports Network

That is what they have become, in their own minds, and regardless of the situation, act committed or what appears on the horizon, they fancy themselves above it all. The "they" are our superstar athletes. Instant millionaires...fastball, slam dunk, jarring tackle, mix with water and shake well, do not stir. Result, transformation of beings, mentalities and approaches to society and fellow human beings. Little regard for conformity, legal parameters or anything else.

Drug use, steroids, spousal abuse, rude and intimidating behavior, disregard for the kid seeking a few seconds and an autograph...a word or two of recognition, removal of humility and, like politicians, instant memory loss concerning the folks that pay the bills or cast the votes to bring them to these lofty heights.

Michael Vick

But, that is a general indictment.

True enough and not intended as such. This brings us to Michael Vick. Before you reach for the keyboard - since mail is, for all intents and purposes, a thing of the past - try to do some intellectual, objective and cognitive exercises of the brain in viewing this situation. What he did was abhorrent. If he had just been a spectator, it would have been equally as despicable. The fact that he took it to the next level is repugnant and offensive.

What he has destroyed concerning himself is mind-boggling. But, again, he fancied himself "untouchable." His friends, to save themselves as much as they can, were going to testify that he brutally executed dogs. Despite early denial and protestations that he was going to clear his name, with complete outrage by (got your hands on those keyboards?) the black community, fans of his and the local NAACP, not to mention the ever present voice of the Reverend Al Sharpton, Vick was expected to plead guilty to federal conspiracy charges and admit what took place.

Worries about the NFL and playing time? You have to be kidding!!! How about potential prison time or will he walk because he is an athlete, a product of some ghetto (that always comes to the surface), victim of a terrible youth experience and, in reverse, playing the race card? Everything in situations like this is eventually defined as black and white. How ridiculous have we become as a society? We are a box of Crayolas, nothing else, so it seems.

Reverend Sharpton, in his less than inimitable style, pre-judged the boys at Duke and wanted Don Imus hung, not in effigy but in reality, someplace visible in Manhattan. His is a world that is distinctly black and white. Michael Vick was being unjustly accused because of his color? Really?

When I watch an executive of the NAACP?s national office on The Today Show stating that it is unjust for prison populations to have a distorted percentage - I think he quoted two-thirds as the figure - of Latino and African-American prisoners the thought occurred to me that we must concentrate on whites, Asians, Europeans and others committing more crime. How else to balance the books?

Vick is expected serve some jail time after his plea with authorities.

The fact of the matter is that definition by color is the height of stupidity, arrogance and denial. I would not care if Michael Vick was black, white, pink, yellow, striped or rainbow ridden. Do the media and public have a tendency to pre-judge? You bet. Do the courts of journalism and the public deem you guilty before proven innocent in many cases? Count on it. Opinions and judgments are reached faster than rising floods across the country right now.

Vick faced a maximum of five years (not about to happen) in jail and a $250,000 fine (petty cash despite all the canceled endorsement deals). Likely scenario...community monetary contribution plus 12-18 months incarceration coupled with massive marches in front of the courthouse by all sorts of people. The judge has the final say in this matter and Vick is a first-time offender. Look for that to play heavily. Then add in that he has a family, was purportedly influenced by others (at this stage of his career and life?) versus bankrolling the entire operation, drowning, hanging and electrocuting many of the dogs. Still want to march to defend him?

Flash!!! The plea deal has been signed and Vick now admits to conducting an enterprise including the sponsoring and transporting of dogs in dog-fighting operations. That means that he and his attorneys are courting a return to the NFL after a suspension period and expected jail time and with a monetary fine imposed. In other words, he paid for and sponsored dogs in dogfights and bought and transported dogs across state lines to engage in animal fighting ventures. He drove the car for Bonnie and Clyde but never entered the bank or shot any of the guards. It is apparent that the authorities are Falcons? fans.

Vick now changes his involvement again and does not admit to killing any dogs personally or gambling on the fights. He was a spectator with a financial interest. He did not kill any dogs that did not perform well nor did he, according to what was signed, place side bets on any of the fights and did not receive any of the proceeds from the purses. Couple that with a plea summary that also says that most of the operation and gambling monies were provided by Vick but he and his co-defendants claimed purses when their dogs won fights. That is not gambling? Should that be a question or statement?

What remains now is the matter of restitution but the dogs cannot be brought back to life and to whom or what is the restitution made, what is the "special assessment" that will be asked (monies to some humane society?)? I expect some jail time, followed by some supervised release for signing the deal.

Is this where someone asks what would happen if he was white and not the superstar with barrels of money and friends in high places?

When all is said and done, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell will likely suspend Vick for a bit longer than any time he "serves" in supervised fashion and then welcome him back into the NFL with open arms and forgiveness.

Unbelievable...but count on it.