by Ian W.

Created on: July 25, 2007

Of course Michael Vick is a criminal for promoting dog fighting. The last time I checked, dog fighting was illegal, and anyone involved in the promotion of illegal activities is a criminal. By using his celebrity and influence to get people to come to the atrocious spectacle that is dog fighting, Vick committed a crime. He brought people into an illegal activity, and by doing so made a criminal of himself and others. I want to make clear at this point that I believe in the adage "innocent until proved guilty," and will be giving Vick the benefit of the doubt for the time being, but if it turns out that he was involved in dog fighting, then he is a criminal, whether or not he is charged with anything.

To think that Vick is not a criminal for his participation in dog fighting is to be blinded by his celebrity and his potential on the football field. If he were an ordinary citizen, there would be no discussion concerning whether or not he was a criminal, there would simply be a moral majority consensus that he was. However, in this case we are dealing witha professional football player who is seen by many in the city of Atlanta, as well as the wide world of sports, as one of the best young quarterbacks out there, and someone with the potential to win a Super Bowl or two. Because of his celebrity and the expectations surrounding Vick it is hard to hear that he is involved in illicit activities.

Michael Vick is a would-be hero, and people do not like to see their heroes fall, but the fact remains that if Vick was involved in dog fighting then he is nothing more than a common criminal in the guise of a famous football player.

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