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In modern society, political correctness has become paramount.

Words or actions that were once considered normal parts of life, are now frowned upon.

In the globalized sporting market, where many sports leagues these days are multi-million dollar businesses, public relations, the world's views and opinions on a particular sporting league and its participants, can make or break a league financially.

The National Football League is by no means immune from this, and must work hard on a daily basis to promote a good, healthy image to all the parents in American society, who may be deciding which sport to push their sons towards, and to all people in general in worldwide society, who are considering which sport to follow.

Michael Vick's actions in helping to run an organized dogfighting ring, may have seemed harmless back in a previous American society.

Indeed, in modern-day Afghanistan, dogfighting is quite a legitimate interest.

However, Vick's imprisonment and public shaming show that in today's American society, his actions are indeed frowned upon.

The negative publicity garnered by Vick's actions, not only on Vick, but on the NFL organization itself, has been immense.

In essence, Vick has "brought the game into disrepute".

In the multi-million dollar modern NFL, this amount of negative media and sentiment would undoubtedly have cost millions of dollars.

Whilst the NFL cannot recoup the monies lost in the Vick scandal, they can go some way to repairing their public image by severely punishing Vick.

Something in the order of a lifetime ban from playing in the NFL would indeed be warranted. At the very least, a hefty fine at at least a few seasons in the sidelines would be warranted by such a hugely public indiscretion.

Some fans of the game, many of whom would be fans of Vick's himself, may find such a punishment harsh.

However, what he has cost the NFL in good grace and good reputation cannot be underestimated.

Thus, the NFL must be seen, in the all-important public consciousness, to treat Vick with the disdain that he treated the dogs in his organized dogfighting ring.

Learn more about this author, Aj Brady.
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