So now the NAACP is weighing in on the Mike Vick situation.
ATLANTA — An NAACP leader said Michael Vick should be allowed to return to the NFL, preferably the Atlanta Falcons, after serving his sentence for his role in a dogfighting operation.“As a society, we should aid in his rehabilitation and welcome a new Michael Vick back into the community without a permanent loss of his career in football,” said R.L. White, president of the NAACP’s Atlanta chapter. “We further ask the NFL, Falcons, and the sponsors not to permanently ban Mr. Vick from his ability to bring hours of enjoyment to fans all over this country.”
While I do agree that as a society we should “aid in his rehabilitiation,” whatever that really means, I think this is way off base. First of all, being a professional athlete is not a right, it is a privilege. Depending on how long he stays in the pokey, he might be able to come back and play football, he might not. There’s no way to know for sure until that time is up. But in either case, it makes no sense to act like there’s some need to intercede on Vick’s behalf. If it comes down to it and some owner or general manager thinks Vick can still play, and that he can help his team win, they will give him a call. Period.
What’s a lot more interesting to me is the comments on ESPN’s website. So many internet-tough people I have never seen in my life. As is par for the course, they all hide behind pseudonyms and call everybody “stupid” and “idiot” and act like they can kick everybody’s butt. But it’s over the internet, so of course they’re tough. Anybody can be tough anonymously. I mean, a lot of the talk there has racist overtones, but I’m struck by the general lack of civility. I guess I really shouldn’t be, though. That’s where we live now.
Controversy drives ratings. It’s been the same routine since it started on the McNeil -Lehrer Report way back in the day, but at least then there was some semblance of conversation. Once Crossfire jumped off, it was a wrap. Even news talk shows became the political version of Jerry Springer. All of a sudden, there was no longer any room for nuanced discussion; no room to re-think or adjust a position. It’s just about being louder and maybe…MAYBE pulling off the best one-liner. For all that, I could just watch my kids jone on each other.
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