Michael Vick press conference

[Cerise]

Whats a Michael Vick and why should I care?

I'm all about Lindsay Nicole and Paris!

Michael Vick is a POS thug gangsta who was "indicted by a federal grand jury in Richmond, Virginia, on a conspiracy count alleging they bought and sponsored dogs in an animal fighting venture and traveled across state lines to participate in illegal activity, including gambling.

According to the indictment, dogs that didn't show enough fighting spirit, or that lost matches, were put to death by a variety of methods, including shooting, drowning, hanging and electrocution. Prosecutors allege that on one occasion earlier this year, Vick participated in killing eight dogs."

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/law/07/17...tml#cnnSTCText

Fine upstanding role model for the kiddies he's not!

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/football/nfl/05/29/vick0604/index.html

 

[tonksy]

That house has no curb appeal...much like the owner.

 

[Cerise]

See how the outbuildings where the cruelty was happening are painted black to camouflage them?

 

[tonksy]

See the trashy above ground pool? Is that where they fought them?

 

[SouthernN'Proud]

Not likely. They have plywood "pits" they can assemble/disassemble easily and move from site to site (and hide...) that are generally used from what I've seen in various reports. The walls stand maybe 3' high. I'm guessing 6' to a side square roughly.

 

[spike]

In one building a scale hung from the ceiling. There were treadmills to exercise the animals and a "rape stand," a contraption that holds aggressive dogs in place during breeding.

I wonder now how common a practice this for dog breeders in general.

"There exists a dogfighting subculture in the NFL and NBA," says Wayne Pacelle,

Wow, I had no idea.

 

[tonksy]

Not likely. They have plywood "pits" they can assemble/disassemble easily and move from site to site (and hide...) that are generally used from what I've seen in various reports. The walls stand maybe 3' high. I'm guessing 6' to a side square roughly.

That's what Rob was telling me...so know I want to know why a multi-millionaire has a nappy ass empty above ground pool.

 

[SouthernN'Proud]

Well, according to all reports I've seen, he didn't live there himself. Cousins I think.

It appears that the place was little more than a "cover" for this dog fighting activity, or at the least it was some place for his cohorts to live while engaging in these spectacles, if the reports are to be believed. Vick reportedly frequented there but did not reside there. Also, I don't know when the photo was taken. Could have been before "pool season".

 

[SouthernN'Proud]

ATLANTA -- In what has quickly evolved into a collaborative effort that includes input of officials from the NFL, NFL Players Association and Atlanta Falcons, embattled quarterback Michael Vick could be urged to take a voluntary leave of absence to focus his energy on the legal challenges from a federal dogfighting indictment confronting him, sources said.

ESPN.com story

Has anyone yet heard Vick proclaim his innocence? Innocent people can't wait to tell you how innocent they are. he's been curiously silent on all fronts. Lawyer advice maybe, but if it is I think it's a bad strategy. The longer he stays quiet, the more guilty he looks.

"The commissioner is concerned about the seriousness of the charges, and he wants to make sure Vick focuses on putting up the most appropriate defense," a source said. "Vick has to be convinced that it is in his best interests to take a leave of absence ... I think it's fair to say nobody's really comfortable with him playing under these circumstances."

Even a close Vick associate acknowledged early Friday that is the case.


Said the associate: "There's been a lot of stuff going on the last day or so, but the one thing that keeps getting clearer and clearer is that they don't want [Vick] around. The Falcons, the league, they know it's a mess and it's only going to get uglier if camp starts and he's on the field. If he's not [present for camp], at least there's a little bit of 'out of sight, out of mind,' you know? It removes the source of distraction. Otherwise, it's just [untenable]."

 

[spike]

Well, the SI article says "But neither the case, nor Vick's connection to it, is so clear-cut. Since the raid, Vick, 26, has proclaimed his innocence and blamed family members who lived in the house".

so know I want to know why a multi-millionaire has a nappy ass empty above ground pool.

Big-assed bird bath?

 

[unclehobart]

If the photo goes back to the initial April police invasion, then it was about a month before pool season.

They really should have put a cover on it.

 

[tonksy]

The empty is not the issue. A man that well off doesn't get a cheap ass above ground pool. They have kidney shaped italian tile monstrocities put in with cabanas and gilded chaise lounges and umbrella shades.

 

[Cerise]

The property does seem low rent---probably the first house he bought with his NFL contract $. You're right--that pool looks a little out of place, tho.

 

[unclehobart]

That would seemingly fit in with the whole 'bought strictly for a gaming cover' type of place. No real money went into the infrastructure because his hood-ass cousins would have just screwed it up anyway.

 

[Gonz]

Dogfighting QBs followed by insider officials in the NBA. No wonder I've lost interest in sports.

The NBA acknowledged Friday that the FBI is investigating Tim Donaghy for betting on games, including ones in which he officiated.

Oh, here's the problem-

The bottom line is referees don’t make enough money either. NBA refs roughly earn between $100,000 and $300,000 a year. Take a look at how their salary has increased over the years.

In 1983, NBA refs made between $18,146 and $78,259. Factoring in inflation, that’s $37,959 to $163,709. That’s an average increase of 136 percent over the past 25 years. Now let’s look at how players salaries increased. In 1983, the average NBA player salary was about $275,000. This past season, the average salary was $5.2 million. Factoring in inflation, NBA players salaries have increased 806 percent over the same time period.

Piss off

 

[Inkara1]

I sure wouldn't mind making only $100,000 to $300,000 a year. I think I could pinch some pennies and find a way to live on that.

 

[SouthernN'Proud]

I didn't know the refs were as talented as the players.

I also can't recall ever buying a ticket to a sporting event to see the refs work.

 

[Gonz]

I've seen games where I wished they'd stop working.

 

[SouthernN'Proud]

RICHMOND, Va. -- One of Michael Vick's co-defendants pleaded guilty Monday to federal dogfighting conspiracy charges in a plea agreement with prosecutors.

Tony Taylor makes a quick exit from a Virginia court following his plea agreement hearing Monday.

Tony Taylor, 34, who will be sentenced Dec. 14, said he was not promised any specific sentence in return for his cooperation with the government.

Taylor faces a maximum of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine, but likely will get less under federal sentencing guidelines. The guideline range will be determined by court officials, and U.S. District Judge Henry E. Hudson can depart from that range if he finds aggravating or mitigating circumstances.

linkage


Kinda screws up Vick's innocent plea when one of his codefendants pleads guilty to conspiring with him, huh?

He's done. Hold on to those Vick Falcons jerseys, they'll be collector's items in a few years...somewhere.

 

[Gato_Solo]

This is me...

This is me caring about Michael Vick...