Clinton Portis

Originally Posted by somerfrost

I watched the interview with him and Samuels today, Samuels was mainly saying that Vick is entitled to the same treatment as anyone else (innocent until proven guilty) and I agree with that but then even he fell into the mindless trap of..."it's only cause he's famous" and "other people do worse things". Portis obviously thinks it's a big joke and his comments hinted that other NFL players perhaps even him are likewise involved in dog fighting. This is serious business for the NFL and I hope they have the guts to deal with it! My position will not change...anyone convicted of this horror should be banned for life from the NFL and jailed (two states don't consider it a felony, 48 do)...in any event, I don't want to see folks like this making money in the NFL to support their perversion!

It's a good thing you aren't a lawmaker. My taxes would be over 80%. There would be 5 jails in every county.

Korea would be nuked. Oy vey.

[horseofcourse]

What did Portis do?? Say something stupid?? (of course none of us have ever done that..oh no.) Incredibly, I'm guessing some might even call my first post in this thread stupid...even mortimer who is quite possibly the most intelligent person ever placed on this planet (according to Garp.) Which may or may not be true. I don't know Clinton Portis from Adam, but he has every right to say what he did. Until Michael Vick is convicted of something, I really don't know what he did either.

[somerfrost]

Originally Posted by horseofcourse

What did Portis do?? Say something stupid?? (of course none of us have ever done that..oh no.) Incredibly, I'm guessing some might even call my first post in this thread stupid...even mortimer who is quite possibly the most intelligent person ever placed on this planet (according to Garp.) Which may or may not be true. I don't know Clinton Portis from Adam, but he has every right to say what he did. Until Michael Vick is convicted of something, I really don't know what he did either.

Portis has a right to express his beliefs and so do I...the fact that he doesn't "get it" is hardly unique, the more troubling issue is that he implies that dog fighting is wide-spread in the NFL and he even implied that he might be involved...that doesn't mean I'm saying he's guilty of anything but he's opened a door and someone has to see what's inside!

[Samarta]

Originally Posted by horseofcourse

What did Portis do?? Say something stupid?? (of course none of us have ever done that..oh no.) Incredibly, I'm guessing some might even call my first post in this thread stupid...even mortimer who is quite possibly the most intelligent person ever placed on this planet (according to Garp.) Which may or may not be true. I don't know Clinton Portis from Adam, but he has every right to say what he did. Until Michael Vick is convicted of something, I really don't know what he did either.

I haven't read the entire thread because I couldn't pass over this comment without a response....You don't know what he did wrong? You can't be serious....Besides the statement itself, here is the issue....His athletic ability has placed him in a position where he is not only a good football player, he is a respresentative of Joe Gibbs, The Washington Redskins, and the NFL. Whether he likes it, you like it, or anyone else likes, what he did was promote dog fighting.....to say there is nothing wrong with it as long as it's on private property....All he did was portray the exact image that the NFL, NBA, and every other major league sport is trying to get away from....I'm a big bad professional athlete and will dress as I please, say what I want, and about the only thing that you can do is boo me....that's b.s......

[horseofcourse]

Originally Posted by Samarta

I haven't read the entire thread because I couldn't pass over this comment without a response....You don't know what he did wrong? You can't be serious....Besides the statement itself, here is the issue....His athletic ability has placed him in a position where he is not only a good football player, he is a respresentative of Joe Gibbs, The Washington Redskins, and the NFL. Whether he likes it, you like it, or anyone else likes, what he did was promote dog fighting.....to say there is nothing wrong with it as long as it's on private property....All he did was portray the exact image that the NFL, NBA, and every other major league sport is trying to get away from....I'm a big bad professional athlete and will dress as I please, say what I want, and about the only thing that you can do is boo me....that's b.s......

I'm just defending him. What did he do?? A point I was trying to make is that there are those who would consider horse racing as barbaric and cruel as dog fighting. Do I agree with that?? No I don't, but I can understand the point of view those who view horse racing like that are coming from. Someone growing up in poor, rural Mississippi, would most likely have a different point of view on dog fighting (Portis) than I would. I'm not sure I understand his view, but unless he is currently fighting dogs, he has done nothing wrong other than say stupid words. I view horse racing as majestic animals running and excitement. Others may view it as animals being mercilessly drugged so we can bet and having many (in their point of view) snap their legs in their drug laden eforts. The truth on horse racing is somewhere in the middle most likely. The same with this dog fighting issue. I agree with PIllow, in the overall scheme of life, alcohol is a much bigger threat to society than these people fighting dogs. Should it happen?? Of course not...but lots of things shouldn't happen in this world that do...and on the large scale, I'm not sure dog fighting is high on the list of things that shouldn't happen that we should try to stop...it should certainly be on the list, but lot's more things have priority over that.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by horseofcourse

I'm just defending him. What did he do?? A point I was trying to make is that there are those who would consider horse racing as barbaric and cruel as dog fighting. Do I agree with that?? No I don't, but I can understand the point of view those who view horse racing like that are coming from. Someone growing up in poor, rural Mississippi, would most likely have a different point of view on dog fighting (Portis) than I would. I'm not sure I understand his view, but unless he is currently fighting dogs, he has done nothing wrong other than say stupid words. I view horse racing as majestic animals running and excitement. Others may view it as animals being mercilessly drugged so we can bet and having many (in their point of view) snap their legs in their drug laden eforts. The truth on horse racing is somewhere in the middle most likely. The same with this dog fighting issue. I agree with PIllow, in the overall scheme of life, alcohol is a much bigger threat to society than these people fighting dogs. Should it happen?? Of course not...but lots of things shouldn't happen in this world that do...and on the large scale, I'm not sure dog fighting is high on the list of things that shouldn't happen that we should try to stop...it should certainly be on the list, but lot's more things have priority over that.

well obviously some things are more evil than others..but like they say, the lesser of two evils is still evil.

i'm amazed (but not terribly) at what people say when a microphone is put in front of them. it's like their iq level drops, and the blather begins.

no telling if vick was involved, if he was he should be punished appropriately by the powers that be. and if the nfl has rules regarding felony convictions, then he should face punishment by them as well. as for portis, i know he has already apologized for his statements...for what that's worth.

[Mortimer]

Oh just put him in a cage with Hanford Dixon.





My money's on Dixon.

[Samarta]

Originally Posted by Danzig

well obviously some things are more evil than others..but like they say, the lesser of two evils is still evil.

i'm amazed (but not terribly) at what people say when a microphone is put in front of them. it's like their iq level drops, and the blather begins.

no telling if vick was involved, if he was he should be punished appropriately by the powers that be. and if the nfl has rules regarding felony convictions, then he should face punishment by them as well. as for portis, i know he has already apologized for his statements...for what that's worth.

This is kinda what I'm saying....my thoughts weren't necessarily about whether or not he promotes dog fighting, but the fact that he would say what he said. You know why can't someone just say "no comment" ......it just blows my mind when athletes make this kinds of remarks over and over and over again....Doesn't matter if it's comments about dogfighting or how to smuggle weed in a fake bottle in the airport....just shut up already....

[somerfrost]

Originally Posted by Samarta

This is kinda what I'm saying....my thoughts weren't necessarily about whether or not he promotes dog fighting, but the fact that he would say what he said. You know why can't someone just say "no comment" ......it just blows my mind when athletes make this kinds of remarks over and over and over again....Doesn't matter if it's comments about dogfighting or how to smuggle weed in a fake bottle in the airport....just shut up already....

Exactly, if you aren't sure, keep your mouth shut. By the way 66 dogs were taken from the house owned by Vick, 55 are pits...all will be destroyed if determined to be fighters. For now, I'll say nothing more...

[somerfrost]

Originally Posted by Pillow Pants

It's a good thing you aren't a lawmaker. My taxes would be over 80%. There would be 5 jails in every county.

Korea would be nuked. Oy vey.

No, we could just let out all the folks serving time for non-violent crimes and drug use...there would be plenty of room. Bush has shown how well trying to impose our beliefs on other countries works...doubt that would happen.

Originally Posted by somerfrost

No, we could just let out all the folks serving time for non-violent crimes and drug use...there would be plenty of room. Bush has shown how well trying to impose our beliefs on other countries works...doubt that would happen.

So let out the Enron types and the coke dealers and put in the animal abusers and Kentucky Fried Chicken customers. Got it.

[somerfrost]

Originally Posted by Pillow Pants

So let out the Enron types and the coke dealers and put in the animal abusers and Kentucky Fried Chicken customers. Got it.

Na, keep the corporate folks who ruined thousands of lives where they are but there are a lot of folks in jail for not paying support, DUI, possession of various drugs and petty theft that 99% of the time come out of jail in worse shape than they went in. I don't know if you have a background in corrections or not but I've been there and seen things for myself. Your gross out-of-context rewrites of what I say not withstanding, our entire correctional system needs serious overhaul...but right and wrong aren't determined by number of jail cells. In Va, the punishment for felony abuse of dog fighting is 5 years I believe...are you saying that law should be ignored?

Originally Posted by somerfrost

Na, keep the corporate folks who ruined thousands of lives where they are but there are a lot of folks in jail for not paying support, DUI, possession of various drugs and petty theft that 99% of the time come out of jail in worse shape than they went in. I don't know if you have a background in corrections or not but I've been there and seen things for myself. Your gross out-of-context rewrites of what I say not withstanding, our entire correctional system needs serious overhaul...but right and wrong aren't determined by number of jail cells. In Va, the punishment for felony abuse of dog fighting is 5 years I believe...are you saying that law should be ignored?

DUI is a far more serious crime than dog fighting and has definitely ruined more lives. If it's lessened as an offense then you're practically giving alchoholics the right to drive while intoxicated which will lead to more accidents and fatalities.

[somerfrost]

Originally Posted by Pillow Pants

DUI is a far more serious crime than dog fighting and has definitely ruined more lives. If it's lessened as an offense then you're practically giving alchoholics the right to drive while intoxicated which will lead to more accidents and fatalities.

I agree with you that DUI is a serious offense and drinking per se ruins countless lives...the problem is incarceration has proven to be ineffective in dealing with same...we need earlier and better treatment and the use of technology to disable vehicles etc thus keeping drunks off the road. I'm not saying some don't need incarceration but I'm merely pointing out that aside from keeping them off the road for their length of imprisonment, little is gained.

[somerfrost]

Originally Posted by Pillow Pants

DUI is a far more serious crime than dog fighting and has definitely ruined more lives. If it's lessened as an offense then you're practically giving alchoholics the right to drive while intoxicated which will lead to more accidents and fatalities.

And...I never said to "lessen the offense" but that's not an argument for viewing dog fighting in the context of "no big deal cause there are worse crimes". Using that logic, we'd only punish murderers.

Originally Posted by somerfrost

And...I never said to "lessen the offense" but that's not an argument for viewing dog fighting in the context of "no big deal cause there are worse crimes". Using that logic, we'd only punish murderers.

Yeah but you want Vick to lose his job so I take it you want all offenders to lose their jobs. People that get DUI's, for the most part, don't lose theirs. That kind of mentality creates a welfare state where these offenders can't find work and end up on SSI. Who pays for that? We do. It's a little overboard, don't ya think?