Michael Vick - In the best of all possible worlds . . .

I don't like Michael Vick and I abhor the abuse and cruelty he inflicted on the dogs in his care. He fought dogs, he horribly tortured those who did not meet whatever sick standards he and those who participated in the whole mess had for these dogs.

I don't excuse him, I don't think it was right, I don't forgive him. Let's get that clear right up front. I don't care if he gets drummed out of the NFL (although in fairness, I could care less about any sport activity so that also plays a part in my thought process), I don't care if he never touches a football again. I thought it was good and proper that he went to prison and would not have objected to him still being in prison. The man tortured dogs in the most horrible way before they finally died. Inexcusable does not begin to cover it.

I should also mention that I'm none too pleased with the HSUS and PETA who both staunchly wanted all the remaining dogs put down and fought against giving them a chance. That becomes important because in the best of all possible worlds - I think they need to keep out of the remaining controversy of Michael Vick and his infamous treatment of the dogs on his property.

That said, here's what I would like to happen "in the best of all possible worlds." I would like to see Michael Vick get it. I don't think he does yet (but maybe I'm wrong as it is hard for me to be objective.) I would like to see Michael Vick talk to the good ole boys who did not think what he did was so bad and tell them why he was wrong. I would like to hear him say that dog fighting is wrong and why he now believes that. I would like to hear him discuss the torture and abuse he inflicted on the dogs and acknowledge the horror of it, the wrongness of it, the evilness of it. And I want to hear him tell those who still think dog fighting is okay why they are wrong. I want to hear him say - I was wrong.

I understand he went to prison, paid his debt to society, lost his endorsements, is now bankrupt, lost his home & his money & his career. I get that. But he committed a crime and criminals lose or should lose the "high life" lifestyle. Supporters may consider it unfair, I consider it justice.

I'll even buy that in many areas of the country dog fighting is a way of life and people grow up thinking it is acceptable - I'll buy that as an excuse (true or not) for Michael Vick - if he can convince me that he now understands the horror of what he did. And if he really gets it, then I want him to use his voice and whatever influence he has with the red-necks and other good ole boys to educate them. They won't listen to people like us, maybe they will listen to one of their own. But he can only get through to them if he really gets what he did. I don't want to hear content prepared by a speech writer or PR person or marketing representative.

I want to hear Michael Vick stand up and say: "I was so terribly wrong and I am so sorry. Regardless of what my future brings, I will work to end dog fighting, animal abuse, animal cruelty and testify at legislative hearings detailing how low mankind can go and why we need laws to protect the animals. I can't undo the harm I did to the dogs in my care but I will work to prevent it from happening to other dogs."

And if he actually does that, if he actually shows that he gets it, and he actively does what he can to protect other dogs from people like him (or how he says he used to be) - then and only then will I believe he is entitled to another chance to play football or whatever he wants to do in the public eye. I don't begrudge him making a living, I begrudge the lives lost because of his cruelty. Michael Vick gets a second chance - the dogs he tortured, mutilated and killed died horrible deaths. While that can't be undone - in the best of all possible worlds, who better than Michael Vick to tell the story and champion the dogs still held prisoner as fighting dogs through out the country?