Who Let The Dogs Out?

I'm a vegetarian who owned a dog most of his life, so you would think I would be a PITA nut... I'm not. I believe more in the justice system which sentenced Michael Vick to two years in jail and put him in bankruptcy. I also believe he did his time and deserves his right to return to the job he has trained for, because just like a lawyer an NFL football player trains 4 years in college to try and obtain a job afterwards.

Now here's my problem, he's on my team. The team that represents my city, the team that cheer for proudly. That's right, Philadelphia. The place where over 350 murders were committed last year, and this year to many cops have lost their lives, has brought in their symbol of change, oh wait no, Michael Vick, a thug who hung, electrocuted, and bred dogs to fight to the death is our newest acquisition. I would have loved it if the Eagles won their first Super Bowl and brought this city together just like the Phillies. But now I just don't know. The thought of that guy having a ring telling him he is the best makes me want to puke.

When I think of Kansas City the first thing that comes to my mind is the Chiefs. A place like St. Louis, my mind first goes to the arch and then to the Rams. When people think of Philadelphia, there going to think Vick, the Liberty Bell, and then the Constitution center, and so on. But for this whole season, Vick comes before the birthplace of the United States of America, before all of the fallen officers. All news centers will talk about Vick not about the murders or the poor defenseless children who have been caught in the cross-fire. A football season I was looking forward to is now ruined, because I cringe at the thought of seeing a stadium full of people cheer for him scoring a touchdown to win the game.

I love that Philly fans spit, push, and heckle opposing fans to tears. That is what home field advantage should be, and I myself have done some of the above to make it that way. Our own govenor threw snow balls at Santa with pride, and I say that Philly fans did it with my own heart. Things like that show that we love our teams. But now with Vick, the fan base is going to be torn apart, and people on T.V. aren't going to think that were tough and physical, Philly fans are going to become dirty. During my days of travel sports we were all told to play bigger, play more physical, but when a kid played dirty he was taken out and taught a lesson. Bonds is remembered for playing dirty, and Diego Maradonna, who had so many sensational goals in his soccer career is remembered for the one that he scored with his hand.  You don't play dirty!

The minute a fan cheers for that monster, Philadelphia fans will no longer be admired. The second Michael Vick steps onto Lincoln Financial Field it is no longer going to be a tough place to play, it's going to be a dirty place to play.

DF