Former NFL quarterback Michael Vick was sentenced to 23 months in prison today, stemming from his involvement in an underground dog fighting ring and initial failure to come forward.
During his sentencing the suspended football star apologized to the court and his family. However, Judge Henry Hudson told him, “You need to apologize to the millions of young people who looked up to you.”
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Vick sentenced to 23 months for dogfighting (CNN)
So Sad!!! First!!
Yea I heard about this earlier but I heard he was only going to have to serve six of the 23 months but still we need to wake up and act like theres not a war going on.I mean really
theres a war going on^^^
…dog fighting….
im sure theres more important things to worry about.
but what do i know
He got what he derseved. He knew what he did was wrong. He broke the law. He was punished. And I don’t feel sorry for him one damn bit.
I don’t give a rats ass.
Throw his dumbass in jail. I got no sympathy for stupid fools, who choose to use their MILLIONS of dollars in the wrong way. Why not open a strip club or a car wash? This fool chose to run a dog fighting ring. Electrocuting dogs? Cmon anyone with a heart knows he is wrong for that. Granted, there are more important issues in our country, but what he did was against the law. You break the law, you go to jail. What makes him different from Kobe, OJ and Mike Tyson, is that he PLEAD GUILTY. I dont care if his friends told on him or not. He should know better.
DANG, ALL I CAN SAY IS TAKE IT LIKE A MAN! I KNOW ALOT THAT COME OUT WISER. TOO BAD U AINT AT THE GAME THOUGH MIKE, CUZ DA N.O. SAINTS GO KICK YALL’S TAIL, MAMA AND SIS TELLS ME ITS CRAZY OUT THERE RIGHT NOW, LOL!
america got rules baby,mike j & r.kelly should have gone to thailand,oj should have gone to aruba,and your dumb ass should have gone to mexico,ole!
Well, he could have gotten 5 years – so take the 2 and learn from it.
Damn shame… go from making $15+ million a year, and calling all the shots to not even being able to wash your ass when you want to.
Ignorance and foolishness is expensive as hell.
im gonna kick every dog i see from now just for vick …oh wait i might get arrested for commiting a hate crime …lol wow … america is the only place dogs have more rights than blacks …wow im moving
The hood still love you, Vick. We’ll hold GA down.
He truly deserved that sentence and much more! Animals should not be subjected to this type of cruel punishment. The fact that any animal had to die to promote illegal activity is even more disturbing. It also troubles me to see a young African-American athlete fall from grace as painfully as he did. He had the fame, the glory, and the major endorsement deals. His improper decision making skills have disappointed his family, friends, and the fans in general. He has endangered the status of the African-American quarterback indeed. Hopefully, young African-American athletes will learn from his tragic mistake and disappointing decision making skills.
Yes he broke the law, but had he would have been another color, he would get a spanking on his hand!
ALL THAT FINENESS LOCKED UP!! SUCH ASHAME!!
damn 23 months…its hella sad that how something stupid like dog fighting can ruin everything that you have worked hard for! and why did he plead guilty….Stupid!
His color has nothing to do with it, it was a FEDERAL offense, it’s not like he spit on someone and the sentence was extreme, hell he got what he deserved. Dog fighting is a crime, why shouldn’t he go to jail.
And if you’re to ghetto to see that then you should be in jail in the bunk right next to him.
C’mon people. It’s a DAMN DOG!!!!!!!!!! People have killed people and didn’t have consequences like this. White folk shoot bears, birds, dear, damn near anything that moves and it’s called a sport. Put it on tv, dress up and buy all kind of camaflouge gear . . .what a double standard! My grandma say white people care more about them dogs than people, especially black people and I agree 100%
what is really WRONG is he got 23 years for DOG fighting BUTT Pres Bush started a WAR illegally and didnt get fired from his job or give up $$ and is NOT going to jail for it!! …. we have to pay for the WAR that no one asked if we agreed or disagreed with ?? WAKE UP PEOPLE, why has the government NOT fixed the Katrina issue’s!! if this had been a White Quarter Back you no he would have gotten a lesser sentence like “3 years Probation…..
He should’ve thought what he was doing in the first place and now he has to spend 23 monthts in jail.
And another thing . . . those little white “social lites” (Paris, Lindsey, Nicole) drink and drive and spend a few weeks in what really can’t even be called a jail, and that’s it. Vick kills a dog . . .A Dog! A DOG and gets locked up for years . . . .Just doesn’t make any sense. And I’m not an animal hater, i had the same dog “Chi-Chi” from kindergartin throgh half of college and cried terrible when she died (kidney failure when she was 18 yrs old) She was like part of the fam, but the fact still remains that she was A DOG!. Never should an animals life have more priority over a human. This is truly a debcle.
mullah cimoc say ameriki not caring when him muslim get the torture, electric shock and smash head and suffocation in plastic bag but acting so concern when dog treat the cruel way.
this proving usa media making ameriki so stupid and sick. how possible ameriki woman thinking okay for sexual torture of muslim but crying the fake tear when animal suffer.
but ameriki not understand sheep dog like the work and rather die than not go for working sheep and goat each day. but fake ameriki animal lover he keep work dog in cage and hate the cowboy who work the dog and make the dog happy.
fight dog liking the fight. this dog rather die than not the fight. this the breeding method produce.
ameriki society so mix up. the ameriki woman think she pure but take the LBT (low back tattoo) and slut for every man even the gang member.
ameriki man cry baby if dog hurt but happy and smile when see captive muslim him tortured and head smash into wall and the object raping of the anus.
also at guantanamo the homosexual violence and sick of wiping the menstrual blood on muslim for defile. but ameriki so pure because feeling the sorry for dog.
for this ameriki society be destroy. economic to crashing and then not the job. then the fighting for the aztec and maya. but ameriki just slave of master in tel aviv.
Now was it that serious for nearly two years in prison….smh. What is this world coming to? People stealing or selling drugs(first offense of course) get a couple of months, a year, or maybe a year and a half but for dog fights you get two years. Get the fuck outta here.
#18 BIG MA
he aint get no 23 years, he got 23 months
Dog fighting is not a damn sport….hunting and fishing is legal (with a license)
He f*cked up…I could damn sure find better ways to spend my millions and it wouldn’t be gettin caught up in bullshyt like this…
He got two years for that…wow. I don’t believe in animal cruelty, so let his story be a cautionary tale of what could happen. On the other hand, I have seen people do worse, yet get a slap on the wrist. I wonder what the outcome would have been if he were…”non-Black”. Just a thought…
CNN asked if you think he’d ever get the chance to play in the NFL again. I think this is the end of his career in my opinion. I hope he got something else lined up. But if he only has to serve six of those twenty three months, he may have another chance.
#21
so ima ask the question that nobody seems to care about:
what about the dogs?
that’s messed up when you so fucked up in your soul that you cant sympathize with some dogs being electrocuted
its actually good this things came to light
now i know that there are alot of my people who are sick out here
i would have never have suspected mv to kill dogs like this
this says alot about a person
if you cant sympathize with man’s best friend, then who the hell can you sympathize with?
we already know about black on black crime so it’s no mystery that black folks will kill each other for a chicken wing
and now we know that alot of people would kill dogs for entertainment
“Its a damn shame what they did to that dog!
Im completely against animal cruelty, and i wanted to see Vick get punished, but dang, im beginning to think that its a bit too much, and maybe its because of who he is.
People need to get their priorities straight. Certain teen stars of “other” races, drive while intoxicated, endanger the general public, actually assault and harm people, yet they attend high class drug facilites as punishment. I’m not at all advocating that Vick was not wrong for his actions, but the media led the crusade to crucify yet another successful black man…(Don’t believe me…lets see how quick Sean Taylor’s death disappears from news soverage).
We need more cultural awareness in Our Community!
There is no doubt in my mind that dog fighting is wrong. My issue with this is that it really feels like more value is placed on an animals life than a humans. If you can receive 23 months for killing dogs then EVERY killer regardless of the circumstances should be given life from the gate. Dog fighting is a multi million dollar underground enterprise but the first time it is a national issue, the first time it is a problem is when someone stumbles upon something in THIS mans home. I just know the DA was like oh yeah we got one we got a big case this is gonna make headlines! Other than that we have to stop putting ourselves in vulnerable situations. We are not above the law no matter how much money we earn, how much money we earn for others, how many tickets we sell, how many people think we are great. We are always on the radar, always one step from being the next joke, the next disapointment.
I don’t think it’s that bad. Kudos to him for getting off somewhat easy. Shit, they made it seem like dude was sittin’ on 10 yrs or something…. Hope he copes well while he’s in there….
dueces
He deserved his sentence and I just pray he come out alright. I think it was the Falcons owner who was on the pregame show saying that its def not out of the question that Mike could play again just not anytime soon. I think he got the appropriate sentence and don’t wish anymore on him. People can talk a lot of shit about he deserve more when they’re not the ones in the situation. Like I said God bless him.
@ 20, I couldn’t agree more, we really shouldn’t put dogs above humans, although what Michael Vick did was wrong, he shouldn’t have gotten all that attention for what he did
keep ya head up Vick!
Co sign with # 17. The cops in NYC that killed Shawn Bell will not even get 23 days. There is just way too much more going on to care about 4 legged animals. Dont the Feds have some “terrorist’ to capture?
Yeah he phucked up and he finally admitted and took the rap unlike his bytch azz boys that sold him out. But you know what…he gonna be aight! I got your back Mike, reppin VA for you all the way. We still love you. Hell you can still get this when you get out wit your fine azz!! 1LUV!!!!!!
He was supposed to get 5 years max and he only got 23 months. Just deal w/ it and learn from it.
BETTER YET, WHERE THE HELL IS BIN LADEN??????
you all are killin me..Vick committed a federal offense…he did the crime he should do the time…
if u that stupid to use ur millions to dog fight then he deserves to be in jail…he jus lucky he aint get five years…and he got more time coming cuz he still got to go to trial for two other charges…
and dont forget all the kids that looked up to him..we are old enough to know better but kids emulate everything they see….I HOPE THIS IS A LESSON LEARNED FOR HIM..stop bein dumb…
#16
My name says it all about your statement. Being ghetto (or not) has nothing to do with the fact that we all know this little stunt was only pulled because this is a black man. This was so highly publicized because he is a black man. His career was tarnished because he is a black man.
Yes, his ass was wrong but there are plenty other things that people do that are just as wrong. This sentence as well as all the hype on this situation was still all because he is a black man. Stop acting ignorant and read your history. Better yet get in touch with your present. White people only care about those dogs that much and so conveniently named them “man’s best friend” because they used them to chase the black man down and killed and hung them.
Please sweety, these comments are enjoyable to read but I only comment when one of you dummies get real ignorant and either don’t know where you came from or you do know but want to make it seem like you are ignorant to the fact. These white folks don’t care about your black ass and they have their little dirty ways of showing it.
Michael Vick is an IDIOT. He’s making MILLIONS a year and he wants to fight dogs!
He knew he was in the public eye and what would happen if this got out.
But 23 months sounds like a looong time for dog fighting. People in some parts of Asia eat dogs.
I agree with Micheal Vick’s sentence what he did was wrong and he should suffer the consequences of his actions. Dogfighting is not only illegal but it takes a very cruel person to do something like that. I hear a lot of black people saying that the media should focus on more important things going on in the world or how a lot of socialites and trust fund babies get away with a lot more ( ie, Paris Hilton, Nicole Ritchie, and Lindsay Lohan) I agree with all of that and I know there’s more important issues going on at hand like the war in Iraq or global warming or the genocide in the Sudan. I’m not saying that racism does not still exist because you can look at situations like the Jena 6 case or Amadou Diablo or the Rodney King beating to see that racism is still alive and well. I think that some black people feel that we should give every black person a free pass on a lot of things which I think is really stupid. Micheal Vick had everything and he chose to throw it all away. He could have been a really positive role model for children to look up too. Like someone said earlier, he had millions and millions of dollars he could have invested wisely with his money or he could have gave back to the community and make a difference but he decided to hang out with the same roughnecks that he grew up with and he blew it. Sorry for my long post but I had to get it out.
I agree #17…..we still got internet child predators out there free. They are focused on the wrong thing. 23 months is way off bounds, should have been alot shorter. They could have cut more slack being that his career is pretty much finished.
And I am not co-signing what he did, cause I know dogs are living breathing things. but all these people in here need to stop, cause if you wear fur, leather boots, or eat hamburger you practice animal cruelty too, just on a smaller scale. Unless you work for PETA and are a vegaterian or a vegan then there is really no room to talk.
I AM DONE……..
SMH 23 mths for dog killings and yet we have a case in Houston where a man killed two men for breaking into his neighbors home. He claim self defense but he shot them in the back. There has been no charges filed yet.
It’s a lot of people that have done alot worse than him and gotten a lesser sentence…..it’s a damn shame. R.Kelly is pretty much a sexual predator and he aint been to jail yet and he still gettin more charges! What is the world coming to!?
I agree, yeah, Vick is stupid for doing what he did. This case garnered more media coverage than a missing BLACK PERSON, how just is that. Apparently, he wasn’t aware of when black folks get money, white folks will scrutinize your every move. But then again, what do you expect, the law makers are the same ones who kiss their dogs in the mouths (that should be a crime).
If you think this is animal cruelty, obviously, you people don’t know how they slaughter cows–think twice before you bite into that juicy steak.
our priorities are truly messed up in this country. I agree that he did do a bad thing, but this punishment really does not fit the crime. Hasn’t he suffered enough?
yes one can say that America’s priorities aren’t in the right place. however, just because there are people around the country not getting prosecuted for crimes they commit does not let off vick off the hook.
yes, there should be changes in the criminal justice system; it’s inherently racist, and that is a well known fact. that doesn’t change the fact that this man was stupid enough to use his millions of dollar to participate in something incredibly cruel, and ILLEGAL. he pled GUILTY and was sentenced to 23 months. what else do you expect?
I know exactly what you mean @ 44. Your logic makes perfect sense. I think what people are having trouble wrapping their minds around is actually sitting in the presence of the cruelty day after day. Dogs and weak puppies gurgling for air, tying a noose around a living breathing thing and watching it gasp for air and expire. You are saying that there is torture involved with leather and eating meat and I agree 100%. 150% actually. There is a humane way to use the resources put on this earth, but some cattle handlers are abusive, absolutely. But I personally don’t enjoy watching them die and wouldn’t be able to lay a hand on those animals myself. Dogs are household pets in the United States, as there is a strict fine in some countries for hurting cows.
As far as Vick being set up as an example and given a stiff punishment because he’s black — I’m all for equality and hope that one day the US gets there, but we’re not there now. You can’t compare yourself to a white, asian or hispanic person. You have to know that you are black and if you are a successful black person you have to be extra careful. Is it fair? No, but it hasn’t been fair in over 400 years and it’s not about to change with MV.
Maybe he and Cliff can be cellmates.
Like I said @9,america got rules baby!dig this,back in the nineties there was this brotha in cali,on his second strike,robbed some pizza place of single slice of pizza,and thus earning a twenty-five year sentence for his third strike and I could then,is what I’m saying now,WHAT A DUMB ASS BROTHA!!!!!! Mike could have bought acres of land in mexico and had a dog fighting good time,they kill bulls in packed arenas all the time.Mike got the time he got for LYING TO MIGHTY WHITEY so MIGHTY WHITEY is doing a WINTHORP/TRADING PLACES on his ass…….Here is the blueprint young rich BLACKMAN invest 20% in real estate,20% in diversified stock,20% in foreign currency,10% in franchising,leaving 30% of money to do you.If we didn’t learn from from the fact that no matter how much money you have or less you have DUMBSHIT COST and FREEDOM AINT FREE,america got rules baby!
Greetings! Okay, this is my first time commenting on a post. (Please respond gently..:) )I have been an avid reader for about 6 mths now..so there is a first time for everything.
One thing that I think that a lot of ppl forget (or don’t know) is that dogfighting is taken SO seriously in this country because of the other crimes that are financed through this “sport”. All in all, Michael wasn’t sent to jail for 23 years just for killing some dogs, but he was contributing to an ongoing cycle of violence. He also lied (he’s fortunate that he wasn’t under oath). Hopefully there will be more arrest to come for participants.
Secondly, I was always taught as a child that if a person is hateful enough to kill a dog, then they will kill anything (or anyone). I’m not saying that Vick would end up being a serial killer, but it’s just a thought.
Lastly, (and I promise this is it..I’m getting sleepy.lol.) one thing that I have noticed about this subject and other subjects posted is the blame game among some of my fellow readers. PEOPLE..we cannot bring back all of our faults to the “white man” or “they are out to get us”. Killing any creature is wrong..PERIOD..and in my own opinion..I think that he got what he deserved and he only has himself to blame. Oh and…CL.COM is an entertainment post (Angel and crew post about entertainers)…yes we know that there are more important things going on in the world. That’s what cnn.com or msnbc.com is for…Thanks..and Good Night!
***sorry 23 months..
He broke the LAW, therefore he should be PUNISHED. What he did was a FEDERAL OFFENSE, 23 months is not that bad for a crime like that. Some people acting like he got life in prison. He knew damn well that dog fighting is illegal. No sympathy from me.
Did you guys actually SEE what those dogs went through before they were killed? Pure brutality. It’s not just the killing, those dogs were put through absolute hell.
I’m no animal-rights activist (I’ve never had a pet) but what he did was ridiculous, you cannot deny that. The man is getting what he deserves.
It just goes to show you that” YOU CAN TAKE THE NIGGA OUT OF THE HOOD. BUT YOU CAN’T TAKE THE HOOD OUT OF THE NIGGA. Michael Vick.
Just for the record Vick’s harsh punishment has nothing to do with dogs. The feds could care less about dogs and animal rights. He got all that time because of the illegal gambling ring which involved the killing of dogs, which is also illegal. Had he just been electrocuting dogs n shit he would have gotten community service and slapped with some therapy, but he used it in organized multi-million gambling institution–that is why he is serving nearly 2 yrs. The same time would have been applied to any sort of illegal gambling.
I agree with #7, and that’s all I have to say…..
As far as the sentence goes I don’t think it’s a bad sentence compared to what they were trying to give him in the first place. I do think what he did was dumb and he should’ve re-evaluated his lifestyle and the consequences of things. What I don’t understand is all this talk about children looking up to him and their hearts being broken…etc. First off if you’re a parent doing your job correctly then your child should ultimately look up to you…Your child should see this man as nothin but a football player…I think some people let their children get into celebrities and entertainers and blame them for all of their child’s problems. Half of the lil kids that “look up” to Vick probably don’t even understand what dog fighting is nor should they be exposed to him doing so because that is an adult situation for adults to hear…Plus nobody has “seen” what the dogs went through because we weren’t there nor did they show us….some of yall are going way too deep into this…I think overall he got his punishment…he lost his contracts, endorsements, paid fines, lost his house, jail time, and public humiliation…let him do his sentence without your further criticism…Lastly the feds need to take more stance in other things if they jumpin all on some1 over dogs…not to say that they are not imprtant, but its obvious how “man’s best friend” is more important than human lives.
I’m a federal criminal defense attorney. I’ve been readin’ you for several months now and this is the first time I’ve commented . Same as #53 says, please be gentle.
MIchael Vick was sentenced to 23 months under the federal sentencing guidelines. The federal
Bureau of Prisons (BOP) gives an inmate 15% off if he does good time (causes no trouble. ) So that knocks his time down to about 19 months and change. Under BOP rules, he goes to a halfway house his last six months, so with the one month already served, he should end up spending ’bout one year in prison. It is extremely likely will be placed in a federal prison camp — and my clients tell me its easy time. In the end, the punishment isn’t all that much. Inmates are required to find work while in the halfway house; maybe his work could be training camp.
I don’t agree with y’all who discount what Vick did with “it’s just dogs.” The thing is this. It’s mean. What Vick and his friends did was deliberatedly cause pain to a living creature. That can make a person callous, and he can begin to discount suffering in people as well. Frivolously causing pain is never right.
I don’t think it’s over for Vick. I think he can come back and show us all the good in him. He’s a hella athlete and somebody’s gonna give him another chance.