In the wake of the Michael Vick indictment, both NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and Falcons general manager Rich McKay have said they didn't even know dog fighting existed until they heard the allegations against Vick.That's odd because there has been plenty of media coverage of dog fighting long before the Vick case, including Sports Illustrated featuring a fighting pit bull on its cover on July 27, 1987 -- 20 years ago today.
The cover story presented dog fighting as a widespread problem:
It matters little that dogfighting is illegal in every state, and a felony-level crime in 36 states. ''You can virtually find a convention (as dogfights are called in the jargon of the sport) on any weekend in any of the 50 states,'' says Eric Sakach of the West Coast Regional office of the Humane Society in Sacramento. "There are probably more matches taking place today than ever before because of the popularity of the breed,'' says Stratton ... ''Dogfighting is the greatest perversion of the special relationship that exists between people and dogs,'' says Randall Lockwood of the Humane Society. ''It is people subjecting dogs to incredible cruelty."The Vick case is bringing new scrutiny to dog fighting, but the prevalence of dog fighting is not a new development.
Belated hat tip: Kissing Suzy Kolber.
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Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 1)
1. It's not the animal's fault , it's the people !! I have a Pit - bull and he's far from being a fighter , he loves people and other animals . They are beautiful animals and are put down becuz of what some humans do to them . I'm sure these animals were loving animals before they were so badly mistreated . Those people should have the book thrown at them for what they have done to these innocent animals , they should be tortured like they did them !!
Posted at 2:12AM on Jul 27th 2007 by Rina
2. Humans only take advantage of animals when a human being can control said animal. If Michael Vick was charged with sponsoring lionfights instead of dogfights then that would be really newsworthy. Dog fighting is cruel and very inhumane.
Posted at 2:21AM on Jul 27th 2007 by George B Vieto
3. It really is unreal how some things work out. What a coincidence. It is almost like a 20 year deja vu. If Vick really was involved he should be punished to the extent of the law and make a statment out it. Kinda like the IRS going after Willie Nelson years ago, Paris Hilton being jailed for a DUI, there needs to be a statement made here.
Posted at 2:41AM on Jul 27th 2007 by nfl predictions
4. I have ABSOLUTELY NO SYMPATHY for Micheal Vick!!! Why is it necessary for an NFL athlete, who is paid millions of dollars each year, to be involved in illegal, criminal activity?? This is beyond my understanding!!! All breeds of fighting dogs should be outlawed in this country.
Posted at 8:12AM on Jul 27th 2007 by Doug Miller
5. Michael Vick is involved in alot more than just dog fighting and the Feds and everybody else knows it. The Feds. are going to prove he was responsible for the killing of helpless dogs and that there was gambling and drug sales taking place while he was present. The good news about all of this, is that we're going to get an opportunity to hear him sell-out anybody and everybody in an (including his Mother and she deserves it) attempt to save his own worthless, dog killing, ass. Stay tuned ...
Posted at 9:18AM on Jul 27th 2007 by Maureen
6. Maureen, callin out Vick's mom huh? That's appropriate.
Posted at 2:51PM on Jul 27th 2007 by Zach
7. Maureen, pretty provocative...as much as hearing about the details of this case sickens me, your comments make me curious about what else might have been going on.
Posted at 3:32PM on Jul 27th 2007 by elizabeth howell
8. Why is it everytime a black person gets nailed,,the first thing we here is Racist!,,,B.S. I'am white and married to a German ,,my best friend is black and married to a white woman. i was born and raised in the South,,so i know it and have heard it all,,Sick of it,,it's old and for anyone that keeps bringing this issue up,,,,you might be the one that's a Racist. Michael Vick is GUILTY PERIOD. I love ALL animals. He doesn't need a trail. H e should be thrown into a pit full of PIT BULLS , so he get what he really deserves.
Posted at 3:54PM on Jul 27th 2007 by dfreem
9. I think Michael Vick is totally innocent.........
Posted at 5:09PM on Jul 27th 2007 by Felix the Cat
10. I still have a copy of that SI.
Posted at 8:20PM on Jul 27th 2007 by R.B.
11. OH, THAT'S A DOG IN THAT PICTURE- FOR A MINUTE I THOUGHT IT WAS A PLAYER IN THE NFL!
Posted at 1:47AM on Jul 28th 2007 by RustyShackleford