“For the love of money is the root of all evil." 1 Timothy 6:10

It was bound to happen. Office talk centered on Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick and his federal indictment on dog fighting charges. In the spring of 2007, a search of property owned by Mr. Vick in Surry, Va., turned up 54 pit bulls, and a later search found graves of other dogs said to have been killed during fights by members of a group called Bad Newz Kennels. On July 18, 2007, Mr. Vick and three other men were indicted on federal felony charges. The indictment charged that Mr. Vick had sponsored illegal dog fighting, gambled on dogfights and permitted acts of cruelty against animals on his property. (Information taken from New York Times).

Some in the office where I work say Vick is not guilty and should be released considering the fact that animals are killed everyday:

1. Slaughterhouses kill thousands of animals every week including sheep, cattle and chickens.

2. Animal shelters kill off unadoptable animals or animals that have been there too long in order to make way for new stock.

3. Medical and pharmaceutical firms use animals for experiments and tests.

4. Greyhound race dogs that don't win or are older than three years are put down.

5. Society has had animal contests like this for centuries; this is nothing new.

All of the above is true; there is no doubt about that. However Mr. Vick must have been aware of the fact that he was doing something illegitimate hence the name Bad Newz Kennels. His actions did not contribute to the general food chain, aid science or medicine or humanely put sick or injured animals down.

Vick did it for the lust, the thrill and most importantly the gambling. In the state of Virginia, where Vick lives, if convicted on state cruelty laws he could be fined $2,500. Three of Vick's Kennel friends (co-defendants) have scheduled plea hearings, presumably agreeing to testify against Vick if his federal dog fighting conspiracy case goes to trial as scheduled Nov. 26. ESPN has said that Vick's five attorneys have recommended that he take a proposed plea deal if jail time is less than one year.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell is awaiting results of the league's own investigation of the case before determining what action to take against Vick. Under NFL policy, a player can be banned for life for gambling or associating with gambling.

So Vick is not being prosecuted for animal cruelty but gambling; much like Al Capone was convicted of tax evasion rather than murder, illegal trade in liquor, etc. Mr. Vick, take the year, find Jesus in prison, write a book, a go on the lecture circuit, confess your sins and you might actually come out ahead. You were getting ready to retire from football anyways, right?

K.