Today, Micheal Vick surrendered to Federal Prison authorities to begin serving time prior to being sentenced. It seems almost amazing to me that a multi-millionaire would just accept that fate and not try to utilize his mass fortune to circumvent the criminal justice system. But I am sure that he has been advised by his expensive legal team that prison time is unavoidable.
It is sad that we live in a society where money usually determines who actually goes to jail. But in Vick's case I believe he just allowed himself to hold on to a past that he should have discarded years ago. Now I have a hard time sending a man to prison for fighting dogs. When we can see two men fight and pummel one another in the UFC. In reality I think this is just another attempt to take down a black Icon who does not represent what mainstream america thinks he should.
With the recent federal indictments against Barry Bond we are seeing this scenario poised to play out again. Any athlete on the college level and for sure the professional level could attest to prolific use of steriods. And in Major League Baseball until recently steriod use was rampant. Barry Bond has always been his own man and never attempted to shuffle and jive. He carries himself as a man and that tends to make those in authority feel a need to put him in his place. I will not pass judgement on steriod use. Because in the end they are damaging their own bodies.
But I think it is just another attempt to castrate another brother who fails play the role designated for them. It simply reminds me of Heavy Weight Champion Jack Johnson who was systematically persecuted for just standing up and being a man. They did it to Muhammad Ali for political, religious and racial reasons. In no way am I attempting to disregard bad behavior, but prison time for dog fighting. And prison for lying about steriod use.
Come on we have elected an administration that is currently waging war based solely on bald faced lies. And people actually think they still have rights in this society. As we watch our civil liberties continue to erode when will we wake up and stop focusing on trying to tell others how they should live? People are responsible for what they do but the punishment should fit accordingly.