View Full Version : NAACP urges NFL to not ban Vick
thrasymachus
08-22-2007, 06:21 PM
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/football/nfl/08/22/bc.fbn.vick.naacp.ap/index.html
ATLANTA (AP) -- Michael Vick should be allowed to return to the NFL, preferably the Atlanta Falcons, after serving his sentence for his role in a dogfighting operation.
"As a society, we should aid in his rehabilitation and welcome a new Michael Vick back into the community without a permanent loss of his career in football," said R.L. White, president of the NAACP's Atlanta chapter. "We further ask the NFL, Falcons, and the sponsors not to permanently ban Mr. Vick from his ability to bring hours of enjoyment to fans all over this country."
White said the Falcons quarterback is a human being who has made a mistake and should be allowed to prove that he has learned from that mistake.
On Monday, Vick said through a lawyer that he will plead guilty to a federal charge of conspiracy to travel in interstate commerce in aid of unlawful activities and conspiracy to sponsor a dog in an animal fighting venture.
Three Vick associates have pleaded guilty to the conspiracy charge and say Vick provided nearly all the gambling and operating funds for the "Bad Newz Kennels" dogfighting enterprise. Two of them also said Vick participated in executing at least eight underperforming dogs, raising the possibility of the animal cruelty charges.
Last month, state and local leaders of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People urged the public not to rush to judgment in the Vick case. The civil rights organization said animal rights groups, talk radio and the news media were vilifying the embattled athlete, and that his team and corporate sponsors were prematurely punishing Vick.
White said the Atlanta chapter supports Vick's decision to accept a plea bargain if it's in his best interest, but he questioned the credibility of Vick's co-defendants, saying an admission of guilt might be more about cutting losses than the truth.
"At this point, you're not looking at guilt or innocence," White said, referring to the possible harsher sentence Vick could have received had he taken his case to trial and been found guilty. "You're thinking, 'What I better do is cut my losses and take a plea.' But if he saw this as the best thing to do at this point for his future, then I think he made the correct choice."
White said he regretted that the plea deal will mean all the facts of the case might never be known.
"Some have said things to save their own necks," White said. "Michael Vick has received more negative press than if he had killed a human being."
White said he does not support dogfighting and that he considers it as bad as hunting.
"His crime is, it was a dog," White said.
Vegas
08-22-2007, 06:26 PM
I wonder if the NAACP has ever recommended no suspension for any white athlete that got into trouble.
I wonder if the NAACP has ever recommended no suspension for any white athlete that got into trouble.
Do they purport to be for the advancement of honky people?
Roy Munson
08-22-2007, 09:21 PM
I wonder if the NAACP has ever recommended no suspension for any white athlete that got into trouble.
white is a color too...
Hotpapa666
08-22-2007, 09:36 PM
white is a color too...
White's a base: A combination of all colors. So is black. I think they need to work on their title.
Tom Joad
08-22-2007, 09:38 PM
I wonder if the NAACP has ever recommended no suspension for any white athlete that got into trouble.
I know he's not an athlete but they did support Michael Jackson when he was in trouble.
pnkpanther
08-22-2007, 09:49 PM
I go back and forth, ray lewis killed 2 people. Leonard Little killed one person. they're still in the league
Tom Joad
08-22-2007, 09:51 PM
I go back and forth, ray lewis killed 2 people. Leonard Little killed one person. they're still in the league
There was little evidence that he killed people. He only plead to obstruction of justice.
Roy Munson
08-22-2007, 10:01 PM
I go back and forth, ray lewis killed 2 people. Leonard Little killed one person. they're still in the league
Ray-Ray's conviced crime was much less than Vick is charged with. Little had an accident after drinking. I can't think of any reason Little is in the league, but I think we can all see the difference between an accident and something done with complete malice to a helpless animal. Its obvious that the life of a human is worth more than a whole pack of dogs, but its also obvious that the crimes are different. One guy made a mistake, the other is a sorry excuse for a human being.
Will the NAACP offer forgiveness to Don Imus and allow him to take back his job?
Hotpapa666
08-22-2007, 10:34 PM
Ray-Ray's conviced crime was much less than Vick is charged with. Little had an accident after drinking. I can't think of any reason Little is in the league, but I think we can all see the difference between an accident and something done with complete malice to a helpless animal. Its obvious that the life of a human is worth more than a whole pack of dogs, but its also obvious that the crimes are different. One guy made a mistake, the other is a sorry excuse for a human being.
It was a little more than an accident though. His BAC was over .2 and he killed a woman. I know you aren't defending Little, and I'm not looking for a debate... The league and the judicial system were both VERY soft on Little. He was also pulled over and had a BAC of over .2 after the incident. Luckily for him the police dropped the ball. But, the league, again, did nothing.
The league has an image problem, yet it continues to more popular. I suspect their is a pro-wrestling aspect to it all.
Hotpapa666
08-22-2007, 10:35 PM
Will the NAACP offer forgiveness to Don Imus and allow him to take back his job?
He ended up with a better job, didn't he?
Controversy is just free publicity. Media outlets like free advertising.
It was a little more than an accident though. His BAC was over .2 and he killed a woman. I know you aren't defending Little, and I'm not looking for a debate... The league and the judicial system were both VERY soft on Little. He was also pulled over and had a BAC of over .2 after the incident. Luckily for him the police dropped the ball. But, the league, again, did nothing.
The league has an image problem, yet it continues to more popular. I suspect their is a pro-wrestling aspect to it all.
All priors were under Tagliabue. That's not an excuse, but since Goodell has come in, there has been a move towards a stronger conduct code.
Pacman gone for a year
Henry gone for 8 games
Vick TBD, but I'd be surprised if it's less than a 24 games (when including the lying, the conviction, and the illegal gambling).
He ended up with a better job, didn't he?
Controversy is just free publicity. Media outlets like free advertising.
No, Imus is unemployed as of this date, but a contract with a local affiliate is under negotiations. And he is making MUCH less money.
NAACP is not for advancement of colored people anymore.
Roy Munson
08-22-2007, 10:57 PM
It was a little more than an accident though. His BAC was over .2 and he killed a woman. I know you aren't defending Little, and I'm not looking for a debate... The league and the judicial system were both VERY soft on Little. He was also pulled over and had a BAC of over .2 after the incident. Luckily for him the police dropped the ball. But, the league, again, did nothing.
The league has an image problem, yet it continues to more popular. I suspect their is a pro-wrestling aspect to it all.
There wouldn't be a debate, as I still think Little should be in prison, but the big difference I see is intent.
Hotpapa666
08-22-2007, 11:03 PM
All priors were under Tagliabue. That's not an excuse, but since Goodell has come in, there has been a move towards a stronger conduct code.
Pacman gone for a year
Henry gone for 8 games
Vick TBD, but I'd be surprised if it's less than a 24 games (when including the lying, the conviction, and the illegal gambling).
Will his suspension be served concurrent with jail-time?
Will the NAACP offer forgiveness to Don Imus and allow him to take back his job?
You are thinking of NBC, not NAACP. I know you didn't mean to imply that the NAACP was responsible for his employment. Anyone can hire him back if they want. I would venture to say that the NAAPC probably wouldn't hire him.
Will his suspension be served concurrent with jail-time?
TBD
There wouldn't be a debate, as I still think Little should be in prison, but the big difference I see is intent.
You see well. Torture is definitely not a mistake.
I wonder if the NAACP has ever recommended no suspension for any white athlete that got into trouble.
No, but I bet many have. They have a mission do advance black people, not white people.
You are thinking of NBC, not NAACP. I know you didn't mean to imply that the NAACP was responsible for his employment. Anyone can hire him back if they want. I would venture to say that the NAAPC probably wouldn't hire him.
No, you read it right. It seesm the NAAPC feels it is the dictator of who can be employed in the entertainment industry...under which sports and morning talk shows fall.
No, you read it right. It seesm the NAAPC feels it is the dictator of who can be employed in the entertainment industry...under which sports and morning talk shows fall.
I'll be darned.
Vegas
08-24-2007, 11:25 AM
NAACP leader: Bigger issues than Vick
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/falcons/2007-08-23-vick-thursday_N.htm
The national head of the NAACP said Thursday he would prefer that the civil rights group focus on basic issues, not on a celebrity case that has sparked national debate beyond sports.
It comes on the heels of the Atlanta chapter of the group urging the door be open for Vick to return to football.
Vick is expected to plead guilty Monday in Richmond, Va., to a federal dogfighting indictment that carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison. His status as an NFL quarterback with the NFL's Atlanta Falcons is on hold.
"Sometimes, politics being local, they (local chapters) speak to issues that we'd just as soon leave to others to deal with," Dennis Courtland Hayes, interim president and CEO of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, said Thursday in an interview with USA TODAY.
"We would hope that our units, as we do, would be dealing with the larger issues of the day that surround things like jobs and tackle problems that go to the root cause of our affliction as a community, as families, whether it has to do with education or wages or poor health care. We try to deal with those over-arching problems."
This week, the president of the NAACP's Atlanta chapter, R.L. White, said Vick should not be permanently banned from the NFL and that a "new Michael Vick" should eventually be welcomed back. Hayes said he and the NAACP's national board have not taken "formal positions" on the case.
"But in this instance our branch, who I guess is has come to love their quarterback, wanted to speak to it," Hayes said. "They're not saying much that is different from what many others are saying. They made it clear that Michael Vick has done something very wrong and he needs to pay for his lack of judgment. He has made his bed, and he'll have to lie in it."
But Hayes said it was "premature" to address punishment. "Michael Vick has very good lawyers who can argue very well for him. He can make his case to the judge and to the NFL," Hayes said.
"Once that full record is made, which includes their ability to look at whether he's remorseful and also look at all the good things he's done during his life, a decision will be made and perhaps it would be addressed at that time by the NAACP. Hopefully not, because, again, we would prefer to deal with the root causes of problems and not individual situations like the Mike Vick story."
On the Today show on NBC-TV earlier Thursday, Hayes said, "The NAACP does not condone dogfighting. This is a situation involving Mike Vick. I understand he has admitted wrongdoing. Michael Vick is not a victim in this situation. He was in control of his actions, and he's not a victim."
In a later interview, he also stressed that the issue of dogfighting goes beyond Vick.
"I would hope that rather than focusing on one individual, Michael Vick, that we'd look at some of the larger questions before us, such as why we even have a dogfighting industry that's prospering in this country," Hayes said. "It is stereotypical to think that it exists in just one community, that it started rural and is now urban. I have no doubt that there are people that participate in this industry across racial and ethnic lines."
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) confirmed Thursday it is assisting federal authorities in evaluating the more than 50 dogs seized on property formerly owned by Vick in Surry County, Va.
The ASPCA declined to provide further details. But generally it says most animals seized from dogfighting rings are not adoptable and have to be euthanized.
Also Thursday, former world champion boxer Roy Jones Jr. said in an interview on ESPN Radio that he doesn't see what the big deal is with Vick. "I don't understand why they're making it such a big issue," Jones said. "Do you have to take it that far? He ain't murdered nobody. Let's move on."
Jones added that "I'd really hate to see his whole career get ruined over a mistake he made."
Iron Jaw
08-24-2007, 06:34 PM
Officials from the NAACP sure didn't come to John Rocker's defense for the extremely violent offense of running his mouth about the city of New York. A few leaders, such as R.L. White Jr, called for a lifetime ban from baseball.
Rocker's arm went south and he was out of the game anyway.
Vegas
08-24-2007, 08:07 PM
Officials from the NAACP sure didn't come to John Rocker's defense for the extremely violent offense of running his mouth about the city of New York. A few leaders, such as R.L. White Jr, called for a lifetime ban from baseball.
Rocker's arm went south and he was out of the game anyway.
How about the Duke Lacrosse players?
Iron Jaw
08-24-2007, 08:18 PM
How about the Duke Lacrosse players?
Good point. Of course, they were wrongly accused of a crime. The NAACP wanted them ousted before the case was heard.
In the case of Rocker, absolutely no crime was committed and no criminal charges were applicable.
Vegas
08-24-2007, 10:06 PM
Good point. Of course, they were wrongly accused of a crime. The NAACP wanted them ousted before the case was heard.
In the case of Rocker, absolutely no crime was committed and no criminal charges were applicable.
Rocker was guilty of being a dolt. If that were a crime, we wouldn't have enough jails to hold them all.
ryr8828
08-24-2007, 10:20 PM
Rocker spoke his mind.
BoredWithNoSB
08-25-2007, 12:26 PM
Rocker spoke his mind.
Unfortunately, guys like Rocker & Sheff would be better served by silence most of the time.
Rocker spoke his mind.
Yeah, what a stand-up dude. Sheesh man.
On ever playing for a New York team: "I would retire first. It's the most hectic, nerve-racking city. Imagine having to take the [Number] 7 train to the ballpark, looking like you're [riding through] Beirut next to some kid with purple hair next to some queer with AIDS right next to some dude who just got out of jail for the fourth time right next to some 20-year-old mom with four kids. It's depressing."
On New York City itself: "The biggest thing I don't like about New York are the foreigners. I'm not a very big fan of foreigners. You can walk an entire block in Times Square and not hear anybody speaking English. Asians and Koreans and Vietnamese and Indians and Russians and Spanish people and everything up there. How the hell did they get in this country?"
In passing, he calls an overweight black teammate "a fat monkey." Asked if he feels any bond with New York Knicks guard Latrell Sprewell, notorious for choking coach P.J. Carlesimo two years ago, Rocker lets out a snarl of disgust. "That guy should've been arrested, and instead he's playing basketball," he says. "Why do you think that is? Do you think if he was Keith Van Horn -- if he was white -- they'd let him back? No way." Rocker is rarely tongue-tied when it comes to bashing those of a race or sexual orientation different from his. "I'm not a racist or prejudiced person," he says with apparent conviction. "But certain people bother me."
"So many dumb asses don't know how to drive in this town," he says, Billy Joel's New York State of Mind humming softly from the radio. "They turn from the wrong lane. They go 20 miles per hour. It makes me want -- Look! Look at this idiot! I guarantee you she's a Japanese woman." A beige Toyota is jerking from lane to lane. The woman at the wheel is white. "How bad are Asian women at driving?"
And the best one:
“I know Hank [ Aaron ] and Jackie [ Robinson ] took a good deal of crap, but I guarantee it wasn't for six years. I just keep thinking: How much am I supposed to take?”
Officials from the NAACP sure didn't come to John Rocker's defense for the extremely violent offense of running his mouth about the city of New York. A few leaders, such as R.L. White Jr, called for a lifetime ban from baseball.
Rocker's arm went south and he was out of the game anyway.
What is so hard to understand about the NAACP's mission? Is it so difficult to understand that they aren't trying to advance the cause of white people? Fuckin A man.
BoredWithNoSB
08-25-2007, 03:31 PM
What is so hard to understand about the NAACP's mission? Is it so difficult to understand that they aren't trying to advance the cause of white people? Fuckin A man.
I guess an organization to further the cause of a single race at any cost (See Vick) and attack those of another race due to their race (See Imus) seems klinda sketchy (See KKK, for example).
ryr8828
08-25-2007, 03:34 PM
What is so hard to understand about the NAACP's mission? Is it so difficult to understand that they aren't trying to advance the cause of white people? Fuckin A man.
So you wouldn't have a problem with an organization trying to advance the cause of white people then I guess.
Vegas
08-25-2007, 03:49 PM
So you wouldn't have a problem with an organization trying to advance the cause of white people then I guess.
How long do you suppose a white people's advancement group could keep their tax exempt status?
KinjaKahn
08-25-2007, 03:58 PM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CaByUomb7D8
Interesting perspective. Garbage is not limited to any race.
So you wouldn't have a problem with an organization trying to advance the cause of white people then I guess.
Historical reasons as to why white people need their cause advanced?
I guess an organization to further the cause of a single race at any cost (See Vick) and attack those of another race due to their race (See Imus) seems klinda sketchy (See KKK, for example).
I don't believe they attacked Imus, he did that to himself.
ryr8828
08-25-2007, 04:30 PM
Historical reasons as to why white people need their cause advanced?
Discrimination against whites in basketball, track and field, and the rap industry.
Discrimination against whites in basketball, track and field, and the rap industry.
lol. That was a joke correct?
ryr8828
08-25-2007, 04:38 PM
And then there's BET.
And then there's BET.
We already have White Entertainment Television, we just call that cable and network tv.
KinjaKahn
08-25-2007, 04:45 PM
More than half of minority teacher applicants fail test
August 19, 2007
BOSTON --More than half of black and Hispanic applicants for teaching jobs in Massachusetts have failed a crucial state licensing test.
Since the start of the test nearly a decade ago, 52 percent of Hispanics and 54 percent of blacks failed the writing portion of the test compared to a 23 percent failure rate among white applicants.
Blacks and Hispanics also fall behind white applicants in other test subjects like English, history and math.
Education officials say the gap is making it harder to bring more diversity to the state's teaching ranks.
Chris Anderson, chairman of the state Board of Education, said he's willing to consider other ways of assessing teachers, as long as standards remain high.
"There's no reason to have any barriers to quality teachers if we don't need them," Anderson told The Boston Sunday Globe. "At the same time, we need to have accountability and assurance that there are basic abilities for any new teacher in Massachusetts."
The problem is so persistent that a special state task force of teachers, state education officials and hiring directors has been set up to find out why minorities don't do better on the tests.
Sally Diaz, a vice president at Emmanuel College in Boston and a member of the panel, said one test shouldn't make or break a career.
"One of the fallouts which is particularly upsetting in our experience across the colleges is fewer and fewer students of color are even going into teaching because word has gotten out that these tests are very difficult for them," she said.
Adding to the worries are stricter federal rules focused on improving teacher quality.
Under the 2001 federal law, states must prove their teachers have met a competency bar set by the state. Massachusetts school districts risk losing federal funding if they aren't making progress toward licensing all their teachers.
Some deans of education schools are raising questions about whether the lower results among minority applicants shows the tests are culturally biased and whether the quality of education that minority applicants receive is good enough.
Some minority applicants say the tests includes questions that white applicants and those with liberal arts backgrounds can more readily identify with, such as questions about ancient literature or investing in the stock market.
A Cambridge lawyer said he's planning to file a class action lawsuit against the state Department of Education and the testing company on behalf of three minority teachers who failed the test multiple times.
Link (http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2007/08/19/more_than_half_of_minority_teacher_applicants_fail _test/)
More than half of minority teacher applicants fail test
August 19, 2007
BOSTON --More than half of black and Hispanic applicants for teaching jobs in Massachusetts have failed a crucial state licensing test.
Since the start of the test nearly a decade ago, 52 percent of Hispanics and 54 percent of blacks failed the writing portion of the test compared to a 23 percent failure rate among white applicants.
Blacks and Hispanics also fall behind white applicants in other test subjects like English, history and math.
Education officials say the gap is making it harder to bring more diversity to the state's teaching ranks.
Chris Anderson, chairman of the state Board of Education, said he's willing to consider other ways of assessing teachers, as long as standards remain high.
"There's no reason to have any barriers to quality teachers if we don't need them," Anderson told The Boston Sunday Globe. "At the same time, we need to have accountability and assurance that there are basic abilities for any new teacher in Massachusetts."
The problem is so persistent that a special state task force of teachers, state education officials and hiring directors has been set up to find out why minorities don't do better on the tests.
Sally Diaz, a vice president at Emmanuel College in Boston and a member of the panel, said one test shouldn't make or break a career.
"One of the fallouts which is particularly upsetting in our experience across the colleges is fewer and fewer students of color are even going into teaching because word has gotten out that these tests are very difficult for them," she said.
Adding to the worries are stricter federal rules focused on improving teacher quality.
Under the 2001 federal law, states must prove their teachers have met a competency bar set by the state. Massachusetts school districts risk losing federal funding if they aren't making progress toward licensing all their teachers.
Some deans of education schools are raising questions about whether the lower results among minority applicants shows the tests are culturally biased and whether the quality of education that minority applicants receive is good enough.
Some minority applicants say the tests includes questions that white applicants and those with liberal arts backgrounds can more readily identify with, such as questions about ancient literature or investing in the stock market.
A Cambridge lawyer said he's planning to file a class action lawsuit against the state Department of Education and the testing company on behalf of three minority teachers who failed the test multiple times.
Link (http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2007/08/19/more_than_half_of_minority_teacher_applicants_fail _test/)
Tell me, what is the point behind posting this in this thread?
Vegas
08-25-2007, 04:47 PM
Tell me, what is the point behind posting this in this thread?
I was going to ask the same question.
KinjaKahn
08-25-2007, 04:54 PM
Tell me, what is the point behind posting this in this thread?
This thread has turned into race discussion.
KinjaKahn
08-25-2007, 04:55 PM
We already have White Entertainment Television, we just call that cable and network tv.
You're loony tunes.
Vegas
08-25-2007, 04:56 PM
This thread has turned into race discussion.
OK. So what do you think is the reason why the blacks and minorities score lower on writing tests?
KinjaKahn
08-25-2007, 05:02 PM
OK. So what do you think is the reason why the blacks and minorities score lower on writing tests?
Rejection of culture. Multiculturalism is pushing groups to be insular. Groups seem to search for reasons to be different rather than the same. Permitting one flavor of racism is assuring that racism survives.
BoredWithNoSB
08-25-2007, 05:41 PM
I don't believe they attacked Imus, he did that to himself.
To get this back on topic and out of Kinja Krazy land.
Check out the picture on the left. Sounds like they attacked him to me:
http://www.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/TV/04/11/imus.reader.feedback/index.html?iref=newssearch
Members of the NAACP call for Don Imus' firing as they protest Tuesday outside NBC headquarters in New York.
Meanwhile, back at the ranch:
http://www.boston.com/sports/articles/2007/08/23/naacp_supports_vick/
An NAACP leader believes Michael Vick should be allowed to return to the NFL, preferably the Atlanta Falcons, after serving his prison sentence for his role in a dogfighting operation
You can't claim their actions are not purely racial biased in a manner that would get any other organization the wrath of Alec Baldwin and the good Reverand if they were NAAWP.
Iron Jaw
08-25-2007, 06:48 PM
Rocker was guilty of being a dolt. If that were a crime, we wouldn't have enough jails to hold them all.
If being a dip$hit were illegal, we wouldn't have the jails or mental wards to event begin to handle it.;)
Iron Jaw
08-25-2007, 06:57 PM
We already have White Entertainment Television, we just call that cable and network tv.
There are plenty of shows with entertainers of color in the primary roles on the network and cable lineup. More in the past ten years than ever before. I've watched BET a few times, but I can't recall seeing shows that feature non-black entertainers as the lead in the shows.
The point is, in this day and age I sincerely doubt there is really a need for BET, which I view as something that promotes separatism. Which is what a network or cable show that featured only non-black entertainers in lead roles would do.
If this were 1963, and the only show on TV that featured black people in lead roles was "Amos and Andy," or 1968 with the lovely Dianne Carroll as "Julia," the network would be a good thing.
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