Big Leather Couch

So, you tell me kiddies…are we totally f**ked as a collective group of citizens, do we now judge based upon the ‘image’ of a person.

The crime is unimportant?

If you act with remorse and reach out to the victims you are treated differently than if you are arrogant and offend people?

Here is the situation. Michael Vick, y’all know him…Atlanta Falcons quarterback. Rich as all get out. Struts around with an attitude and a posse, feeling like the world should get out of his way.

Along with your posse you are into dog fighting – a disgusting ‘sport’ that goes on in basements all over the country.

Michael gets caught and denies denies denies. He gets arrogant and ticks off groups like PETA (a bunch of scary people IMHO)…and he fights for his innocence.

What happens? He goes to court – stays arrogant – and is sentenced to two years in jail and more time under house arrest. He loses his job with the Atlanta Falcons and can not be reinstated into the NFL to find another job, until Commissioner Goodell deems his remorseful is sincere. At the same time the above named group of scary people are continuing their fight to ensure this man never works at his profession again.

The killing of any animal is sick. Dog fighting is wrong. It is illegal. Michael Vick needed to pay for his crimes. He has. Like any other American convicted of a crime he now deserves the opportunity to get his life back and try and play football. No group has the right to deny him this.

Dante Stallworth. This name you may not know…or maybe you have just begun hearing it recently.

Dante plays football also. He is a wide receiver for the Cleveland Browns. On March 13, 2009, Dante spent the night drinking at Miami Beach's Fountainebleau hotel. On his way home Dante ran down 59-year-old Mario Reyes as he was crossing the street.

Stallworth told the court he flashed his lights when he saw Reyes in the road, but still struck and killed the man, a construction crane operator, who was rushing to catch a bus after finishing his shift around 7:15 a.m. (ummm 7:15am, Miami...March...sun is up - what does flashing your lights do?)

Stallworth was driving about 50 in a 40 MPH zone and blew a 1.2 on the sobriety scale, well above the legal limit of .08. (On his way home from partying all night I can't believe his alcohol level was that low!)

So, what happens? Stallworth made a financial arrangement with the family of Mr. Reyes to avoid a lawsuit. Their attorney, Rodolfo Suarez, read a statement saying the family wants to "bring closure to this emotional and tragic event." Suarez was not immediately available to comment after the hearing.

In today’s world ‘closure’ means ‘show me the money' I guess.

Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle cited Stallworth's lack of previous criminal record, cooperation with police and willingness to accept responsibility as factors in the plea deal. Rundle also said the Reyes family — particularly the victim's 15-year-old daughter — wanted the case resolved to avoid any more pain.

"For all of these reasons, a just resolution of this case has been reached," Rundle said.

So, yesterday Stallworth stood in court and learned his fate. Ready kiddies…..?

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