Vick and gambling

[Dondoh]

Today Michael Vick entered a plea agreement wherein he admitted that he had bankrolled a dogfighting operation, and had participated in hanging and beating "dogs unworthy of the pit".

But he wanted everyone to know that he had not engaged in the placing of bets on the fights.

It just goes to show you what we are up against in making any form of gambling legal. The finest lawyers that Vick could buy saw the need for him to own up to animal torture but not to gambling.

Is Pete Rose shaking his head?

[grapabo]

I don't know if this special insistence on him refusing to admit gambling translates to the legal issue of gambling in general. This may be particular to Vick because he's a professional athlete, and once he attempts to get back into the NFL, he doesn't want allegations of illegal gambling hanging over his head, and inviting comparisons to the NBA ref manipulating games to pay off debts.

[whangarei]

Great point. It's so sick that he makes that assertion presumably to show he's not such a bad guy since he didn't gamble he just tortured and murdered dogs. The Daily Show had a good satirical piece making the same point.

[TheEngineer]

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Great point. It's so sick that he makes that assertion presumably to show he's not such a bad guy since he didn't gamble he just tortured and murdered dogs. The Daily Show had a good satirical piece making the same point.

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The commissioner made it clear that Vick would not be allowed to return to the NFL if he either gambled on the fights or directly facilitated any gambling.

It is ironic that Vick is now in a position where he can confess to dog killing and torturing to his heart's content, but has to remain steadfast and defiant on gambling.

[Uglyowl]

Here is the full letter:

http://assets.espn.go.com/media/pdf/070824/michaelvickletter.pdf

[BHokie1]

Actually Vick is admitting to putting up purses in the dog fights, but not taking the winnings. He's admitting to agreeing the dogs be killed, but not to killing the dogs.

I'm sure if you asked if he smoked Marijuana, he'd say he smoked Marijuana, but didn't inhale.

I'm not defending him, he deserves whatever punishment he gets and more.

It just sounds like you guys are trying to say he's more afraid of admitting to gambling than killing the dogs. His lawyers are trying to set it up so that it can be a grey area on all accounts.

[TheJokerIsWild]

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It just sounds like you guys are trying to say he's more afraid of admitting to gambling than killing the dogs. His lawyers are trying to set it up so that it can be a grey area on all accounts.

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If he admits that he gambled on it then his football career is over. His lawyers knew he wasn't going to get off the hook on everything, so it was best that he admit to killing the dogs, do minimal jail time, and then come back and have a chance to play again. I guarantee you there will be a team that will take the chance on him when he comes back.

[poorolrich]

Thre only way a team will pick him up is if the NFL lets him play again. It is not up to Vick or a team.

[TheJokerIsWild]

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Thre only way a team will pick him up is if the NFL lets him play again. It is not up to Vick or a team.

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How can they keep him from playing again after he serves his sentence, assuming he is able to keep the gambling aspect out of it.

[Poker Clif]

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Thre only way a team will pick him up is if the NFL lets him play again. It is not up to Vick or a team.

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How can they keep him from playing again after he serves his sentence, assuming he is able to keep the gambling aspect out of it.

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In turn for the millions that players can earn, sports leagues, both by league policy and in individual player contracts, prohibit players from doing all kinds of things. Gambling is just one example.

I remember a discussion some years ago about baseball contracts that prohibited players from participating in other sports, where the risk of injury was considered too great. Skiing was one sport that fell into this category.