The Michael Vick Story

[-Jrabbit]

Very different scenarios. Michael Jordan was not accused of animal cruelty, nor of being an owner of a gambling operation. Jordan bet on the golf course, at poker tables, and in casinos. A tad unsavory, but no mammals were electrocuted or drowned AFAIK.

BTW, I heard an interesting interview with sports legal guy Lester Munson yesterday. The lawyer Vick hired, Billy Martin, is the same guy who got NBA star Jayson Williams off the hook for the cold-blooded murder of his chauffeur. Pricing on the legal defesne (currently a team of 5 lawyers) is being billed out at $2million PER MONTH.

Talk about your dream client...

[DanS]

Let's be clear -- betting on a golf game is illegal in most states, even if tolerated as a "gentleman's sport." Jordan's betting was nothing like a small-time office pool, to be sure.

[-Jrabbit]

Believe me, I have no interest in defending MJ, one of the biggest phonies in sports history.

But as I understand it, gambling between individuals is perfectly legal. As long as you report any income.

[Ming]

While it may have been "illegal"... I think the common man has also bet on the golf course, played poker, and been to casinos... these are all considered pretty acceptable... now, running a gambling operation, electrocuting and drowning dogs... that's a different story.

[SlowwHand]

Wonder what Paul Hornung has to say.

[DanS]

Hornung is, of course, a quantum leap above the likes of Michael Vick.

[Dis]

Originally posted by DanS
On one hand, the gambling issue is a real hot potato. But it was well publicized that Michael Jordan would bet unreal amounts of money on a golf game or similar. The NBA didn't seem to mind.

NFL is much more wary of gambling. You can see this with their treatment of Las Vegas.

[Lord Avalon]

Vick agrees to plead guilty in dogfighting case

RICHMOND, Va. -- Michael Vick's lawyer said Monday the NFL star will plead guilty to federal dogfighting conspiracy charges, putting the Atlanta Falcons quarterback's career in jeopardy and leaving him subject to a prison term.

The offense is punishable by up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine, although federal sentencing guidelines most likely would call for less.

Prosecutors, who were seeking a prison term of 12 to 18 months, have yet to formally agree to the plea, a source told ESPN's Kelly Naqi.

"After consulting with his family over the weekend, Michael Vick asked that I announce today that he has reached an agreement with federal prosecutors regarding the charges pending against him," lead defense attorney Billy Martin said in a statement.

"Mr. Vick has agreed to enter a plea of guilty to those charges and to accept full responsibility for his actions and the mistakes he has made. Michael wishes to apologize again to everyone who has been hurt by this matter."

Vick's plea hearing will be Aug. 27 at 10:30 a.m. ET, Martin said. Judge Henry Hudson said Monday that no details of the plea agreement will be made public before Vick's hearing.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has barred Vick from the Falcons' training camp but has withheld further action while the league conducts its own investigation. League sources tell ESPN's Chris Mortensen that Goodell will likely suspend Vick indefinitely and that a final decision on Vick's suspension will be made after his legal case is resolved.

Vick is charged with conspiracy to travel in interstate commerce in aid of unlawful activities and conspiracy to sponsor a dog in an animal fighting venture.

Martin's announcement came as a grand jury that could add new charges met in private. Prosecutors had said that a superseding indictment was in the works, but Vick's plea all but means he will not face additional charges.

Three of Vick's original co-defendants already have pleaded guilty and agreed to testify against him if the case went to trial. Quanis Phillips of Atlanta and Purnell Peace of Virginia Beach signed statements saying Vick, 27, participated in executing at least eight underperforming dogs by various means, including drowning and hanging.

Phillips, Peace and Tony Taylor, who pleaded guilty last month, also said Vick provided virtually all of the gambling and operating funds for his "Bad Newz Kennels" operation in Surry County, Va., not far from Vick's hometown of Newport News.

The gambling allegations alone could trigger a lifetime ban under the NFL's personal conduct policy.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2983121

[DanS]

Wow. This case sure did move fast.

[Lord Avalon]

Well, when the last two guys aside from Vick took deals early last week, it was likely that he would, too. I had thought last Friday was the deadline, though.

[-Jrabbit]

It's all about getting the conviction without the considerable time and expense of a massively public trial. The deadline was artificial leverage to encourage a swift guilty plea.

Vick's lawyers were said to be split over whether to cut the deal or go to trial. And at $2MM/month, their motivation was easy to see.

I'm just glad this didn't end up with one of those no-fault pleas like you see in civil cases. It's clear-cut. He's guilty. With a good chance that his football career is over.

[MRT144]

This would possibly eclipse Maurice Claurett if he actually was banned from the NFL for life much the same way Claurett put a self imposed ban in effect by being an idiot.

[Stuie]

Originally posted by DanS
On one hand, the gambling issue is a real hot potato. But it was well publicized that Michael Jordan would bet unreal amounts of money on a golf game or similar. The NBA didn't seem to mind.

Yeah, and we should put down John Daly when he doesn't perform well.

[Berzerker]

Stuie! Where have you been? You forgot fantasy football

[Stuie]

Yeah - I haven't been too active with the fantasy baseball though either... something about the Phillies just saps all my enthusiasm.

Sorry I missed out though... maybe next year.