On Monday, February 25^th, Atlanta Falcons star quarterback Michael Vick was sentenced to 23 months in federal prison and three years probation for his role in a dog fighting conspiracy.  U.S. District Judge Henry E. Hudson could have imposed a maximum sentence of up to five years for this disgustingly vile criminal activity and I, for one, am disappointed that Vick will only be spending twenty three months behind bars.

Vick and the other cowardly bullies who were charged in this case participated in the electrocution, hanging and drowning of dogs who did not measure up to their sick expectations.  Greed and cruelty drove Vick and the other criminals to torture and kill defenseless dogs and, in doing so, they abandoned morality and their own humanity.

There are those who would paint the former football star as a victim of racism, claiming that the only reason his case attracted so much attention is because he is black.  Some would argue that a white athlete found to be engaged in this cruel and disgusting activity would have been treated less harshly.  Cowardly cruelty and inhumanity toward defenseless animals is not a factor of race.  It is a factor of a perverted and twisted personal value system that allows one to engage in torture and the slaughter of innocents.  Michael Vick is no victim.  Michael Vick is a coward and a brutish bully.  The real victims are the innocent dogs that are buried under six feet of dirt in Surry County, Virginia.  Vick put them there and now it’s time for him to pay for those crimes.

Michael Vick deserves far more severe punishment than 23 months in prison, loss of his football career and loss of millions of dollars in product endorsements.  Vick and the other criminals who participated in this activity are going to prison where they belong.  Their incarceration is small payment for the disgusting crimes in which they engaged. 

The world is a better place with Michael Vick behind bars.