Yeah, the Vick affair along witht he NBA ref scandal, and Bonds steroids have dominated sports talk radio when I am driving around on runs.

But every time I think of that, I think of the good things. Like Reggie Bush and all he has done down here in New Orleans (a hell of a lot money wise to schools and to the main stadium high schools play in). Also, Drew Brees is a true class act. Meet him while doing Best Damn Sports Show. So as much as Vick takes the headlines, there are plenty of good story lines in football to follow.

Also, I am a big MLS fan, and of course having Beckham join this year makes things interestingthere as well.

By the way Joe, Diane Nabatoff is the producer of the show I am currently working working on (office PA is my job).

I think the reason that people get so up in arms about animal rights is because animals can't do it for themselves.

Of course, children and murder victims can't stand up for themselves either, but it's like a whole different world for animals and the people who decide to stand up for them.

On that note, I'm completely at a loss for words about the mass grave and the sheer numbers that must stand behind that phrase to bring it into use.

If he's found guilty, getting removed from the league should be the minimal penalty. That and some jail time will send a clear message across the boards that this disgusting behavior will NOT be tolerated.

On a lighter note, I think I shed a good 5 pounds this summer just from swetting my ass off all day. I'd say the brisk summer nights are well worth it though.

Joe, I can understand first hand what you are trying to say about the animal rights activists. As an avid angler I know first hand how out of control some of these groups can get. As an example, we ran across a children's book being passed out by the PETA people. It was titled "Your Father is a Murderer". It was being passed out at elementary schools and the message was, when your dad goes fishing, he is committing murder. ???WTF???

I am not defending Mr. Vick's action by no means or any other screwball idiot that does these sort of things, but sometimes these animal rights people go way to far!

You know how to get me going Joe. LOL!

The Vick case pisses me off cuz in fact...I do love animals and kids more than the rest of humanity. LOL! I know Vick has the presumption of innocence, but the evidence is so overhelming that it's hard to believe he is "innocent" in the situation. There are even 4 witnesses (so far)...which is why there was no hesitation in bringing forth the indictment. People are angry not because of the dogfighting in general...but because of the heinous acts used to kill the losing dogs. Had Vick done these violent things to women or kids rather than dogs (rape stations for the agressive female dogs)...he would not get a trial...he'd be judged and killed by an angry mob. Dogs (and cats, LOL!) are like family members to most people, so it's hard not to take it personally. Vick has already lost endorsement contracts simply for being associated with the dogfighting case. I say good. The NFL has a conduct policy, and up til now,Vick has done whatever the hell he wanted to and gotten away with it cuz he's the first black quarterback for Atlanta. Big Whoop. He's always been an ass and it was simply excused as "ego" cuz no one wanted to be thought a racist for calling Vick an ass....He's been up on drug charges among other things...which is how the dog fighting ring was discovered...and he's not unaccustomed to flipping the Falcons fans the middle finger whenever he has a less than stellar game. I'm a big sports nut too...love all the chicago teams...But if I had to be subjected to the antics of some ego-centric ghetto ass player after every game...I'd go spend my money and Sundays elsewhere (still not going to church though, LOL!). Vick faces at least a comspiracy charge if not worse. If he goes out like that, so what? I don't think he's a complete idiot. he made his own choices in life....He's also only the tip of the iceberg where dogfighting is concerned...but he thought he could get away with anything cuz he's a multimillion dollar NFL quarterback... Vick can be the biggest jerk in Atlanta, but that still does not negate his legal rights. He may end up being found not guilty. With a good legal team, that would not surprise me. I just hope he's saved and invested his money wisely...cuz "not guilty" verdicts don't mean much as far as reviving careers. Look at OJ Simpson. LOL! Personally, I've been an ethical vegetarian for 23 of my 36 years (vegan for about 7 of those...cuz dairy was a bitch to give up, LOL!)) so I loathe animal cruelty more than most (and you don't even wanna get me started on child abuse). I'm not a purist, but I'm no hypocrite either. People don't need to be veggies in order to be compassionate and the Vick case shows that. Half the people who want Vick's balls in a sling probably went home and hugged their dogs after hearing the despicable details of the case... right before devouring a thick juicy porterhouse steak. LOL! People simply have limits to what they will accept...and the Vick case was it.

Who the f*ck is Michael Vick?

I used to hope Michael wasn't a huge dirtbag like his brother Marcus turned out to be (stomping on a guy in the middle of a game?) but seems as if the trait runs in the family.

It's a real shame to see this happen but I don't understand one thing. If thte NBA immediately suspended Tim Donaghe (sp?) for being under investigation, why didn't the NFL do the same for Vick? I'm glad Goodell took action now.

Dear: Michael Vick,

As your financial advisor, I implore that you reconsider your current business venture. Although I was pleased when you passed on the Al-Qaeda NFL style training camp, the Thai children day care/sweat shop and the baby seal clubbing zoo, I’m still concerned regarding your dog fighting business. I know that after a couple of bong hits Mr. Rae Carruth’s dog fighting business plan seem to be a solid investment. I however cannot condone this type of brutality towards dogs. Please accept this letter as my official resignation.

Best Wishes,

Orenthal James. Simpson

This whole thing turns me off and in my mind it triggers an avalanche of the cruel events that are happening around the world..... How can someone justify hurting another living thing. I wonder where the world is headed.
Yes! Innocence is fading away bit by bit but it is still very much alive. There can be a noble lesson in every bad thing for those who seek for it!!

I almost didn't respond to this Joe, but I wanted to take it in a different direction...

Obviously, there's not much to do in Sacramento (as you know), so I grew up on sports galore. Highlight was watching Michael Jordan light up the Kings from the lower-level at Arco... a fading, distant memory if there ever was one...

Sports today is just gone for me. There's almost no redeeming quality (and I'm not trying to down it for just any particular reason) to players out there. There are a few, don't get me wrong and probably more than we realize because we generally don't hear about the ones doing good, more about those making "headlines"...

But, sports in general has become what most things have, a business. I remember watching players lay it all on the line because it was all about the moment, it was all about the game and that equalled the love. Now it's about b*tches, hoes, drugs, egos, cash, gold-platted sinks, Bentleys and MTV Cribs!

Not to say it's all bad or each and every person playing sports is like that, but that's the reason I don't watch anymore. I just can't see the love. And, even with someone like Vick, who isn't a loud-mouth, punk-a$$ b*tch like TO, the story then becomes the same and it makes you feel like, whatever, it's just not there like it used to be, so why would I give the effort to be a fan...?

Back to Dateline's undercover exclusive on illegal pharmaceutical drugs coming out of China...

ahahah

JW