Let Michael Vick Play Football

When Michael Vick completes home confinement in July, he will have served the 23-month prison sentence imposed after he pleaded guilty to federal dogfighting charges.

After his release from a Kansas prison Wednesday, he headed to his home in Virginia to serve the final two months under home confinement because all the beds at halfway houses in the area are taken.

But that hasn't deterred the Vick haters, who are still in an uproar over the heinous details of his dogfighting kennel. Yes, reading the details of the treatment of the dogs, including the killing of some of them, could make anyone sick. Yet what's the point of sentencing someone to prison, having him serve his time, and releasing him if we still want to imprison him for the rest of his life?

Frankly, I'm sick of Americans who talk all day about "do the crime, do the time" and then still want to treat a man like a criminal when he gets out of prison.

This doesn't just apply to Michael Vick. Look at all the individuals who are sent to prison, get out and then can't find a job. Why? Because they have a scarlet letter on their records, which is a big fat "F" for "felon." Don't think I'm looking for any sympathy for someone who goes to prison. I firmly believe that you deserve all that you get for breaking the law. But listening to some of these zealots go on and on and on about how Vick needs to continue to be punished is ridiculous!

The judge in Vick's case has imposed a number of restrictions. One of them is that he never can own a dog again. OK, gotcha. But to say the man shouldn't be allowed to play in the NFL is D-U-M-B. The crimes of which he was convicted had nothing to do with playing sports.

Remember Wall Street star Michael Milken? When he was sent to prison for securities fraud, he was banned from working on Wall Street again.

I get that when someone is convicted of molesting children, he shouldn't be allowed to live within a certain distance of a school or be left alone around children when released. But there is nothing related to Vick's crime that says he should not be allowed to play professional football.

What is particularly galling is that right now, there are a number of football players who have beaten people — including their wives and girlfriends — served time for drunken driving or committed other crimes, yet they have resumed their careers. The same goes for teachers, radio and television broadcasters, politicians and others.

So is this any different because it involved dogs? Are we to say that the horrible treatment of dogs is vastly different from the mistreatment of human beings? The critics likely will say: "These men are role models. Kids look up to them. They should have no business on the field." Yet some of these same kids are living with fathers and mothers who are felons. So are we supposed to remove them from their homes?

Enough with the public bullying. Vick was sentenced and served his time. And now he's gotten out. If you want to be angry with him, fine. But please, cut the sanctimonious crap. He deserves to make amends and get on with his life. If you were in his shoes, you would want to do the same.

Roland S. Martin is an award-winning CNN contributor and the author of "Listening to the Spirit Within: 50 Perspectives on Faith." Please visit his Web site at www.RolandSMartin.com. To find out more about Roland S. Martin and read his past columns, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.

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