FROM THIS:
TO THIS:
We know about the Hip Hop police, but is there a special task force targeting professional athletes as well? By professional athletes, you know I mean the brothers. If there’s one thing professional athletes and rappers learned in 2007, it is that they are under the microscope and their actions are being monitored very closely.
Warning to clueless rappers: If your tax returns say you made x amount of dollars but you’re driving Bentleys and flashing what seems like millions in diamonds around your neck and on your wrist, you will get touched in 2008.
Take a cue from Jermaine Dupri and Jay Z: in 2008, bling is out and common sense is in.
Take a cue from Jermaine Dupri and Jay Z: in 2008, bling is out and common sense is in.
True. Also, a damn good business acumen is in. Diversifying is in. Taking advantage of business ventures that will continue to pay off in years to come, is in. And buy some nice suits and LOOK the part of a businessman. It’s no longer just about the art, it’s about making money, SMART money.
I don’t think anyone is out to get athletes. If you commit crimes, there is not only a chance, but a likelihood that you are gonna have a run in with the law. Lets not forget that had Mike not been dog fighting there would be nothing to get him on. It’s his fault. I feel bad for him, but real is real. He brought this on himself.
You don’t need a task force for all the dumb shit they do, its plain as day. How in the hell you make gazillions of dollars in get caught up in bullshit. Now you lost it all because of your homeboys. I got one advise “Fuck your homeboys” majority of katz from the hood will never have your best interest at heart a lot of times they just don’t know how because their mind state is so disturbed. Anybody that so called had “love” for Vick should have said. “Dog, you don’t need to get caught up in this bullshit, just find something else to do with your money”
Sorry to say but majority of the urban entertainment business is not business or better yet they don’t know how to do business. Anytime that someone owes a company money for services rendered that ensures that their money flow comes in but then get caught seen at a strip club making it rain with nearly triple of what it owed to that company is ignorant to me.
Majority of these athletes and artist have no business or common sense. Instead of appreciating their success and financial gain, they want to go out and fuck it over simple shit. Pacman Jones, Vick and the rest of athletes don’t deserve all the blessing they received. That’s why God gave it and then taketh it away.
OH MY GOD!!! Did Sandra just give Jay-Z some respect about his grown man swag? That’s why it damn near 80 degrees in Raleigh today. Sandra sent all the snow to hell!!
All I can say about Michael Vick is “When Keeping It Real Goes Wrong”- damn I miss Dave Chappelle!!!
Scenario No. 1
Police charged Andrew Benjamin Cook, 24, of Virginia Beach, Va., and Adria Joy Hinkle, 27, of Norfolk, Va., each with 31 felony counts of animal cruelty and eight misdemeanor counts of illegal disposal of dead animals. They were released on bond. (No millions?)
Scenario No. 2
A Dallas man was charged with felony cruelty to animals after he was videotaped encouraging two of his pit bulls to fatally maul a neighbor’s dog, city officials said.
Mr. McMillian posted $3,500 bail on the charge. ($3,500 bail? I know Mike wish he would have gotten a sweet deal such as this one)
If convicted on the cruelty charge, he could face up to two years in prison and a $10,000 fine. ($10,000 fine? That’s it? How much was Mikes? Didn’t he have to go to some stupid class?)
The video showed the two pit bulls mauling the dog while Mr. McMillian watched.
The tape also showed Mr. McMillian dragging the dog by its hind legs into an alley after the attack, Mr. Garcia said.
Scenario No. 3
A New York woman who once was the owner of a pet-sitting business was charged with animal cruelty for neglecting and leaving two pit bulls to die of hunger and thirst. The two dogs were locked in cages in an abandoned house.
The two female pit bulls, both about one to two-years-old were in cramped cages, and the dogs had not been fed or given water for at least three days. A veterinarian said their kidneys had begun to fail.
Bonanno faces two counts of animal cruelty. If she is convicted, she faces a maximum of a year in prison and a $1,000 fine. ($1,000 for abandoning her dogs so they could die on their own, priceless)
Scenario No. 4
The trial of DeShann Brown, who is charged with third-degree felony in the animal cruelty case involving the burned dog Mercy, has been postponed until August 6. The trial was scheduled to start Monday, April 23, the one-year anniversary of Mercy’s death.
Mercy was found huddled in the bushes behind a North Dallas apartment complex on April 14, 2006. The two men who discovered the bleeding and suffering dog took her to Operation Kindness. The 10-month-old pit bull puppy was immediately taken to a veterinarian for treatment but died 10 days later. The veterinarians who tried to save her life said the young dog had been doused with gasoline and set on fire.
DeShann Brown, who lived at the complex at Preston and Beltline, was arrested and charged with animal cruelty and use of a deadly weapon, a third-degree felony that could get him 10 years in prison if convicted. Although the judge who signed the arrest warrant set bail at $50,000, the jail magistrate reduced it to $2,500. Brown was released on a $250 (An even sweeter deal than the previous) cash bond and remains out on bail.
Why weren’t any of these people given million $ bail/fines?
The answer is, they are not Michael Vick!! Let’s face it. They couldn’t stand the fact that Mike had the highest sales in jerseys and he was getting paid out of the ying yang for endorsements. He was getting too big with out snow on his arm. Sandra is absolutely correct!! I don’t care how many charities he as supported, how many children he’s helped, the bottom line is, they are going to hit him where it hurts because their children were praising him and aspired to be like him.
@ truth
you made the point yourself. theres a difference between animal cruelty for one or two dogs and 31 felony counts of animal cruelty. give me a break.
mike vick FUNDED an entire lifestyle of harming more than just 2 dogs. LIED to the NFL and the court, then on probation got caught smoking weed.
how is this comparable?
he used money given to him by the nfl and sponsors to pay for a home, pay his friends, and pay for dozens of dogs to be tortured.
please spare me “the white man” holding him back sob story.
the only person holding back vick is the man in the mirror. lol
even the town idiot wouldnt have been caught making the mistakes vick did.
The NGL did not GIVE Michael Vick anything!! He worked for his. The first scenario stated that the guy had 31 felony accounts eight misdemeanor counts of illegal disposal of dead animals. Yes, it is comparable. If you do the research, people are selling DVD’s of dogs fighting and making a profit from it. Like I said before and I will stand by it, Michael Vick was becoming too big and so what, he was smoking marijuana? What does that have to do with anything?
@ arsha:
Furthermore, if God chastised us everytime we LIED!!! there would be no one left to tell the story. So, who are you to judge?
@ Truth
lmfao. oh please.
I’m not judging. the federal court did.
but believe me. there is a big difference between lying about coming home late, as opposed to the US GOVERNMENT! lmfao but you’re funny.
and for the record. its not comparable
supporting his friends and funding the “business” + torturing dozens of dogs + lying + getting caught smoking weed after the fact = 23 months in jail
and on top of all that he is a public figure and a role model for young boys who want to be just like him.
now granted, i don’t know if the punishment fits the crime or not. i’m not a judge or a jury.
but what i do know is u can’t compare average Americans to celebrity figures. even though u are trying.
celebrities enjoy EVERY FACET of their lifestyle, free perks, girls, money, living the fast life, etc. but when sh*t goes wrong they get mad when they aren’t being treated like everyday people.
they can’t have it both ways. either u wanna be a celeb and in the spotlight with all the perks or you don’t.
me? well i choose the latter.
arsha Says:
mike vick FUNDED an entire lifestyle of harming more than just 2 dogs. LIED to the NFL and the court, then on probation got caught smoking weed.
how is this comparable?
It is comparable because , they didn’t receive the amount of SCRUTINY and RIDICULE that HE DID!!!! DOG FIGHTING IS STILL GOING ON , CONVICTING AND SENTENCING MIKE DIDN’T STOP IT . Arsha , YES SIT WAS WRONG , BUT HOW IT IS DIFFERENT FROM HUNTING . EVEN RAY CHARLES SAW THAT THIS MAN WAS BEING RAILROADED . WHY CAN’T YOU . IT’S OVER , MIKE HAS MADE IS APOLOGIES , AND HIS SENTENCED HAD BEEN HANDED DOWN .IT TIME FOR US TO STOP BASHING HIM ,AND FORGIVE . WE ALL HAVE DONE CRAZY THINGS . AND ARSHA , I BET YOU STILL LIKE R KELLY!!!
like i said. celebrities and regular people can’t be compared. PERIOD!
and u would be lying to yourself thinking that they are “just like us”.
i’m not saying its right. it’s just the way it is. and as long as people keep putting these folks on a pedastool, making them believe they are bigger and greater than everyone else, then nothing will ever change.
and as far as the r. kelly comment – b*tch please, don’t make this conversation personal. it’s really not that serious. i mean its a god damn anonymous blog for god’sake. lmfao
11arsha Says:
and as far as the r. kelly comment – b*tch please, don’t make this conversation personal. it’s really not that serious. i mean its a god damn anonymous blog for god’sake. lmfao
I was making a point , you made some to . You stated how you felt and so did I . I just thought you were a bit harsh on MV .
And by the way bitches are dogs , and I am woman , not a dog . And you said it yourself , this is and anonymous blog , for god’sake .
@ cinnamonkisses97
harsh on vick? i never said his punishment was fair or unfair. I’m not familiar enough with the law to even comment. but what i know is he’s a celebrity and should be held to a higher standard than “common” folk.
thats why i said he couldn’t be compared with regular people. period.
as far as dogs go … they are what they are. dogs.
@ cinnamonkisses97
and about the b*tch comment? calm down it’s just a saying. don’t take things so literal. lol
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. The fact of the matter is, celebrities are everyday people. The onl;y difference between the celebrities and us is that they have to pay a higher cost along with the time, humiliation, and defamation of character than we do. There dirt is made public for the world to know and for the average Joe blow, the world does not care nothing about you.
Michael Vick did not ask to be those children’s role model, the media took care of that. The media always put people on a pedestal and snatch them down as soon as they do something that they do not like.
I am really done with discussing this. I did not mean to start an uproar by stating the facts that have been documented through various reputable media sources.
My apologies
@ truth
an uproar? give me a break. its a damn BLOG! pipe down. lmfao
Wow, don’t take things so literal…You said it yourself. I was merely saying that I did not mean to start a tit for tat and sling venom on this blog.
I don’t give a damn if you are living from pay check to pay check or a billionaire. I personally think that punishments/fines/bails should not differ because one is of celebrity status vs everyday 9-5er’s.
There are plenty of entertainers: actors, singers, dj’s,
comedians, ball players etc… who have always loved what they do and have been doing their profession years before any of us heard of them. Some of those entertainers love what they do and the money and free shyt is just a bonus. It is no different then you always wanting to be a lawyer, a nurse, a teacher, a doctor etc… and becoming one for whatever your reasons are.
Therefore, if a regular 9-5er who loves their job just as much as a high profiled entertainer loves their job, gets caught doing the same thing, they both deserve the same punishment/fines/bails, unless either or both have a prior record. I feel it’s unfair for celebs to have to pay more money because they have more money. Let’s say you, an every day 9-5er went to school and now makes $7,000.00 a month and John Doe works at a restaurant and makes $1,500.00 a month is it your fault you make more money? Did you not work hard and have to sacrifices to make your money? It’s no different then celebs, majority work hard for what they have. So why should they be treated different then someone who doesn’t make as much but works equally as hard for the things they have?
Bottom line: I believe that Mike Vick was treated different because he is a celeb but, he also committed a crime and he knew better, although I feel the punishment was a bit harsh. (sp)
@aqtpie
Thank you! Well said.
@TH
Your welcome it’s the truth. When you go to school and bust your a$$ to get good grades and keep your scholarships; there are a lot of sleepless nights and cramming especially around exam time but, the benefit is well worth the sacrifice.
People see entertainers and they see all the money, cars, bling and women and automatically assume they are living a good life, they see all the perks that are glamorized. Celebs have to work just as hard and sacrifice just as much if not more than regular 9-5er’s. We don’t see them having to perform when they are sick, getting 3-4 hours per night sometimes for weeks at a time, feeling like shyt and still having to smile and do 15+ interviews in the same day, gone from their families weeks and sometimes months at a time, having to keep it moving even if personal things in their lives are taking a toll on their mental state. They work hard and sacrifice just as much as someone who worked and put themselves through school and maintained that honor roll.
Celebs are in the limelight but they are human and I think a lot of people put pressure on them to never have their name shown in a negative way. It’s not made into that big a deal if cousin Jane is shacked up and having kids out of wedlock. Or if Uncle George has been cheating on Aunt Debbie for years, with multiple women. Ray-Ray them been having pitt bull fights for years and everybody knows where it’s at. Your brother Keith know his a$$ shouldn’t have a gun on probation. Your sister goes from man to man and has issues with committments. Aunt Edith gets a DUI. Your boyfriend Harry gets caught with weed etc…. But a celeb better not do any of that shyt without getting drug through the ringer. Never mind the fact that all regular 9-5er’s should be role models to their own kids and families and also to the kids in their communities but, I suppose that’s only celebs jobs. (sp)
@aqtpie
You said a mouth full!!!
Never mind the fact that all regular 9-5er’s should be role models to their own kids and families and also to the kids in their communities but, I suppose that’s only celebs jobs.
I agree with you both. I didn’t say it was right. I said that’s just the way it is. So I don’t have sympathy for him.
Both of you are speaking on what would be ideal. And I’m not sure if you are aware of this, but that’s not currently what’s going on in the world. The truth is kids (for whatever reason) look up to entertainers.
@ Truth … and yes, parents should be role models, but honestly every parent isn’t. And on top of that many children/young people may have several different people they look up to.
At least I did. I looked up to my parents for certain things, people in my neighborhood and entertainers when I was young. Since when do people grow up wanting to be just like ONE person? Thats not even realistic.
I agree with Bird’s first comment 100%. As much as I feel bad that another black man is going to jail and he’s also gonna be a ex-felon but Michael Vick totally brought this on himself. I agree with everything that arsha said. I’ve been arguing bout Vick for days. Dude is not a victim of circumstance.
Arsha said:
and yes, parents should be role models, but honestly every parent isn’t. Exactly, and people may feel that certain celebs who some children look up to should be, but honestly every celeb that is titled a role model isn’t a role model either.
It’s nothing wrong with looking up to entertainers A LOT of them actually find it very rewarding. The thing is when they *entertainers* make mistakes, you have people stating well he/she is a role model, they should’ve done this or that. You yourself said you looked up to your parents for certain things, did they ever make mistakes? Of course they did, a mistake is a mistake our parents are human beings, they are imperfect, they are supposed to make mistakes. For some reason when celebs make mistakes a lot of people want to start preaching about them being a role model and how they should have done things differently *may be true, but so should parents* because they are a role model. Well shouldn’t that apply to parents also? *my parents to my knowledge have never broken the law*
Reality is role models of any sort are human and they all fall short of being perfect. I may be the only person in the entire world who has never wanted to be like any entertainer of any kind. *though I am a die hard fan of a few* I remember writing those reports when I was a little girl and they asked who inspires you and who do you want to be like when you “grow up?” Guess what? I said my mother in the 3rd grade *as far back as I can remember the reports* and I still say the same thing today but, every child is different. I can’t thank GOD enough, that I didn’t have to go through a lot of things that some kids have had to go through.
I mean people with the mentality that the celebs who are considered role models and should be beyond making mistakes are the ones not living in a realistic world. It’d be nice for children who do have celebs as role models to never experience their role model making any type of mistakes via the newspapers, net, tv etc… but reality is celebs are human and aren’t above making mistakes. So why should they be held to a higher standard because someone else’s kid thinks of them as a role model? If anything parents should be and want to be held to the highest standards *right below GOD* in their household, before any celeb or other person, to their own children. If parents *who are supposed to be role models* aren’t prone to making mistakes, then why should celebs be?
It really doesn’t matter one way or the other because the importance of my opinion isn’t any better nor any less than yours, even if they differ. It’s what makes the world go round. It’s a beautiful thing, especially when people are mature and realize that what works for you in your household may not work for me and mine. The one thing that my mother has always taught me and I stand by is, “you do the crime, you do the time.” I have no problem with Mike doing any time, or any criminal for that matter, I only had the problem with the differences in fines/bails/punishments between your regular Joe Blow because they have more money. On that same token, if a celeb committs a crime and is punished to jail time, put their a$$es where you would your regular Joe Blow, they shouldn’t receive special treatment. *Martha Stewart*(sp)
First,Mike Vick’s punishment does not fit the crime. He committed crimes that deserved little to no time. He was thrown from grace after making a bad decision to be involved in dog fighting. PETA and other org. urged their people(I got the emails) to bombard the judges email,phones and other gov’t associates about how Mike deserved a very stiff sentence. They did. All animal rights org. put together info relating to dog fighting and presented to the judge after receiving permission to after the guilty plea. They completely murdered this man. If they did this to him what possibly can happen to my son’s.
They bring him in the court room dressed in attire fit for the 1900’s. Mike Vick is clinically depressed but get’s stabbed again in the court room with obvious hate from the judge. What judge Hudson a role model to the kids? Those racist idiots are teaching their kids that hate begats hate. Saying things like he deserves death,his brother and any one else in his family. Taking his likeness and burning it with all the kids tossing in his jerseys. Give me a break your UNEQUAL JUSTICE BEARER.
I am praying that God heals his heart and shows him what true restoration by God is all about. He did not deserve humiliation on this scale. He should have gone to the doctor and got some meds for depression to take him far away from his reality many months ago.
We love you Mike Vick!
@ alove
I agree with you. It is funny that you mentioned PETA, but PETA failed to report their own employees who were involved in killing dogs when they were publicly lynching Mike. If anyone is interested, you can read all about it at http://www.petakillsanimals.com/petaTrial.cfm