SECOND CHANCES

The entire sports world is upside down over the signing by the Philadelphia Eagles of Michael Vick. Fans in Philadelphia are threatening to boycott the season because of his actions. PETA is still in an uproar. Let's figure it out sensibly. Attorney Jack Ford,whose opinion I value as one of the best legal analysts on TV, said that the judge made an example of Michael Vick. His sentence was longer than the average citizen would have received for the same infraction. He has paid his debt to the legal system. Any one who has been through incarceration has experienced the harsh reality of trying to find a job when they are released. Their record hampers their prospects to make a living and thus the cycle begins again.

I have to applaud Commissioner Roger Goodell. He has kept this league respectable. Suspending Donte Stallworth for the year sends a message, with the support of the players union, that for your actions-there will be consequences.

I also applaud the Eagles organization for giving a person a second chance. There are so many who wish they had second chances and never get them. They carefully thought the process through, even contacting the mayor's office. The Philadelphia community should applaud the Eagles for taking such a bold step. It's a message to businesses around the country. Even though a person makes a mistake, if they get the help they need, and get a good supoprt network around them, then they should have the chance to prove they are worthy of a second chance.

Isn't it ironic, that one of the players who early on was a big supporter of Michael Vick was Terrell Owens. He said so on his first day of training camp. I wonder how he feels about him going to his old team, his old nemisis, Donovan McNabb. What's TO's tweet going to be today?

Let's remember, this was part of Michael Vick's culture growing up. Other cultures grow up around cock fighting, another illegal activity. If it were discovered a highly revered baseball player, or even manager, had participated in this activity, would the same outrage apply? Would the same sentencing occur? I doubt it very much. We are all a part of the culture we grew up in. Michael Vick realizes that this is a part of his past he needs to let go of. He has surrounded himself with people who will help keep him on the right path. As Mike Golic said this morning "if he screws this up he is one dumb athlete"

Philadelphia fans should be more outraged over the murder of a Philadelphia Phillies fan after a game in July. It involved a group from a bachelor party and grew into a mob fight of 30 people. David Sale's family isn't feeling the outrage of Philadelphia fans. And what these people did was MURDER A PERSON. So Philly fans, get things in perspective. These men took a life-a brother, a son, a grandson. Why aren't you protesting at McFadden's Pub at Citizen's Bank Park which resulted in David Sale's death.

Let Michael Vick have his second chance. Yes, what he did was wrong. Torturing and killing another living creature is inhumane.

But murdering of another human being? There is no forgiveness, no second chances on that.

Philly fans-get life in perspective. And let's hope management at these ball parks have things in perspective before the season gets under way for the safety of all the fans.