What is More Important -- Dogs or a Person?

In the "dog meat" post, the Korean stated that Michael Vick got a raw deal for serving 18 months for running a dog fighting ring. And now, prominent sportswriters like Gregg Easterbrook and Bill Simmons seem to be agreeing with the Korean. The latest sportswriter joining the camp is Rick Reilly, and his article makes the point the clearest:

I'm just not sure what people want Michael Vick to do.

Quit football? Return to prison? Drown himself in the same lake where he and his crew used to drown dogs? Would he be forgiven then?

Now that Vick is having an eye-bugging season for the Philadelphia Eagles -- 11 touchdowns, zero interceptions, four starts, four wins, one "Monday Night Football" jersey sent to the Pro Football Hall of Fame -- it seems only to have torqued off dog lovers worse.

"If it were up to me, they would have locked him up and thrown away the key," blogged Sumo Pop recently.

As if 18 months in Leavenworth, and six more in a halfway house, aren't punishment enough.

"Michael Vick should give half of his … salary to animal rights groups," Liz McGowin wrote on PETA.org.

As if losing $100 million and three years in the prime of his career wasn't steep enough.

"Michael Vick is a Sociopathic Dog-Torturing, Dog-Maiming, Dog-Drowning, Dog-Electrocuting Pile of S---," somebody posted on Vick's Twitter page Thursday. Vick's Twitter page was running about half against him this week -- until it was frozen for "suspicious activity."

As if being judged and humiliated in front of the world isn't shame enough.

...

How can you not admire how this man has remade himself?

Before prison, Vick used to be the last one into the locker room and the first one out. After prison, he's just the opposite. No Eagle prepares harder.

Before prison, he practically drove ruts in the McDonald's drive-thru lane. After prison, he's a chicken-and-broccoli guy.

Before prison, the only film room he hit much was the home theater in his Atlanta mansion. After prison, he has become a freak for studying game film of the opponent. Gollum sees more daylight.

Time to forgive Vick is here [ESPN.com]

The Korean said that the ridiculously long sentence for Vick was motivated by the fact that dogs (as opposed to any other animals) were involved. Vick was sentenced more than 4 times than he was supposed to get, and was bankrupted in the process. He has been a model citizen since.

If you still despise Vick, ask yourself this: do you care more about dogs, or a person? Because if you can more about a person, you cannot possibly despise someone who redeemed himself so successfully and thoroughly. America would be lucky if prison time rehabilitates people like it did Vick. But if you care about dogs more, you won't care. And you will be a sick sociopath far worse than Vick ever was, utterly lacking in any moral compass -- because you are a sellout to your fellow human being.

Got a question or a comment for the Korean? Email away at askakorean@gmail.com.