STRAIGHT TALK

It’s time for a little honest communication about Michael Vick.

First of all, if you think the reclamation project in re-signing Vick was to lend a helping hand to the downtrodden, I’ve got a used car in my driveway I’d like to sell you. The Eagles three wise men of Lurie, Banner, and Reid saw the writing on the wall regarding Donovan McNabb and had no intention of giving him another mega-bucks deal, so they signed Vick as a way to make McNabb take less money in a new contract or as a potential replacement in case they decided to move him. Say what you want about the Birds brain trust, but they are very smart businessmen.

In the latest version of political bandwagon jumping, President Barack Obama calls Jeff Lurie and praises him for giving Vick a second chance. I was just wondering if Michael had not taken the league by storm with his miraculous season and headlining play and continued as a back up to Kevin Kolb (which as you recall WAS the plan) if our Commander in Chief would have taken the time to reach out to Lurie with his congratulations. My guess is an emphatic no. This was probably just another case of a person in the public eye trying to ride the hot horse.

Along the same lines---let’s take a look at MSNBC’s nimrod of the week, conservative political commentator Tucker Carlson. (Please keep in mind there are many at this Fox wannabe cable news network that vie for this title; Keith Olbermann usually leads the list.) The floppy haired and bow tied Carlson goes on the air and suggests that a proper punishment for Michael Vick to atone for his past doggy dilemma would be his execution!

Now I’m a devout dog lover. My half hound/ half yellow lab Duke lies faithfully by my side every night as I’m reading a book or watching the tube. But to suggest capital punishment for the crime Vick committed is a shameless stab at creating a stir to get your name atop the Yahoo search engine. It’s all about nonsense…and trying to cash in on the buzz regarding the Eagles QB.

This week Michael Vick will be resting his quad and watching his team play a meaningless JV game against whatever players on the Cowboys Jerry Jones chooses to risk to injury. And the Michael Vick hubbub will subside…until he beats the Green Bay Packers in round one of the playoffs. And then the 24 hour news machine will kick in once more.

Just don’t be surprised if Barbara Boxer and Bill O’Reilly have a very strong opinion on the subject the day after the game.