digg this | mixx! | reddit | del.icio.us | Newsvine | |  e-mail article |  print | post comments | NEWSLETTER ©DiversityInc. Reproduction in any format is absolutely prohibited.

We asked DiversityInc readers whether Mike Vick, quarterback of the Atlanta Falcons, has prematurely been found guilty by the public without a fair trial. Vick's supporters feel he has endured enough media backlash while also losing out a handful of major corporate sponsors such as Nike, Reebok and most recently, Rawlings. In a statement posted on ESPN's web site, Rawlings justified their decision to drop their contract with Vick.

"Rawlings recognizes that Mr. Vick has not been convicted of the charges stemming from his recent indictment," said the St. Louis company. "However, we have determined that ending our relationship with Mr. Vick at this time is necessary."

ESPN also reported that Upper Deck has removed memorabilia autographed by Vick from its online store. The company said it plans to remove Vick trading cards from NFL sets to be released in October as well. 

Just yesterday, David Stokes, a spokesperson for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), announced the NFL star would not be honored at its convention this week because Vick is not allowed to travel outside of Virginia, where he has pled not guilty to charges of sponsoring a dog-fighting operation. According to an article by ESPN, Stokes says the organization will continue to support the NFL star "because everyone is innocent until proven guilty."

What do DiversityInc readers think about all this? Here are a few responses. Click here to read more.   

Question: Do you think Falcons quarterback Mike Vick is being found guilty without benefit of trial? Why?

The white Duke lacrosse kids were tried and hung before their day in court too. Vick has not lost his job either; he continues to be paid and only has to concentrate on getting his legal woes fixed in return. I'll bet your employer wouldn't do that for you. The companies (Nike, Rawlings, etc.) aren't endorsing him, they are (were) paying him to endorse their products and have every right to distance themselves until this thing is over one way or another. America is what it is, and business decisions have a lot more to do with green than any other color.

—Stephen Smith

I have queried my friends regarding Vick. Their responses were mixed. "Why [would] a brother making that kind of money be involved with illegal acts?" "It's racism!" Well, I think that every time the newspapers have an opportunity to attack a person of color, they do, but we must stop giving them the ammunition to come after us. The press is playing judge and jury.

—William Coleman

We can never be sure if people think the accused are guilty because of their race, but the media, by putting focus on these cases, could be swaying our view of certain races. That is definitely wrong. So is the answer to focus on allegations of wrongdoing by ANY/ALL of us? I do not think that addressed the root cause. No matter who the accused is, the media frenzy revs the engines and invites everyone on board. The trials by media and public gossip/speculation get more attention than fact-finding. How can any of us ever get a fair trial if everyone thinks they already have the facts? 

—Devan Scott

It is interesting to me that the so-called animal-rights people don't say a word when pit bulls kill children and attack their owners. I have to assume that dogs are more important than people. There is no question that race plays an important part in the white media and public's negative reaction to Michael Vick.

—Albert Smith

The media has entirely too much influence over the public and ... their opinions, which are most often slanted against any black person of notoriety. In my opinion, the media is responsible for the continued racial unrest that permeates this society. Vick has not been convicted of anything, and the NFL, along with thousands of others, have already decided he was guilty ... These charges have nothing to do with him playing football. His private life should be his own and no one else's business.

—Robert Shackelford

Yes, you can trace this pattern of hatred, accuse [sic] and persecution of black athletes back to Jack Johnson ... worse than Vick, however, is [Barry] Bonds. He has never failed a drug test. Please tell me how [one can accuse] Bonds yet give McGuire a pass. It's history repeating itself.

—Gregory Smith

Click here to submit a comment if you haven't already.

More Reader's Comments>>

digg this | mixx! | reddit | del.icio.us | Newsvine | |  e-mail article |  print | post comments | NEWSLETTER

Send Your Comments About This Article Now