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Saturday, July 21, 2007

Tim Donaghy to Michael Vick: I See Your Felony and Raise You a Betting Scandal

Michael Vick has taken great heat for his alleged involvement in dog fighting and inadequate treatment of the animals.

For the past few days his face has been plastered on ESPN and other sports media outlets, and the talking windbags on the radio and TV airwaves have yelled, screamed and stamped their feet to ensure that their two cents (and with the dollar being at an all time low versus the pound and the Euro...that ain't much) are heard.

But now...now a scandal that threatens, to the chagrin of those aligned against Mr. Vick, to push his face off the front page.

NBA referee Tim Donaghy has been implicated in a betting scandal accusing him of making calls that effected the point spread of games on which he and some organized crime connected bettors wagered.

Certainly, we are proponents of due process and have championed the individual's right to a fair trial. We have also been profoundly and vocally in favor of not accusing anyone of a guilt, or suspending them from play until the legal ramifications have been thoroughly hashed out and the case has been disposed.

Having said that...we believe that Mr. Donaghy's resignation is akin to his admission of guilt.

Pacman Jones has never done so much as resign his VIP membership at the Cheetah Club. Michael Vick hasn't even felt that this "indictment" levied by the feds is worthy of being dignified by so much as a press release.

Mr. Donaghy quit his job.

Certainly, some of our less astute readers will argue, "NOIS, you have said in the past that it is wrong to say someone is guilty without their having gone to court. You are saying Donaghy is guilty because he is white. If he was Negro, you'd stand up for him."

Our response: Mr. Donaghy seems to have decided not to stand up for himself or challenge the allegations, he willfully and without hesitation gave up his career before a trial (let alone a verdict) has even begun. Therefore, we will interpret his actions as being his personal decision to waive the casting of judgment.

While Mr. Vick has been hammered by the media and been called cruel and inhumane, what Mr. Donaghy has done might be rationalized as being even more insidious.

Certainly, IF Vick is guilty, his mistreatment of animals will not win him dog owner of the month honors in Dog Fancy magazine.

However, we see Mr. Vick possibly having an airtight defense.

From Sports Illustrated: "He's not very bright at all,'' the source said of Vick. "And that's a big part of his problems. He's a very unintelligent person and he makes poor decisions because of it. It's not a white or black thing. Paris Hilton is an idiot, too. Mike Tyson was totally dumb, but for a long time his trainer kept him protected from his worst mistakes. You have to have someone around you who can protect you from yourself at times.''

Vick's intelligence has been called into question time after time. Incident after incident. Poorly read defense after poorly read defense. If Vick IS so moronic, maybe he didn't understand what he was doing IF he did treat these dogs in a manner that was not in their best interest.

Mr. Donaghy, on the other hand, was part of a crafty plan. A plan that required him to have a clear understanding of betting principles and the higher than average intelligence necessary to ensure that he made specific calls at specific times in the games.

Additionally, Mr. Vick's purported actions may have brought about the unfortunate, but inevitable, demise of more than a few non-humans.

Mr. Donaghy may have adversely effected the games (and possibly seasons) of 100's of NBA playing humans and possibly millions of human NBA fans.

Clearly, this should put Mr. Vick's indictment on the back burner of the sport media's agenda.

Until Vick's case is resolved, the media should allow him the privacy necessary to formulate his defense and lead as normal a life as possible.

In Mr. Donaghy's case, the media should translate his resignation as an admission of guilt, and begin the requisite character assault with no mercy and the utmost expedience.

Let's put the Vick story on the shelf and focus on bringing Donaghy to justice for his incredibly selfish assassination attempt on the NBA.

We owe it to the players and fans affected by Donaghy's crimes.

47 comments:

ZEKE said...

well, once again, you twist things in your twisted mind and ruin a story. well done.

Al_Sharpton's_Banana_Hammock said...

what tim donaghy has done threatens the very fibers of sports in america.

if michael vick is guilty, well, those dogs only live to be about 10 or 11 anyway...

Adam J said...

In one scandal, the offense of one team is threatened. In the other, the sanctity of the entire league as we know it is at stake. Let us hope ESPN takes off the blinders of hatred and racism, and gives the proper story its proper due. The Vick "rumors" belong off the headlines now.

JC said...

"The Vick "rumors" belong off the headlines now."

amen...er...allahu akhbar...or whatever...

rstiles said...

Both Michael Vick and Tim Donaghy are douche bags...

What Vick allegedly did was barbaric and in-humane...we as a society I hoped has evolved...

I guess you can take the thug out of the hood, but you can't take the hood out of the thug... GROW UP MICHAEL VICK!!!

The Fan's Attic said...

If being retarded is a defense, shouldn't have Paris Hilton been found not guilty?

Jess Nevins said...

"Certainly, IF Vick is guilty, his mistreatment of animals will not win him dog owner of the month honors in Dog Fancy magazine."

?

God has forbidden men from inciting animals from fighting each other. Animal fights are strictly forbidden, and cruelty to animals is as cruelty to humans. *Any* search of the Holy Qu'ran or the Hadith will show that.

I was hoping for a stronger condemnation of the act--not of Vick, but of those evil men who do such things--from you.

nation_of_islam_sportsblog said...

"I was hoping for a stronger condemnation of the act--not of Vick, but of those evil men who do such things--from you. "

Sir, what could be a stronger condemnation than an admonishment from Dog Fancy magazine?

Additionally, key word in our statement *if*.

And, to quote the holy book is one thing...when YOU can interpret it and live it, THEN you may "preach" at us.

Until then, you are our student.

Anonymous said...

All Vick is allegedly guilty of is tough love on those troublesome pooches. He wasn't the one biting the other dogs' faces. But Donaghy was taking away from the statistics of the NBA's dominating black athletes. I am disgusted by Mr. Donaghy, sirs.

nation_of_islam_sportsblog said...

"I am disgusted by Mr. Donaghy, sirs. "

Sir, your anger is well directed.

Unknown said...

Banana Hammock! 10 or 11 years??
18 dogs found buried on the property, a rape stand, electrocutions, and you'll dismiss it all out of hand cause some patsy got caught working for the mob, essentially shaving points, in a pro sports event, and the abused dogs would only live to be 10 yrs old so it's no biggie? Hope you don't have a dog.

Unknown said...

oops pow, it is outrageous that you suggest that this is about race. If you think the animal rights people would go after Peyton Manning any differently, you're wrong, they wouldn't. Also, rumors? A 19 page federal grand jury indictment, dogs buried on the property, eye witnesses, pictures, is more than rumors, it is a substancial investigation into very serious crimes and the NFL has suspended Jones and Johnson without a sentence, or even charges in one case. Stop excusing cruelty to animals and playing down how these dogs were totured because you assume people are racist.

Unknown said...

and finally, burnsy, rape stands, steroids, electrocutions, beating deaths, and gun shots, not to mention forcing animals to fight is a whole lot worse than tough love, and worse than your precious pro athletes who choose to make millions entertaining people, whereas dogs used for fighting have no choices, and never stood a chance. Your version of tough love on dogs needs reconsideration.

rstiles said...

Burnsy, you are joking right???....tough love???

If you were serious when you stated that Vick was guilty of tough love, then you just don't get it that society has evolved from the stone age....

I still think you were joking -- eh, right?

Anonymous said...

Sometimes I wonder if peoples' reading comprehension education ever included determining tongue-in-cheek writing.

Well-played as always, NOIS. Thought-provoking and funny.

imissyoumom2001 said...

Well, anybody even a person dumb as a stump knows when a dog is being mistreated.
How absurd to even suggest that he is
"too dumb" to know.

60 dead dogs in your yard should tell
you something.

nation_of_islam_sportsblog said...

"essentially shaving points, in a pro sports event, and the abused dogs would only live to be 10 yrs old so it's no biggie? Hope you don't have a dog. "

Sir, I realize that you addressed your "comment" to Al's banana hammock; but, since he was commenting on our post...we feel more than comfortable clearing up your muddled thoughts.

What you described as some patsy fronting for the mob...did you consider that what he did effected the outcomes of games. Games played by hundreds of players that worked their entire lives for the chance to be on an NBA court. And he shattered their dreams.

Additionally, those games were watched by millions of fans. Fans that identify with and live vicariously thru those players. So, the millions of fans were victims as well.

Certainly, dogs deserve compassion and humane treatment. But they are animals. There is no possible way an intelligent man can say the mistreat of animals even approaches destroying game night for hundreds of players and millions of fans.

Human victims.

Malcom Hex said...

"Hope you don't have a dog."

What does owning a dog have to do with any of this? I wouldn't treat mine this way...so whats your point?

Steven A's Cheese Doodles said...

"If you think the animal rights people would go after Peyton Manning any differently, you're wrong, they would"

That may be true...but we'll never know.

The feds would never investigate him....

nation_of_islam_sportsblog said...

"Stop excusing cruelty to animals and playing down how these dogs were totured because you assume people are racist. "

Sir, while we don't condone harming dogs, we do feel that the imbedded racism left in American society as a residual effect of slavery is something takes precedence.

We feel bad for you that you are a large proponent of animal rights than civil rights.

It hurts us to know that you have more respect and compassion for dogs than for Negroes.

Now we pray.



For you.

MMurr said...

Certainly both acts are despicable. I don't think the point is to argue that fixing games is inherently worse than dog fighting. Both make me sick. But at the end of a fixed game, at least all of the participants are still alive. The same cannot be said for dogfighting. That said, I understand that the repercussions of point-shaving, or game-fixing, or whatever it is referred to as, can have more lasting affects on the NBA in the form of lowered stats, which will lead to lesser-paying contracts, and so on. In both cases, crimes have been committed. In Donaghy's case, the average sports fan did not know who he was last week. Not true with Vick, which would probably explain the heightened media attention on him.

And in response to rstiles, who referred to Vick's "thug" roots; why does nobody mention the fact that Vick is from Virginia, making him just as immersed in "redneck" culture as he might be in "thug" culture? Dogfighting has been going on south of the Mason-Dixon line (and in other places, I know) for centuries; only within the last 10-15 years has it been embraced by urban culture.

Jeff Laughlin said...

mmurr--

Thank you for finally saying this. Mike Vick is as much of a thug as Peyton Manning. He's a Southerner without a moral compass. Strictly speaking, he's willing to follow fun and money into the depths of hell as long as he wears a cross simultaneously.

T-Don, however, dealt with actual thugs. He dabbled with the mob and THAT makes him more gangster than either Vick.

Discuss.

Al_Sharpton's_Banana_Hammock said...

"60 dead dogs in your yard should tell
you something. "

they were burried....maybe he didn't see them.

Tripod said...

"T-Don, however, dealt with actual thugs."

you got a point there...the cat is GULLY!

MMurr said...

business or leisure? perhaps misinterpreted what I meant to say in my post. I don't think Peyton Manning is gully, I just think "the hood" gets blamed for dogfighting via this Vick thing, when I think southern culture is a bigger influence. But I do agree that messing with the mob is legit.

nation_of_islam_sportsblog said...

"when I think southern culture is a bigger influence"

Sir, "southern" culture is too broad a term to describe the culture that has influenced this dog fighting...

This is white trash culture. Plain and simple.

It is once again an example of white influence negatively impacting the Negro community.

This can not be argued.

Casual T said...

Sir,

In agreement with your assertion and in an attempt to further the point, it is my contention that Southern Culture does not equate to
"White trash culture" as you so eloquently put it and the reverse is not true either. "White trash culture" is not limited by geographical boundaries for It is far too powerful to be contained strictly in the South.

Andrew said...

while i do agree with your views that race completely affects the situation (even if it is unconscious racism); i would ask you to consider here the difference in the positions of the 'alleged' offenders in addition to the differences in race. donaghy is not a household name, many diehard sports fans were unfamiliar with him- not every nba fan knows the officials. on the other hand, vick transcends sports with his incredible athletic ability and marketability in addition to the power/profile/celebrity that comes with the contract he signed. i do believe it is vick's omnipresence in the sports world rather than the affirmation of the anti-black quarterback movement or the racial prejudices in the thug imagery the that has him all over the headlines.


you run an excellent blog

nation_of_islam_sportsblog said...

" i do believe it is vick's omnipresence in the sports world rather than the affirmation of the anti-black quarterback movement or the racial prejudices in the thug imagery the that has him all over the headlines."

Sir, certainly, you make a possibly valid assertion. His fame makes the charges against him a story in itself.

But, we would suggest the possibility that his fame, and his Negro QB'ness, provide an excellent opportunity for those desiring to save the QB position for white players to send a message.

A clear message to all Negro QB's. That, whether you are a QB on a practice squad or the most marketed and well known Negro QB in the league...you are a target.

If they bring Vick down, who can't they bring down?

GEB4000 said...

Let's skip the innocent till proven guilty BS. The question is will they beat the rap, and here's the difference in their cases:

Vick's crime is a violent crime.

Donaghy's is not.

Donaghy will also get more sympathy not because he's whire, but because he's an underdog. He's a middle class guy with an addiction that got out of control, and it ruined him.

Vick is not viewed that way. He's a multi-millionaire that thinks the rules of society don't apply to him.

So he commits dumb crimes. People look at a guy with tons of money and wonder why he can't find some non-violent way to entertain himself. Was he considering robbing liquor stores for fun before he settled on dogfighting? Yeah he's obviously stupid, but stupidity doesn't keep your ass out of prison. That defense is not going to get you very far especially if you're a multi-millionaire.

MMurr said...

Sir,

As I am not from the south, I am not so familiar with southern culture as to be comfortable enough to refer to it in the term that you used, "white trash," which is why I chose not to do so. While I do believe that white trash culture, as we will now call it, is to blame, it should also be remembered that fighting pit bulls started in England during Shakespearean times (when bear-baiting was also quite popular). It was disgusting then, is disgusting now, and I agree that it is a definitive example of white culture negatively influencing black culture. This should not be argued. Interesting how this has yet to be brought up (to my knowledge) in the MSM.

On another note, I believe you run a tremendous blog.

nation_of_islam_sportsblog said...

"it should also be remembered that fighting pit bulls started in England during Shakespearean times "

Sir, you bring up an excellent point.

And, FURTHER support that this is an example of a deeply rooted white cultural norm harming the Negro community. Fifteen, twenty years ago...was it illegal? Was the government devoting cross agency time and resources to long term investigations of dog fights?

No, only when the Negro cultural was infiltrated by this white tradition did it become illegal.

And only when a young Negro QB millionaire had a tertiary connection did the feds get involved.

Sordid business, this.

H.N.I.C. said...

Crackers in the same states and communities are doing what is known as "hog-dogging" Having pit bulls and rottweilers rip apart wild pigs to train them to be aggressive. Where the fuck is PETA? I guess they only care when black folks are inhumane.

It's like with those old school 'Just say no' commercials, like the one where the little crackers dad catches him in his room doing cocaine, and gets all pissed and screams "where did you learn about this stuff" and cracker jr. replies "I learned it from watching you!!!"

Crackers brought the dogs and the idea of dog fighting with them when they inhumanely stole this land from the indigenous peoples, so get off the high horse and get down and kiss my black ass. Cracker bitches.

nation_of_islam_sportsblog said...

"so get off the high horse and get down and kiss my black ass"

Sir, you passion is earthshaking.

MaxwellDemon said...

HNIC--Sir, perhaps you could climb up to allow your black ass to be kissed without requiring the cracker bitches to leave their high horses? It's a win-win.

nation_of_islam_sportsblog said...

"Let's skip the innocent till proven guilty BS."

Sir, ohhh...you'd like that, wouldn't you?

Get a rope and string him up on accusations.

Mmmhmm. We see you.

nation_of_islam_sportsblog said...

"HNIC--Sir, perhaps you could climb up to allow your black ass to be kissed without requiring the cracker bitches to leave their high horses? It's a win-win. "

Sir..AND, it has become the acceptable protocol...

Adam said...

I would like to pose a queary (or 8):

1. How has the coverage of Donaghy compared in your view to the allegations against Scooter MacDougal?

2. You don't really think PETA has a racial adjenda, do you? They hate all people - us cracker asses included.

3. If Michael Vick accepts a paid leave-of-absense is that an admission of guilt on his behalf?

Also, I am in agreement that fixing the outcome of games is a more salient topic for sports discussion. I, however, think that putting the entire blame on Vick's non-honkiness is pedestrian and does nothing to raise the level of discourse to affect change.

If you're not a part of the solution...

nation_of_islam_sportsblog said...

"1. How has the coverage of Donaghy compared in your view to the allegations against Scooter MacDougal?

2. You don't really think PETA has a racial adjenda, do you? They hate all people - us cracker asses included.

3. If Michael Vick accepts a paid leave-of-absense is that an admission of guilt on his behalf?

Also, I am in agreement that fixing the outcome of games is a more salient topic for sports discussion. I, however, think that putting the entire blame on Vick's non-honkiness is pedestrian and does nothing to raise the level of discourse to affect change.

If you're not a part of the solution..."

Sir:

1) Which Scooter MacDougal?

2) We don't speculate on what there agenda may or may not be....we look at the facts. We look at how they have handled this. The agenda is clear.

3)If Vick "accepts" a paid absence? Is that an attempt at humor? He is given the option of either going away with a paycheck or being suspended. Which would you "accept"?

As for the non honkiness...Ok let's ignore it. That will lead to change. Wonderful solution.

If our post on this was "pedestrian", you certainly matched us with your trite, rehashed response.

A response as visionary as this comment will probably lead to a new world order.

censored said...

Didnt Michael Jordan walk away from the NBA in the midst of a gambling scandal? so you admit that Jordan is guilty as well....well done junior.

censored said...

Crackers brought the dogs and the idea of dog fighting with them when they inhumanely stole this land from the indigenous peoples, so get off the high horse and get down and kiss my black ass. Cracker bitches.

Hey nois, are these the righteous, intelligent people you look forward to running things in the future....good luck. Oh i forgot these posts have nothing to do with race..i am the one that brings that into play....HNIC, fat, drunk and stupid is no way to go through life son.

nation_of_islam_sportsblog said...

"Didnt Michael Jordan walk away from the NBA in the midst of a gambling scandal? so you admit that Jordan is guilty as well....well done junior. "

Sir, we are humbled by you scolding us and using junior to put us in our place. Using such language gives you such power and puts in a position of incredible psychological advantage. You are a master. We are in awe.

Funny, we seem to remember Jordan going and trying his hand at pro baseball.

Are you insinuating that we can expect to see Donaghy playing for the Toledo Mudhens soon?

nation_of_islam_sportsblog said...

"Hey nois, are these the righteous, intelligent people you look forward to running things in the future"

Sir, anything is an improvement over your ignorant self.

Although, we do enjoy your presence here. You make the rest of us seem smarter.

censored said...

Sir, we are humbled by you scolding us and using junior to put us in our place. Using such language gives you such power and puts in a position of incredible psychological advantage. You are a master. We are in awe.

Funny, we seem to remember Jordan going and trying his hand at pro baseball.

Are you insinuating that we can expect to see Donaghy playing for the Toledo Mudhens soon?

Again you try to avoid the issue and the truth. Jordan left the NBA in the midst of a gambling scandal...that makes him guilty...that is your argument..you said it.

censored said...

Are you insinuating that we can expect to see Donaghy playing for the Toledo Mudhens soon?
All you said was because this guy left the NBA he was admitting his guilt..jordan did the same thing, regardless of what career he chose to pursue after resigning. In fact Jordans time away was actually a suspension but the league didnt want to tarnish the image of their golden child so he just walked away from the game for a while. It was this same influence that allowed Jordan to keep his illegitimate kids under wraps from the media.

nation_of_islam_sportsblog said...

"Jordan left the NBA in the midst of a gambling scandal...that makes him guilty...that is your argument..you said it."

Sir, YAWN.

Once again, you apply a concept we "say", but which you don't understand...to an unrelated issue.

We never mentioned Jordan in the post.

If Jordan had resigned his position and been charged by the FBI for fixing games...well then maybe it would have been an admission of guilt.

Jordan won three straight, lost his competitive fire, and wanted to try another challenge.

There is no relation between Donaghy and Jordan.

None.

Unknown said...

Great article! I've been trying to find anywhere that has more thoughtful discussion on this topic or updates, even going to www.timdonaghy.com to try to stay up to pace with all the new twists and turns that come up. Thanks