Michael Vick Vs. Bernie Madoff: What Is Wrong With This Picture?

I recently saw a story in regards to Michael Vick being released early from prison, and I began to remember why he was sent to prison in the first place—illegal dogfighting (as if there's legal dogfighting). Michael Vick is an NFL quarterback whose crime didn't affect anyone directly except those whose dogs got in the ring with his and lost. Was he profiting from this? Sure, but again, who was affected?

Now, I do not condone dogfighting and think it is cruel, but the only way it affected me was my feelings towards the mistreatment of innocent animals.

Now let's look at the case of Bernie Madoff, a man whose Ponzi scheme affected people DIRECTLY to the tune of $50 billion and to date has caused two suicides. Bernie Madoff purposely orchestrated a scheme that will affect people for the rest of their lives, and yet he still lives in his $10 million penthouse awaiting trial

The outrage over Madoff compared to Vick is trivial. Vick was burned at the stake for what he was involved in, and Madoff is just another guy that ripped off hundreds, if not thousands of people, taking their life savings and using it for his own outlandish lifestyle.

Do I think this is a case of race? Not exactly, but I do think that many people see most athletes as people who don't deserve the money they get to play a sport—yet what exactly does a CEO do to earn the absolutely insane money and bonuses they get?

I'm not going to pay to watch a guy sign a paper to close a deal, but I would watch Vick throw a pass or scramble for a first down.

Michael Vick offended many people who are animal lovers, while Bernie Madoff affected thousands of people for his own selfish interest—yet it wouldn't surprise me if after all is said and done, Vick will be the one talked about while Madoff quietly goes away along with all that money.