The professional football team I’ve rooted for in the past has just agreed to pay one million six-hundred thousand dollars to Michael Vick, a man convicted of raising dogs for the purpose of torturing and killing those dogs as entertainment.

I love to watch sports, despite certain problems I have with the value system that professional sports represent.  I am now faced with the question if this employment of Michael Vick is something that I ignore,  or is there a line where enough is enough.

There is a line. On one side of the line here is the situation:

I really do love sports as a diversion from the mundane. I try to ignore the unbalanced compensation for these athletes and instead revel in their physical accomplishments. The beauty of sports is that doing a better job results in a victory. And, often that plays out in dramatic, surprising, and entertaining fashion.

The compensation and reward for athletic feats indicates a problem in our society.  It is a free market, and they are entitled to whatever we are willing to pay them.  The unbalanced compensation itself is not the problem. The willingness on our behalf to participate and encourage the imbalance it is the problem.

I believe the reason we are willing to compensate celebrities beyond their value is because we’ve willingly failed to educate ourselves about how a functioning society of millions of people must work over hundreds of years.  On some level, we understand that giving millions of dollars to a physically gifted man while laying teachers off their jobs is wrong, but we don’t fully understand the long-term effects on our collective well-being. We believe that’s just how things work in a democracy, and so far it hasn’t really made all our lives the poorer – just a few people not worth mentioning.  Of course, this was similar to the prevailing social view before the fall of the Roman Empire.

And, being a dutiful citizen-consumer, I’ve been able to ignore the millions of dollars given to athletes and the ways they dispose of that money; the incredible castles they build, the chariots they ride in.  They are just humans like you and me. It’s not their fault.  They got lucky. Good for them, in a way. I see the issue, but feel powerless to effect change. Bring me bread and a circus!

And here is the other side of that line:

Here is a man, Michael Vick, whom we know has done pure evil. We know exactly what he did. It has been proven, and the details we know are evil. If you believe anything in the world can be called evil, this man has done that thing.

In his words, he made “a mistake.”  But, four years of meticulously planned activity, with custom built facilities is more than a mistake.  It is a lifestyle.

It has been said that with his prison term he has paid his debt, and that he deserves a second chance.  I wholeheartedly agree with this. Except, a second chance means he should be able to remain free of prison in a three-bedroom house while he pours concrete for a living, clips coupons, buys the cheap beer, and volunteers at animal shelters.  That’s the same “chance” the rest of us have.  If he is a changed man, he is entitled to work hard as a free man. There is no duty to restore him to a highly-compensated life of protected privilege, there is only the choice to willingly bestow upon him those things if you believe he,  as a member of society, deserves better compensation than the average teacher, nurse, or physical therapist.

So, for the owners and management of the Philadelphia Eagles to willingly give the man one million six hundred thousand dollars is an unequivocal statement. It is a statement that they believe there is nothing they would not ignore in their selfish pursuits for enrichment. There is no value they will not willingly undermine in an attempt to get even richer than they already are.

I’m following the “national debate” on what this all means with a morbid resignation.   No one understands the deeper level of how uneducated we are. The most vocal opinions are often the least educated.  Brains are getting a workout only as far as they can be used to craft sharper attacks on the opposite viewpoint.  Any nuanced view gets obliterated, as we all dutifully take opposite positions, ignoring the underlying issues and problems that are too shockingly intractable to acknowledge. In this way, it is exactly like politics.

As I sat down to write about this, I wondered why I would even bother.  But, then I heard anecdotes about families selling their Eagles season tickets. I heard a report of fans in tears at the Eagles stadium.  Could it be that this line exists for others too? I wondered what it would be like if the public finally rose up and refused to continue to support “their team” no matter what indecency is promoted by that organization?  Could this be a “teachable moment” that future humans can look back at in pride and say, “Enough was enough.”?

Well, not likely. But, maybe.

I can’t support this sports team after their decision to employ Michael Vick.

Well, I said if Kentucky Joe got a W in September, I’d do it. And tonight, he pitched a piss-poor game against the Marlins, but was somehow bailed out by Jayson Werth’s big bat. Hey, a win is a win! And, I’m taking full credit for it, too. Never let it be said that I’m not true to my word, at least when it comes to ridiculous wagers. Ladies and gents, my ridiculous new chinbeard:

Update: As seen on The700Level

Update II: THis made the lower levels of Flickr Explore. It’s a juggernaut!

My new theme song: “Ugly” – Fishbone

Well, Joe Blanton didn’t have it today against the Nats, getting pulled early. It’s not looking good for the new guy, ol’ Kentucky Joe.  I defended the move when the Phils picked him up, so I’m gonna do what I gotta do to help him be successful.

So, if Joe Blanton records a W in the month of September, I will do it. I’ll rock the chinbeard. I know it’s a drastic measure, but this is a pennant race and I’m stepping up and laying my chin on the line.

Play it: “The Hair On My Chinny Chin Chin” – Sam Sham & The Pharoahs

MLB – Philadelphia Phillies/Washington Nationals Box Score

The past never dies, it gets repackaged as retro chic — or at the very least it always comes back as an ironic indie band name.  ESPN writer Jeff Pearlman highlights a great example of this immortal truth this week.

“We should be ‘Randy Ready,’” one said.

“No,” said the other. “We can do better.”

“We should be ‘Lou Whitaker,’” one said.

“No,” said the other. “We can do better.”

“We should be ‘Steve Balboni,’” one said.

“No,” said the other. “We can do better.”

And then, as if emerging directly from the lips of God, words of inspiration struck.

“We should be … Von Hayes,” one said.

“Yes,” said the other. “We should.”

The result: Von Hayes — the rock band.

Read: ESPN Page 2 – Pearlman: When baseball and music collide

An indie rock band named after one of my favorite old-school Philadelphia Phillies baseball players from the 1980s? There’s no way that could suck!

“Mr. Guts” – Von Hayes

“Superballs” – Von Hayes

Actually, they do kinda suck. (More at http://www.myspace.com/vonhayes09)  But, that’s okay! All music sucks in some way. It’s  a great story and I hope the real Von Hayes calls them back at some point.  I was a big Von Hayes fan in my time.  Cool name, looked cool in Philly pinstripes, and hit two home runs in one inning. Very cool! Bonus Cool Points for ESPN’s nickname machine Chris Berman calling him Von “Purple” Hayes back in the day.

But guys, just don’t let him invite you onto his boat.

Now, onto some bonus video comparison:

Von Hayes, the ex-Phillie and current minor league manager:

Von Hayes, the enthusiastic indie rockers:

In the beginning, there was the Wolf Pack.  In the wake of that followed the Padilla Flotilla, Chase’s Chicks, and even Sal’s Pals. Any Philadelphia Phillie player with any sort of character seems to get a possibly-alliterative, perhaps-rhyming, potentially-punny nicknamed fan club.

Last night, however, a new one surfaced to support sophomore starter Kyle Kendrick.

Full Coverage and credit at Philadelphia Will Do: Kendrick’s Hendrix

I’m not sure I can support this one. They’ll have to start playing lefty and come up with a better drawing. Of course if it leads to KK warming up to “Spanish Castle Magic” then I will be on board.

Bonus flashback: Preseason prank: Kyle Kendrick traded to Japan

How great is fame? Or, rather how great does a goalie have to  be to make it to the Hockey Hall of Fame?

I recently read that Ron Hextall is entering his first year of eligibility. Ron is up there among my favorite athletes to have watched in my lifetime. The default adjective for him has always been fiery, and it’s been well-deserved. He’s a favorite of a lot of lunkhead Philly fans who appreciate fights more than skill, but Hexy had that too. He finished up with 296 wins. It wasn’t so long ago that 300 was considered a magic number for getting into the Hall, but I don’t think that’s the case any more. If I recall accurately, Calgary needed a goalie and offered Hextall a contract for 1999-2000 but Hextall turned them down and hung up the skates. So, in my mind at least, he could have reached 300 if he wanted it. Should he be in the Hall of Fame? Probably not; No Stanley Cup is a big monkey in this case.  Shame, as there was nobody who battled harder for one.

That doesn’t mean I’ll ever forget:

• Banging the pipes
• Hex (P) Towels
• Jumping Chris Chelios
• Scoring on the Bruins
• The original Vic stick
• #27
• Leaving it all on the ice against the Oil in 87

Hexy was one of a kind. I hope he gets a few votes, at least. Here’s a few trips down memory lane:

I keep telling myself I’m getting back east for an Eagles game one of these years. When I do, I’ll be paying a broker some fat markup. Eagles tickets for this season sold out in 10 minutes.

Eagles tix: Exercise in frustration | Philadelphia Inquirer | 06/19/2008