I love music, all types of music.  And while my tastes run the spectrum, I usually find myself gravitating towards classical, (I absolutely love the violin) soft jazz, and the occasional country tune.   Everything else becomes more of a seasonal selection.  For instance usually in the spring and summer I will primarily listen to alternative rock and upbeat country.   It’s weird, I don’t get it either. 

Whether I am driving, working out, working in the yard, work working, or just sitting at home, I will normally listen to my iPod.    This has become more prevalent to the point of noticeable, a fact I realized the other day.   There is a wonderful classical station here, WDAV based at Davidson College, that has really helped to expand my library and love of classical music.   Like most classical stations, there is very little talk, no commercials (except for the semi-annual membership drive) and what human voice you will hear is usually calm and subdued.  And this brings us to the point of this article…

I LOVE Christmas music!  Certainly I would not listen to it all year long, but there is just something about those songs that rekindles wonderful memories of Christmases past in my mind that I will always cherish.    Now, I know people who groan at the slightest thought of having to “endure” a single carol.  Not me!  For me it provides a soundtrack, the score to the season.  Not unlike the aroma of cinnamon and spices that provide an olfactory ignition announcing to the senses that “IT IS CHRISTMASTIME!!”

Like most cities, Charlotte has several radio stations that play Christmas songs, usually beginning the day after Thanksgiving through Christmas day.    So, I was very excited about listening to the radio in the car the other day when I set out to do a little shopping.  My excitement, however, was very short lived.    I found myself quickly frustrated as I clicked back and forth between the two stations.   While I would acheive a wonderful memory moment with an old Christmas classic, it was almost immediately erased by the “VOICE”.   The “VOICE” was that obnoxious radio personality.  It was the incessant commercials.  It was loud. It was intrusive to my reveling, and it roared seemingly after each and every song, almost as if attempting to create some sadistic balance between the harmonious music and ‘nails on the chalkboard’ commercialism.   After about fifteen minutes of this, I called ‘No Joy’ and switched the iPod back on.   But I couldn’t let it go.  I was pissed.  I was in the midst of my holiday spirit and yet I felt more like ole Ebenezer.   Apparently I needed a work-around.

Throughout the day as I shopped, walking through the mall, seeing others shopping, and bounding in and out of the various stores and boutiques, I would have flashes of memories.  Each was tied to a different carol and helped to bring me back into the sight, sound, smell and feel of the season.  So, with each memory I quickly added a little note into my Blackberry jotting down the song.  Later that night I even Googled “Christmas Classics” and a host of other search strings as I began to forge my very own Christmas playlist.   It was awesome and helped to elicit even more memories and remind me of songs that I had forgotten but loved.

The other day, I posted a comment on Facebook about my little Christmas creation and got several messages back asking me for a rundown of “Chris’ Carols”.   So, I’ve decided to share.  This is by no means a full and complete list, I know I will continue to add songs.  And while there are any number of different versions by different artists, (in a few cases there are even multiple versions in my playlist, yep, I downloaded them all) these are MY favorites.  I hope you enjoy and have a very Merry Christmas!

It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year – Andy Williams

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Yesterday, in celebration I can only assume of his new $100m contract with the Eagles, ESPN’s SportsCenter aired the “Top 10 Vick Moments”. If only I could have gotten my hands on the dumb ass producer who chose to put that together. Why not air “Vick’s 10 Worst Moments”? Spend thirty seconds of your precious TV time showing the victims of this ‘sports star’. This man thinks you are all sheep. He thinks if he continues to excel on the field the public will forget about his violent crimes. In his recent GQ article Vick stated –

“But what have I done to anybody? It was something that happened, and it was people trying to make some money.”

Well, Mike that is certainly one way to rationalize it. But I am thinking your PR team didn’t necessarily approve that little gaffe, did they? But sadly, he is right. Far too many Americans find it convenient to ignore what Michael Vick did simply because he’s magical to watch on the field or because he’s on their fantasy team. I actually had some idiotic woman tell me that two weeks ago. Even ESPN with all of their miles and terabytes of film has already forgotten. Or perhaps they have merely chosen not to remember – just like the woman in the bar. It was as if fantasy football held some sacred value to her.

Michael Vick is a sensational football player, of that there is no doubt. But what else is Michael Vick? I would argue that he is a diseased human, a sadist, a user, and a fraud. And he is symptomatic of what is wrong with America. What has happened to our basic values? Words like “Right and Wrong”, “Hard Work”, and “Integrity” have lost their meaning and have become clichés and punchlines.

How shallow have we become that we can overlook someone deriving sick pleasure from throwing a dog into a pool and then attaching battery cables to its ears as it struggles to climb out simply because that man can run and throw a football? I understand that football is an important part of our culture, I am a huge fan. But neither it, nor one man’s contribution to it are anywhere as important as our character and our ability to discern right action from wrong. It is what separates us – well most of us – from the rest of the animal kingdom.

If your son or daughter had a motocross star or perhaps a pop singer that they idolized and news reports began to surface that that individual had maliciously and savagely tortured, mutilated and killed dogs for nothing more than an adrenalin rush (Michael Vick, although he funded the entirety of BadNewz Kennels, did not accept proceeds from the winnings – not a single dime)- how would you react? Would you overlook these actions and agree with your son or daughter that “yeah, he can handle a bike though” or “yeah, but she sure can sing”? I can only hope that you would be disgusted and discuss their misplaced fan idol, that you would remind them of love and nurturing, you would tell them that an individual cannot be separated from their actions and that we are what we do. Would you remind them of the family pet and help them to understand the violent nature of their idol? I would like to think that you would act like a responsible parent and explain to your child that those actions were wrong and that that person is NO ONE to be looked up to for any reason.

Throughout our history as a nation, we have had others who have been sensational athletes. Men like Jim Thorpe and Jackie Robinson overcame far greater adversity than Michael Vick can ever claim to, and yet their past is not peppered with psychotic violence. Can you imagine the absolute upheaval that would have erupted had either of these two men have engaged in the actions that Michael Vick did? What has changed? We have. Our acceptance of atrocities in lieu of athletic prowess has morphed us into a people who value entertainment more than life. It reminds me of the movie “Running Man” where the world’s most popular game show consisted of human hunts.

Now, I have long tempered my words regarding this situation. I have tried to express myself professionally and without threats, wishes of violence or obscenity laced language even though in my heart that is exactly what I wanted. As a result I have had any number of morons attacking me with racial slurs, racial accusations, and arguments of inner city upbringing, while other mentally challenged people would simply utter “What the f*@k, they’re just dogs” or “you eat meat don’t you” or even the ignorant attempt to parallel what Michael Vick did to hunting. Well, while I don’t hunt, I know people who do and none of those individuals take pleasure in premeditated torture. Michael Vick did and laughed while it happened. He even had special stands built to hang poorly performing dogs. To hang them!?! That wasn’t easy. It wasn’t quick. It was torture, pure and simple.

Nike recently reversed their position regarding Vick and re-signed him to another endorsement deal. In 2007 Nike referred to Michael Vick’s actions as “inhumane, abhorrent and unacceptable.” After this new deal was inked a Nike spokesperson gave the company’s line –

“Michael acknowledges his past mistakes,” Saalfeld said. “We do not condone those actions, but we support the positive changes he has made to better himself off the field.”

Really? Nike is not sponsoring Vick for what he does off the field, but for what he does on the field. I would love to grab Nike CEO, Mark Parker by the back neck and force him to look face to face with the many victims of Vick. I want him to join his “partner” in greed and feel the perverted rush of shoving a dog’s head into a five gallon bucket of water while Vick and Philips hold its legs up, restraining the kicking dog until finally it dies.

Before we continue let’s go back to ESPN for a moment. After the inking of the Nike deal, one of their commentators added that ‘Nike likes edge. Michael Vick because of his past IS edge.” No, whoever the Hell you are, “Edge” is not torturing and mutilating dogs. That is sick, it is sadistic, and it is not to be revered, celebrated nor sponsored. Our media continue to shelter this man and the public from truly understanding what he did. But why?

I for one will never purchase another Nike product (or any from their subsidiaries) until they WILLFULLY terminate their agreement with Vick.

Unequal Technolgoies CEO, Rob Vito said

“Michael is good people. He paid his dues. President Obama reached out to him. He deserves an opportunity. This is what makes America so great. He’s moved forward. He’s a whole other person.”

Mr. Vito you are a pathetic excuse for a man. Did you know the previous monster and are now able to distinguish the two? No? But if the President with his untarnished ethics can “reach out” for him, he must be good. I want your children, Mr. Vito, to watch as their father uses a shovel to beat the family dog to death while Vick stands by and laughs. Mr. Vito, you are joke.

I want NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and Eagles Owner Jeffery Lurie to stand in the ring and watch the bait dogs being torn apart, fueling the blood lust of the trained fighters Vick has raised. I want them to see first-hand and I want them to smell the stench of savagery sponsored and perpetrated by their poster boy.

Until these men do these things and see the sickening violence in person and with their own eyes they are nothing more than greed worshipping hypocrites who can easily say “Mike’s paid his debt. He’s changed. He has redeemed himself”. In Vick’s own words his biggest regret isn’t what he did, but rather that his sentence wasn’t shorter. How’s that for owning up to your mistake and being a man. Not in my book, Mike.

To be clear, Michael Vick never served one single day in prison for dog fighting or for animal cruelty. Instead he was allowed to pled out to some weak assed charge of conspiracy – not exactly in line with the brutality he was and is guilty of. Who do we have to blame for this? Virginia Prosecutor Gerald Poindexter is a good place to start. He felt it would be too costly to bring Vick to Virginia from Leavenworth penitentiary to try him. And then of course there are United States Attorneys Chuck Rosenberg and Michael R. Gill who decided to offer the plea agreement in the first place. You men are beacons of law enforcement and criminal justice. You should be proud.

Let’s not forget Virginia Congressman, Jim Moran who this past July stated that in support of House Resolution 2492 Michael Vick provided Congress with “a leader” and that “[t]his is a story of redemption.” Congressman you are a Jackass who represents the Democratic party symbol well. This man is not a leader or a hero to the cause. He is the culprit. I cannot believe the people of Virginia found you a worthy representative. Let’s see if we can’t change that in the upcoming election, huh?

Finally, there is Humane Society of the United States CEO, Wayne Pacelle. Pacelle does understand the nature and the violence that was carried out. He has seen it first hand, and as a result he is the worst corporate offender of them all. He should, more than any, rally for the animals and not for Vick, but for whatever reason he has sold out his cause for a chance to hang with Vick. Enjoy an egg, Pacelle, your words no longer carry weight with those who would have supported you. And, let me add again, great job saying you think “It would be a good thing for Michael Vick’s family to have a pet.” Good for who Wayne? The animal? The Vick children? Or maybe just good for the murderous son of a bitch who is your travel partner for no reason other than public relations. Vick had “pets” before and according to Federal documents he threw two of them into the ring and laughed as they were mauled to death.

If you give money to the Humane Society of the United States with their cat and dog laced commercials, you are a sheep. Less than 5% of every dollar goes to shelters in any form. Where does the bulk go? Congress and advertising. Are you seeing a pattern yet? Give your money directly to a local shelter to insure you see local results.

Right now, our Federal Courts are attempting to retry “FORMER” baseball star Barry Bonds for Obstruction of Justice in the Balco case. Originally he was charged with perjury for lying to Congress. Really? Now that’s joke in itself. Who the Hell are they? They, today, are certainly not the men who founded this great nation. They are not the men who built it. They are a pool of sharks who have nothing but self promotion and greed as their sole credo. Every one of those 585 individuals lies to us every day. And yet they are above the law – The laws that they write, that they customize and that they pass. The fact of the matter is that they are not. They have to answer to me and to us.

Barry Bonds could face up to ten years in Federal Prison for giving a less than clear answer. Michael Vick who was personally responsible for the violent, torturous deaths of nine dogs and the subsequent deaths of five others after being rescued spent a mere 18 of 23 months in prison. Barry, I for one hope you get off scott free. This whole damn process has cost the American people millions. Bond’s first trial cost taxpayers an estimated $6 million and that doesn’t include grand jury and appeals. But Gerald Poindexter can’t afford to transport Vick? BULLSHIT!

Now, I am not some hyper-liberal, actually far from it. I believe in capitalism and I believe in a free market system. But I also believe in right and wrong. I believe in hard work versus idleness and I also believe that an entity’s character is defined not only by the entity itself, whether that is a person or a corporation, but also by those that said entity chooses to associate with – “Guilt by Association” if you will. And this is where the above mentioned corporations and their leaders now find themselves. They have fallen into the abyss of “whatever it takes economics”. And that, my friends, is exactly what is wrong with our country today. Corporations, our elected leaders and unfortunately too many of us no longer cherish values like character, hard work, and merit. We now value “NOW”, “FAST”, “EASY”, “POPULAR”. We live in a fast food, credit ridden, infomercial world that has propelled us to pursue Nickelback’s “Rock Star” life. Leveraged and of hollow character is no way to go through life.

I know that many of you reading this still don’t get it. You still cannot see beyond football and as a result you affirm that the dogs Michael Vick killed are as disposable as he believed them to be. But I am sure most every one of you has also heard the pained whimper of a dog at some point in your life. I would ask you to try to conjure that sound up again, right now. Imagine standing over that cute, innocent, hurt dog with a shovel. You can feel your heart racing. The blood is coursing through your veins spreading the adrenalin like a drug. Can you feel it? That’s it, raise the shovel. Glare at that pathetic creature with your evil eyes. Tighten your grip around the handle. God, you feel so alive right now, don’t you? Your lips turn up into a sinister sneer. No more thought, nothing but the pure intoxicating sensation of power as you bring the head of the shovel down onto the dog’s head. It yelps loudly, it whimpers, crying out in unimaginable pain. The sound fuels you, enrages you. Again and again you level the cold steel against the dog. Blood splatters dot your face. You lick your lips tasting the warm, sticky fluid like some euphoric aphrodisiac. Over and over you beat the dog in a demonic fit of rage until finally, at last you stop. You let the shovel fall to your side. You inhale sharply and your blood pressure begins to return to normal. Look down and see what you have done, look at your work.

I hope this tiny little glimpse into Vick’s savagery can help to sway even a few of you. This man should not be celebrated, he should not be revered and he should not be idolized. If you do not see that, you and I are from worlds so far apart we will never reconcile.

As a nation we need to re-examine our moral compass and make the necessary adjustments because we are broken. We should not be able to so easily overlook such heinous actions. In our past, we would not have. I hope that we can find it in our national character to regain who we were. But, sadly this is one area in which I am not optimistic.

This is the last article I will publish regarding Michael Vick.

Next up – term limits for United States Congressmen and Senators. A public referendum is necessary – these self centered clowns will never do it on their own.

For more information regarding Michael Vick and his Federal Court case please see the links below:

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Even More Great Links and Resources:

1.) “Michael Vick Was WRONGLY CONVICTED!” Great facts and links to actual court documents
2.) “Through Her Eyes” – Virginia’s Tale
3.) Michael Vick Deserves a Pet… Rock
4.) Tell President Obama You Do Not Agree With Him Supporting Vick
5.) Vick’s Unpaid Dues – Why Advocates Are Not Moving On
6.) Position Paper On Vick’s Desire to Own Another Dog from the Director of Vick Dog Rehabilitation

To: Philip Knight, Chairman of the Board, NIKE Corporation
Mark Parker, CEO, NIKE Corporation
Charles Denson, President, NIKE Brand
Don Blair, VP and Chief Financial Officer
Gary M. DeStefano, President Global Operations
Maria S. Eitel, President NIKE Foundation
Elizabeth J. Comstock, Board Member
John G. Connors, Board Member
Timothy D. Cook, Board Member
Ralph D. Denuzio, Board Member
Alan B. Graf, Jr., Board Member
Orin C. Smith, Board Member
Bert Hoyt, VP Global Category Football
Tim Hersey, VP North America Retail
Elliott Hill, VP and GM North America
David Grasso, VP Global Brand Marketing

PAT ZEEDICK, VP and GM Young Athletics

Nike Corporate Responsibility Committee Members
Jill K. Conway
Douglas G. Houser
Johnathan A. Rodgers
John R. Thompson, Jr.
John C. Lechleiter, Ph.D.
Phyllis M. Wise

Other Nike Officers
Tom Peddie, VP North America Sales
Bernie Pliskie, VP and Corporate Controller
Ken Dice, VP North America Marketing
Eric Sprunk, VP Merchandising and Product
Nigel Powell, VP Global Communications
Brad Johnson, VP North America Merchandising
Trevor Edwards, VP Global Brand and Category Merchandising

____________________________________________________________________________

Dear Sir/ Madame –

I am writing to you today to express my deep concern over your company’s decision to re-sign Michael Vick as a corporate spokesman and ambassador of your brand.

I have been a lifelong Nike customer for the last 30+ years. During that time, I can honestly say that I have never owned another brand’s athletic shoe or apparel. That, however, has changed because of your poorly thought out corporate strategy to again align yourself with Michael Vick.

In 2007, when Nike released Michael Vick, your company stated that ‘cruelty to animals was “inhumane, abhorrent, and unacceptable.”‘ To which I must now ask ‘what has changed’? Michael Vick is still guilty of barbarous acts of sadistic cruelty, torture and murder against innocent dogs. The 18 of 23 months that he spent incarcerated for “Conspiracy to Travel in Interstate Commerce in Aid of Unlawful Activities and to Sponsor a Dog in an Animal Fight Venture” does not erase that. Nor does it fulfill in the minds of thousands of animal lovers worldwide that he has truly reconciled what he did. His public appearances and statements about his involvement are scripted, flat, devoid of emotion and lacking in sincerity. Anyone who truly pays attention can see that.

With so many other untarnished, talented professional athletes to choose from, it is very sad that corporate greed would lead your once great company to historically re-sign a man who clearly has a strong degree of unchecked sociopathology. How do you change that and more importantly how does Nike justify it? How can this possibly fit within your corporate “Inside the Lines” policies?

Nike plays such a huge role in our children’s lives through youth sports. From little league to Pop Warner football, high school and collegiate athletics the world’s young people look up to and want to emulate the sports stars they see not only play their favorite games, but also endorsing and selling a company’s products.

Your decision to pull Michael Vick back into the Nike fold is a blatant slap in the face of anyone who has ever known the unconditional love of a dog. And it sends the message to parents all over the world that “if you want your child to emulate a sadistic animal abuser and murderer of innocent dogs, NIKE HAS YOUR GEAR!”

Until Nike reverses its stance on Michael Vick, I will cease to be one of your customers. Additionally I will, through my words and my voice, make sure that everyone I come in contact with – friends, family, co-workers, social acquaintances, and strangers alike that Nike has abandoned its corporate values in pursuit of unashamed, ill-gotten revenues through its relationship with this man who with forethought and malice, intentionally and with pleasure electrocuted, drowned, bludgeoned, hung and beat to death innocent dogs who didn’t perform well in his illegal activities.

I do not care for nor do I need a canned corporate response to this letter. I would much rather your once great organization do the right thing and terminate your relationship with Michael Vick.

Sincerely,

Chris Durant
Former Nike Customer
[email redacted]

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Join the “Boycott Nike for Signing Michael Vick” Movement on Facebook

Even More Great Links and Resources:

1.) “Michael Vick Was WRONGLY CONVICTED!” Great facts and links to actual court documents
2.) “Through Her Eyes” – Virginia’s Tale
3.) Michael Vick Deserves a Pet… Rock
4.) Tell President Obama You Do Not Agree With Him Supporting Vick
5.) Vick’s Unpaid Dues – Why Advocates Are Not Moving On
6.) Position Paper On Vick’s Desire to Own Another Dog from the Director of Vick Dog Rehabilitation

Today one would be hard pressed to find someone whose life has not been touched by our country’s efforts in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other areas of the world. This is the story of how my life has been touched. It is a story of dedication, belief, desire, and sacrifice. I am sure many of our readers have similar stories that will relate to their lives and experiences, and as such please feel free to change the names as appropriate.

My closest friend, Major Wade Deliberto and I met about nine years ago at the Cumberland Hooters here in Atlanta. It took about a year of macho posturing for us to get through our two opposing Alpha male egos before we became fast friends and eventually best friends – brothers.

A United States Marine and United States Naval Academy graduate, Wade exemplifies the American spirit. Out of the Marine Corps for four years with his Inactive Ready Reserve Status about to expire (meaning he could not be recalled, but would have to volunteer for future service), Wade again felt the call of duty to his country. It was the call to those who have the will to serve. Although set in a comfortable career as a bank manager, Wade spent months scouring DOD postings and making numerous phone calls trying to find a billet to fit his MOS (Military Occupational Specialities). As persistent and determined as I know Wade to be, I am sure the particular Marine Staff Sergeant had grown annoyed at the constant barrage of emails and phone calls inquiring into Wade’s position on the list of potential candidates until finally the Ssgt responded “SIR, you are the list!”

Thus began a second run at sacrifice and dedication to one’s country. Wade signed up for a six month reserve tour in Afghanistan under the Combined Forces Command (CFC-A). Immediately, like a mother, father, spouse or other family member, I began to think about the perils my “brother” would face in the line of duty. I began to think about sitting at Cumberland Hooters looking at across the table at another empty stool and another framed portrait of a memorial marquee. I already have enough of those.

Reservations notwithstanding, we talked, we discussed, we debated, and ultimately we parted. Wade, my brother, was heading into war. The feelings I had were the same as I sense many families have at the finality of this news – Pride, Fear, Desperation, Hope.

Wade’s commitment to the Marine Corps ideology of “God, Country, Corps” strikes a deep chord in me for a couple of reasons. First I have not served our country through military service. One of the biggest regrets of my life – we will not get into the others – is having not served as the other men in my family have. Second, I have lost very few people in my life. I feel extremely fortunate in that respect. But to imagine a family whose loved one(s) are in harm’s way 24/7 adds a different dimension to care, love, and missing as this absence becomes final.

Throughout Wade’s tour, we talked as often as possible and emailed much more frequently. He kept me apprised of life in the ‘sandbox’ and I tried to keep him up to date on the goings on of life back here – the who’s dating who, how’s so-and-so is doing, the weather and other such other trivial matters. I think we both relished the calls and the emails albeit for different reasons. For me it was an opportunity to know my brother was doing well and hear the resolve in his voice. For him, I think it was more of simply gaining a little normalcy and sense of home in a place that is far from either.

Wade has since returned from Afghanistan and is currently in his second [volunteer] tour. Seeing him and hearing the stories first hand and in person has helped to better shape my perspective. The camaraderie that our military personnel share with one another is something that us non-servers can never truly understand but must appreciate, if not envy. And while that bond is closest while under fire and in harm’s way it cannot replace the feelings, touches, and souvenirs of home.

Welcome Home, Brother!

[the remainder of this story has been REDACTED]

Chris Durant -
March 29, 2007

As a final update, Wade has now served two tours between Afghanistan and Iraq and stints at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad and at the Pentagon. He is back stateside now (at an undisclosed location), safe, for the moment and content to wake every morning and don the Marine Corps BDUs.

This weekend, if you see a service man or woman or a veteran, please be sure to thank them for their service as we celebrate our nation’s independence and remember it is only because of people like them that we are able to live as we do in the “Land of the Free and (certainly in) the Home of the Brave.”

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I remember when I first saw Michael Vick play football, it was the 2000 Sugar Bowl against Florida State. I remember this game vividly because I have been a lifelong Seminole, and while the Noles handily beat Virginia Tech 46 to 29 and won the National Championship, I remembered being awed by the young Hokie who played as if he had some protective force field around him. He truly looked untouchable on the field.

Unfortunately, that same Teflon protection seems to have carried forward to the present day and still insulates Michael Vick from the atrocities of his past. Vick supporters and sports fans alike seem to either overlook his heinous actions or they simply don’t understand exactly what horrors he committed. I would like to believe it is the latter because for a long time, I didn’t really get it either. Not until December 28, 2010. It was on this day that news of President Obama’s phone call to Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie, in which he applauded Lurie for giving Vick a second chance, blanketed the airwaves. I could not get away from this story.

As one who has always been interested in politics and political maneuvering I decided to dig in a little bit and see what all of the hubbub was about. I wanted to know what Vick did, what his involvement was and why the President was lauding his meteoric comeback.

Almost immediately into my research, my eyes were opened and I was sick to my stomach. Reading the Federal Court documents I was appalled. I have had dogs throughout most of my life and the thought of doing what this man and his associates did to those innocent animals presented a new level of evil in my mind.

(For more detail on the true actions of Vick and Co. please see “Michael Vick Was WRONGLY CONVICTED!”)

Fast forward to 2011. Vick has severed out his meager sentence of 18 of 23 months (NOTE: If Vick had truly been tried and convicted on the potential 29 counts of animal cruelty and dog fighting he could have faced up to SIXTY-FIVE years in prison) and is back in the NFL playing his beloved game and was awarded a “franchise tag” by the Philadelphia Eagles in 2011 meaning that his salary must equate to the top five salaries for his position.

• In 2010 the Eagles paid Vick approximately $5.25 million
• Projected Salary (after the franchise tag) for 2011 – $16 million

But the rewards don’t stop there. In January of 2011 the NFL booked the 4,200 square foot Presidential penthouse for Vick at (apparently Mr. Obama wasn’t in town for the game or maybe he just deferred to Mike) the Marriott’s Ihilani Resort during last year’s Pro Bowl. Why was Vick selected for this honor over any other player? Security? Laughable.

Again in January of 2011 – Unequal Technologies signs Vick to a “Sizeable” contract according to company CEO Rob Vito. Mr. Vito, do you really know what this man did? Again, I sincerely hope not, but you should. If you are going to spend a “sizeable” amount of money on someone, you better know what you are buying. And if you do know, then your value system is non-existent.

On April 26, 2011, EA Sports who produces the insanely popular Madden NFL series for Playstation and Xbox dodged bullet when Vick was ousted by Peyton Hillis as their 2012 Cover Star. Had Vick been placed on the cover EA would have had a potential firestorm on their hands. One of their commercials in 2011 showed a father and son placing the family dog on a tread mill before returning to their video game. Who was the mastermind who came up with this ad campaign? Certainly they were not aware that their 2004 poster boy, Michael Vick used tread mills in the same fashion to strengthen his fighting dogs. Or were they?

This past Sunday, Subway sponsored the BET (BLACK ENTERTAINMENT TELEVISION) Award for “Sportsman of the Year”. I am sure by now you already know who won that coveted award. I will not even get into BET as their mission is as flawed as their judgment. I mean Chris Brown, who threw a vicious beating on BET’s Female R&B Entertainer of the Year, Rhianna in 2009, won four awards – I’m sure she felt good about that. But Subway on the other hand is a large, multi-national corporation with a responsibility not only to its franchisees, but to its employees and its customers worldwide. It has been told to me that the sponsors do not know who the winners will be prior to the announcement in such situations. Well, I am sorry, but knowing that Michael Vick is one of five men up for the award should have sent even a minor tinge of weariness. But no, Subway moved forward. Michael Vick won their award. And now the two, like it or not, are joined. Guilt by association if you will.

Subway still chooses to overlook this. They, to this day, have been negligent in responding to calls, questions, letters and complaints. As such, boycotts and protests have sprung up all over the nation. I have heard from people all over the country staging rallies at local Subway stores with their dogs, telling every customer that walks by just what this company stands for, or rather what it doesn’t stand for. There is even a Facebook page, NO WAY Subway that after popping up on Monday has grown to over 18,000 fans in 4 short days.

UPDATE: As of this writing, Nike has just signed Michael Vick to a new contract. UNBELIEVABLE. Here is a company that dumped him in 2007 stating that “cruelty to animals was ‘inhumane, abhorrent and unacceptable.’” I wonder what has changed? I can only assume that the answer can be found in the shallow, columns of the financial ledger which apparently has no conscience. I have been a Nike customer for as long as I can remember, to the degree that I don’t ever remember owning another brand of tennis shoes, cleats, or other sports apparel if Nike had something in that line. I can tell you that that has immediately changed. Nike’s fiscal decision to re-sign Vick based on athletic prowess and a total dismissal of his character is the most blatant disregard of corporate values that I have had the misfortune to witness. This is a company who plays a HUGE part in the lives of our children. Just think how many kids wear Nike sports apparel. How many children want to emulate their sports heroes. Nike has just slapped us all in the face, saying “If your child wants to emulate a sadistic, torturer and murder of dogs, we’ve got your apparel.” Absolutely the wrong message and plainly DISGUSTING!

I am sure there will be a “Boycott Nike” fan page up soon. I will update you when this occurs.

My point in all of this is that we have become a morally bankrupt nation. We value celebrity in all of its many forms more than honesty and integrity. We idolize sports figures like modern day deities. We overlook their faults and their crimes and allow them but a little slap on the wrist before letting them continue on their merry way.

Subway bosses Rob DeLuca and Peter Buck should be ashamed of themselves for allowing their brand to be affiliated with a man like Michael Vick. I have had people tell me that by boycotting the local stores you will only hurt the franchisees. That may well be the case. But that is not my concern – Subway is Subway. And while the individual franchisees may not have been a part of the Vick / BET sponsorship deal, they are a part of the Subway system. If DeLuca and Buck choose not to hear our voices, perhaps with enough pain they will hear the voices of their owners.

It is high time for corporate America to take responsibility for their actions and answer to their customers. I expect a company like Subway to put as much forethought into who they partner with as they certainly must have with their new avocado thing – whatever that is.

I urge you all to keep up the fight. Tell Nike, Subway and others like them that our voices do matter and that we will not abide companies and corporations who have no moral compass, that we will not allow our children to be influenced by corporate greed, that we will support businesses who have at their core- values, ethics, social responsibility, and integrity.

“While one voice may often get lost against the din of resistance, thousands in unison can be deafening.”

Chris Durant

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This letter is to let you know that you have lost my business and the business of any, and everyone I can influence to never patronize your establishment(s) again.

Your sponsorship of the BET awards and their subsequent (even if unknown to Subway) awarding of “Sportsman of the Year” to Michael Vick is appalling to anyone who has ever known the unconditional love of a dog.

Michael Vick is an inhumane monster. I would urge those responsible for the decision to support this sponsorship to read the court documents and educate themselves even a little as to what this so-called man is guilty of perpetrating.

A quick recap, drowning dogs, electrocuting dogs, hanging dogs, beating them to death with a shovel, slamming them to the ground until they were dead, ordering the shooting of dogs and of course using two if his own family “pets” as bait dogs – that is what the man now associated with your brand is admittedly guilty of.

Want more? Probably not after reading this, I am sure. However, if you follow the link it will provide more detail of Mr. Vick’s actions and involvement which goes far beyond simply sponsoring and bankrolling a dog fighting operation on his property.

Here is the link – “Michael Vick Was WRONGLY CONVICTED!”

I hope that you will recognize what a disgrace it is for your business to be affiliated with this man and ultimately take the appropriate steps to denounce Michael Vick and the BET awards for their misguided ability to look beyond the monster and only at the celebrity or notoriety of a man when judging him and his true impact on our society.

Sincerely-

Chris Durant
Cdurant2000@gmail.com

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