JimCavalier.com

If you haven’t heard, on August 25th, the Pittsburgh Steelers signed Michael Vick to be their back up quarterback. This has caused an uproar in Pittsburgh with several people speaking out against the decision. I count myself as one of them.

I vehemently disagree with the team’s decision. So this is it, I’m voting with my dollar. I’m not going to be supporting the Steelers until Vick, Rothlisberger, and Tomlin are gone. (I haven’t been a hardcore fan since the days of Bradshaw and Noll anyway.)

It’s amusing to me that people have chosen to argue with my decision by pointing out bad behavior and criminal activity of other players. That only serves to validate my decision further. I am saying that I don’t want to support criminals, or people of low character, so listing the crimes of others in the league further reenforces my resolve.

And while we’re on the subject, let’s shine a light on the elephant in the room. Ben Rothelisberger has been accused of sexual assault in Reno ^[1]Source: Huffington Post in a civil case (interestingly not criminal) that was settled, and again in Georgia where no charges were filed. ^[2]Source: CNN Therein lies a very important difference, that of “accused” versus “convicted.”

Michael Vick made a plea deal. ^[3]Source: FindLaw.com He pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy in order for the other charges to be dropped. So, to those that say he’s paid his debt to society, I say that he has not. He side stepped it. He never answered to the charges of animal cruelty, which are the most vile part of his story, in my opinion. He never faced charges for his role in killing, torturing, kidnapping, and abusing animals. For those who make the “he paid his debt to society”,  should one crime define his life? Ask Pete Rose.

I take this somewhat personally as the Steelers claim to represent Pittsburgh. But, perhaps more importantly, my tax dollars are used in support of their organization. For those that argue “Football is a business. A business of winning at all costs,” my reply is that they should be able to do business without my tax money. I shouldn’t have to subsidize their new stadium. (There was nothing wrong with Three Rivers Stadium, but that is a subject for another time.)

So, my decision stands. I’m distancing myself from the Steelers. I won’t be watching the games, nor buying apparel, etc. I’m just one voice, and while there are others like me, I doubt it will matter to the Steelers or the NFL. But I am vocal about my decision in the hopes that attitudes will change. 

I had a similar experience with Baseball. When there was no World Series in 1994, I stopped supporting MLB. The players went on strike and the fans suffered. My grandfather and I had been the biggest Pirates fans you have ever seen. I used to drive to Uniontown to listen to the games with him on his back porch. (1020 KDKA AM). He had taken me to Forbes Field when I was a kid to see Clemente play, I was at Game 4 of the ’79 series agains the Orioles, and Don Robinson signed my glove one day along the first base line at Three Rivers Stadium.

in 1994 the players went on strike against a proposed salary cap, and there was no Series. My grandfather passed away the following Spring. I haven’t  watched, nor listened to, another baseball game since, and won’t until every player who participated in that strike is no longer associated with the MLB.

I think Vick should have been thrown out of the league. The Steelers used to care about character and now that Art Sr. is gone, that seems to be out the window. So, they’ve lost my support. It’s that simple. If I feel like revisiting the NFL, it will be with the Packers. But I’ll probably just ignore it altogether.

Jim Says:”One less thing to distract me from Hockey.”