Why is it that when a professional athlete assaults his wife or his girlfriend, he gets a slap on the wrist (most of the time) but when onetortures dogs (I realize animals hold different meanings to different people) he is under more public scrutiny and could potentially receive prison time?

According to an article from Sandra Kobrin of WeNews, in 2001 Jason Kidd of the New Jersey Nets pleaded guilty to spousal abuse. The NBA looked the other way. In the summer of 2006 The Phillies’ pitcher Brett Myers was charged with assault and battery because he hit his wife on the street in Boston. Did the MLB do anything? According to them it was an off-field incident. Last season Ron Artest from the Sacramento Kings was immediately suspended nearly 73 games for fighting in the stands yet when he pled no contest to domestic violence in March he was suspended 2 games. When do we stop turning our heads the other way?

Apparently we look straight ahead animals are involved. Michael Vick is all over the internet, television, radio and newspapers in regards to his sick passion for dog fighting. Many in the NFL community are completely (and surprisingly) repulsed. Gene Upshaw, the executive direction of the NFL’s Player Association states, “…the practice of dog fighting is offensive and completely unacceptable. I can only hope that Mr. Vick, who is a young man, will learn from his mistakes.” Add another name to the “we hate Vick” list. Of course it is heinous that he would participate in such vulgar and highly nauseating extra curricular activities and of course he should be severely punished for his disgusting behavior (why not throw him to the wolves?) I am not arguing that. Having two dogs myself, I felt physically ill when first hearing about this incident because personally, if anything happened to either Ollie or Charlie, I would be completely paralyzed. (I’m all about the animals PETA).

My concern (and attempted point) is that animals are receiving more attention than humans. Why does dog fighting deserve front row seats while domestic violence is shoved in the nose bleed section? Why is there disproportionate punishment being dealt? Is it because slain animals are involved? (Let us not forget that in 1992, Darryl Strawberry admitted he threatened his wife with a gun.) Deion Sanders makes a valid (and criticized) point in his column, “We’re attacking this dog fighting ring the same way a teenager attacks his MySpace page after school…We should have the same passion for man [and woman] that we have for man’s [and woman’s] best friend.”

We have a major problem here.