January 4th, 2000. The date stands out in my memory because it was the first time I saw Michael Vick play football.

Despite being a red shirt freshman, it was clear that Vick was a man playing a sport with boys. He dazzled! Virginia Tech was overrun by a much better Florida State team, but there wasn’t a more exciting player on the field that evening, which was saying quite a bit given the pedigree of so many of the other athletes. From that day, I began counting down to Vick’s professional debut.

VICK CANCELS 'TJMS' APPEARANCE

Tom Joyner announced on "The Tom Joyner Morning Show" Tuesday that his much-anticipated, previously-scheduled radio interview with Michael Vick is off.

"He really wants to do it, but all of his advisers are advising him not to, because everyone is taking what he says out of context," Joyner told listeners.

According to Joyner, Vick had agreed to take calls from listeners and "explain his actions." Joyner said Tuesday the Falcons quarterback, who on Monday pleaded guilty to federal dogfighting charges, called the radio host personally to cancel the interview.

"Mike was very apologetic," Joyner said.

I had never been an Atlanta Falcons fan; I am a die-hard Cowboys’ booster. That’s just the way it is. However, when Michael Vick became a Falcon, I tuned in to see Falcons’ games just to see him play. And I wasn’t disappointed. Over the years, he has provided plenty of excitement -- not as many wins as Falcons’ fans might have liked, but lots of fun and plenty of thrills.

I suppose it is good for Vick that he is an NFL quarterback and not a pit bull terrier. Given last year’s end-of-the-season death spiral -- the Falcons finished the year losing seven of their last nine games -- had he been a dog, rather than be paid an ungodly sum of money, he may have been put down. That is assuming the charges against him are true.

After initially proclaiming his innocence to federal charges of operating a dog fighting ring, Vick recently announced he would plead guilty as part of a plea bargain with federal prosecutors.  Vick could very well be looking at a year of prison time. At the very least, it should include some type of psychological counseling.

One can’t read of the despicable treatment of animals on Vick’s property -- electrocution, drowning and hanging -- or look at photos of terriers following fights and not feel a sense of revulsion. I am not qualified in psychoanalysis, but I can’t help but suspect that anyone who can treat an animal like Vick and his buddies allegedly treated these creatures and sleep well at night has got deep emotional problems.

Vick should be punished for breaking the law.  For having a bazillion dollars and getting mixed up in some back-country shenanigans, he should be whacked upside the head. However, I remain unconvinced that prison time is appropriate.  Consider that Mary Winkler was recently convicted of blowing her husband’s brains out with a shot gun while he slept. She was freed after serving 67 days in a mental health facility. All told, Paris Hilton served harder time. 

More ironic is that had Vick's property housed an abortion clinic rather than a dog fighting kennel, he would now be hailed as a champion for human rights by many of those currently calling for a pound of his flesh. I, for one, would like to see a similar uproar when it comes to the destruction of innocent human life.

Make no mistake: I love people and animals. I have the ashes of my deceased first dog in a canister on my dresser. But as much as I loved that cocker spaniel, his life was not more valuable than that of a human. The fact remains that as much as we adore our pets, they are property. Like furniture, a dog picked up on the street has less value than one purchased in a designer shop. Would we lock a man up for mistreating his furniture? As repugnant as dog fighting or any animal fighting may be -- and let me reiterate that I find it contemptible! -- what is the government’s interest in locking up men that do not treat their property in a manner the rest of us find acceptable?

The kind of social castigation Vick has already received seems a far more effective and fair punishment. He has tarnished his reputation perhaps beyond repair, lost the respect of his employers and co-workers along with legions of fans (I know I will not be tuning in to watch him play), millions of dollars in endorsements and very likely the opportunity to ply his trade. The people have spoken loud and clear; we have said in no uncertain terms that we don’t like animal fighting, and we like even less those that engage and trade in cruelty.

I think Vick has got the message. If not, he is truly dumber than the animals he is accused of mistreating.

---

Joseph C. Phillips is the author of “He Talk Like a White Boy."