At this point, only an indictment as been placed on Michael Vick’s alleged involvement in dog fighting. That seems to have been enough to cause some immediate repercussions. Nike has taken immediate action:

“ATLANTA (AP) — Michael Vick’s legal troubles prompted Nike on Thursday to suspend the release of its latest product line named after the Atlanta Falcons quarterback.

Nike has told retailers it will not release a fifth signature shoe, the Air Zoom Vick V, this summer. Stoyer said the four shoe products and three shirts that currently bear Vick’s name will remain in stores.”

link: Nike suspends release of Vick line

The NFL also has an immediate problem. What do they do with one of their major athletes who is, in the eyes of the general public, tainted by the mere alleged association with the dogfighting activity? It becomes a marketing nightmare, especially when the press is describing, in vivid and gruesome detail, how dogs were killed. It goes against the wholesome family values that the NFL strives to promote.

Undoubtedly, Michael Vick will be protected by lawyers, the players’ union, agents and others who have a financial interest in seeing him on the football field. However, this is an opportunity for a major professional sport to deliver a clear and unambiguous message: ‘obey the law or be gone’.

It would be inspiring if a major professional sport had the gumption and moral backbone to do that - and lived with whatever consequences followed.

Catherine Forsythe

update: Vick reportedly contrite; sources say NFL to let him play for now

[tags]michael vick, dogfighting, indictment, guilt, nfl, marketing, consequences[/tags]