marichal and pedro

[placount]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200...x.html?cnn=yes

do you think the media is going to try and turn this in to a vick situation? i see this the same as bull fighting in that while a lot of people think its inhumane, where they were doing it it's perfectly legal

[freshprince85]

I've fust started a thread on the Mets forum two minutes ago ... I just hope that this will not affect his road games this season.
I didn't like what i saw

[Captain Cold Nose]

This isn't that much different than what Vick did, outside of how the animals used are ultimately viewed. PETA and other animal rights groups certainly will not be happy.

While avoiding any cultural discussion that I really have zero room to make, cockfighting is illegal in the U.S. and will not be looked upon favorably by most here. I have no idea if Martinez is involved in gambling with the fights in the D.R., but this could get him a discussion with the Commissioner ala Michael Jordan and Isiah Thomas in the NBA.

[Old Sweater]

Another current player loses his altar boy image.

[metfan13]

This isn't that much different than what Vick did, outside of how the animals used are ultimately viewed. PETA and other animal rights groups certainly will not be happy.

While avoiding any cultural discussion that I really have zero room to make, cockfighting is illegal in the U.S. and will not be looked upon favorably by most here. I have no idea if Martinez is involved in gambling with the fights in the D.R., but this could get him a discussion with the Commissioner ala Michael Jordan and Isiah Thomas in the NBA.

Since it didn't happen in the US and it is legal and part of the culture where it did happen I don't see how wnyone can have much to say, other than they are personally disgusted by it.

I don't like the idea of cockfighting or bullfighting. But then I find deer hunting pretty disgusting too, but that's part of the accepted culture here.

[rockin500]

This isn't that much different than what Vick did, outside of how the animals used are ultimately viewed. PETA and other animal rights groups certainly will not be happy.

While avoiding any cultural discussion that I really have zero room to make, cockfighting is illegal in the U.S. and will not be looked upon favorably by most here. I have no idea if Martinez is involved in gambling with the fights in the D.R., but this could get him a discussion with the Commissioner ala Michael Jordan and Isiah Thomas in the NBA.

not too much different at all. I dont have as much problem with bullfighting since the bull can fight back. Its legal where he is at isnt it? and thats better for pedro. Doesnt necessarily make it right morally, really, but its pretty much the difference between the two.

But he's certainly going to be criticized by the animal cruelty people.

[Dalkowski110]

I actually read Marichal was into cockfighting in a baseball trivia book a while back. Published circa 2001. Considering he managed the 2007 World Team for the All Star Futures Game, I'm wondering if the repercussions for this are really going to be that serious. Obviously, you're going to get every heckler at Pedro's road starts shouting "chicken killer!" (and worse...just think what you can do with the word "cockfighting") and PETA protesting outside every Mets game, but technically he didn't break any law. Morally right or wrong, he didn't do anything to 1) destroy the integrity of baseball (if there was some revelation he was roiding up or throwing a spitball or gambling on baseball or something like that, then yes, he catches hell from the Commissioner's Office) or 2) anything to warrant a suspension. However, my guess is that the Mets make him publicly apologize and then tell him and him alone to ban cameras and cell phones at his next cockfight...

[Brian McKenna]

Captain hit the nail on the head - this is gambling-based and a highly questionable activity.

It's a shame baseball players keep falling. I used to think baseball players rose above the trash from football, boxing and pro wrestling but now I'm wondering.

The game keeps getting embarrassed and it's a shame. Oh well, such is life.

[Brian McKenna]

...and then tell him and him alone to ban cameras and cell phones at his next cockfight...

That would be condoning the activity. I don't see the organization-formal doing that.

[Dalkowski110]

Formally? Of course not. But informally? Honestly, what can they do to him considering his contract situation/close-to-spokesman status for the organization in the DR (where cockfighting is legal)?

[Captain Cold Nose]

Since it didn't happen in the US and it is legal and part of the culture where it did happen I don't see how wnyone can have much to say, other than they are personally disgusted by it.

I don't like the idea of cockfighting or bullfighting. But then I find deer hunting pretty disgusting too, but that's part of the accepted culture here.

You're correct. However, he does live (at the very least during the season) and is employed in this country. While he does have absolutely nothing to worry about from a legal standpoint (for this), he'll get harshly criticized. If all that merits is a so what, then so what.

While this is close to Vick, it's also close to Josh Beckett saying he was going hunting after the 2003 World Series. And that really didn't receive that much press. Heck, former Twin Kent Hrbek has his own outdoors show where hunting is involved. Plenty of players hunt and fish. I guess it all matters what's being done to them and the relationship to humans.

[Dalkowski110]

"Plenty of players hunt and fish."

I hunt and fish, too...comparing what Josh Beckett said to what Pedro did as being morally reprehensible is 1) apples and oranges, 2) is off-topic, 3) does not belong on a baseball forum, and 4) I personally take offense with it. Let's keep on topic.

[metfan13]

You're correct. However, he does live (at the very least during the season) and is employed in this country. While he does have absolutely nothing to worry about from a legal standpoint (for this), he'll get harshly criticized. If all that merits is a so what, then so what.

While this is close to Vick, it's also close to Josh Beckett saying he was going hunting after the 2003 World Series. And that really didn't receive that much press. Heck, former Twin Kent Hrbek has his own outdoors show where hunting is involved. Plenty of players hunt and fish. I guess it all matters what's being done to them and the relationship to humans.

I'm no outdoorsman, and I'm sure I'll hear all about how kind it is to the animals, but this cockfighting thing, bull fighting, and hunting/fishing all seem kind of cruel to animals.

As for Michael Vick, not only was it cruel, but also illegal.

[metfan13]

"Plenty of players hunt and fish."

I hunt and fish, too...comparing what Josh Beckett said to what Pedro did as being morally reprehensible is 1) apples and oranges, 2) is off-topic, and 3) does not belong on a baseball forum. Let's keep on topic.

I posted as you were posting I guess.

See it's a cultural thing. You immediately take offense and claim apples/oranges when hunting and fishing is brought up. To some, while what you do is legal, it may be considered cruel. People raise birds so they can be released and shot. I can see where that may be considered cruel.

[Captain Cold Nose]

"Plenty of players hunt and fish."

I hunt and fish, too...comparing what Josh Beckett said to what Pedro did as being morally reprehensible is 1) apples and oranges, 2) is off-topic, and 3) does not belong on a baseball forum. Let's keep on topic.

You're misreading me. I'm not condemning hunting and fishing, but considering the situation Martinez is involved in, a legal activity where he's doing it, it's probably as close to what Beckett, Hrbek, you or even me (I fish when I can) as to what Vick did. Beckett received scant criticism for saying what he did, and while what Martinez is participating in is a step above that, the repercussions likely won't be too much worse. The biggest concern, from a baseball standpoint, will be if gambling is indeed involved. He'll get his share of protesters, but I don't see it coming near what happned with Vick.