DOG FIGHTING AND MIKE VICK
Yes…it’s no surprise that the Arlie Rufus is going to comment on this terrible incident. After all, if not for the grace of God and some good hearts, Arlie Rufus would not be here to bring attention to those without a voice. Arlie Rufus is not here to rip Mike Vick apart before his day in court. Despite the dubious way this country’s justice department has been managed for the past few years, Arlie Rufus believes in the system and that all are innocent until proven guilty. Arlie Rufus is here to rip the freaks and psychopaths who revel in the barbaric, so-called “sport” of dog fighting. The events described in the indictment are terrible, as is what Arlie Rufus has discovered about dog fighting – that this “entertainment” is actually about sick, twisted, selfish pleasure, petty bets and chump change “prize” money. In a country where we have an abundance of legal and non-sadistic ways to entertain ourselves, there are some who actually believe the fighting to the death of two terrorized dogs is a premiere form of entertainment. Have these Godless people completely lost touch with their humanity? Have they returned to barbarian days of old when fighting to the death was put in coliseums? Some took a cheap shot at Senator Robert Byrd of West Virginia for his speech on the senate floor when he labeled dog fighting barbaric. Those who poked fun at Senator Byrd should also be ashamed of themselves. His term barbaric was on the money! Whoever committed the crimes in Virginia and those engaged in dog fighting are sadistic barbarians who should be strung up in the town square.
Let Arlie Rufus make it clear – football, the Falcons and Vick are a favorite of this Atlanta resident. Sundays (and now Monday nights from time to time thanks to the excitement of Mike) are tremendously exciting thanks to seeing Mike and the birds on the field. Arlie Rufus enjoys kicking back on the couch and pulling the Falcons on to victory. But there is now a cloud – a cloud that sickens so many. Arlie Rufus knows with no uncertainty -- all dogs want and need are love and affection – and to be a part of a pack. And in return, these four-legged friends will give the same back. So Arlie Rufus is asking all of you who read this – and I hope that includes Mike Vick – to take this opportunity to bring attention to our four-legged friends. Support your local Humane Society (http://www.hsus.org/) and the no-kill animal shelters in your community. When you are out shopping near a local pet store or grocery store and you see those wonderful volunteers trying to find a home for the beautiful pets on display – considering adopting one. And if you cannot adopt, donate your time or money to help a homeless pet find a home. We (and this includes you Mike Vick and the Falcons) have a rare opportunity to make great strides in the adoption of pets across this country. This issue gives us light to tell the story about the neglected, abandoned and yes, unfortunately, tortured pets. Let’s not waste this opportunity. Instead of protesting at the Falcons and NFL headquarters, use the time to volunteer at an animal shelter. Instead of spending money to buy poster board and markers to make a sign, donate the dollars to a local humane society or animal shelter (email me if you want the names of shelters in your area…it would be my pleasure to assist arlierufus@yahoo.com). And this plea does not go out to just the protesters of Mike Vick, but to his supporters as well. If you have the time and money to hold a sign for hours in front of a headquarters, you have the time and money to help a pet get care and find a home – think about it!
We have seen our country go through so much pain in recent years. Some pain that could have been avoided (Iraq) and some that we hope taught us all about humanity (Katrina and the Gulf Coast). We are certain to face more challenges, and yes pain, in the years to come. But let us not inflict upon defenseless animals such a tragic fate. Let us instead show compassion to pets of all kinds and allow them to give all of us the love that fills their hearts. Do not let this opportunity pass.
Arlie Rufuswww.myspace.com/arlierufus
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Dog Fighting and Michael Vick: Interesting comments from a dog with a voice?
Monday, July 30, 2007
When the Beautiful Game transcends Sports
It is quite rare when a sporting event transcends the world of entertainment, sports fans, analysts, and monopolistic entities such as ESPN, but on Sunday was one such case. Iraq's national soccer team (a.k.a. the "Lions of the Two Rivers") beat Saudi Arabia 1-0 to win the 2007 Asian Cup and complete one of sport's great fairytale Cinderella stories. This is the first time Iraq has ever won the Asian tournament. At the start of the Asian Cup, Iraq was regarded as having little or no chance to compete because of their supposed lack of chemistry due to the diverse make up of the team, which included Kurds, Sunni and Shi'ite.
After the victory this glimmer of hope comes to a country that has been divided by war. After the game, Iraq's captain, who scored the game winner, Younis Mahmoud called for the United States to withdraw its troops from his nation. "I want America to go out," he said. "Today, tomorrow, or the day after tomorrow, but out. I wish the American people didn't invade Iraq and, hopefully, it will be over soon." Coach Jorvan Vieira said "I have worked my best to give happiness to the Iraqi people, to bring a warm smile to their lips and my mission is accomplished, the satisfaction is doubled when you can get this cup and you bring happiness for a country, not just a team. It's more important than anything." The Brazilian coach resigned after the game.
Several players including the captain did not return to Iraq to celebrate due to fear of their safety. Mahmoud said "I don't want the Iraqi people to be angry with me, if I go back with the team, anybody could kill me or try to hurt me." This comes after about 50 people were killed in Iraq after they beat the Koreans in the semifinal. It is very sad that horrible people took advantage of a large innocent celebration, but hopefully the celebration following the final was a great change to the terrible daily violence.
Events such as these demonstrate the power and importance of sports and more specifically the world's most popular game, soccer. I truly wish that we as Americans could experience something like this, where at a certain point in time nothing else matters to everyone in the entire country, where everyone is united and watching their team represent the country and making them proud. People in Iraq don't have the luxury to care about ridiculously irrelevant news like what Paris Hilton, Britney Spears, Lindsay Lohan, or any other celebrity's daily routines are, they have to worry about whether or not they and their loved ones are going to make it through the day alive. For a sport to have the power to bring this sort of happiness to a people who live in a country as devastated as Iraq, even if for a short period of time, shows the significance and importance of the beautiful game. Watch Soccer.Good Pics
The NFL (Vick), the NBA (Donaghy), MLB (Bonds), and the Tour de France (Rasmussen) are all embroiled in scandal. Oh yeah, and ALBERTO GONZALES.
Saturday, July 28, 2007
Filipino Inmates Do "Thriller"
I know what your thinking, and the answer is yes, there are many more of these with other songs. I just don't know if they are bored and do this to entertain themselves or if the prison forces them to do this to make money or something... crazy to think about. Dancing is a sport right?? Is this even real?
Monday, July 23, 2007
Good Quotes
"Growing up means giving up everything that makes you happy"
- Marge Simpson
"When I met David Beckham I didn't know whether to shake his hand or lick his face”
-Robin Williams
"I've always believed that paradise will have my favorite beer on tap”
-Rudyard Wheatley quotes
"With or without Vick, Atlanta's Atlanta, ... It's not Michael Vick that we have to beat. It's the Atlanta Falcons.”
-Fred Thomas
"Not all chemicals are bad. Without chemicals such as hydrogen and oxygen, for example, there would be no way to make water, a vital ingredient in beer.”
-Dave Barry quotes
"My message to (commissioner) David Stern is get some people in there that understand the game and don't try to take over the ... game because people pay good money to see good athletes play.”
-Shaq
"I think that David Stern is probably the greatest commissioner that any sport has ever had in the history of this country.”
-Bill Russell
"No matter if you like Barry Bonds or not, he has a lot of guts to be going through what he's going through right now."
-Donald Trump
