Dog-Eat-Dog World

Now playing: "Everything You Want" - Vertical Horizon

In a recent Yahoo Sports article, dog lover and Chicago White Sox pitcher Mark Buehrle has some, shall we say, opinions about 2010 NFL Comeback Player of the Year Michael Vick.

"He had a great year and a great comeback, but there were times when we watched the game and I know it's bad to say, but there were times where we hope he gets hurt. Everything you've done to these dogs, something bad needs to happen to these guys."

The NFL Comeback Player of the Year is voted on by the Pro Football Writers of America and is given to a player who "shows perseverance in overcoming adversity, after not participating in the NFL the previous year, in the form of a severe injury or simply poor on-field performance." Past winners included Tom Brady in 2009 (recovering from knee surgery), Chad Pennington in 2008 (shoulder surgery) and Tedy Bruschi in 2005 (recovering from a stroke).

Now we add Vick's name to the list of winners.

(insert an uncomfortable pause).

There's the debate within the NFL community that Vick winning Comeback Player of the Year doesn't jell, as his lack of participation (due to prison) was of his own doing. The other players who won the award overcame significant (sometimes career-ending) injuries, or performed remarkably better than in the previous year that their perseverance needed to be recognized. Vick, as most know, spent his time off in a Federal Prison while serving time for his part in a Dogfighting enterprise known as the Bad Newz Kennels.

Vick had an incredible season, finishing second in the Most Valuable Player voting behind the Patriots' Brady. There's no mistaking he had his best year yet where on-field performance is concerned. I just cringe at the "adversity" he had to "overcome" to to succeed this year.

We all remember the pictures of the wounded dogs, heard stories of how some of these dogs were treated before they died. We've also heard what's happened to the "Vick Dogs." I'm an animal lover, first evidence being the fat, lazy cat stretched out next to me as I write this. Putting that aside as well as the emotion that comes with it and can cloud rational thought around this issue, there's a clinical reason why Mike Vick's crimes are deeply troublesome.

Animal abuse is identified as part of the McDonald Triad, one of three behavioral characteristics (other two being frequent enuresis and fire-setting) associated with sociopathic behavior as identified by Anti-Social Personality disorder. 80-85% of currently incarcerated criminals are diagnosed with an anti-social personality. That's not to say that everyone who hurts animals, sets fires or pees the bed will become a criminal, but there's more than a casual link. Some of the criteria for diagnosing anti-social personality disorder (as defined by the Diagnostic & Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders):

• Deceitfulness or conning other for personal profit or pleasure.
• Reckless disregard for safety of self or others
• Failure to conform to social norms with respect to lawful behaviors
• Lack of remorse as indicated by being indifferent to or rationalizing having hurt or mistreated another.

I am not saying Mike Vick has an anti-social personality disorder.

I am saying Mark Beuhrle's opinion resonates with me and I'm just fine with that.