When you compare it to dog-fighting. When the expert legal opinion being rendered is that of a CNN sports journalist. All that immersion in the macho sports culture, it clearly does things to a man’s values. (I’m being extremely charitable here, and assuming that Larry Smith had any to start with.)
SMITH: Yes, well, that’s — he’s been in a lot of trouble lately, when you think about all the other incidents, and this is just the worst one of all. Keep in mind, too, that while Kobe Bryant is a situation we can sort of compare this to, this really is much worse. Not only can you argue that the crimes are much worse in terms of, you know, killing dogs and that kind of thing, but as an NFL starting quarterback, you are the most visible face in that city. I’ve said all along, in fact, you know, if you go through and, you know, very quickly name 10 mayors of major cities in the country…
GRACE: Larry Smith, did I just hear you say…
SMITH: … you could have a harder time doing that…
GRACE: … mistreatment of…
SMITH: … than naming 10 NFL starting quarterbacks.
GRACE: Did I just hear Larry Smith, CNN sports correspondent and anchor, state that crimes on a dog are much worse than crimes on a woman? Did I hear that?
When Nancy Grace calls you out for making outrageous statements, you know you really stepped in it.
Of course, Smith apologized immediately. Or so he thinks, I think.
SMITH: I’m sorry. You — I’m saying they could be. I’m not arguing for which is worse, which one is worse. I`m just saying that in terms of his visibility is much worse. His visibility is much worse than what Kobe Bryant‘s is. Kobe Bryant is a superstar in the NBA, but at the same time, he plays in Los Angeles, which is a city full of stars. Michael Vick is the most visible person in the city of Atlanta, maybe ever in the history of Atlanta sports.
Of course, to keep things in perspective, Vick’s alleged crime could have been worse than either rape or dog-fighting. He could have been charged with raping a dog. Doesn’t that trump even murder, or something?