Dear Oprah Winfrey - Re: Michael Vick

Dear Ms. Winfrey,
I have watched your show for many years. I subscribe to your Oprah website. I have spent many hours in recent weeks watching your new OWN Network. I am one of your millions of fans. I am also a fan you have never heard from . . . until now.

I watched your interview with Piers Morgan. I saw the bet made with Piers about who could interview Michael Vick first. When I saw it, I remember thinking Oprah won't interview him, how can he have any redeeming, edifying values for the "Live Your Best Life" Oprah Winfrey Show. I was wrong. I cannot imagine why you would want to give Vick another public forum.

To completely understand this letter please read "The Lost Dogs" By Jim Gorant before you interview Vick. It is not an easy read and at times will shock you, make you cry and want to hold your dogs even closer. Vick is a convicted felon but he never spent one day in jail as punishment for the cruelty he committed by his own hands to his dogs. He was convicted of federal dog fighting charges, not of animal cruelty. The DA in Surrey County, VA would not bring charges against one of his county's most "favored" sons, so the federal authorities brought what charges they could against Vick.

Please don't get me wrong, I believe in forgiveness, redemption and second chances. Playing in the NFL is not a right, it is a privilege. He should have been banned from the NFL for life. He can have his second chance somewhere else, anywhere else, but not where he can be looked up to as a hero by our nation's children. "Look what Vick did and look where he is now. We can get away with it too."

Like you, many of your fans are dog lovers. Your target audience is not the same as ESPN's or the NFL Network's audience. You have the power to ask the hard questions Michael Vick has never answered. You have the power to hold him accountable for the deeds he committed.

Please ask him if he knows how any of "his" dogs are doing? How often he checks on them? Ask him if he has made any donations to their care except for the court-mandated amount? Ask him if he used his family pets as bait dogs for his fighting dogs and laughed as they were torn apart in the fighting ring. Ask him how much he or the Eagles have "donated" to the Humane Society - U.S. to help him with his PR? Ask him about the canine "rape-machine" found on his property? Ask him what he was thinking as he and one of his thugs were swinging a dog over their heads like a jump rope and slamming it into the ground, and when it moved, or whined, they picked it up and did it again, over and over, until they were sure the dog was dead? Ask him why he thinks he should ever be allowed to have another dog?

Several of the sports writing bloggers have already written because of your power and influence this interview could literally make or break Michael Vick. Their advice to him is for him to talk about football and not the dogs, the crimes committed against them or wanting another dog. I don't think his handlers will allow you to ask him the hard questions. If you can't ask him the hard questions, you shouldn't interview him. Your fans don't want to hear about his football successes. They want to know what he has done to truly redeem himself. Court-mandated public service, funds and jail time is not true remorse for his actions.

Several of the Vick dogs are real success stories. Many of these dogs still struggle. Any of the people or organizations who have worked with these dogs would like the opportunity to appear on your show. There are redeeming "Live Your Best Life" stories in how some of these dogs have overcome their PITiful beginnings at Bad Newz Kennels.

Many of your dog-loving fans have already given up on your show because of the decision to interview Vick. Because I have been watching a long time, I am willing to give you the benefit of the doubt. Whether or not I will be a fan after this show is entirely up to you and how the interview with Michel Vick is handled. I am hoping you ask the hard questions and get honest answers. Michael Vick has gotten off way too easy for the crimes he committed.

Sincerely,
P. D. Frazier

(Sent by e-mail to the Oprah Winfrey Show February 16, 2010)