Should Michael Vick Be Reinstated While Pete Rose Remains Banned?

Michael Vick will be playing for the Philadelphia Eagles after being reinstated for his conviction on conspiracy and running a dogfighting operation in 2007. Yet, Pete Rose, of the Cincinnati Reds, is banned from baseball due to gambling.

There seems to be a double standard of players between the sports they play. The baseball players, like Pete Rose, get banned for gambling, while football players, like Michael Vick, are allowed to play football after running a gambling operation and spending time in prison.

The double standard amongst players, not matter what sport they play in, shouldn't be allowed. If one player can't have anything to do with the sport they are popular for, other players should be held to the same standards for their sport contribution.

There are far more cases that doesn't include players, owners, and coaches being caught in illegal actions that allows them to retain some sort of connections with their sports without being banned like Pete Rose. If one thing is good for one player, coach, or manager, it should be applicable across the board; no matter their position.

Between the allegations, convictions, and suspensions of players, coaches, and managers for their immoral and illegal actions, the sports arena has become a soap opera of sorts. It's all a matter of time of who is going to be caught for the next big thing in sports.

The illegal use of drugs by the players isn't just in the pros, it happens in college, minor league and high school sports. While the minor league and high school sports players aren't in the news compared to the college and pro players, illegal drug usage does happen in one form or another.

This doesn't include the drinking and driving convictions across the board for all players no matter their level of being an athlete. The local athletes either hit the local news or their actions are kept undercover due to their age or popularity and connections. However, when these local athletes are known around the area they live, the story of their actions come to life when friends and neighbors see the athlete being arrested at their homes for inappropriate behaviors.

Yet, the players are allowed to play in their field of sports without repercussions for their actions. Only a select few have found themselves in a position like Pete Rose. This leads back to Michael Vick falling on the other side of the coin being allowed to play professional football after being convicted and sentenced for his crimes.