Southeast Jerome Does Not Condone Dogfighting

Good news, folks: Clinton Portis has some more thoughts on watching dogs kill each other for sport:

"In the recent interview I gave concerning dogfighting, I want to make it clear I do not take part in dogfighting or condone dogfighting in any manner."

This is from the Redskins' team website. If you missed the statements that precipitated Portis' addendum above, here's the short version: Michael Vick can do whatever he wants on his property, even if it's illegal. Vick's kinda like his own embassy or, even better, his own sovereign state. The Sovereign State of Michael Vick decrees all dogfighting legal ... and encouraged. Or some such.

I, like everybody -- including Vick, probably -- thought Portis' comments were dumb. But all the mock outrage is a bit much. Portis is a 26-year-old professional athlete. Neither his age nor his profession is an excuse for what he said, but he's a football player. He's not a legislator -- no laws will be passed supporting dogfighting (not unless Vick hires the right lobbying firm, anyway) -- he's just a guy in his mid-20s who also happens to be very, very rich. For some reason in this country, if you have money, you're supposed to have thoughts on every news story that comes across the wire.

Whatever you think of Bruce Willis -- and I'm agnostic -- he made a similar point about Hollywood actors who love to burden us with their often inane opinions on issues they deem important. The only difference is that the media sought Portis out. It's not like he held a press conference to announce his bid for presidency and, oh, by the way, "I'm pro-killing dogs in the most inhumane way possible." Though I suspect he'd still get some votes ... and I might even support him if he ran as Southeast Jerome.