Dan Wetzel is Disingenuous

Dan Wetzel, who writes for Yahoo Sports, is usually very reliable and level headed in his coverage on any subject. However, his piece on Friday entitled, Racial Divide, was way off the mark.

Dan seems to think that racial animosity was playing out at the courthouse in Richmond Virginia on Friday, as white animal-rights activists verbally clashed with Michael Vick's overwhelmingly black supporters:

Almost all of the people supporting Vick or holding signs pleading for "due process" and "innocence until proven guilty" were African American.

On the other side was an emotional, angry, passionate anti-Vick group that was overwhelmingly white.

Certainly not every animal rights supporter was screaming for Vick to die. Many were just there to support the cause of caring for animals, ending the barbaric practice of dog fighting and using the massive media presence to benefit good.

But a significant number were focused on Vick. When he emerged from a black SUV and made a slow walk up a ramp and into the courthouse, they pushed toward police barriers and let loose.

"Burn in hell you (expletive) (expletive)," repeatedly screamed one woman.

"Die like those dogs," shouted another.

Not long after Vick got inside the courthouse – and in a scene that was repeated when he left less than two hours later – the two sides clashed in shouted voices and dueling signs.

White people screaming for justice; black people asking if they still remember everything justice entails.

Now, does that sounds like a race war was going to break out like Wetzel is alluding to, or does it sound like animal-rights activists wanting to get their pound of flesh from an animal abuser?

Not once were any racial epitaphs thrown around, not once was there a nasty word involving race bandied about by either side. Why would Wetzel throw out a line like,

"But a significant number were focused on Vick. When he emerged from a black SUV and made a slow walk up a ramp and into the courthouse, they pushed toward police barriers and let loose.

"Burn in hell you (expletive) (expletive)," repeatedly screamed one woman.

I'll tell you why Wetzel used that line: He wants you to believe that white people wanted to kill a black man because of the colour of his skin.

Even Wetzel's title of the article, "Racial Divide" is a lie. There is no racial divide in this case, there is no racial animosity. The only black and white divide that exists is in Wetzel's head.

Wetzel should be ashamed of himself. For a country that talks about *racial healing* and *racial compassion*, to have Wetzel come in and try to start something that doesn't exist is piss poor, and doesn't help one bit. Wetzel's reporting is shameful, he should be embarrassed of his sick lies, and Yahoo should be ashamed for printing them.

Racial Divide? I think not.