Mike's mess

To: Michael Vick

From: Me

Subject: That unfortunate federal indictment for dogfighting that just landed on you like a 300-pound lineman who slipped a block.

Message: Mike, you’d better hope that this is one biiiggg misunderstanding. If it’s not, you have just done one of the dumbest things by a professional athlete since Ricky Williams walked away from the Dolphins.

On paper, you’re innocent until proven guilty and all that, but I gotta tell you, this one looks bad.

I read the recent Sports Illustrated cover story on the dogfighting operation in Virginia that you just happened to own. Then I read the news stories on the indictment handed down to you and three other guys. If I were you, I think I’d have trouble drifting off to sleep at night.

The indictment goes into great deal about the alleged dogfighting scheme — how you supposedly bought the property in 2001, set up a kennel for pit bulls and then went about acquiring all the odds and ends needed to train fighting dogs and prepare the property for nighttime events.

The indictment even lists the names of some of your dogs — “Seal,” “Maniac” and “Zebro.” (I guess a fella wouldn’t name a crazed fighting beast something like “Rover” or “Spot.”)

With all that detail, it sounds to me like somebody on the inside rolled over and is about to testify against you, but maybe I’ve been watching too many episodes of “Law and Order.” (By the way, whatever happened to that Fred Thompson guy who used to play the D.A. on that show?)

The Web site for two of your companies, Mike Vick K-9 Kennels and MV7 Inc. (your initials and jersey number) described the dogs as “family pets.”

“We do not promote, support or raise dogs for fighting, “ the Web site said before being mysteriously taken down, “and will not knowingly sell, give or trade any dog that may be used for fighting.”

Let’s hope so, Mike. Meanwhile, I have five words of advice for you:

Get a good defense lawyer.