Vick Story Makes Cover of Sports Illustrated

Postby Marinepits » December 23rd, 2008, 8:00 pm

From this:
Image

To this:
Image

http://badrap-blog.blogspot.com/

Most pit bull owners know that in '87, Sports Illustrated went for the worst kind of cheap thrill by running this provocative cover story. The decision to titillate America back then about this still-rare breed set the dogs down a dangerous path. Within months, they were the 'in' dog for the bad guys, and the rest is history. So when SI writer Jim Gorant contacted us in mid-October about a follow up on the Vick dogs, we were skeptical to say the least. Never one to hold back, Jonny Justice's adopter Cris Cohen told him point blank, "You owe us the cover." But the hard-to-read Gorant was non-committal. We really didn't know what they were going to do to our dogs.

It was clear that Jim and his editors were intrigued with this story though, especially when their wonderful photographer Deanne Fitzmaurice kept returning for additional photo sessions. Things started looking good when they asked for family portraits of the dogs in their homes, and then, of Jonny working as a therapy dog in the Paws for Tales reading program.

We're as surprised as anyone to finally see the fruits of their labor: Five pages of in-depth, well written copy, good clean quotes, beautiful family portraits, and the best of all...The cover shot, highlighting Recycled Love's shy little sweetheart, Sweet Jasmine.

Thank you for giving the dogs back to us, Jim. Steeling ourselves against the public disdain heaped against these wonderful animals sure takes its toll, and you just softened us all up for one the happiest Christmases we can remember.

The Sports Illustrated issue about the Vick dogs will be on newsstands starting Christmas Eve and available for two weeks. Grab a few copies for your coffee table and for your files. I tellya...this 'zine is a welcome piece of history for our breed.
Last edited by Marinepits on December 23rd, 2008, 8:43 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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Postby Pit♥bull » December 23rd, 2008, 8:11 pm

'Bout time :confetti: :goodStuff:
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Postby hugapitbull » December 23rd, 2008, 8:17 pm

Great choice for the new cover. :clap:
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Postby CinderDee » December 23rd, 2008, 8:18 pm

:confetti: I really want to read it!
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Postby cheekymunkee » December 23rd, 2008, 8:41 pm

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Postby Pit♥bull » December 23rd, 2008, 9:11 pm

cheekymunkee wrote:Here it is online!

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/m ... vick.dogs/
Thanks, that was an excellent read. They should be commended :)
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Postby CinderDee » December 23rd, 2008, 9:33 pm

That is a fantastic article!

(Thanks for the link, Debby!)
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Postby pitbullmamaliz » December 23rd, 2008, 9:38 pm

I just kept saying yes! as I read that article!!! :rock:
"Remember - every time your dog gets somewhere on a tight leash *a fairy dies and it's all your fault.* Think of the fairies." http://www.positivepetzine.com"

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Postby LMM » December 23rd, 2008, 10:17 pm

I am SO buying SI for the first time ever.
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Postby LMM » December 23rd, 2008, 10:36 pm

What a really great article, really. The one part that got to me was:

"We were surprised at how little aggression there was," says Reynolds. Many of the dogs had all but shut down. They cowered in the corners of their kennels or stood hunched with their heads lowered, their tails between their legs and their feet shifting nervously. Some didn't want to come out. As far as they knew bad things happened when people came. Bad things happened when they were led out of their cages."

:(
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Postby madremissy » December 23rd, 2008, 11:02 pm

Wonderful article. Thanks for the link. I will be getting a few copies for myself and some family members.
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Postby BigDogBuford » December 24th, 2008, 12:36 am

Wonderful! And what a cover girl! :loveU:
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Postby TheRedQueen » December 24th, 2008, 2:07 am

LMM wrote:I am SO buying SI for the first time ever.


Me too! I might buy a couple of copies, and lay them around our training center (PG county, MD...home of a lovely breed ban)
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Postby Malli » December 24th, 2008, 6:00 am

:woowoo:
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Postby LMM » December 24th, 2008, 8:17 am

Erin seriously that's where your training center is??? Where about is it? I used to live in PG County up until 2005 and the ban completely infuriated me. I went to a local shelter one time, a friend was thinking about adopting a cat. Well my dumbass then of course had to go see the dogs. I passed two or three kennels with sweet, innocent pit bull puppies huddled inside and a big sign on the door "NOT ADOPTABLE" :x :cuss: :x

I think that ban is in the process for repeal though isn't it? Or about to be?
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Postby Marinepits » December 24th, 2008, 8:46 am

Ladies, let's keep this thread on-topic, please. Thanks! :wink:
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Postby pitbullmamaliz » December 24th, 2008, 9:49 am

"Remember - every time your dog gets somewhere on a tight leash *a fairy dies and it's all your fault.* Think of the fairies." http://www.positivepetzine.com"

http://www.pitbullzen.com
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Postby Marinepits » December 24th, 2008, 9:59 am

Whoa, those pics are BEAUTIFUL!!!
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Postby Pit♥bull » December 24th, 2008, 10:03 am

This is just like a GREAT Christmas gift to us all :)
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Postby pitbullmamaliz » December 24th, 2008, 10:22 am

Here is the writer's email - I sent a thank you email and think it would be great if his inbox was filled with thank you's!

jim_gorant@simail.com
"Remember - every time your dog gets somewhere on a tight leash *a fairy dies and it's all your fault.* Think of the fairies." http://www.positivepetzine.com"

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