Is ESPN Not Doing Enough?
In case you haven’t heard, ESPN has been called out on social media for not covering National Football League quarterback Brett Farve on his scandal with the state of Mississippi.
According to ESPN, former Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant collaborated with Farve to use welfare funds as financial backing for a new volleyball center at the University of Southern Mississippi.
Text messages have now implicated the NFL Hall of Famer citing that alluding to Farve’s involvement in taking money from financially stressed families in support of a facility where his daughter plays the sport.
Based on a court filing, a nonprofit worker informed Farve that his alleged underhanded dealings wouldn’t surface to the public. This included his interest in obtaining millions of dollars based on grants from the Mississippi welfare agency.
While the former Southern Mississippi alum claims he was unaware that funds were misappropriated, the NFL vet doesn’t believe he committed any wrongs. Despite him returning $1.1 million, a Mississippi state auditor says Farve is still in debt of $228,000, per CNBC.
The welfare funds in question are $86 million which is usually dispensed by the government to families in need. Over 200,000 children in the state of Mississippi live below the poverty line.
Bud Holmes, Farve’s lawyer, told NBC News that his client was,
“Totally honorably in everything.”
A state auditor discovered $77 million in misspent welfare funds in February 2020. As a result, 38 defendants received a civil lawsuit for their alleged involvement.
Here’s Where Michael Vick Comes In
A sports analyst took to Twitter and said,
“ESPN being too quiet about Brett Favre…. We saw Vick dogfighting coverage headlines for months, this is considerably worse.”
Sports analyst Stephen A. Smith chimed in bringing up racial classism with the question,
“If that was a Black man… what would have been done to him?”
"If that was a Black man … what would have been done to him?"
— ESPN's Stephen A. Smith wonders if there would be more outrage if Brett Favre, who allegedly participated in a Mississippi welfare scheme, were a Black man. pic.twitter.com/h8gdvxvGpo
— The Recount Alt (@therecountalt) September 15, 2022
If You Need A Recall In News
On August 27, 2007, Michael Vick, a then star quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons, plead guilty before a Richmond, Virginia, judge to a federal felony charge related to running a dogfighting ring.
One of the highest-paid players in the league, back then, he was sentenced to 23 months in federal prison at 27. Vick took back his life and became a sports broadcaster.
Back in June, it was announced that Vick would be teaming up with Level Sports Group as the head of athletic development. He’ll be responsible for cultivating the company’s image and likeness.
“I could not be more excited to partner with Levels and work with the talented athletes on their roster,” Vick said in a release, via On3.
He added,
“As someone who has had success at the highest level of football, I am looking forward to mentoring guys like DJ, Malachi, and Makai, and helping them get to wherever they want their football and professional careers to go.”
Vick celebrated his win on Twitter expressing how “excited” he was for the W.
I'm excited to announce I'll be joining @levels_sports as a Partner & Head of Athlete Development. Can't tell you how hyped I am to help mentor & guide these young athletes in their careers & in the NIL space. ⁰⁰Big things ahead. 🤫💯 ⁰⁰#OnAnotherLevel #NIL #LevelsSportsGroup pic.twitter.com/VwjhT97G37
— Michael Vick (@MichaelVick) June 7, 2022
