Deadspin
Two things to update you on concerning this Pedro Martinez cockfighting rigamaroll. First, here's the actual video that showed up on YouTube on Wednesday. It has since been taken down, but we and Gawker still have it. And now we switch you live to PETA headquarters, where battle lines have been formed, with artillery moved into place for the big offensive (but curiously, no cavalry). A bonus in all of this: We have discovered a site entitled The PETA Files. Yep. OK, take it away, boys.
Cockfighting is still legal in the Dominican Republic, so Pedro wasn't actually breaking any laws, but there's a reason that it's illegal in this country: It's a hideously cruel, barbaric practice that's nothing short of torture for the animals involved. The damage is done now, sadly, but we're asking Pedro Martinez and Hall of Famer Juan Marichal (who was also present at the event) to take part in our "Developing Empathy For Animals" training seminar, which Michael Vick voluntarily attended after being charged, so hopefully some good will come of it. We're also calling on the league to offer animal-sensitivity training for MLB players.
Yes, PETA is calling for commissioner Bud Selig to require all MLB players to attend animal-sensitivity training sessions. I see absolutely no way this will fail to happen. Barry Bonds: "You have to get me signed with a team, Jeff! I don't want to miss that animal seminar!" And, um, how many major leaguers are hunters? I think quite a few.
The letter can be found here. I'm with PETA in the sense that I don't see how cockfighting can be condoned as a sport. It's nothing less than torture, really. The same way I felt about middle school PE.
Pedro Martinez Cockfighting Video [TMZ]
Pedro Martinez Attends A Cockfighting Event [The PETA Files]
This Should Cause The Mets No PR Problems Whatsoever [Deadspin]
Comments
Ahh, PETA. Batshit crazy since 1972.
Not a sport? Think of the workout the roosters get.
Featured speaker: Clint Barmes.
PETA is getting warmed up? I hope they're not wearing fur.
Papelbon should go. His dog got indigestion from the world series ball.
When I Googled "Pedro Martinez strokes cock" I found this video and was thoroughly disappointed.
Cock joke
Wait wait wait. There are SEMINARS where people TEACH YOU to BE NICE TO PUPPIES????!?!?!?!?!?!!!!?!?!
Ladies and gentlemen, the ROFLcopter has landed, and I intend to enter it on my LOLerskates.
Can't I just eat the chicken?
- David Wells
Mmmmm, chicken. It's almost lunchtime.
April 18-20 Mets @ Citizens Bank Park - Can we just put in a massive order for rubber chickens now?
Mike Timlin disapproves of your animal sensitivty training.
[www.drunkenbleachers.com]
GAY.
Oh, you mean Roosters?
The "Developing Empathy for Animals" seminar is actually a lure to lock people in a theater showing "Turner and Hooch" on a loop until they're cured of their violent tendencies.
Or, you know, they kill themselves. PETA doesn't much care.
I would pay good, good money to watch Gary Sheffield take this seminar.
Bring me four fried chickens and a Coke.
PETA is nothing more than a bunch of cock blockers.
PETA's lack of sensitivity for Dominican culture is appalling. And anyway, that looks like good fun.
Hopefully PETA won't go after USC next with this dredging up of cock-fighting...
That said, I've seen a cock fight, and that shit's INTENSE.
This reminds me, as a Catholic I won't be able to eat previously killed chicken today. I'll have to have previously killed sea bass for every meal.
Anyone down for a Pants Party in the Dominican?
Can't I just eat the chicken?
-David Wells - Wade Boggs
TOMALE!
@HIV 2 Elway: I'm not sure I want to go pantsless at a cock fight...
@OchentaYcinco: As long as we can celebrate battered wife day at Shea when the Phils show up.
@OchentaYcinco: That reminds me to put in an order of wifebeaters for Brett Myers' first start at Shea.
YOU GOT KNOCKED THE CLUCK OUT!
@crazyjoedavola: Blast!
And again, not that cock fighting isn't brutal and wrong, blah blah blah, but no posts on Clemens' syringes? None at all?
@Chief Wahoo: You want some dry white toast with that?
@Chief Wahoo: I'll have some toasted white bread please.
From the looks of that ring, their operating budget is clearly superior to the AFL's.
@Turd Ferguson: damn
Probably the least interesting fight I've ever watched. Why doesn't PETA go after something scarier, like boxing?
@shea_guevara: That'd be great, if it hadn't been done already. By Phillies fans. During a home game.
You wonder if each team will have enough chairs in the room for the animal-sensitivity seminar?
@shea_guevara: Dont worry, I wont get cocky
Hm.
1) It's legal (where it took place).
2) I just don't really care so much. Guess it helps when the animals you're trying to protect are furry and can be taught to sit and stay.
2a) My grandfathers (both of them) used to keep chickens for eggs and Sunday dinners. Evidently, having to catch/kill/pluck/clean one of these feathery bastards takes away your empathy for them.
Yeah, I guess that makes me a hypocrite. Oh well. Dick joke. At least they're not chasing the hired help with machetes.
Where can I find the version with Jim Nantz' call?
NO MEAT ON FRIDAYS!!!!!!
@Chicago Jones:
I'll be having previously killed peanuts by whipping, grapes killed by smushing into a jelly, and some bread...killed from slicing.
@ArkansasFred: In support of wifebeating, I take it.
Hitler was kind to dogs.
I patiently await Dr. Z's chickenfight announcer's ratings.
@Doyle McPoyle: you can't control roosters
@TheStarterWife: Because people deserve to get brain damage, duh.
I'd be more interested in this video if Mr. Met had joined Pedro and Juan. Would META then go after him for his failure to live up to his billing as a mascot role model?
@TheStarterWife: adult consent?
@tater: I prefer my bread to die from autoerotic asphyxiation. Mmmmm.....
Tomorrow: new Met Johan Santana takes his signing bonus down to the camel races to lay some bets and mingles with the 8-year-old jockies chained to their backs...
"How can you eat that? Don't you know what they do to those chickens?"
"Nope, but it's delicious! Do you know where I can get the recipe?"
Personally, I rather watch two monkeys engaged in a knife fight.
@BarbarobicsInstructor:
Yeah, I think it makes it taste better that way, but I tend not to eat it INXS.
Chicken George approves.
@TheStarterWife: Because Don King's hair is the third-largest bird sanctuary in the country, and they don't want to mess with that.
@Yostal: This guy is a mascot role model?
@shea_guevara: or this:
[journals.aol.com]
@crazyjoedavola: @44 in a Row: Sure you just don't want to chant at Jimmy Rollins again? Everyone seemed to enjoy it so much last year.
/Threadjack (courtesy of KSK)
Has anyone else been signing and commenting on this. It has the potential to be an enjoyable afternoon.
[www.petitiononline.com]
/end threadjack
"you see pedro, little pedro martinez represents the unlimited future you once had. now, just because pedro martinez is a has-been, don't make little pedro a never-was!"
Quaint in relation to the horror that is cat juggling. Guess outrage is directly proportional to how cute you are.
Oh, and @MattinglysSideburns: +1. Knew there was a Michael Hutchens joke somewhere in there.
From PETA's letter:
"Roosters used in cockfights are given weapons and drugs in this cruel, lethal blood sport. They are given steroids and amphetamines to make them stronger, more aggressive killing machines."
Those same tactics would make golf more interesting.
@BarbarobicsInstructor: Not me - I stopped eating mayonaise when I heard that is where it came from.
@