Right now, the bidding is at $400.

I HOPE THIS PAINTING DISGUSTS YOU AS MUCH AS YOU DISGUST ME. As for NBC, I'm not going to watch your network or any other network that airs horse racing. Once again, we have a painting about hypocrisy.Why is it legal for one activity involving animals, death and betting and another activity involving animals, death and betting illegal?

I really believe more than ever that it is about culture and class of people and not a damn thing to do with the animals safety and ethics. The Queen goes to horse races with all its pomp and tradition, old Willie down the street goes to the cockfight.

The last auction's proceeds went to charity. But not this time.

The money from this auction? Will I donate to another horse charity? No, not this time. I have an adopted parrot and a bunch of stray cats to feed. The fallen race horse industry is y'alls problem, you created it, you fix it. You people invaded my mental art making space and I make art, that's what I do, deal with it. No, I'm going to roll around in the money, just like you all do. I'm gonna roll and think of all you horse racing people that race your horses, gamble and send your kids to college on that money. Thousands, millions even, you make on those horses-I'm gonna roll in it. I hope that disgust you as much as you disgust me.

If the painting doesn't sell, well that's fine too. I'll hang it on my wall and when another horse goes, I'll paint another until there are no walls left or until there is a great wall to China made of Michael Vick Rides....whoever is next.......

You know ... that really would be a pretty cool wall to China.

Michael Vick Rides Eight Belles-Georgia Red Mud Raw Art [eBay]

A federal judge on Thursday ordered imprisoned quarterback Michael Vick to repay more than $2.4 million to a Canadian bank for defaulting on a loan.

The Royal Bank of Canada sued Vick in September, arguing his guilty plea to a federal dogfighting charge — and the resulting impact on his career — prevented him from repaying the loan.

This was the loan Vick took our for his restaurant, which didn't work out well either. You know, Michael? Considering the debt and protests that await you when you get out of jail, you almost might be better of staying in there.

Vick Sacked With $2.4M Loan Default [ABC News]

Vick appears to be hanging in.

Michael has written a couple times. I've written him back. We have that kind of relationship. Despite the mixture of frustration, anger and disappointment in him, I believe in second chances and redemption. I would love to see Michael pay his debt to society and come out and play again in the NFL. I think he could also be a big help to ... speak to people about some of his choices.

Q: Would you welcome him back to the Falcons?
A: I would not say yes. I would not say no. At this point, Michael is in a federal penitentiary [on a dogfighting conviction] and is suspended from football. We have to move forward. We are moving forward. We have to assume he's not coming back. I do wish him well. I'd love to see him play again. It would be good for the NFL.

Vick has messed with Blank's life so much at this point that we can only assume he will return to the NFL, sign with the Panthers, win two Super Bowls and then swallow Blank's goldfish, Fish Called Wanda-style.

Has Arthur Blank Been Getting High Off His Own Supply? [Deuce Of Davenport]

Also incarcerated at Leavenworth have been:

• George "Bugs" Moran.

• Nazi spy Fritz Joubert Duquesne.

• George "Machine Gun" Kelly.

• "The Man Who Knew Too Much," Richard Case Nagell.

• 1986 Indy 500 Rookie of the Year Randy Lanier.

• Bam Morris.

• "The Bird Man of Alcatraz" Robert Stroud.

Of course, Leavenworth is now being converted to a minimum security facility, and Vick is going there to participate in a drug counseling program for non-violent offenders. If he passes, he could earn early release, and be free in time for the 2009 NFL season. That's if Roger Goodell and the State of Atlanta have nothing more to say about it.

Michael Vick Applies For An Early-Release Drug Program [USA Today]

So, let's get right to it:

No. 1 Seed Ron Mexico
Suffered some weed-stashing problems.
Appears to have electrocuted puppies.
Fessed up.
Mercifully suspended by the NFL.
Checked into prison.

No. 8 Seed Isiah Thomas
Don't give a shit about these white people, bitch.
Understands what black people can say, and what white people can't.
Explained sexual harassment to James Dolan.
Got gotten by the bitches.
Successful avoided Stephon Marbury's "dirt."

So, let's see how this turns out.

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The letter is self-pitying, but, frankly, not without some justification. (Vick wouldn't be the first person to smoke weed because of a lack of affection from his father.) It also includes a character-witness letter from George Foreman and a news story about Vick helping out after Hurricane Katrina. None of this worked, of course.

It even mentions that Vick has "horses, parrots, fish tanks and lizards." It's more difficult to get those to fight.

Vick Letter To Judge Hudson (PDF)

It all came down to a bad polygraph.

During that interview an FBI polygrapher found Vick was being deceptive in denying he killed dogs. After Vick's lawyer, Billy Martin, was told this, he asked Vick about the failed test. At that moment, Martin told Hudson, Vick broke down.

"I did it all," Vick said, Martin related. "I did everything. If you need me to say more, I'll say more."

That initial hesitance to take responsibility was the reason the dog-loving judge hammered Vick yesterday, and why he's gonna ESPN's gonna make a lot of money off the Arena League in 2010.

Vick's Lies Boosted Prison Time [Atlanta Journal-Constitution]
Just How Into God Is Michael Vick? [Deadspin]

ESPN's George Smith reports that Vick's also getting three years probation. Vick was in his prison jumpsuit, which should be fun to draw.

But yeah: Vick's getting 23 months, more than his co-defendants, and it's likely that won't have much time shaved off. (And he can't appeal.) That puts him back in the NFL (yeah, right) perhaps for the 2010 season. He'll be out of prison in October 2009. That's, uh, a pretty long time.

The biggest trouble with this one? Whether to go with Vick, Mexico or Ookie.

No. 1 Seed Ron Mexico
Suffered some weed-stashing problems.
Appears to have electrocuted puppies.
Fessed up.
Mercifully suspended by the NFL.
Checked into prison.

No. 16 Seed Mark Mangino
Fat.

So, make your picks. The final first-round matchup is Thursday.

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That is to say: Vick is in jail right now, but there's no guarantee that he'll receive any leniency for the early booking. It's possible that he gave up three weeks of freedom for nothing.

The sentencing is expected to be within 12 and 18 months, and, all told, if we were facing that much time, we might take time to enjoy our last three weeks of freedom. In a few months, he might wish he had those three weeks back. Of course, maybe he just didn't want to watch Byron Leftwich again. Tough to blame him there.

Vick Begins Prison Sentence Early [Atlanta Journal Constitution]

This is from the Arizona Republic. Who knows what kind of fun they'll have for us come Super Bowl time.

You remember Vick's wine restaurant, don't you? The one that was supposed to help Vick "become an entrepreneur and make [his] money grow?" Well, it hasn't turned out so well: The bank wants its million bucks back.

The bank is seeking $940,000 of the $1.3 million loaned to Vick in 2006. In a federal lawsuit, the bank says Vick, partner Gerald Frank Jenkins and their Atlantic Wine & Package LLC have failed to make monthly payments of principal and interest, and that Vick's obligations "are impaired due to recent events involving Defendant Vick."

Wait ... banks won't accept cigarettes and Playboy cutouts? Well, then we're afraid Mr. Mexico has no currency for you.

Michael Vick's Restaurant Will Soon Be No More [Lion In Oil]
We'll Take The Scrambling Eggs [Deadspin]

Warwick High School in Newport News, Virg., has decided to take Vick's old jersey out of their trophy case.

Michelle Morgan, a spokeswoman for Newport News Public Schools, said Vick's jersey was taken down last month around the time he pleaded guilty to federal dogfighting charges.

"It remained up through a lot of the allegations and news reports," Morgan said. "It came out after he admitted to some wrongdoings."

The good news is that Deion Sanders will always be wearing his Vick underoos.

High School Removes Vick Jersey From Trophy Case [Sports By Brooks]

The NFLPA immediately appealed the arbitrator's decision, and, frankly, we think they should. We're not sure Vick deserves that money but ... well, we'll feel a lot better about the whole business when they make the Falcons, you know, return all the money they've made of Vick jerseys for the last three year. We doubt they'll be doing that.

No matter what, it must have made a fascinating conversation between Vick and his lawyer.

Falcons Could Recoup $19.97 Million From Vick [Atlanta Journal-Constitution]
You Want Me To Give Back $19.9 Million? Man, F—k That [Kissing Suzy Kolber]

100 Percent Injury Rate has discovered an odd legal loophole that could actually decrease Ron Mexico's jail time, and it's directly connected to his positive marijuana test.

By taking advantage of an obscure Federal Bureau of Prisons (B.O.P.) Rotational/Developmental Assignment Program (R.D.A.P.) loophole — 18 U.S.C. 3621 — Vick could possibly reduce his sentence by one year. This documented instance of substance abuse apparently qualifies Vick for this reduction upon completion of a treatment program.

The idea? Vick could take part in a substance abuse program that could take time off his sentence and allow him to spend time in a halfway house rather than prison. Proving once again what we already knew: Michael Vick is smarter than everyone.

Mike Vick Smoked Pot To Reduce His Sentence [100 Percent Injury Rate]

A urine sample submitted by Michael Vick has tested positive for marijuana, and as a result he'll have tighter restrictions on his freedom. The test was taken on Sept. 13. Because of the positive test, federal court probation officer Patricia Locket-Ross, who is assigned to Vick, asked Judge Henry Hudson to place special conditions on Vick's release, which include refraining from use or unlawful possession of a narcotic drug or other controlled substance.

We find it difficult to fault Vick here; it's a lot easier to pay for weed before you go to jail, when it doesn't cost you a salad tossing. We were wondering who that stoned-looking guy was, in the pulled down hat and shades, at the town hall meeting last night. Now we know.

Vick Tested Positive For Marijuana [ESPN]

(Photo from KSK and The Onion, of course.)

We know how the NOIS folks think about this, but some in Atlanta felt ESPN got what it deserved for trying to invent some sort of TV "controversy" that exploited racial biases.

Maybe these loudmouths represent the true voice of Atlanta, a voice which believes Michael Vick was somehow the victim of a massive conspiracy designed to run the most gifted athlete Atlanta's ever seen, a guy who was almost singlehandedly responsible for transforming the team from doormat into perpetual sellout, out of town. Maybe that's it. Or maybe the vast majority of Atlantans have had it with discussing a confessed dogfighter, and are sick to death of manufactured, made-for-TV "events" that try to drive racial wedges into a city that's got enough problems seeing beyond black and white as it is.

Man. We're pretty glad we didn't watch this.

ESPN Reminds You That Black And White People Hate Each Other [The Fynal Cut]
Vick Divides Us This I Know / Because ESPN Tells Me So [Atlanta Magazine]
It's The Falcons' Fault [NOIS Blog]