LaDainian Tomlinson on dog fighting

The San Diego Chargers LaDainian Tomlinson was asked about dog fighting. Here's his response as reported by the Union-Tribune's Tim Sullivan on signonsandiego.com:

“So the initial deal is like, 'Oh, my God, look at that!' because it's an incredible thing to look at. Then something goes wrong or one of the dogs dies and your heart goes out to them – just like it was a natural fight. It's a tough thing to look at.

“I understand what it's about, but I would never do it. I couldn't see my dog fighting to death, and that's what happens most of the time. When those dogs lock on, it's to death. I could never see myself fighting my dog to death.”

Tomlinson, from rural Texas says that dog fights were common his neighborhood. Clinton Portis, from rural Mississippi, made the same point. From there, their views diverged. The difference may be that LT2 has a pet dog -- a pit bull -- and empathized with his dog on dog fighting. Portis, who doesn't own a warm-blooded pet, could not relate. Without the first-hand experience of caring for a pet, Clinton was blind to the issue.

See the full story on Tomlinson here.

Photo: Jamie Squire, Getty Images, The Washington Post