Washington Post pulls comic featuring Vick, Cheney

By CHRISTIAN BOONE

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

You won’t read about Dick Cheney advising the NFL commissioner to kill Michael Vick in today’s Washington Post.

The fictional subplot appeared in the long-running “Tank McNamara” comic strip, about a former football player turned TV sportscaster. Post Managing Editor Raju Narisetti told the paper’s “Comic Riffs” blog that the storyline was deemed “inappropriate.”

The pulled strip features a conversation between the former vice president and NFL chieftain Roger Goodell, who’s seeking counsel on how to handle the reinstatement of Vick. The former Falcons star recently completed an 18-month prison sentence for operating a dogfighting ring.

Goodell: “I have to make a move on Mike Vick.”

Cheney: “Kill him.”

Goodell: “Kill him?!?”

Cheney: “Well, not you personally.”

Why Cheney would tell the commissioner to put a hit on Vick is unclear. The comic’s writer, Jeff Millar, was unavailable for comment Monday, said illustrator Bill Hinds, who referred any questions about content to Millar.

The strip’s syndicator, Universal Press Syndicate, said they weren’t aware of any other cancellations.

“We at Universal Uclick absolutely respect the right of The Washington Post to pull the strips, but we also respect the rights of our creators to write sharp and humorous satire,” according to a statement sent to the AJC Monday afternoon. “For more than 35 years, Jeff [Millar] and Bill [Hinds] have been holding athletes, the sports industry and public figures up to the light. It wouldn’t be Tank McNamara if they didn’t.”

Vick, a free agent, was conditionally reinstated by Goodell in late July. He can immediately take part in preseason practices, workouts and meetings and can play in the final two preseason games but won’t be considered for full reinstatement until Week 6 of the NFL season.

While often topical, “Tank” is rarely controversial. The strip isn’t afraid to name names, however; one of its more popular features is the “Sports Jerk of the Year” award, given one year to former Braves southpaw John Rocker.