Michael Vick: A Bird of Prey Once More
Michael Vick, it has been reported everywhere, has signed a two year contract with the Philadelphia Eagles, and I, for one, am happy for the man.
Full disclosure: I lived in Atlanta from 1987 to 1996 and during that time became a fairly rabid fan of Atlanta sports. Even though I've lived in Connecticut ever since (except for a year-long adventure), I've remained one of the biggest Braves, Falcons, and UGA Bulldogs fans you're likely to meet in New England. And I'm almost certain that I'm the biggest Hawks fan in a 10 state radius. Point being, I spent a lot of time from 2001 when he was drafted to 2007 when he was indicted for dog fighting, rooting for the Atlanta Falcons and their quarterback, Michael Vick.
But this isn't really about that. For all intents and purposes, Vick hasn't been a member of the Falcons for quite some time. Technically he was on the roster for complicated salary cap reasons until earlier this summer, but he hasn't played in a game for them in over two years, and it became crystal clear that after he was sentenced to federal prison, he'd never wear the red, white, and black of the Falcons again.
The truth is that Falcons fans should be furious at Vick. In late 2006 he began spiraling out of control. In what turned out to be one of his last games for the Falcons, he flipped off his home fans at the Georgia Dome after being blown out by bitter rival New Orleans 31-13. During the ensuing off-season, he was photographed smoking what appeared to be marijuana in a limousine with several women. In January of 2007 he was detained by police at the Miami airport carrying a "water bottle" that had a secret compartment he claimed was for jewelry. Police at the scene initially claimed that they found marijuana residue in the compartment, but in one of the stranger stories, decided they hadn't, dropped all charges, and refused to disclose any of the surveillance tapes. Then, in July, just before training camp, Vick and three associates were charged by federal authorities with felonies related to an illegal dog fighting ring. In August Vick plead guilty, concluding an investigation that had been ongoing since April. He was sentenced to 23 months in federal prison. It was, by all accounts, the worst off-season of all time for a major sports star.
Vick has paid dearly for his transgressions. He was once the highest paid athlete in the NFL, having signed a 10-year $130 million contract in 2005. He had lucrative endorsement deals, real estate holdings, and interests in business ventures, all of which are gone. In July of 2008 he filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, with assets of under $50 million and debt obligations of anywhere from $10-50 million.
Was what Michael Vick did wrong? Absolutely. Regardless of whether Vick grew up around dog fighting, and whether or not it was tacitly approved of in Virginia where he was engaged in many of the illegal activities, what he did was despicable, and to be clear I'm in no way condoning any of his behavior. He also lied repeatedly to the Falcons, to his fans in Atlanta, to commissioner NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, and to any number of others, all of which was also wrong. But he did his time, he paid his debt literally and figuratively. He has been apologetic, contrite, and has taken full responsibility for his actions. He deserves one more (and only one more) chance.
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treboi, I'll bet dollars to doughnuts that I am more active with issues that impact us like insurance, global warming, women's rights, Iraq and Afghanistan, etc. than you are.
You don't know me and until we meet......
I thank GOD they let him back in and I know people are nasty and cruel but just reading some of these comments makes me wish I wasn,t here.And to think they really have families.A
~~Mr. Silk said: "But he did his time, he paid his debt literally and figuratively. He has been apologetic, contrite, and has taken full responsibility for his actions. He deserves one more (and only one more) chance."
THEN......
***The free agent NFL quarterback, who last month finished a 23-month federal prison sentence for dogfighting, told a crowd of about 250 children, on Tuesday, to "use me as an example for your dreams." Vick also told them that after accomplishing his goals he "allowed someone who didn't have my best interests at heart to take all that away from me," according to a release from the school.***
Was he taking responsibility for Michael Vick in what he told the children? OR was he still blaming "someone who didn't have my best interest at heart"?
Still refusing to see that he, and he alone, is responsible for supplying the money for Bad Newz Kennels, acquiring the property for the dogs, paying his friends to do what he wanted them to do and helping kill dogs by electrocution, hanging, drowning and beating. Personally, I think that the NFL is repeatedly sending a message to children that you can become a felon and still get $1.5 million to play football.
His eyes are flatter than a pancake. The eyes are the mirrors to our souls.
Your words mean nothing to the NFL, NFL fans or MV. You know why? Because the NFL doesn't care about sending messages to children when profit is on the table...MV can make the league a lot of money. He has paid his debt and will be given one more chance. If he messes up then that's it, but until that day happens why don't you save your righteous indignation for issues that actually matter like stopping insurance companies from denying coverage to people and killing them. Yes PEOPLE are more important than animals.
"use me for your Nightmares"you mean! Imagine those kids trying to deal w/ this criminal mind,asking them to "forgive" this as a legit mistake??my kid would never have attented that,not those who's only aim is "Greed"..s
yeah, right. vick is a brand. he and everyone else knows this. this is why he is (was) so overpaid. he knew how importamnt his brand was yet he continued to act like an a**hole. it's obvous that vick thought (thinks) he's above everyone else and should get special treatment.
But that's just the thing, he was a brand, but he certainly isn't anymore. The 8-digit yearly endorsement deal with Nike? That's long gone, as are all of the rest of them. He can't sell anything, and most people (myself included) wouldn't buy anything with his name on it.
He's gotten no special treatment at all. Browns receiver Donte Stallworth drunkenly drove into a pedestrian in Miami and killed him, and today was suspended without pay for only one season. He likely won't see prison. Vick lost more than $100 million and went to federal prison for over a year. NFL players do horrible things yearly, and most do get special treatment or celebrity justice (OJ Simpson anyone???) Vick certainly got no special treatment, in fact he was made an example of and paid far more than any athlete I can think of.
Stallworth did jail time (although only 21 days) and OJ Simpson got no special treatment - the 12 person jury, that was actually there through out his entire murder trial, unanimously found him not guilty and he received unfair, heavy handed justice in his "kidnapping trial".
"He deserves one more (and only one more) chance."
That's really funny. How many chances ya think all of those criminal drug offenders in Hollywood who continue to make film after film should be able to get? An infinite number? Certainly drugs have done more damage to american society than dogfighting EVER will. How many chances shall we give all those druggies who continue to put lives in danger as they get behind wheels of cars and wreck havoc on businesses? What's the number??
apples and oranges.
Not at all. Rotten apples and rotten apples.
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