Vick’s return will illustrate division in Atlanta
Except for this 34-yard run against Chicago, Michael Vick has been a non-factor for Eagles.
As you might have read, Michael Vick expects, “to get a great reaction from the crowd. It’s going to be a standing ovation,” when he returns to Atlanta next Sunday with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Well, I will agree with him to this point. He will get a reaction.
When Vick was at the top of his game, he united this city more than any other athlete. But when he declined and then train-wrecked his career and the Falcons’ franchise with his off-field issues, he divided Atlanta. Those hard-core Vick fans who bought Falcons season tickets, more to see him than the team, have defended him throughout and blamed others for his faults, even when he admitted guilt. Others have refused to let go of their hatred, saying Vick should never have been allowed back in the NFL.
Loading ...Neither group should surprise anybody. This is sports. Sports is emotional. Emotion often clouds judgment and objectivity.
A divide still exists and Sunday’s Falcons-Eagles game will illustrate that. Some will stand and cheer their hero’s return. Some will stand and hurl insults at the man they’ll never forgive. Others will ignore the whole thing and spend more time on the hot-dog-or-nachos debate.
Of all the “returns” sports has experienced, this will be one of the strangest. Vick has been a non-factor for the Eagles. Coach Andy Reid has struggled to work the “wildcat” offense into the game plan, and Vick has admitted he’s not thrilled with it anyway. He makes cameo appearances in games. He’s only 3-for-9 as a passer and has rushed for 65 yards, with 34 coming on one carry against Chicago two weeks ago.
When Vick returns to the Georgia Dome Sunday, he’ll mostly watch Donovan McNabb run the Philadelphia offense. He’s an afterthought for Reid. I’m guessing once the game begins, he’ll become an afterthought for most fans — at least until he makes an appearance. Then there will be noise. Lots of noise. We’ll hear and see the division.
How will you react? I realize any Michael Vick blog is combustible. But I’ve got a poll up asking which side of Vick fence you stand on (boo, cheer, don’t care), and feel free to weigh in with your thoughts.
One final request: It’s OK to be passionate with your debate. But please keep commenting clean and free of obscenities and racial overtones, otherwise I will quickly close the forum. Thanks.
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558 comments Add your comment
reality
December 2nd, 2009
5:55 am
I was never a Falcon fan.. I could only stand them because of Vick… and Deion at one time.. now they are both gone… but once a Cowboy fan… always a Cowboy fan… Texan… lost in ATLANTA… lol…
TRE TRE
December 2nd, 2009
6:11 am
Atlanta is and always will be A fair weather city. If you come to Atlanta play and win you are A hero. But if you play and lose the so called fans will find someone to blame. VICK did not divide the city it was always divided. Look at all of ATLANTA’S sport franchises & you will see that if they are not winning the seats are empty. When Vick was here people thought that Shaub should have been the QB. But when Vick got hurt and Shaub got his chance and lost A few they turned on him also.
To end this I will say that Vick is human and we all make mistakes. So if Vick’s mistakes changed your life then you need to look within……..GO DIRTY BIRDS
The REAL GodHatesTrash
December 2nd, 2009
6:31 am
Let’s face it – the white racists that make up the vast majority of Falcons fans hate Michael Vick.
They supposedly love dogs, yet are perfectly fine with our military killing innocent people in Iraq and Afghanistan by the boatload.
Expect a roar of boos for one of the greatest athletes to ever play the game.
Timothy Hardeman
December 2nd, 2009
7:09 am
The most appropriate way to greet Vick would be a cold and stony silence. I believe that he has no remorse for any of his wrongdoing and is a totally classless individual. Those who embrace him have similar content in the makeup of their character.
This won’t happen, of course, simply because there are too many misguided people in Atlanta. The recent election is indicative of that. I’m glad I moved away from that place and I would advise anyone who can to do the same thing.
Ian Raine
December 2nd, 2009
7:23 am
To mee Vick is an idiot. He had fame, money & a city that loved him for making the football team relevant again and he blew it. I don’t think he is sincere in his apologies and it annoys he kept his signing bonus when he clearly didn’t earn it. I hope he is booed and ashamed of what he did but I doubt he will be that bothered
p.elston
December 2nd, 2009
7:25 am
What happened to, “we can’t afford to lose another game”? Is the return of Michael Vick bigger than the Falcons making the playoffs? Get REAL people.
KR
December 2nd, 2009
7:28 am
Y’all kids just need to love your animals, you know?
Sammy
December 2nd, 2009
8:10 am
All of you who hate Vick, and will Boo, look at the ticket sale the people want to see Vick, I do, I want to see him with another team next year so he can play, if he stay on the bench he won’t be the same or near the same any one no that.The man has paid his dues and more let it rest.
Mike
December 2nd, 2009
8:18 am
By his own admission, he was the last to show up to practice, first to leave and never put in the work ethic needed to be a QB in the NFL.
While someone in this blog suggested “he made an honest mistake” with his dog fighting…he also lied to his employer and the league till his “boys” Ookie and whatever turned on him. He didn’t make an honest mistake and apologize, he grabbed dogs by their necks and slammed them into the ground, drowned them till they quit moving, or electrocuted them because they wouldn’t kill other dogs to his standards. This was all during the time he was all these people’s hero was doing these amazing things while leading us to 8-8 seasons.
Mike has let you know how he felt about the fans in Atlanta.
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_-Oha_7alHJ8/RlUOXvSxx_I/AAAAAAAAAH4/vnkspcrqXgo/s320/Michael-Vick-Finger.jpg
Ahh…just an honest mistake.
Anyone her remember the 07 season? Starting Joey Harrington? Byron Leftwich? I have season tickets and I paid for two seats for every game that season. Why was that season so crappy? Because Mike Vick was a lying, piece of trash felon. Y’all have fun cheering on the man that says he didn’t work hard at his job when he was here, flicked you off and did everything in his power to lie to you instead of being a man. Ahh…the good ol days.
Eileen
December 2nd, 2009
8:36 am
He did the crime, there is no doubt about it. Its not about black or white as MWoodring said. But had Vick not been a star for the Falcons, he would probably have never gone to jail. I think he took the hit for some other athletes that didn’t come forth but were a part of the betting process (such double stardards). He paid his dues and hence will always get a cheer from me.
TRUTH
December 2nd, 2009
8:59 am
Ain’t it funny?? A man does wrong, he gets tried and convicted, serves his time, gets another opportunity to play (with the hopes that he has rehabilitated himself), and then he gets crap for receiving another opportunity??!! C’mon, man.
Those Atlantans who will boo – Face it. they’re going to boo anyway. They will will boo the falcons for bad play calling. Poor play. Inexplicable gaffes by the defense and offense. Hmmm… haven’t Falcons fans done that for years?? They did it when Vick WAS here. They’re doing it now with Ryan, Turner, White, Abraham, Jenkins, and Norwood. The difference here is that Ryan has weapons,Vick did not. Ryan has a coach that genuinely is interested in the development of the game and connects with his players and the overall appraoch to the game. Further, Mr. Blank is farther out of the way (no sidelines shows of affection). The Falcons are evolving.
Just like Michael Vick. I’d like to think of it as a growth process for a kid that was handed the world. Yes, he electrified the dome with his play. I often wondered what it would be like if he had other players with his heart and talent on the team. As I recall, we cheered him, and booed him for his play. He made mistakes. Big enough for him to be tried and convicted and serve time. He sullied himself. It AFFECTED the team. I see it as the tipping point for a team that was on the brink of disaster anyway. The Reeves, Petrino debacle was not Vick’s fault. The ineffective play of the offensive line was not Vick’s fault. The poor play on defense was not Vick’s fault. The blunders in the front office in player personnel decisions were not Vick’s fault. Yet, all the ills of the team and their collective failures became his burden. Ridiculous.
No one knew of his ill deeds until they surfaced from an arrest of his cousin. Then all the wrongdoing, his personal wrongdoing, unraveled publicly. And we stand in judgement of him. I think the Good Book says, “He who is without sin, let him casst the first stone…,” or words to that effect, and the media, PETA, the courts, fans, and the sports world as a whole, threw stones. Hard and fast and without mercy. The very ones who have had affairs, killed, dealt in drugs, cheated, lied, not only to their teams, but to the fans, and publicly, and yet we are here on this blog and around the table and bars (if there were any true bars in Atlanta), spewing hate about someone who served his time. Would any of you admit wrongdoing up front? Or only after you were caught. Like Vick did? How many of you sinless bloggers are into felonious activities now? I’m sure no one will admit that. Or do what we normally do behind our creative handles, in our robes, in front of our laptops or PC’s, lie and embellish.
This man has served his time. He was reinstated justly by the NFL Commisioner who sees the growth of a child into a man. A rebrandished commitment to the game and the recognition of his wrongs. Yet we continue to pound him.
Race is and will continue to be a factor in Atlanta. It always has been, and sadly, it will continue. All I need suggest is you read the entries on this or any other blog. Be it politics, parts of the city, our employment situations, economics, education, racial divides are unrelenting. And, as in this blog, the continued divider of a city that allegedly is too busy to hate.
C’mon, man.
CYBER
December 2nd, 2009
9:05 am
“Don’t know if he will succeed even if given the chance, but the extent to which he was blackballed on his return irked me and smacked of a hyper political correctness.”
He wasn’t blackballed, if he was he wouldn’t be playing. The reason teams didn’t show much if any interest is because he is not that good. Vince Young is what Vick was supposed to be but never became.Mike Vick is no Vince Young.
VICK FAN
December 2nd, 2009
9:54 am
VICK will do just fine.THIS IS JUST ANOTHER GREAT BLACK NFL PLAYER THAT PEOPLE WANT TO HATE.I hope vick WIN THE GAME FOR HIS TEAM IN THE LAST 20 SECONDS.LETS SEE HOW THEY LIKE THAT.VICK will allways be the best player ATLANTA EVER HAD.
CYBER
December 2nd, 2009
10:33 am
“VICK will allways be the best player ATLANTA EVER HAD.”
I doubt that but I do know he will always be the worst player ATLANTA EVER HAD
EricADawgFan
December 2nd, 2009
11:25 am
Paul Lentz States:
I accepted long ago that black and white people in general (there are always exceptions) will see things differently…….just like men and women tend to see things differently (again, there are always exceptions).
Still, I feel that there is greater diversity in how white people think……as opposed to blacks. Blacks tend to be unanimous in how they look at things. From O.J. to Michael Vick…….most blacks support them…….while the majority of whites feel O.J. was guilty of murder and Vick got what he deserved.
Look at the past Presidential election: 97% of blacks voted for Obama while 43% of whites voted for Obama. Even though McCain won the white vote…….he didnt win it by nearly as much as Obama won the black vote.
Ironically, I can understand why blacks tend to be blind in their support of fellow blacks. Look at Marion Barry, former Mayor of Washington D.C. Dude was caught ON CAMERA smoking crack, and still as able to win the mayor’s election.
Greetings Paul Lentz,
AND YOU WONDER WHY????
EricADawgFan
December 2nd, 2009
11:33 am
When Vick arrives to the Dome and walk on that field. The standing ovation , and the loud proud cheer welcoming back Vick will by far drown out the negative out burst by Vick Haters. I will bet on that.
ATL Observer
December 2nd, 2009
11:49 am
>>>the very ones who have had affairs, killed, dealt in drugs,
>>>cheated, lied, not only to their teams, but to the fans, and publicly,
>>>and yet…spewing hate about someone who served his time.
Why is it assumed that every Vick critic is hiding massive felonies of their own? Do we really live in a world where 98% of the population commits massive crimes and covers them up? It’s like you’re a friggin’ Scientologist accusing people of hiding their engrams. Maybe there are actual honorable citizens with nothing to hide who are also Vick critics. Did that ever cross your mind?
And again, ridiculous exaggerations from both sides of the argument: “Atlanta’s record was MUCH HIGHER with Vick here” or “Vick was just mediocre & things are better w/o him.” Guess what? Vick’s career winning %? .592. Matt Ryan’s? .592. % wise, their TD-INTs are similar. Look up some friggin’ #s before trying to make these arguments.
And also, as some have already pointed out, the dogfighting angle gets played as the ONLY factor but there are PLENTY of factors at play. Vick critics can deny there’s been racism towards Vick, but that’s hollow. Vick defenders will deny his lousy work ethic and how his actions adversely affected the team, that’s equally hollow. This is far more nuanced than most people from either side are comfortable admitting.
ATL Observer
December 2nd, 2009
11:57 am
>>>the very ones who have had affairs, killed, dealt in drugs,
>>>cheated, lied, not only to their teams, but to the fans, and publicly,
>>>and yet…spewing hate about someone who served his time.
Why is it assumed that Vick critics are hiding massive felonies of their own? It’s like a friggin’ Scientologist accusing people of hiding their engrams. Maybe there are actual honorable citizens with nothing to hide that are Vick critics. Did this cross your mind?
And again, exaggerations from both sides: “Atlanta’s record was MUCH higher with Vick here” or “he was just mediocre, things are better w/o him.” Vick’s career winning %? .592. Matt Ryan’s? .592. % wise, their TD-INTs are similar. Look up some #s before trying to make these arguments!
And also, as some have already pointed out, the dogfighting angle gets played as the ONLY factor. There are PLENTY of factors at play. Critics can deny there’s been racism towards Vick, but that’s hollow. Defenders can deny his lousy ethic & how his actions adversely affected the team, that’s equally hollow. It’s more nuanced than most from either side are comfortable admitting.
ATL Observer
December 2nd, 2009
11:57 am
URRGGGGH, sorry for another double-post!
JJ
December 2nd, 2009
3:37 pm
Vick paid the Time for his Crime.
You don’t have to like him, however he deserves an opportunity to
redeem himself.
Everyone deserves the right to make a living.
Hamilton
December 2nd, 2009
3:58 pm
hopefully, some of the dogs that he terrorized will be brought to the game, to put in a small room with him. then, hopefully these same people would make vic wear a pork chop jock strap.
Justice Pro
December 2nd, 2009
4:09 pm
Every time you start to feel sorry for this piece of Trash who is on Federal Probation read this story…cut-paste the link
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/g/a/2009/11/03/petscol110309.DTL
ATL Observer
December 2nd, 2009
4:10 pm
Additionally, since when does booing Vick entail some sort of endorsement of “depriving him of his right to play?” I read that a lot in this thread.
No one’s booing because he was reinstated. That’s like saying Packers fans booed Favre because the league reinstated him.
Umm, yeah right
December 2nd, 2009
4:35 pm
If you guys really care about dog fighting, you have many more people left to catch. Vick and his operation were small potatoes. Trust me. The world of dog fighting hasn’t been disturbed. At all. Many dogs are still being brutalized.
The fact is, people just don’t like Vick. The dog fighting isn’t really the reason, it is just a pretext.
Umm, yeah right
December 2nd, 2009
4:36 pm
Oh and you people wishing injuries on Vick need your heads examined. STAT.
G-
December 2nd, 2009
4:45 pm
THE ONLY THING I WANT TO SEE VICK DO IS, COME OUT FOR ONE PLAY AND HOPEFULLY THROW A TOUCHDOWN ON THESE ATLANTA FAKERS!!!!!!! THEY ALL LOVED HIM WHEN HE PLAYED HERE NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY HATE HIM?? THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO HATE HIM…BY THE WAY JUST HAPPEN TO BE WHITE!!!!!! HMM SCREW THE FALCONS!!! THATS WHY THEY SUCK!!!!
Scorpio
December 2nd, 2009
4:48 pm
DANG! People it was just a dog! I don’t see all yall protesting when the Asians are fighting fish! Last time that I checked fish are pets too just like Dogs. Who makes this pet hierachy anyway? and why is this pet(DOGS) better than the others? Answer that! NONETHELESS, GO Mike Vick. I wish you the best of luck.
GO FALCONS!
CarmenH
December 2nd, 2009
4:48 pm
All of you IDIOTS that are still holding a stupid grudge againest Michael Vick need to get a life. I mean come on you all act like he is a freakin child killer or pedophile. And ya’ll give them kind of people the most media attention exactly what they want which is positve to them. I think Michael Vick is disliked because he is a young, talented and gifted black man and he came in a rocked Atlanta’s world. shook this city upside down with his talent so as soon as he did something petty he is banned. All the Michael Vick haters make me sick.
Psychologist
December 2nd, 2009
5:00 pm
Unforgivable?????
How many of you have cheated on your wives or girlfriends or spouse? Exactly!!!!! People are willing to still see the good in You, to “FORGIVE” irreparable harm you caused to another Human!!! To cheer you on when you endeavor new feats. Why can’t people forgive Vick or at least acknowledge that HE PAID HIS TIME. People SCREW UP. The coercive power of the State was used to Punish Vick’s Major Screw Up. Society’s retributive thirst must be satisfied at some point. LET THE MAN BE A SCREW UP and bold faced liar when CAUGHT Red handed, just like everyone posted here is or has been at some point no doubt. Awful what he did. Hate it for those dogs. But when he did his time, he stopped owing anyone anything. AND BUDDY calling Vick fans a fool, that in and of itself is foolish. Does putting others down always make you feel better. Pity.
Edward
December 2nd, 2009
5:01 pm
Vick was not allowed to play for Atlanta anymore, so why should I boo him(killing an animal for any reason other than for fod to eat is sinfully wrong.
Ihatedogs
December 2nd, 2009
5:05 pm
The Falcons will get pounded and thats all that matters. GO Eagles!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The Dogfighter Returns
December 2nd, 2009
5:09 pm
Oh no another blog about Michael Vick? What happened to the hometown talent? Can we get a blog about the QB from Louisville? What’s his name again?
Psychologist
December 2nd, 2009
5:15 pm
And to those of you have done no harm to anyone ever, (ATL observer) please give us all a break. And if you are honestly blameless,the point is not limited to what you yourself have done Angel Face Citizens. The point is that as for those you know personally who have made major mistakes in their lives, do you boo them everytime you see them?? Do you think they should be fed to dogs for being awful people at times???? Perhaps at first, yes, but forever??? Punishment for what Vick did must cease at some point. Why would you feel the need to boo a man who has already been to jail…for dog abuse, not rape, or murder of human beings???
Steve C
December 2nd, 2009
5:27 pm
Hey Schultz,
Looks like you got an early start on Vick’s division of Atlanta. It started when you posted this column, and that probably was your motivation.
Parshay
December 2nd, 2009
5:27 pm
I was HUGE MV7 fan, I spent every week we lost explaining to haters why Mike Vick was the best thing that ever happened to the Falcons. But when he got in trouble I didn’t care so much about the abuse to the dogs(I don’t condone it) I cared about the abuse to the dirty birds. Blank was nothing but good to vick and vick let him down, yeah he made a lot of money for blank but Blank paid him a lot of money to be our real qb not some gimmick side show. I wanted to see vick play again but not in the NFC south, hell not even the NFC. cause I know how good he can be but i am a FALCONS FAN FIRST by far. and to those who are mad that the falcons moved on from vick your just dumb and i can’t have a serious conversation with that kind of skewed logic….. 3 more wins……..go Falcons
abe
December 2nd, 2009
5:32 pm
Hey,I love animals. Dogs,cats,goldfish.whatever. Animals have an excuse for what they do….they are animals. Vick messed up. He was hanging out with a peer group that fed off each other on the brutality committed against those dogs. It was sickening.
But Vick went to prison. He has paid his debt. Give the man some room and let him earn a living. Stack Vick up next to Bobby Petrino and I’d go with Vick every time. Petrino…there’s a man with issues.
Word to Rob
December 2nd, 2009
5:35 pm
Rob is mildly retarded with late onset autism.
floyd g
December 2nd, 2009
5:36 pm
im glad hes back playing football. jerks (wanna keep people down cause they made mistakes in life). like you all are better than him. what has this world come to…. value a dogs life over a human life. got people killing everyday getting off easy, but kill a dog and its life…(sigh) you people. and i hope vick plays and get in that ***.stupid dog love makers
ATL Observer
December 2nd, 2009
5:53 pm
@ Psychologist, you didn’t read anything past my first few sentences, did you?
DCLAWZ
December 2nd, 2009
5:55 pm
I hope Vick gets a shot either in that lame wildcat or under center. I would love to see him run and pass for positive yards if not a touchdown. Be great if we win too! What’s in the past is in the past! Go Vick. Make a statement.
FORGIVE AND FORGET
December 2nd, 2009
6:04 pm
we should forgive our brothers sins, espeacially if we want ours forgiving. Vick is human and happened to make a mistake like any othe human being. He’s like other players in the game, TRYING TO SURVIVE A CAREER IN SPORTS”. I wish hime well on sunday like all the other players in the game. good luck to all.
WRONG AND RIGHT
December 2nd, 2009
6:09 pm
Enter your comments here
Go Vick Go
December 2nd, 2009
6:14 pm
Say Vick is a has been if you want. This will be one of the Falcon’s if not biggest selling games. So what does that tell you, the man is still a franchise player. Even those you claim to not like him will still be at this game. The rest of all this talking is just comedy!
WRONG AND RIGHT
December 2nd, 2009
6:17 pm
It’s WRONG to hold his past with the dogs against him in this blogging parade, however it’s RIGHT to compare his game against any other quarterback in the league and say if he’s any good at the sport. It’s WRONG to say he sucks at the sport of football, when his record is better then 1/4 of the quarterbacks in the league right now. It’s RIGHT to say he can do better at the sport, always room for improvement for ANYONE. Lets be FAIR EVERYONE……
ATL Observer
December 2nd, 2009
6:22 pm
@Go Vick Go, selling out a game doesn’t prove you’re not a has-been (not saying Vick is one, but if he isn’t, it’s got nothing to do with his marketability). Did anyone deny that Vick was an ATTRACTION? Of course not, we’re all here talking about him, are we?
Mike Tyson was still an attraction well into the 2000s. Didn’t make him any less of a has been in the ring. Do you think Tyson felt like any less of a has-been as a boxer when Lennox Lewis pummeled him for eight rounds because the PPV drew record buys?
KARMA
December 2nd, 2009
6:23 pm
YOU SHOULD NEVER WISH BAD ON ANYONE, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO ASK FOR FORGIVENESS AND IS TRYING TO DO BETTER AT HIS LIFE, CAREER, FAMILY, AND FUTURE. I WISH ALL TEAMS A CHAMPIONSHIP RING. REMEMBER KARMA IS A B**CH.
Falcon Fan
December 2nd, 2009
6:28 pm
The man paid for his mistake. I’m NOT going to cheer for him, and I’m NOT going to boo him. I’m going give a soft clap NOT for him, but for being a young man who made a mistake and still having an opportunity to play again. He is no longer a Falcon, we don’t need him, nor do we want him back, but I respect his talent and abilities and he is fun to watch.. He was given a great gift… A SECOND chance!!! Now let’s kick Eagles BUTT.!!!
Falcon Fan
December 2nd, 2009
6:38 pm
I have enjoyed the Falcon since Chris Chandler to NOW, if Vick played for the FAlson then I enjoyed him as well. Re we cheering for ATLANTA’s team or for one individual. Don’t get me wrong, Vick is a good player, but i live in ATLANTA and support my team regardless who plays. ARE YOU A TRUE FALCON FAN OR CRITICS WITH NOTHING TO DO?
Falcon Fan
December 2nd, 2009
6:55 pm
well, well welllll, I wonder how many of you live in a glass house (Justice Pro) ??????
EricADawgFan
December 2nd, 2009
7:50 pm
Go Michael Vick. We Welcome You…… We miss you…………………