As Michael Vick’s new life begins, hope remains. Yes, hope.
He’s not quite free and clear, but he’s out of prison. That’s a start. Michael Vick can begin to get on with the rest of his life, and we should wish him well. Because he’s not some demon. He’s a human being who made dire mistakes.
And he continues to pay for them. He’ll wear an ankle bracelet. He can’t go to a bar. He can’t vote. He’ll need to earn his way back into the good graces of Roger Goodell and the American public, and it won’t be easy. But there’s a story waiting to be written, a story as uplifting as these past two years have been deflating.
Michael Vick needs to talk to us, and soon. He needs to tell us he’s sorry and that his time behind bars has changed him, made him wiser, redoubled his determination not to mess up the rest of his life. He needs now to throw himself on the mercy of the American public and see how merciful it can be.
Because a lot of people would be willing to forgive him. (Not to forget, but to forgive.) I know. I’m among them. But he has to ask.
Understand: Vick wasn’t a victim of runaway justice. He admitted his crimes and has paid a price almost beyond measure. But his life isn’t over, and so long as life remains there’s the possibility of redemption. He’s 28. He has time. He can change our perception yet again.
Sorry, there are no polls available at the moment.He deserves the chance to play football. PETA will protest, but PETA is famous for overplaying its hand. (Have Vick submit to a brain scan? Who’s writing this stuff – Joe McCarthy? Arthur C. Clarke?) If he finds an owner willing to absorb the backlash, he can make us remember why it was we came to notice Michael Vick. Contrary to revisionist history, he’s not a bad quarterback. Three Pro Bowls, as I recall.
He won’t be playing here, and that’s for the best. He needs a restart, and the Falcons have a different quarterback. But that doesn’t mean we can excise his name from team annals. Vick rekindled the flame when this franchise had gone cold. He made us care. That’s why it hurt so deeply to see him fail.
And it wasn’t Vick the player who failed. It was Vick the person, Vick the stealth dogfighter, the Vick nobody around here saw. (You say you knew he was a bad guy all along? On what evidence? The water bottle? Please.) His failure loosed a deluge of racial back-and-forth that missed the point, for this was never about a demographic profile. This was about one man and his misdeeds, one man who owned a city but went to jail.
And now he’s out. And now he can move forward, and so can we. Amid all the motion, here’s a hope that he gets it right from now on, so right that in five years we’ll see Michael Vick not as a fallen idol but as an indomitable soul who triumphed over abject disgrace.
Yes, he did wrong. But after all that has transpired, Michael Dwayne Vick has it within him to do right. I’ve been disappointed in him, but I’m not yet ready to give up. Not on this one. There’s a heart in there somewhere, a good heart. I believed as much on that sorrowful day he entered his plea, and I believe it still.
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423 comments Add your comment
Bea
May 21st, 2009
2:09 pm
Only God knows the true motives and intents of the heart. Only God knows the deep-down soul of a man.
How many second-third-numerous chances did you get when you made mistakes? Are you infallible? Are you perfect? Are you greater than Michael Vick because you didn’t torture animals? Well maybe you didn’t but did you lie, steal, committed adultery, covet, dishonor your parents? Do you hate your neighbor because he’s different? Do you think negative thoughts and say negative things about and to people? Are you the voice of conscience and reason? Are you infallible? Are you perfect? Did you get more chances than you deserve? Who are you to determine if his debt to society is not enough? Are you infallible? Are you perfect? Did you have a chance to right a mistake you have made, today?
Voice of Reason #1
May 21st, 2009
2:12 pm
I hope Goddell does NOT permit Vick to return. I cannot STAND liars, and Vick LIED to the league admin, to Goddell and to Blank. Legally, he did his time and deserves a chance to work somewhere. But if I were Goddell, would he return to the NFL? Hell no. I am so sick and tired of all these hoodlum athletes and “celebrities” these days. Make them get a regular job and feel the pain of what they did. They need a wakeup call, and if we keep excusing people, and giving celebs passes, they’ll never learn their lessons. Sets a bad example and is jacking up our society and kids. That’s why I don’t go to pro games anymore; I’m not giving those criminals my money. They have no respect for themselves, teh game or others. It’s all about the Benjamins, that they get too soon, before they get sense.
crabapplejoe
May 21st, 2009
2:18 pm
@The Facts: Thanks for taking the time to pull the educational data which proves my point. I wasn’t going to bother ’cause folks like that moron BidEasy830 will just find a way to ignore it. Thank goodness he wasn’t smart enough to get into law school because his grasp of the nuances of our legal system certainly is limited. I love how he fains concern for the life of Dan Snyder, when the reality is he would probably piss on Snyder’s grave cause “he’s was just some smart ass, hockey playin’ white boy”. He pretends that his concerns somehow trump the feelings of the Snyder family. Not to mention he has no grasp on the facts of the case. One minute Heatley was “DUI” the next minute “he had some drinks and that’s just as bad”. The really sad thing is that if you have a jury trial here in Fulton County you’re likely to get twelve BigEasys as the jury of your “peers”….imagine that. ROTFLMAO if it weren’t so sad.
JSS
May 21st, 2009
2:19 pm
I want to compliment you on this column. It was adult, it was not written before it was a matter to be considered by the public at large. You weighed both sides on the matter and left it for the reader to reach their own conclusions.
I’ve only had to comment on one of your columns over the years. I think that speaks volumes to how you’ve approached what you put before us online and in print. I’ve said it before about one of your colleagues, you’re paid to opine facts, not to give conjecture.
The future will tell what happens to Michael Vick, not the media, maybe the government, not outside forces, and certainly not the jackals at the gate…
AthlonATL
May 21st, 2009
3:41 pm
I can’t wait for him to get back in the game. The Game Needs Vick like Vick Needs a Game.
What!!!
May 21st, 2009
4:08 pm
The game don’t need Vick. The game was played before Vick and the game continues on without Vick.
truth-serum
May 21st, 2009
5:23 pm
Author blank is a spinless loser and a classless man. I hope atlanta fans continue to turn their back to him. What a Jerk. Move your scrubb teams to another state and take the AJC with you!!!
Vanes
May 21st, 2009
5:47 pm
Oh My God people. Talking about double standard. This man has paid for his crime. Let he who is without sin cast the first stone. So much hate for Vick. He does not need the NFL. They lost a lot of money. You got your golden boy though!!!!
Brat
May 21st, 2009
6:30 pm
I get angry everytime I think about how the people are acting toward Vick! Spouses beating and killing spouses and nothing much done about it. Where are the other guys that got tied up with the Dog fighting? I think they were set free, maybe paid a fine, because you have heard nothing else from them.
I think this PETA organization just wanted some money. They got part of the rock too. They weren’t concerned about any dogs! I bet those same guys beat their wives butt and never think anything about it. All the members of PETA (Pretending Every things alright)that’s what I think of you!
truth-serum
May 21st, 2009
8:55 pm
Truth-serum
May 10th, 2009
4:27 pm
I was rather hoping for a exciting, more talented QB. So one who gives defensive co-ordinator a fit. Some one who excites the crowd and can motivate a city. Some one who is salable and marketable. Some one respected by his peers….some one like say MICHEAL VICK!
Link Report this comment Truth-serum
May 10th, 2009
4:33 pm
Supes
May 10th, 2009
4:21 pm
THE ONLY THING THE CURRENT QB IS GOOD FOR IS HANDING OF TO TURNER AND NORWOOD. YOU ARE RIGHT ON ONE THING. TURNER WAS THE MVP FOR THE FALCONS AND RUNNER UP FOR THE LEAGUE. BIRDS HAD TO RUN BALL CONTROL. HOW ABOUT A REAL QB THAT CAN THROW DEEP, ACROSSS HIS BODY, CHANGE ON THE RUN, AND SCORE IN THE RED ZONE. BY THE WAY…WHAT WAS THE BIRDS AVERAGE IN THE RED ZONE?… THE CURRENT QB CERTAINLY DOESNT HAVE THE TALENT OF 28 YEAR OLD MICHEAL VICK. GO VICK!!
Link Report this comment Mark Bradley
May 10th, 2009
4:34 pm
Too bad he’s not marketable and not respected by his peers. (Still laughing at that one, Truth. Too funny!)
truth-serum
May 21st, 2009
8:58 pm
Link Report this comment Mark Bradley
May 10th, 2009
4:34 pm
Too bad he’s not marketable and not respected by his peers. (Still laughing at that one, Truth. Too funny!)
truth-serum
May 21st, 2009
8:55 pm
Truth-serum
May 10th, 2009
4:27 pm
I was rather hoping for a exciting, more talented QB. So one who gives defensive co-ordinator a fit. Some one who excites the crowd and can motivate a city. Some one who is salable and marketable. Some one respected by his peers….some one like say MICHEAL VICK!
Link Report this comment Truth-serum
May 10th, 2009
4:33 pm
Supes
May 10th, 2009
4:21 pm
THE ONLY THING THE CURRENT QB IS GOOD FOR IS HANDING OF TO TURNER AND NORWOOD. YOU ARE RIGHT ON ONE THING. TURNER WAS THE MVP FOR THE FALCONS AND RUNNER UP FOR THE LEAGUE. BIRDS HAD TO RUN BALL CONTROL. HOW ABOUT A REAL QB THAT CAN THROW DEEP, ACROSSS HIS BODY, CHANGE ON THE RUN, AND SCORE IN THE RED ZONE. BY THE WAY…WHAT WAS THE BIRDS AVERAGE IN THE RED ZONE?… THE CURRENT QB CERTAINLY DOESNT HAVE THE TALENT OF 28 YEAR OLD MICHEAL VICK. GO VICK!!
BARBIE
May 22nd, 2009
1:35 am
I AM GLAD HE IS FREE. WHATEVER HAPPENED TO GRACE AND MERCY THAT IS GIVEN TO ALL OF US. HE MADE A MISTAKE AND IF ANY OF US HAD TO PAY FOR WHAT WE HAVE DONE WE WOULD WANT SOMEONE TO FORGIVE US. I LOVE MICHEAL VICK. GOOD LUCK
Mike Fan
May 22nd, 2009
7:19 am
I am so glad that God is not like man! Where would we all be, for the things that we have done (behind closed doors). EVERYBODY deserve a second chance. The law of the land sentenced him, he has served that time, it is time to let it go!
What!!!
May 22nd, 2009
8:12 am
Truth-serum. What is in that serum you’re drinking? Whatever it is it’s killing your brain cells.
Dove676
May 22nd, 2009
1:04 pm
Vick doesn’t owe you or anyone else a freakin apology for his actions. He did that prior to going to jail and served his time (with good behavior) in the prison system as deemed by the American Justice System. His humble character and gestures of a good faith return into society are above and beyond what any of your arrogant pricks would do for shooting a deer in the head…LEGALLY may I add but equally as INHUMANE.
Arthur Blank is foolish for releasing him from the Falcons organization. Vick is the spark the lit all of the eagerness around this team a few years ago. We haven’t had that kind of magic since and Atlanta fans are yearning for it back. Bring Mike back and let’s get the good times flowing again.
Mike…keep your head up and stay positive. I wish you the best and look forward to many more great things from you! You are a man that was sacrificed from a narrowminded group of PETA lovers. It’s sad that this much attention can be garnered over dogfighting but the 1000’s of children molested on the internet everyday can’t get the same attention. I mean what really matters here people!! Pets…children…you make the call.
You ignorants who are putting all of this energy into condemning Vick can truly find other more worthy causes to channel it through. I am a pet lover and owner but not obsessor. PETA and others with this “Mike has to ask for my forgiveness” mentality are foolish freaks that need to get a grip on the real issues facing our country and future.
BossLady
May 22nd, 2009
1:12 pm
I would like to genuinely thank you for writing this story. This was
his first offense and there is not criminal record in his backgroound.
And, yes I believe it was a vicious racial attack on people that did not want him from the beginning. He did NOT kill a human, he did NOT rape little girls or boys for that matter, he did NOT drive under the influence and kill people, he did NOT gamble on football, he did NOT
steal or rob anyone. See, it was not a nice thing he did but it is
not something that raised to the level of the pure hatred spewed on this man. I see in him a young man who has made some bad decisions like a large number of young men have today. He did not have the sense or the strength to move on and up away from his “homeboys” and live
the life of a person of his statue because he did not feel he belonged. This is so sad, so very sad and I will pray from him.
BossLady
May 22nd, 2009
1:17 pm
Good point, MrKnowGood
Was a season Ticket holder
May 22nd, 2009
2:55 pm
Dove676~ I agree with you on that. We want Vick! As you notice after Vick left so did the sells and air time on TV and I bet you if Vick come back to Atl the DOME will sell out again!!!!
paul
May 22nd, 2009
3:05 pm
I have not read a more reasonable article… Very well said. The logic was overwhelming. Mr. Vick is the man and will be lighting up the turf soon.
“You say you knew he was a bad guy all along? On what evidence?”
PETA over playing it’s hand. (peta needs to go away)
Pro Bowler
Good QB
Thank you for your logic and level head on the matter. Some people are insisting on continued persecution. That’s on their perfect little hearts. I am on the other extreme. I don’t even like dogs so you could image my anger in losing 2 years of Vick. Darn the Fed gov. Taking more than just taxes from me.
Mark Bradley
May 22nd, 2009
7:07 pm
Thanks, Paul,.
Leon Justice
May 23rd, 2009
3:53 pm
The problem with human is nobody thinks about the fact that they or some else is human. We are always ready to say the hell with someone for their downfalls, but never ready to help someone up when they are down. We would rather talk about things they did. I am a fan of believing in someone no matter what they have done. You always want the best for someone in life, if they have done wrong always prey for change and never for the continuing of wrong doing.
Good luck Michael.
sarah
May 23rd, 2009
7:41 pm
People.make some wrong decision in life.But that does mean that we put then in the dirt.There’s a turning point in life were you can always look back and say.I made some wrong decisions in my life.But the LORD allow us to make a u-turn if we are heading in the right direction.I know the Micheal Vicks is going to be better and greater in football.There’s someone who would get him and forget what he has doing.We has to learn to forgive,forget and move on toward the future.He has my support.And my prayers.
Jo Ann
May 24th, 2009
8:30 am
Vick does not deserve the privilege of a reinstatement in the NFL. He is now employed with a construction company. He is one of the lucky ones, to have a job. There are many decent people who are currently unemployed. He also hid hundreds of thousands of dollars, before going to prison. It is not like he is destitute. He didnt give the dogs a second chance, before torturing and killing them. He shouldnt have a second chance in the NFL.
Lions Fan
May 24th, 2009
12:42 pm
I hope Vick gets his second chance in Detroit. Go Lions. We all make mistakes, and learn from them. He’s paid the price. Lets get the Lions to a superbowl and rewrite history. Good luck Vick.
Virginia
May 24th, 2009
7:30 pm
Me doth think Michael Vic would be better off living a simple life. Obviously living the high life caused him a multitude of sins. All I think is that one should serve the time of they commit the crime. My nephew had to serve over one year for 1/10 of gram of crack cocaine in his possession. He is an addict. For all who love him he needs rehabilitation, not prison. But my nephew served his time.
Michael Vic did not! And to think, if only for a brief moment , that any team on the NFL would think of signing him. I do not get it and hopefully, if they do, there will be fan retaliation!
Michael Vic is not a role model. Michael Vic, just like my nephew, is a convicted felon and should be treated as such the rest of his life. There is little opportunity for redemption here!
truth-serum
May 24th, 2009
9:43 pm
Humane Society sees Vick as ally, not pariah
CEO Pacelle angers many in animal rights faction by working with NFL star
Human Society President and CEO Wayne Pacelle says Michael Vick has “got celebrity, he’s got a story and he can make some difference on this issue.”
By William C. Rhoden
updated 1:36 p.m. ET, Fri., May 22, 2009
Wayne Pacelle doesn’t mind a good fight. He’s used to them.
In 15 years with the Humane Society of the United States, the last five as its chief executive, Pacelle has taken on many animal rights issues, including the brutalization of seals, slaughter plants in California and the proliferation of puppy mills.
None of the battles have been more intense than this new one, in which he recently broke ranks with much of the animal rights community and forged a partnership with Michael Vick, the fallen N.F.L. quarterback.
In 2007, Vick was sentenced to 23 months in prison for his role in a dogfighting operation. He was released this week and is serving the rest of his sentence in home confinement. The airwaves have crackled with speculation over where he will land.
Few expected that he would land with the Humane Society. Pacelle announced on Tuesday that the Humane Society and Vick would work together to eradicate dogfighting among youths.
“I’m getting a little bit of a beating here and there,” Pacelle said Wednesday in a telephone interview. “But you’ve got to do what you think is right.”
While debates on sports talk radio programs continue to focus on the narrow issue of whether Vick deserves a second chance to play football, the larger, wiser issue is Vick’s personal rehabilitation and the role he can play in discouraging animal abuse.
The Humane Society’s position has nothing to do with endorsing Vick’s return to football but rather with finding a way to use his visibility to fight the scourge of dogfighting, which Pacelle said is gaining popularity with African-American and Hispanic teenagers in urban areas. The Humane Society has begun anti-dogfighting initiatives in those areas, he said.
“These are the sorts of programs that Mike can help with because kids still do look up to him,” Pacelle said. “Our folks on the street say, ‘Hey, he’s still a celebrity, they still respect this guy and he can talk to them and tell them how far he fell: from the top of the sports world to the standard-issue room of the federal penitentiary.’
“He’s got celebrity, he’s got a story and he can make some difference on this issue.”
‘I want to end dogfighting’
The Humane Society’s announcement about its partnership with Vick, and the reaction to it, underline complexities that lie between raw outrage over the mistreatment of animals and the rehabilitation of the humans who commit the crimes. While all animal rights groups are committed to protecting animals, their tactics and philosophies differ. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals advocates euthanizing rescued fighting dogs, for example, while a group like Best Friends advocates their rehabilitation.
Many see Vick as a pariah to be avoided under any circumstance. In a phone interview this week, Dan Shannon of PETA said, “We don’t think that it’s the animal protection community’s place to facilitate a convicted dogfighter’s comeback, which would be the case if one were to work with him.”
But Pacelle sees Vick as a potentially valuable ally in the fight against dogfighting.
“I understand that there are people who don’t want to work with Michael Vick,” he said. “I want to end dogfighting. And he may be a very important role player in that process.”
Pacelle added: “If he’s sincere, and if he’s committed in the long run to this goal for whatever reasons, he can be an agent of change, he can steer young kids in urban communities’ vile activity toward more productive interactions with dogs.
“Our goal is not endless punitive treatment of Michael Vick. Our goal is to eradicate dogfighting in America.”
Falcons support Vick after release
May 20: Brian Finneran, Michael Jenkins, and Mike Smith of the Falcons say they hope Michael Vick can play football again, and they wish him the best.
Pacelle met with Vick in prison in Leavenworth, Kan., on Sunday to discuss the partnership. He said the meeting was requested by Billy Martin, who represented Vick in his criminal case. “He said that Mike wanted to talk,” Pacelle said. “He wanted to be part of the solution and not part of the problem.”
Asked how he felt about winding up in a face-to-face meeting with Vick in prison, Pacelle said: “It was a place that two years ago I would have never thought I would have been. We said some really tough stuff about Michael Vick.”
I’m not convinced that Mike is completely turned around’
Is there justification for being skeptical of Vick’s motives? Of course. Vick is eager — desperate — to remake his image.
And even though he announced the partnership Tuesday, Pacelle said he was not completely sold. “I’m not convinced that Mike is completely turned around,” he said, “and I’m not convinced that he’s going to make the most of this opportunity. But I do think he should have a chance to demonstrate that he is changed and that he can be part of the solution. Call me a participating skeptic.”
Regardless of how you feel about Vick, the morality of the issue he represents — cruelty to animals — is not cut and dried, black and white.
The Humane Society has introduced a large patch of gray.
KELLY
May 26th, 2009
4:54 pm
The man is a sociopath! He didn’t make a mistake, he cheerfully tortured those dogs. He never said he was sorry for what he did to those dogs…..he’s only sorry he got caught.
I don’t care if he lives or dies……well maybe a chain around his sorry neck would be ok!
KELLY
May 26th, 2009
4:56 pm
oh, and Ken…get your head out of the clouds.
H.W.
May 26th, 2009
11:24 pm
Thanks for your thoughtful column, Mark. Millions of Americans are currently incarcerated and thousands re-enter society every day of the week. Every man and woman released from lock-up deserves an opportunity to rebuild their lives and engage in gainful employment. Instead of ostracizing Michael Vick and banishing him to the margins of society, he should be embraced and supported as he rebuilds his life and figures out how to be the best Michael that he can be.
H.W.
May 26th, 2009
11:33 pm
I’m a bit confused about all of the comments about how Vick never apologized. He apologized after he plead guilty. He apologized to the Falcons organization as well as saying, “I want to apologize to all the young kids out there for my immature acts and, you know, what I did was, what I did was very immature so that means I need to grow up. I totally ask for forgiveness and understanding as I move forward to bettering Michael Vick the person, not the football player,” Vick said.
“I take full responsibility for my actions … I am totally responsible.”
So how many times does the man need to apologize?
- all quotes from ESPN: http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2992890
H.W.
May 26th, 2009
11:39 pm
What is all of this talk about Vick never apologizing. Just type “vick apology” into google and you’ll see multiple sources citing his apology.
“First, I want to apologize, you know, for all the things that — that I’ve done and that I have allowed to happen. I want to personally apologize to commissioner [Roger] Goodell, [owner] Arthur Blank, coach Bobby Petrino, my Atlanta Falcons teammates, you know, for our — for our previous discussions that we had. And I was not honest and forthright in our discussions, and, you know, I was ashamed and totally disappointed in myself to say the least,” Vick said.
“I want to apologize to all the young kids out there for my immature acts and, you know, what I did was, what I did was very immature so that means I need to grow up.”
“I totally ask for forgiveness and understanding as I move forward to bettering Michael Vick the person, not the football player,” Vick said.
“I take full responsibility for my actions … I am totally responsible.”
all quotes from ESPN story, “Vick to be sentenced Dec. 10 after guilty plea”- August 28, 2007
How many times does the man need to apologize?
luvdembirds
May 27th, 2009
2:07 pm
he who is without sin cast the first stone. he paid the fines did the time good enough for me . the only difference between him and us he got caught. mike dont owe me anything live your life to the fullest. thanks for the show in the ATL!!! !!!
Charity
May 29th, 2009
9:14 am
You hypocrits. You all talk about Vick like you Christ yourself. Let the first man that has lived without sin cast the first stone. Each and everyone of us has lied, stole, deceived, done something wrong, made a mistake, made bad decisions, but when your dirt isn’t put out for others to see it’s okay. I don’t condone what he did. But goodness you guys act as if be blew up the twin tower, killed some humans, enough already. You guys are not living in a glass house. Stop with the foolishness. If you are a so call christian, you should be ashame. How can you be a christian, go to church, pray and ask for forgiveness for you sins, and you can not forgive others of their’s. Christ died for all of our sins, so that we could be saved. That means he died for Vicks sins as well. You give you the right to give him eternal death. Enough already. He has done his time.
Charity
May 29th, 2009
9:26 am
Let get this straight. We are talking about some very vicious dogs. Some dogs who should be banned anyway. So many ppl lose their lives, or have to go to the hospital because of these particular dogs. Most of you ppl who are saying these ridiculous things, like he a pathological liar, he should be put to death, you guys really sound stupid, ignorant to say such things. He who is without sin, let him cast the first stone. As long as you are in the flesh you will sin. The very ones who are saying such things, are liars, are deceitful, and God knows what else. Only difference between Vick and Us. Is that his dirt was brought to light. We all have skeletons in the closet. We all have our own dirty little secrets. Enough already. Grow up and get a meaningful life. All this publicity he’s getting is only a distraction. We have far more greater things going in this world beside this mess here. Michael Vicks wrong doing did not deserve as much attention as it has received. PPl are losing their homes, jobs, lives, and all we have to do is talk about Michael Vick. Boy what is this world coming to. This isn’t making nor breaking any of us. This isn’t putting any food on our table, maybe the paper’s but certainly not the readers. What about our soldiers, what about the social security you and i will not receive, what about our education system, what about your grandparents or parents who can not afford their medicine, what about the ppl who are homeless due to this economy, lost of thier jobs, what about all the children that are in foster care, what about all the ppl who are receive unemployment, what about our college graduates who can not find a job,enough said, i hope who get the point now. Enough already with Michael Vick. I will pray for him, you and me. I pray that the lord renew our hearts, guide us in the correct paths, forgives us of our sins, our debtors, grant us our daily bread, and to continue to have mercy on our souls in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Joseph
May 29th, 2009
9:30 am
Good luck MV7, continue to persue greatness, just be a little bit responsible in choosing friends.
SOUTHERN ATL
May 29th, 2009
9:36 am
I am very CONFUSED as to why the media continues to enforce that Michael Vick needs to apologize to the people….If anyone claims to be of Christian faith, they will know that ALL of Vick’s actions as well as their own are between them and their God!! Get over it already and let him move on with his life!!!!
NoWay
May 29th, 2009
9:44 am
Mark, I respectfully disagree on two fronts. First, Vick is unrepentant. He displays an inexcusable arrogance and sense of entitlement. He used his (undeserved) accumulated wealth to fund knowingly illegal activity. OK, he did his time in prison. But I ask you, how many other convicted felons are invited to return to their former jobs after they are released? Not too many. The mere possibility of this occurring is a blatant example of what is wrong with professional sports today. He may be a decent athlete, but he is no sportsman. And he doesn’t “deserve” to play football.
Second, I have to take issue with your opinion of him rekindling the flame of the Falcons franchise. That would have been Chris Chandler when he took his team to the Super Bowl.
And just for the record, I am not a “PETA person”. I am a human being who has a great love for professional football. One who hopes the NFL will not let him down by allowing Vick back among it’s ranks. One who will be so sorely disappointed if that should occur, not only will I walk away from being a fan of the NFL, but will also actively boycott any company that chooses to advertise with them… and that will be too bad.
tab
May 29th, 2009
10:17 am
I am with the person that said they were dogs, for crying out loud. If he had killed a person he would not have gone to jail,they would have set him free,God forbid. All of you dog lovers I do kind of understand how you feel,but this wasn’t so much about the dogs as far as the goverment was concern it was all about the gambling,and they not getting paid.Oh!almost forgot leave your family and so call friends alone. Good luck mike,hope you have a great future in football, because you are a great player.
Vicki
May 29th, 2009
11:07 am
I don’t think Mike has to apoligize for anything or prove anything to Goodell. Gooddell is not GOD. And has no heaven or hell to put Vick in. When we start valuing a dogs life over a human being then we have problems. The system showed us all that a black man’s life was not worth more than that of a dog. Yes he may have been wrong for what he did, but there were other alternatives than jail. Hit him where it hurts in the pocket. This whole thing practically destroyed this man’s life. For what? Where were/are the PETA people when many animals are Euthanized and when animals are put down for attacking others. You don’t see them out advocating rehab for dog or picketting those who put these dogs down. Is this a double standard or what? As for football let the man play. I think he will surprise most and those teams who did not want him will be sorry.
SILAS
May 29th, 2009
12:07 pm
Good Luck! Michael you are not a monster. You’ve made bad decisions in your young life now turn it around and make the rest of you life positive and meaningful. People will respect you for your honesty and humility. I know I will. GO MV7!
Sammy B
June 1st, 2009
3:41 am
It is not up to the American people to judge or forgive Mike Vick he just has to move on with his life and try to stay out of trouble and people need to get out of his way and let him accomplish this. I personnally could care less what he does. If he plays football I will of course watch because he was a very exciting player. If he doesn’t I will watch someone else who is an exciting player. He committed a crime and went to jail and now he is out that should be it. He does not owe any of us an apology because none of our friends or family were hurt because of Mike Vicks illegal actions. He hurt himself, his family and the Atlanta Falcons. The issue has been settled in the courts and need only be settled with the Falcons organization. Get off your soap boxes America because I guarantee that all of you have dirty little secrets and have done far worse things than Mike Vick none of us are perfect angels and none of us are God,Buddah, Allah or any other Diety so our simple and useless forgiveness does not matter.
Jessica Krupp
June 2nd, 2009
2:38 pm
I just wanted to say I read a horrifying article today. I read about a pitbull named “Miss Mercy” she was named this after a cop on beat found her haullering and engulfed in flames in Baltimore. The pitbull was doused in gasoline and set on fire. on lookers did nothing, some were laughing. It was later found that there was clear evidence that this poor dog was a fighting dog. IF MICHEAL VICKS WANTS TO TURN HIS LIFE AROUND AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE HE NEEDS TO STAND UP AND DO SOMETHING FOR THIS DOG AND OVERS LIKE HER. PLEASE DONATE TO HELP HER!
MV7 FAN
June 4th, 2009
10:20 am
keep your head up Vick. Only god can judge you and he forgives everyone. Miss ya bro
topper0630
June 4th, 2009
11:04 am
give me a break and quit quoting sripture to suit your purposes people. God forgives, yes, and thank goodness he does, BUT when there are rules in place that say “hey DON’T do this or you’ll be OUT” then don’t frickin do it! Yeah, he paid his price for his charges-because he should have, but he should not be allowed back in the NFL. He knew the rules-just like everyone else. Go have a great life MV, hopefully he is truly sorry for what he did-but his career in the NFL should be over.
Second chance? Why give him a second chance? He was given a huge shot, something none of us will ever have, to make MILLIONS of dollars. He chose to commit an illegal act that would jepordize that-HIS choice. He should have done his time and he should not be allowed back in.
The real reason I’m against it is I have 2 boys ages 4 and 6. I do not want them growing up in a world that does not value rules. I want them to know that if you screw up, you have to be penalized. Period.
taylorr
June 4th, 2009
2:25 pm
I think this entire thing with Michael Vick is so rediculous. There was no need for it to be as publicised as it was and there have been murders of human beings that people are still walking around free. No one made a big deal about the dog fighting when they did a story about it on 20/20 . The man did make a mistake, and he has served his time. Leave the man alone and let him play football. They need to work on finding a way to keep the drugs out of our country and do more about our school systems and homelessness as well as, feeding the hungry and sheltering those with out homes. I would say those things are a little bit more important than some fighting dogs.
GO MICHAEL VICK
Loc
June 4th, 2009
4:20 pm
Vic did his time and now he must go on with his life.. Watch out NFL!!!
jp1
June 5th, 2009
9:31 am
This comment is for Knuckle Sandwich. Man you need to get off the gas!!! Are you racist or something? Let than man go on with his life! And you need to get a life!
john
June 6th, 2009
10:18 am
asian they eating dog too ,what the proplem with them?????????????????? you try put all of them in jail?????????????????? dog is still the animal it is true and never chance just like chicken ,cow ,pig …… they kill millions of them every day .come on wake up you mind
Daniel
June 8th, 2009
2:35 pm
Please, he paid way more then the price he should have paid. There is no way the punisment fit the crime here. I’ve had put bulls all my life and I have them now. I don’t fight my dogs, but I know hundreds of people that do. My friends are constantly getting their dogs taken from them and the Animal Control units give their dogs right back. Everyone knows they fight their dogs, but they still give their dogs right back. The only reason this was such a big deal is because of the person. What about the other people at the dog fights? There are at least 30 to 50 people at the fights, but only Vick and his associates were arrested? Give me a break, no one cared about those dogs, they just wanted to bring down another athlete. Where is the out rage for Leonard Little. He got drunk and killed someone’s mother/wife and did not miss a snap. A few years later got another DUI and still didn’t serve time. She was someone’s mother. We are talking about dogs here. I’m not down playing this at all. I love dogs and agree punishment was in order, but 2 years in jail and $250 million was way extreme!!!! All these people complaining about the dogs being killed, but none of them are hollering about Gray Hounds. They make those dogs run and as soon as they can’t win anymore what happens? You guessed it, they are executed, the sport is legal and no one gives a damn. Why aren’t the people killing those dogs in jail? Because no one knows anyone in dog racing that’s why. There are a lot of people out there with their values screwed up!!! I would love to see him come back and I wish him nothing but the best.
Luis
June 8th, 2009
3:23 pm
wow a bunch of haters!
if you made a mistake and served time for it does that mean you will never lear your lesson and and will always do what you did to serve time?