Bradley’s Media Buzz: SEC gets grabby; Vick on “60 Minutes”
Esteemed AJC colleague Chip Towers asks Mike Slive if he's really all that Orwellian. (Photo courtesy -- ha, ha! -- of the SEC)
Installing a window on football highlights
This might fall under the heading of One Of Those Media Furors That Doesn’t Interest The General Public, but I’ve got a feeling it’ll interest you soon enough. According to Jason Morton of the Tuscaloosa News, the SEC has just distributed to its 12 member institutions a new media policy that, if indeed enacted, will seriously inhibit what the media can do.
The biggest restriction seems — I say “seems” because nobody is yet sure what it all means — to be on video from football games. Morton reports that the policy will limit “news stations to clips of no longer than three minutes and [will allow] highlights for only 72 hours after the conclusion of a game.” Meaning: If WSB or WAGA or WXIA or WGCL wanted to show a replay of, say, A.J. Green catching the winning touchdown pass against South Carolina on Sept. 19, 2009 — the game will be played Sept. 13 — those stations couldn’t do it.
Also: No “bearer” of a media credential can post video or audio highlights online, and this would seem — again, I say “seem” — to include postgame press conferences, which I’ve taken to doing from other events via my AJC-issued BlackBerry Storm, as well as games.
And then this (and you knew “this” was coming): “No bearer may disseminate in any form a ‘real-time’ description of the event. Periodic updates of scores, statistics or other descriptions of the event throughout the competition are acceptable. Bearer agrees that the determination of whether a blog is a real-time description or transmission shall be made by the SEC in its sole discretion.”
So what does this mean? In the NCAA tournament, a blogger is limited to six updates per half. (I know because I shattered that restriction — unknowingly, I swear! — from the Georgia-Xavier game in March 2007. The SEC has levied no such number. Instead it’s leaving it up to, shockingly enough, the SEC itself to decide, perhaps on a case-by-case basis, perhaps even on a quarter-by-quarter basis.
Bottom line: Twittered updates would seem to be at real risk, and so would live blogs, which I can tell you we at AJC.com were fully intending to do from Georgia games. (We’ve done them before, as you know.)
But there’s also a weird clause in the policy — you can read the PDF of the whole thing, as supplied by the Tuscaloosa News, by going here — that restricts credentials to “full-time salaried employee[s]” of “accredited media institution[s}." Some bloggers are part-timers. Some game coverage is provided by stringers. Does that mean they don't get credentialed any longer?
The idea is to push eyeballs -- media buzz phrase -- to ESPN and CBS, which have paid upward of $3 billion for the rights to air SEC football, and to the SEC's own new digital network, which hasn't yet launched but is expected to have both free and for-pay-only components. And that would seem to fall under the heading of Jack Kent Cooke's famous Golden Rule: He who has the gold makes the rules.
A Georgia press conference: Am I even allowed to use this picture or what? (AJC photo by Brant Sanderlin)
Reaction to the policy, which hasn’t yet been formally announced, is still in its formative stages, but Cecil Hurt of the Tuscaloosa News writes: “It is part of a continuing trend of restrictions and limitations on legitimate news outlets who seek to cover SEC football for everyone from loyal fans to general-interest readers to the taxpayers who are footing the bill at 11 of the 12 SEC institutions.” And the News offers an editorial in which the O-word — “Orwellian” — is deployed.
From Franz Beard of Gator Country: “This new announcement that the SEC will no longer permit video highlights of its football games to be shown anywhere but on its new pay to view website is pure greed. If you aren’t incensed, then you should be.” (Interestingly enough, Gator County is affiliated with ESPN.)
From Hooper at Rocky Top Talk: “Those being squeezed out are anybody else who would cover the event in a media fashion, which initially screams ‘bloggers’ but will ultimately hurt small-market media far more than it would ever hurt a blog.”
Me, I’d work up a good lather except for one thing: I see no way the SEC can ever enforce this policy. Court challenges will come from all manner of media outlets, both old and new, and is that the way commissioner Mike Slive wants his conference to be presented — not as the richest and grandest of all leagues but as the most litigious? I think not.
But stay tuned. The brouhaha has only begun to brew. (Or “brou,” as the case may be.)
Why hasn’t Vick talked yet? Because he’s waiting for James Brown
The big watch tick-tick-ticks for Michael Vick.
Tucked into Paul Newberry’s Associated Press account of Michael Vick’s quick visit to Decatur on behalf of the Humane Society was this nugget: “The quarterback is apparently planning to do his first major interview since completing a 23-month prison sentence with the CBS news magazine ‘60 Minutes,’ which sent a three-person crew to film the event.”
And I can tell you that “60 Minutes” has long been tracking Vick. I know because I got a call in the press box at Coors Field on the off-day of the 2007 World Series from a “60 Minutes” producer/reporter asking about Vick: What kind of guy was he, et cetera. I figured Morley or Leslie would have had a jailhouse sitdown with Vick, but apparently there are limits to what even the tick-tick-tick folks can do.
Oh, and in a continuation of today’s shackle-the-media theme, Newberry noted in his story: “The AP was barred from entering [the New Life Community Center] and the windows were covered to prevent anyone from looking inside. Eventually, police were called, and all media were forced to stand on a sidewalk in front of the complex.”
Update: CBS announced Monday that Vick will indeed appear on “60 Minutes” this Sunday night. He sat for an interview, according to the network, with James Brown in Virginia on Monday. Also interviewed, according to the CBS release, will be Wayne Pacelle of the Humane Society and Tony Dungy, who visited Vick in prison.
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197 comments Add your comment
Saint Simons
August 10th, 2009
9:54 am
((((( 45 42 ))))) hahahahahaha
Paul H
August 10th, 2009
9:57 am
So if I’m reading this correct, the fans will be limited on where we can catch highlights, post game interviews, etc? In this age of media, this seems very archaic.
Mark Bradley
August 10th, 2009
10:01 am
At a time when fans have become accustomed to more and more access, this would seem an odd move by the SEC.
Tired of Dumb Vick Fans and Glad Matt Ryan is Here
August 10th, 2009
10:05 am
The SEC is going overboard a bit Mark. People love to get information and people can get it everywhere anyway.
I hope 60 minutes shows this video of Vick where he is refers to rapper Young Jeezy as his “N” word talking about helping Jezzy promote his Thug Motivation 103 album for his “America’s Most Wanted Tour.
What a fool! I hope Goddell gets this and gives him the full 6 game suspension. Doesn’t look like he’s changed one bit to me.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJOQ5gZawzg
BravesFan79
August 10th, 2009
10:06 am
you replaced the Braves column with this?? i read… NCAA Twitter Vick…… probably the worst and most boring column ive ever read of yours.
Who cares about D1 college football anyways, its the dog and pony show of the sports world. Everyone gets on stage and prances around trying to look cute for the judges. Real football is played in the NFL! So you’ll only be able to blog 6 times a half… sucks but big deal. And vick who???
Mark Bradley
August 10th, 2009
10:08 am
You’re right, Braves Fan. Nobody I know cares about college football. Obviously I’ve misread the audience completely.
Mac
August 10th, 2009
10:09 am
How long will it be, Mark, before legitimate news outlets cave in and start paying for exclusive access?
Mark Bradley
August 10th, 2009
10:10 am
I can’t speak for anyone but myself, Mac, but I’m guessing most outlets will go to court before they pay for access.
collegeballfan
August 10th, 2009
10:10 am
This policy does seem strange. The media will need to “conspire” to hit back with low blows of its own. For starters, stop covering the SEC office in your outlets. Let the SEC office communicate directly with its several million fans.
Mark Bradley
August 10th, 2009
10:11 am
Low blows from the media? Us?
mistaashraf
August 10th, 2009
10:16 am
Money makes a man (or a collegiate conference) do some crazy things. I hope the affected media outlets/ bloggers have a voice to refute this ridiculous media policy.
Peyton Manning
August 10th, 2009
10:18 am
((((Georgia Tech is in the ACC)))) HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Cuz in Minnesota
August 10th, 2009
10:19 am
Don’t quit Mark, keep fighting. Did America quit when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbour, he ll no!
rlinaug
August 10th, 2009
10:20 am
“Me, I’d work up a good later…” good lather, perhaps.
Paul H
August 10th, 2009
10:21 am
Is it possible that CBS and ESPN put this stipulation in the contracts before agreeing to pay the SEC these luctrative deals?
Mark Bradley
August 10th, 2009
10:21 am
I will work up a good lather later, right after I correct this. Thanks, rlinaug.
Cuz in Minnesota
August 10th, 2009
10:21 am
I would be distraught if I could not do my usual Sophmoric comments during a Dawgs game. What is this world coming too? When did Nancy Pelosi become the Director of the SEC’s Media office?
Chip Towers
August 10th, 2009
10:21 am
Gotta love the photo of the good looking dude with Mike Slive up top. He has a pretty cool blog of his own. Check it out at http://blogs.ajc.com/recruiting/.
Paul H
August 10th, 2009
10:23 am
Saint Simons, did you even watch the Peach Bowl? If my team got embarrassed that bad in their own back yard on national TV, I’d be a little more concerned about that then what they did in some regular season game.
Mark Bradley
August 10th, 2009
10:23 am
I believe the real Chip Towers has indeed joined the festivities.
Cuz in Minnesota
August 10th, 2009
10:28 am
Mike Slive looks more Orkian than Orwellian.
Otto
August 10th, 2009
10:33 am
Good to see we are not talking about the Braves. Can we just put a fork in their season?
Something the SEC needs to think about if a fan is hardcore enough to keep up with Sports Writers on Twitter they are most likely watching another game and keeping up with everything they can. I don’t have the Elvis TV room so checking up on scores with the computer is not a bad idea. I usually kept my college pick’em up on the computer when I was not at a sportsbar. Thankfully the pick’em kept score updated regularly. 90% of the time the game on the TV will be a SEC matchup.
Also clips used later are further promoting the SEC. Looks like free advertising to me.
RAMBLE ON!!!
August 10th, 2009
10:37 am
Mark I have a source very close to me that states Michael Vick never served one day in the National Guard!!!
Yeah, but nobody...
August 10th, 2009
10:40 am
…reads Chip anymore due to his proclivity to promote the worst in UGA sports by constantly “reporting” as news anything bad about UGA athletes – so now he has to promote himself on other blogs with hopes that someone, anyone, will read his drivel!
SEC Media Policy « The Blog Hawgs
August 10th, 2009
10:44 am
[...] Atlanta Journal-Constitution [...]
jeffrey d
August 10th, 2009
10:47 am
I don’t see how these restrictions will draw people to CBS and ESPN, unless all these new rules don’t apply to them?
Either way, I’m starting to hate ESPN more and more. Round the clock coverage of Red Sox/Yankees this weekend certainly didn’t help. I tuned into SportsCenter on Saturday to see if they mentioned anything about the Braves’ ump call. The first 10 minutes were dedicated to the Boston/NY game, and the next 20 minutes I got at least 5 shots of the empty table that David Ortiz would later sit at.
Marcus
August 10th, 2009
10:48 am
MB,.
on a sidenote from a topic I asked about earlier … kinda related, but more related to the blogs that you and Schultzie had on Rothlisberger/Erin Andrews flap:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/frank_deford/08/05/espn/index.html?eref=sihp
Quesiton: At what point does what the SEC is looking to do transition from ‘protecting business interests’ (e.g. integrity of ESPN/ABC/CBS multimedia contracts) over to overzealousness/restriction of information?
FreeMikeVick
August 10th, 2009
10:51 am
It will be interesting to see how 60 Minutes will demonize Vick. Seems every other media outlet has. The poor man does not have a chance.
PoliticalMan
August 10th, 2009
10:56 am
Hard to say who is using whom on the 60 Mins bit with Vick. Obviously, restoring Vick’s image is foremost in his handlers’ minds. If only the man could talk or think. But then he wouldn’t be Vick.
Ken Stallings
August 10th, 2009
10:58 am
I see no Constitutional basis whatsoever to sustain restricting someone from blogging their own words to describe an event they watch. It is a clear violation of First Amendment rights. The only sanction the SEC (or the NCAA) could respond with is to deny press credentials.
If they did that, then the media can call the conference’s bluff by boycotting all reporting on the games. If the media got their act together and actually boycotted just one game — reported absolutely nothing about it, did no interviews, no clips, no mention, not even tot-board scores, then the SEC would get the message and rein in this insanity!
timthebrave
August 10th, 2009
11:00 am
I don’t see how this is even legal. Freedom of press…anyone…anyone
MiltonDawg
August 10th, 2009
11:02 am
Seems to me the SEC has become its own entity!! You pretty much have to watch the live game and record it and then keep the highlights for yourself. While the SEC is #1 conf in CFB, this may be a little over the top.
As far as Vick/60 Minutes…I’m wondering if Jesse Jackson or Rev. Sharpton will get to throw their 2 cents in and accuse the NFL owners of conspiring to keep him out. What a bunch of BS!!!
Mark Bradley
August 10th, 2009
11:02 am
I guess — again, this is me guessing — it comes down to: What does a network get when it pays for rights to televise a game? Exclusivity to everything revolving around the game, or just the broadcast of the game itself?
Constitutional idiots
August 10th, 2009
11:03 am
The first amendment guarantees free speech protection from the government, not the SEC. Did any of you hillbillies go to school?
FreeMikeVick
August 10th, 2009
11:05 am
Uhhhh….The NFL is conspiring to keep Vick out…..Someone with with his skill set STILL not signed with a team? Please!
timthebrave
August 10th, 2009
11:07 am
Yeah, poor mike vick…obviously he hasn’t done anything for anyone to write negatively about him. Except kill and fight dogs… and give people herpes..and try to sneak weed on a plane inside an illegal water bottle…and lie…and…I believe he deserves another chance but don’t make him into a victim
FALCONS SORRY
August 10th, 2009
11:07 am
MARK BRADLY! 60 MINUTES IS ONLY PART OF MIKE VICKS WORLD TOUR TO REHAB HIS IMAGE AND RETAIN HIS GOOD WILL THAT THOSE HATERS AND PETA BUNNY HUGGERS AND AUTHUR BLANK AND THE SORRY FBI STOLE AWAY FROM HIM! FOR NO REASON! YOU HATERS AT THE AJC HAVE TORE DOWN HIS GOOD NAME FOR YEARS NOW AFTER BUILDING HIM UP JUST SO YOU COULD TEAR HIM DOWN! WHEN HE GET HIS FACE BACK ON TV AND HIS VOICE BACK INTO A MICROPHONE THE TROOF WILL COME OUT AND HE WILL OVERCOME ALL THE DAMAGE THE AJC AND THE OTHER HATERS HERE IN ATL HAVE TRIED TO DO TO CRUCIFY THE MAN! THE AJC WONT BE ABLE TO HURT HIM NO MORE WHEN AMERICA FALL IN LOVE WITH MV7 ALL OVER AGAIN AND FORGIVE HIM FOR KILLING A FEW WORTHLESS DOGS FOR FUN! THE AJC LOSING ITS ABILITY TO COVER SEC FOOTBALL IS ONLY PART OF THE PAY BACK! WHAT GO AROUND COME AROUND! ALL HE DONE FOR THIS WORTHLESS TOWN AND PEOPLE STILL WANT TO KICK THE MAN WHILE HE DOWN! IT MAKE ME SICK TO MY STOMACH! THOSE OF US THAT TRULY LOVE AND TREASURE YOU WILL ALWAYS HAVE YOUR BACK MIKE!
FreeMikeVick
August 10th, 2009
11:08 am
Falcons Sorry…..You rule!
MiltonDawg
August 10th, 2009
11:09 am
Don’t worry FreeMikeVick- he’ll end up with Seattle or Oakland and then all will be happy or then the next issue will be on to Stallworth. You say “skill set” but again, the man hasn’t played in 2 years. How do you know he still has the “skills”?? Maybe that is 1 reason owners are a little hesitant to sign him.
Booty
August 10th, 2009
11:10 am
I think Mark Bradley has a hidden desire for young, hot, black athletes… Maybe he wants to date one????
MiltonDawg
August 10th, 2009
11:10 am
I’m starting to think Vick is FALCONS SORRY!!
Mark Bradley
August 10th, 2009
11:12 am
Let’s ask this, Ken: Say the AJC resolved not to cover any Georgia games due to the SEC’s media policy. (And this is just a hypothesis, nothing more.) Where would readers direct their ire — at the AJC or the SEC?
Constitutional idiots
August 10th, 2009
11:16 am
Mark, don’t ask Ken. He does not understand the first amendment. How is he to understand your query?
HawksNeedaBig
August 10th, 2009
11:18 am
What this will turn into will be a slew of things like the Super Bowl ads that refere to “the Big Game” in fear of copyright infringement. Someone will be blogging from jacksonville about a contest between Canines from the Peach State vs. Reptiles from the Orange State.
jeffrey d
August 10th, 2009
11:18 am
I’d reserve my ire for the SEC. I’d actually applaud the AJC if it didn’t cover Georgia as an act of defiance to these restrictions (I’m a Georgia grad and fan, it should be noted)
So 72 hours after the conclusion of a game, these highlights become phantoms, never to be seen again except on ESPN?
Truth-Serum
August 10th, 2009
11:22 am
Bradley is sure pimpimg Vick for all he can. Thats it. Make him the head line and then bury the story at the bottom because nobody’s really interested in ready the other stories…Hummm this from a man who a said Vick wasnt marketable. I guess pimping aint easy right
PETA? Sleezy aint easy right Bradley?
Hypocracy… the stuff journalist are made of!!
The AJC… Where racism happens!
Reid Adair
August 10th, 2009
11:22 am
Wow. That’s a pretty strict “media” policy that the SEC is proposing. Hope you don’t end up getting banned from covering SEC events, Mark!
Mark Bradley
August 10th, 2009
11:23 am
I’ve read the policy via the PDF made available by the Tuscaloosa News, and I’d be lying if I said I understood it all. But in the News’ story, SEC spokesman Charles Bloom says the policy is open to tweaking. As I read it, though, the current stance is that a 72-hour postgame window would hold and that video would no longer be available except on CBS, ESPN, the SEC Web site and (I assume) coaches’ shows.
At this point, nobody knows what will happen. Wish I did.
Truth-Serum
August 10th, 2009
11:23 am
not interested in reading the other stories.
Mark Bradley
August 10th, 2009
11:24 am
The Chick-fil-A Bowl once threatened to ban me from covering it, you should know. But nothing ever came of that. (I’d written something that made the bowl folks mad, which I sometimes do.)
Truth-Serum
August 10th, 2009
11:25 am
Mark Bradley
August 10th, 2009
11:24 am
Perhaps the were applalled at you stupidity
Bill Maher
August 10th, 2009
11:26 am
Dummies talking to dummies.
wxwax
August 10th, 2009
11:30 am
The SEC’s media restrictions are identical to the policies of the NFL. They regard video and score information to be their property.
If anyone has successfully challenged the NFL’s policies in court, it’s news to me.
Sucks, but that’s what happens when leagues sign billion-dollar contracts with media outlets. Those guys are going to protect their investment.
jeffrey d
August 10th, 2009
11:31 am
The obvious question just came to me….when did the Southeastern Conference get the right to control the press? How can they possibly have authority over this?
The only thing I can see them being able to do is banning an outlet (such as the AJC or WSB) from covering future events if it breaks the “rules.”
jeffrey d
August 10th, 2009
11:31 am
I guess rules doesn’t need to be in quotes
i like Vick...the football player
August 10th, 2009
11:32 am
even Al and Jesse know vick is bad news. if Al and Jesse would have ran their racists trap leading up to and during the trial, the feds would have got them too, probably tax evasion. Now that he is out of prison, Vick, Goodell and his agent and lawyer told him to surround himself with good people…LIKE Tony Dungy. not the Rev. Al Sharpton or the Rev. Jesse Jackson(reverends my ass)
Island Dawg
August 10th, 2009
11:35 am
I don’t know the ins and outs of credentialing, but there is no way this will last or be vigorously enforced. This is just plain stupid. The beginning of local sportscasts in this state inevitably show a UGA highlight from up to a year ago. Are the schools on board here or just the SEC bureaucracy? So great, now I get to see Tech highlights every night, nice.
Mark Bradley
August 10th, 2009
11:35 am
My guess is that the SEC doesn’t want to ban any legitimate media outlet from anything. (This, after all, is the league that just issued 1,000 credentials to Media Days.) My guess is that the SEC is just trying to position its Web site for maximum impact. Which is understandable. But every media outlet has a Web site, too.
Truth-Serum
August 10th, 2009
11:35 am
VICK RULES!!!
Constitutional idiots
August 10th, 2009
11:36 am
The obvious question just came to me….when did the Southeastern Conference get the right to control the press? How can they possibly have authority over this?
OK….Why can’t the SEC control their content? Don’t tell me it’s in the constitution because it is not. The NFL controls it’s content. You UGA grads disappoint me with your lack of basic civic knowledge.
Bill Maher
August 10th, 2009
11:38 am
What is it with you people? Vick is a criminal with borderline personality disorder. If you wnat to look up to a black athlete that overcame huge odds, then look up to Falcons asst. coach Emmit Thomas….
EW
August 10th, 2009
11:38 am
MB, I dunno what to make of this. Seems like ESPN and CBS are trying to put something in writing that will allow them to take action IF they wanted to in a certain situation. However, I agree with you that this sounds unenforcable. There are just too many outlets covering SEC football to take action against any particular one. I also agree with your earlier comment that this will come down to a debate on the gray area of what it means to have the “rights” to a broadcast. In the end, I don’t think ESPN and CBS will be able to implement the regulations they are hoping for.
not an english teacher
August 10th, 2009
11:40 am
Faclonsorry, please have a family member proof read your blogs before you send them. Oooops, I was probably hoping your Mammy, brothaz , sistaz, Auuuntz or Unclez might be able to help, I’m sure they can’t read or write better than you either. I would say ask your Dad, if you knew who he was.
MatthewH
August 10th, 2009
11:40 am
Last year, when you blogged from your palatial estate in Vinings during the NCAA tournament, you certainly made more than 6 comments a half. Or is it the fact that you were at home watching on TV?
This new SEC policy seems likely to blow up in their face.
Mark Bradley
August 10th, 2009
11:43 am
I agree, EW. This could amount to nothing much. Or to way more than that.
And Matthew, you raise a good point: But the difference between live-blogging from home and from courtside is that, at home, I wasn’t holding an NCAA-issued credential. Generally the credential, and the acceptance and wearing thereof, is considered a contract.
EW
August 10th, 2009
11:47 am
…”Instead it’s leaving it up to, shockingly enough, the SEC itself to decide, perhaps on a case-by-case basis, perhaps even on a quarter-by-quarter basis.” Does this mean that if you are issued a NCAA press pass rather than an SEC pass you would be in the clear MB? I would think the NCAA governing body would take precident. Sorry, just trying to be difficult.
Mark Bradley
August 10th, 2009
11:49 am
The only NCAA press passes are for the NCAA tournaments in the various sports. All other credentials are issued by the member institutions, which are, I assume, subject to rules of their respective conferences.
EW
August 10th, 2009
11:50 am
–not an English teacher. You’re racist comments made you look far more ignorant than the typos you criticize.
EW
August 10th, 2009
11:50 am
Thanks MB
Batman
August 10th, 2009
11:53 am
I bet “Falcons Sorry” makes no more than minimum wage at best.
Old Dawg
August 10th, 2009
11:56 am
If this plays out, it will be nuts. With the recent changes/lay-offs at daily newspapers the use of stringers will be at an all time high. It’s obvious the SEC is trying to satisfy the golden calf in the form of network TV, but it’s local newspapers that provide fans with regular updates, features, side bars etc via print and internet copy, not TV outlets. I really admire the way the AJC and other papers have adapted their coverage to meet the demands of the times. As an former sports writer who clearly understands the pressures of meeting deadlines and maintaining balance sheets to remain open, this is a slap in the face.
All Hail ESPN!
Jack G.
August 10th, 2009
11:57 am
The SEC is looking for CONTROL. They want to control everything your thought, speech, your reporting, adverse comments, your MONEY, etc.
If the media shuts down all news about SEC games, and I mean a complete shutdown—-total silence, we will see some serious backtracking.
How2fish
August 10th, 2009
11:57 am
.The NFL is conspiring to keep Vick out…..Someone with with his skill set STILL not signed with a team? Please!….Your right please let it be true that after carefully reviewing and assessing Vick’s “skill” every team in the NFL passes on his “skills”
Island Dawg
August 10th, 2009
11:58 am
Bill, thanks for the (possibly, yet not examined) non-professional BPD diagnosis for Vick. I couldn’t agree more with you though. Any “man” who slams dogs onto the concrete should be drawn and quartered. Vick is a criminal and thug. I don’t care if I come off as racist; the vast majority of the African-American community would doubtless agree with me on this. He and his low-life brother are nothing but thugs who happened to be blessed with preternatural abilities, along with strong on-field work ethics, and pi$$ed it away by not letting go of the wrongly glorified “Thug Life”
Trizzle
August 10th, 2009
12:03 pm
Now that sorry piece of crap is getting on 60 minutes? The ONLY justice that could ever compensate those animals he hurt would be for him to be strung up, beaten to death, revived, drowned, revived, and then let his dogs get at him before allowing him to inhale his last breath. I wish that the NFL would seriously leave his a** out of it. For all of those out there that abuse innocent animals, I wish the same for you as I do that crapshoot Vick. Sorry if this is too harsh, but seriously, 23 months was not enough….how many animals died at his hands? I wish the man would just die and we could move on.
pffft
August 10th, 2009
12:09 pm
Paul H ,
yeah they lost thier bowl game but they still did beat the dawgs.
Tired of losing in the 1st round can we trade Matt Ryan Leaf for Joe Flacco
August 10th, 2009
12:14 pm
Enter your comments here
Tired of losing in the 1st round can we trade Matt Ryan Leaf for Joe Flacco
August 10th, 2009
12:17 pm
Arthur please don’t draft anymore Boston College Busts!!!!!!!!!!!!
proscout
August 10th, 2009
12:19 pm
Has Ron Mexico signed with anyone yet?
» The SEC wants you to stop reading this blog John Clay’s Sidelines
August 10th, 2009
12:23 pm
[...] Morton of the Tuscaloosa News broke the story. Mark Bradley of the AJC has written about it, as has Cecil Hurt of the Tuscaloosa [...]
Tired of losing in the 1st round can we trade Matt Ryan Leaf for Joe Flacco
August 10th, 2009
12:24 pm
Matt Ryan Leaf will make the Pro Bowl and win a playoff game……. Just kidding….. but seriously this guy is a bust.
Blank should have taken back some of that guaranteed money to pay for Roddy’s contract (which he actually earned).
If the Falcons don’t win a playoff game this season, it will be the 1st starter drafted this decade that did not win a playoff game or make the Pro Bowl before their 3rd season.
If that’s not a bust, I don’t know what is.
Ramblin Wrecker
August 10th, 2009
12:24 pm
That’s what happens when you allow the subject of coverage (i.e. football conference) to run it’s own media outlet (SEC digital network). Just like the NFL Network or MLB Network, where you know there will never be a negative word uttered about how the leagues are run. It becomes propaganda. Which is why the free media exists in the first place.
I guess Vick saw ARod lie on 60 minutes, so he figured he could do that too.
whatfor
August 10th, 2009
12:26 pm
It appears to me that the SEC has hit a new low in the amount of greed that they can manifest. Could it be that, somewhere in the near future, that the SEC ends up crushed by its own greed? At a time when nearly every public school is hurting for funds and slashing budgets (I know that they are at Georgia) – it’s kind of funny (in a sad way) that the football programs are spending (and asking; no make that ‘demanding’) more and more.
I used to respect and love SEC football – but I am starting to see it as nothing but a money grubbing machine that seems to have no upper limit to its greed.
Joe Flacco
August 10th, 2009
12:26 pm
Hey Matty you should give me that money you stole. At least I win playoff games you scrub
A Realist
August 10th, 2009
12:27 pm
If you thought that Sarah Palin looked like a deer caught in the headlights when she did interviews and had to respond to tough questions, just wait until Michael Vick goes on 60 Minutes. The dude could not even intelligently respond to questions during after game press conferences so what makes his handlers think that he can come across looking like anything but an imbecile (as in dumb jock constantly repeating… “you know what I’m saying” after every comment) on 60 minutes? The youtube clip provides a good example of what to expect…..if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck….it is a duck!!!!
The late night comedians will have material for weeks after his 60 minute interview. Get ready Saturday Night Live or MadTV for some really good skit material.
A Realist
August 10th, 2009
12:44 pm
Sorry dudes as smart as I pretend to be, I could never in my life time earn 130 million dollars. Dammit does that mean being so-called more intelligent pays less?
Dammit I am just stupid!
Arthur Blank
August 10th, 2009
12:48 pm
I knew I should have traded that loser Matty Ice! I spent all that money on marketing to sell him as the “new face” of the franchise and what did I get for it?
- no sell outs
- no pro bowls
- no playoff wins
Mike I’m sorry, I didn’t realize that the fans that actually paid money to see Falcons games were there to see you and the ones on the blogs are just broke haters.
Skram30082
August 10th, 2009
12:50 pm
“This broadcast is authorized under broadcast rights granted by the Southeastern Conference solely for the entertainment of our viewing audience. Any publication or re-broadcast of the descriptions and accounts of this game without the expressed written consent of the Southeastern Conference is prohibited. The announcers of this event are employed by teh SEC and ESPN.”
Folks, that’s called a disclaimer. And that’s how the SEC will do this. Whether or not they can enforce the policy remains to be see, but they establish their ownership of the game and the information about the game in their disclaimer.
Pi$$onaDawg
August 10th, 2009
12:52 pm
All you on here tell us how the SEC is GOD and the best and….Well, now they are just doing what they need to to get all the money thay can for THEIR GREATEST EVER PRODUCT. You want more SEC then you pay for it. This is all for the SPORTS TEAMS don’t think this money has anything to do with the School or educatation. Cox could be on the outside more and more. Sorry for all us AJC fans.
Reality
August 10th, 2009
12:55 pm
Bottom Line: Mike Vick is ghetto trash. He always has been and always will be. A leopard doesn’t change it’s spots. Vick is a category 5 moron that is simply too stupid for his own good. He can’t help but make bad decisions. I can’t wait to see what profound words of wisdom this intellectual giant provides on the 60 minutes sit down.
MV7
August 10th, 2009
12:56 pm
A Realist, I think i am receive enough media for a person that not playing any football right now. So i know can handle a interview with anyone and for you please go spend some time research your favor player and make sure that some media ask them to do a interview.
BossLady
August 10th, 2009
12:59 pm
Vick has done his time that was given in the American Justice System.
So, the debts he owed should be settled. He did not shoot and kill anyone, rape little girls/boys, drive drunk and kill, sexually
aggravate anyone. So, I would guess all this hatred is just for the
man. I’m glad we have Matt Ryan too, but I will not crucify VICK.
English Teacher...not
August 10th, 2009
1:02 pm
EW..fight fire with fire.
Not a racist
August 10th, 2009
1:15 pm
How come blacks dislike Matt Ryan? Are they racist?? I’m white, I like Mike Vick, he made a mistake by lieing, killing dogs, messing with the feds…blah, blah, blah, everyone knows the story. His buddies turned on him quicker than Derrick Brooks and Simeon Rice pancaked him. No one mentions that anymore. All black Vick lovers do is blame everyone else, (Blank, the AJC, white people in general) Vick is to blame for his problems, not anyone else. He did his time, yes, but no one owes him anything. He could earn a million dollars right now in the new league that is starting up. Why don’t he take it??
Otto
August 10th, 2009
1:23 pm
Mark, We’re going to direct our ire at the AJC either way : )
Realist
August 10th, 2009
1:26 pm
Ben “rapist” Roethlerberger
Tom “who are my babies mama” Brady
Matt “snort snort” Jones
True thugs & ghetto pimps – that’s really the bottom line.
I’m just mad at Vick because I’m jealous I am a broke loser!
Normal White Guy
August 10th, 2009
1:29 pm
I don’t think black guys should make all that money when I’m struggling to pay my trailer park dues – there I said it!
Mark Bradley
August 10th, 2009
1:32 pm
Regarding Vick on “60 Minutes”: I daresay I’ve been around him in media setting more than most folks, and I’ve always thought he was quite effective in such environments.
HawksNeedaBig
August 10th, 2009
1:33 pm
What happened last season to make Matt Ryan a “loser” or a “bust?” The Falcons won 11 games and made the playoffs. The defense lost that Cardinals game, not Matt Ryan. How many rookie QB’s have led his team to playoff wins?!?
As for Vick, I hope he gets picked up soon so he doesn’t have to do a 60 Minutes interview. He’s paid his debt and served his time; why should he have to go through another “trial?” That’s a no-win setup for Vick all the way!
Bank Walker, Texas Ranger
August 10th, 2009
1:35 pm
Mark, you were being banned from the Chck-Fil-A bowl cause COW petitioned the bowl committee to have you banned cause you eat beef. Had nothing to do with you writing. I’m quoting COW “Mooooooooo”.