Michael Vick on “60 Minutes”: Contrition and a confession
I’m sure “60 Minutes” wasn’t thrilled with Michael Vick pre-empting himself and holding an introductory briefing two days before his taped interview with James Brown was scheduled to air. But the press conference in Philadelphia was a press conference, which serves a different purpose than the sitdown interview. And Vick was impressive in former, even more so in the latter.
I watched the interview in the press lounge at Turner Field, and there were the usual “Yeah, rights,” from a few of the skeptics behind me. But I felt no skepticism. I felt I was watching a humbled man admit to having been a fool and an ingrate and an all-around bad buy.
And let me ask this: When last did you own up to so many sins and failings? In the confessional box? Ever? And when last did you do it before an audience of millions?
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it now: I’ve always liked the guy, and I felt almost personally disappointed when I read the indictment against him. I can only imagine how Arthur Blank felt, and that to me was the heart of Vick’s “60 Minutes” appearance — the self-disgust he felt at having let Blank down.
Loading ...Vick: “I can’t, you know, describe the feeling. You know, the hurt deep inside, hurt that I never felt before, knowing that I disappointed him, knowing that he’d given me every opportunity to come to him and reach out whenever I needed him. And he cared about me and I took it all for granted.”
It’s one thing to say, “Oh, I let my fans down.” It’s altogether different to put a human face on that failure. That Vick seems to realize what he did to the man who trusted him most gives me hope, not for the first time, that Michael Vick is indeed a changed and wiser man.
I know, I know. There are those among who will take the “Yeah, right” route, who will believe Vick’s only remorse is over having been caught. I believe otherwise. I believe he means what he says, and on “60 Minutes” he said exactly what he needed to say. And he said it well.
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225 comments Add your comment
how2fish
August 17th, 2009
2:33 pm
Well I hope he can move on and make a difference for good with his life, he is in a great position to be a positive factor in a lot of folks lives if he will..I do wish him the best of luck..but I’m not leaving him alone with my dogs…after all the dog fighting as bad as that is pales compared to throwing his “pets” in the ring with his “business” dogs…that is truly upsetting. Bottom line he gets another chance..and our best wishes…we as Falcon fans get a better QB and a better man to be the “face” of the team. Good luck Mike!
Darth Hater
August 17th, 2009
2:35 pm
Michael Vick should have died in the crash with Dany Heatley.
Josh Hamilton loves road meat
August 17th, 2009
2:38 pm
To hell with Ron Mexico, he just an overpaid thug from da ghetto.
Matt Ryan is the MAN and its KILLING Da brothaz & sistaz of da ATL.
If ya’ll dont like it, move to Philly peoples!
Mike
August 17th, 2009
2:44 pm
Really sad to see people still habor so much hate towards this man. Its probably more than some nasty licking dogs. You know those dogs that lick themselves and then lick you. MV will get on with his life and the members of the hatenation will continue to spend their time, efforts and energy hating. The US Army is killing civilians every day and no one complains. Each county animal shelter puts to sleep dogs each week and no one complains. Maybe the hate is just for some poor country boy who made it big and really did not look like you. Maybe you just hate your own self and life and use MV as an easy excuse.
how2fish
August 17th, 2009
2:48 pm
Mike your an idiot…and a huge percetage of the US army looks just the same a Mike Vick.And moron if you don’t see the difference in putting a animal to sleep and making them tear each other to pieces. You have every right to back Mike Vick..but to disrespect the very men and women that give you that right…that’s hate Mike of the lowest and worse kind.
shannyeight
August 17th, 2009
3:15 pm
i swear some of these charecters would “pet”-ition for vick to pay their therapy bills since they CANT GET OVER IT.
geeze lou-friggin weeze.
JAY
August 17th, 2009
3:17 pm
BUGKILLER..I’m convinced your racists
Mike Licht
August 17th, 2009
6:58 pm
Vick interview provokes howls of protest.
See:
http://notionscapital.wordpress.com/2009/08/17/michael-vick-signed-to-nfl-amid-howling-controversy/
June Jones
August 17th, 2009
7:12 pm
Now that the Falcons have a top 10 back, a god OFFENSIVE LINE, and a hall a fame tight end can we resign Vick in 2 years and give him a chance instead of wanting him to be superman?…He took a team with Shawn Jefferson and Brian Finneran and won at Lambeau…He carried the Falcons, who had no offensive line, Roddy White was young, a 165 pound running back in Dunn, and an offensive coordinator who does not let his QBs call audibles..”Southern” people u can talk about what the man did but hell most of u probably cheat, smoke dope, do cocaine and whatever else so who are u to judge…but on the field, u people can kiss my rear end, Vick carried a team with no Defense and poor talent on offense for years and with the Eagles, he is finally surrounded around talent
VICK SUPPORTER 2
August 17th, 2009
10:22 pm
VICK DIDN’T EVEN STUDY THE PLAYBOOK OR PRACTICE HARD AND STILL WAS THE 1ST QB TO BEAT BRETT FAVRE AT LAMBEAU IN THE PLAYOFFS
THOSE OTHER DROP BACK QBS MUST BE STUPID
VICK SUPPORTER 2
August 17th, 2009
10:25 pm
DECEMBER 6TH IS GOING TO BE EMBARRASSING WHEN THERE ARE MORE NUMBER 7 JERSEYS IN THE DOME THAN ANY FALCON JERSEY
dl
August 17th, 2009
10:35 pm
VS2_you’re always going to be some POS buckwheat that will live and die in the ghetto, like a sewer ratt. Next time i’m in Atlanta, i’ll make sure to NOT give any of my spare change to a bum in the city because that bum is probably related to you. Yes I know, they’re “keeping it real”
Jay
August 17th, 2009
11:33 pm
DL what has bum got to do with it? It’s people like you that is sick, making a statement like that. Real big of you! Be careful what you say about people, it could be you.
elizabeth
August 17th, 2009
11:45 pm
Really did you truly listen to the interview?! Michael Vick showed his true character on 60 minutes last night. He clearly indicated he did not feel guilty till he was in prison. Obviously, he would still be committing his deliberate, premeditated, cruel, ONGOING FOR 7 YEARS crimes. Also, although he caught himself (too late), he clearly revealed he found the “blood lust” of the atrocities exciting. And “he didn’t really understand it was wrong”?! Unless he never left his neighborhood, didn’t go to school, never watched tv or read a book, I don’t buy it. His crimes had malicious intent – unlike the the other crimes some of you people like to compare his too. And for those of you who say they were just dogs, perhaps you wouldn’t feel the same if you were blind and relied on a guide dog or if you were an epileptic and depended on a dog to detect and alert when you were going to have a seizure. Dogs assist mankind like no other animal. DOGS SAVE LIVES. Vick’s dogs had the potential to do this too. Visit lawdogsusa.org and you will see dogs of the same breed and Vick destroyed all the potential value his had and perverted their abilities. And this man is going to make 1.6 mil when most felons can’t find a job even at fast food place?! And the NFl is going to baby him with a mentor??! ridiculous and disgusting. The game will always be tainted for me.
elizabeth
August 18th, 2009
12:08 am
Michael Vick showed his true character on 60 minutes last night. He clearly indicated he did not feel guilty till he was in prison. Obviously, he would still be committing his deliberate, premeditated, cruel, ONGOING FOR 7 YEARS crimes. Also, although he caught himself (too late), he clearly revealed he found the “blood lust” of the atrocities exciting. And “he didn’t really understand it was wrong”?! Unless he never left his neighborhood, didn’t go to school, never watched tv or read a book, I don’t buy it. His crimes had malicious intent – unlike the the other crimes some of you people like to compare his too. And for those of you who say they were just dogs, perhaps you wouldn’t feel the same if you were blind and relied on a guide dog or if you were an epileptic and depended on a dog to detect and alert when you were going to have a seizure. Dogs assist mankind like no other animal. DOGS SAVE LIVES. Vick’s dogs had the potential to do this too. Visit lawdogsusa.org and you will see dogs of the same breed and Vick destroyed all the potential value his had and perverted their abilities. And this man is going to make 1.6 mil when most felons can’t find a job even at fast food place?! And the NFl is going to baby him with a mentor??! ridiculous and disgusting. The game will always be tainted for me.
dl
August 18th, 2009
8:31 am
Jay, those bums have the same attitude as those vick defenders. The world owes me this and that. Take ownership of you life. You are right, those bums could be me, if I decide to give up on hardwork and pulling myself up by my bootstraps. You see, i won’t let “the man keep me down”. Jay-You be careful what you say and think of people. Oh, let me guess the truth hurts, ARE YOU A BUM?
ConVick
August 18th, 2009
9:10 am
Man this is all just too dad gum funny. All you Vick supporters kill me. What did he do to justify how you worship him? NEWS FLASH, He wasnt that great. Was he fun to watch? Sure. I will given you that. But will he ever take any team to the superbowl? Hell no. He doesnt have the brain to match his skills. He can’t think, and once out of the pocket he just runs for his life. And as far as you loosers becoming Eagle fans now, because of Vick, So what, your no loss to us. You were never falcon fans anyway.
And I for one hope you all show up in force on December 6th. So I can watch everyone of you with your green $80 jersey crying on the way back to Marta.
And even if the Eagles come down here and happen to beat us, it won’t be because of conVick. He will either be serving gatoraid to the real QB, holding a clipboard, keeping that bench warm, or more then likely serving another suspension for doing something stupid! It’s in his nature and jail time didnt change that. He will hook up with his hood friends again, and he will get nailed again. Bet on it!
Crow
August 18th, 2009
10:23 am
James – I don’t see how this has anything to do with being black, white, blue or purple. Vick was a thug. Define it how you will, but he was a thug. He MIGHT not be anymore… but only time will tell. Let’s not get destracted with the race card that is too often used as a diversion to the real issues these days.
June Jones
August 18th, 2009
10:32 am
Crow, 10:23 am
Just face it, this is the most racist thing i have seen in a while dude, what the hell have we done for you all to hate us so bad? It has to be more than just skin color right? Just wondering..Most of the people on this blog probaly cheat on the wife,smoke weed, smoke dope,and whatever else.. the diffrence is he got caught…
Crow
August 18th, 2009
10:35 am
Slow Roller – “pot addict”? Wow, dude. You have no clue. That is an entirely different topic. I’m gonna go ahead and throw out there that pot is right behind “ingrown toenail” on Mike Vick’s problem sheet. Educate yourself on a subject before you sound stupid or somethin…
Crow
August 18th, 2009
10:45 am
Once again, I don’t see how this has anything to do with race. Its very discouraging to me that if you don’t think he is remorseful, or (heaven forbid) you think he deserved to go to jail then you are labeled as a racist. He broke the law. He went to jail. And prison isn’t exactly a 12 step program for reform, so I can see why some people might be skeptical.
Crow
August 18th, 2009
10:50 am
But, yes… some of the comments above are on the other side of the line and pretty antagonistic. They do seem, however, to be aimed at Vick only and not a blanket statement for an entire race of people. So in that since they are just pointing out what Vick has made himself out to be… aviolent, untrustworthy person.
VICK SUPPORTER 2
August 18th, 2009
11:51 am
DECEMBER 6 – YOU WILL SEE JUST HOW BAD VICK IS
Joe Flacco
August 18th, 2009
11:58 am
Hey Matty, when are you going to win a playoff game?
Montrell
August 18th, 2009
7:28 pm
Michael did his time in prison—the racist people in the NFL need to quit making such a big deal out of this and let him play right away, instead of this suspension for 4 games. If he was white, he wouldn’t have been suspended at all! The NFL needs to free Mike Vick!!!!