‘Michael Vick Project’ debuting Tuesday on BET
Michael Vick has become a bit of a weary topic for Atlantans. For years, we’ve been debating his football career, his dogfighting charges, the circus surrounding both and his jail sentence. Should he be forgiven? Is he truly contrite? Can he become even a shadow of the player he was when he first started with the Falcons?
After a low-key year as a third-string quarterback with the Philadelphia Eagles, he is still working to build back his reputation and his tattered career. Part of that process is BET’s “The Michael Vick Project,” a ten-part docu-reality show which debuts at 10 p.m Tuesday.
I received an advance copy of the first 30 minutes this past Saturday.
“From darkness, he saw the light,” the narrator intones in the beginning. “Blessed with a second chance, he must once again rise above to heal his family, his community, his legacy.”
“I’m Michael Vick,” he says. “My fall from grace was tragic. But it was all my fault. And I’m on a mission to get it all back. Not the money and fame but to restore my family’s good name.”
Loading ...Vick told the New York Times recently that he doesn’t expect people who already hate him to change their mind or even bother to watch the show. But he hopes to be a positive example to kids who see him as a person who is trying to redeem himself.
He opens the first episode talking about how rough it was to grow up in the rough part of Newport News, Va. He flew to his childhood home. He recounts his young life and how he got into football in a few broad strokes. We see video of him as a child and at Virginia Tech, where he shone. “College football was so easy,” he said. “I needed more challenge.” So he quickly entered the NFL.
“Draft day was the greatest day of my life,” Vick said. He was the first black quartertback to be named first in the draft.
Once with the Falcons, he readily admits he began living a “double life.” Indeed, he separated his football life from his childhood love for dogfighting. He said he started watching dogfighting at age 7. His brother Marcus confirmed it. “We never knew there was nothing wrong with it,” his brother said.
Vick showed where he did dogfighting as a child. ”I really took to it. I was intrigued by it. I gravitated to it,” he said.
“He was living two sides,” his brother Marcus said. “At the time off the field, he had a dark side to him.”
He started “Bad Newz Kennels” in Surry County, Va., where he purchased 15 acres for $34,000. “I figured I had the money and had the land,” he said. “We could do it discreet.” He built a house on the property. “It was for all the guys I was around,” mostly childhood friends, he said.
Vick would fly home from Atlanta every Tuesday to check on his dogs and fight the dogs. By not telling his football colleagues or bosses about it, clearly he knew what he was doing was wrong. But he did it anyway.
In 2004, he signed a ten-year deal with the Falcons and was awash in money. He said he enjoyed the lifestyle and so did his family. (Interestingly, the NFL and the Falcons did not clear footage so there is no video of him playing professional football, including the game in December when he scored a touchdown at the Georgia Dome as an Eagle. ESPN did clear footage of news reports, though.)
At the same time, his dogfighting operation was growing by leaps and bounds, from 20 to 68 dogs. “It was spiralling out of control,” he said of his dogfighting circa 2004-05. His mom and brother urged him to stop. But he ignored their pleas.
“The money changed him at that point,” Marcus said.
“Money made it difficult to listen to people,” Vick acknowledged. “At the end of the day, it was all about me.”
A cousin was stopped with marijuana and that led to the authorities finding out about the dogfighting. “My whole world came crashing down,” he said.
Vick thought at first he could get out of the situation by paying off the right attorneys. He denied it to the media for months, effectively admitting now that he lied. “I didn’t have the courage to say it,” he said. “I just wanted it to go away.” But too many people, he soon realized, were willing to testify against him. His contract with Nike was nixed. He had a clause in his Falcons contract that forced him to give back millions. His back was against the wall.
He eventually pled guilty. “I hurt so many animals. I did things that were inhumane and barbaric,” he said. (The show, at least episode one, does not describe what he actually did though we know he killed and tortured dogs who did not perform.)
James DuBose, the executive producer (BET shows “Keyshia Cole,” “Frankie & Neffe,” “Monica: Still Standing” and “Tiny & Toya”) said “we didn’t softball it at all. The whole point we wanted to tell the raw, real story.”
DuBose was approached by Vick’s people (including Brian Sher, who produced MTV’s show “T.I.: Road to Redemption”) in July. DuBose said he wanted to make sure Vick was truly sorry for what he did and was doing this show for the right reasons. He felt that was the case and moved forward. “We connected,” he said.
Vick had already filmed footage of himself in prison and the aftermath, some of which DuBose used. And surprisingly, DuBose said this was the easiest production he’s had so far. “People often don’t realize how invasive production can be,” he said. “He got it and was open to it.”
DuBose said they shot from August until January. “This may sound strange but he really loves animals,” DuBose said. “I want to be clear: what he did was horrendous and awful. I’m simply saying he made a mistake. He’s going about it the right way. He’s not building back Michael Vick the football player but Michael Vick the man.”
He said there are no plans to do more than one series. DuBose is now busy finishing up “Tiny & Toya,” back for season two on BET in April. “Frankie & Neffe,” he said, is up in the air. Ditto with “Monica: Still Standing.”
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86 comments Add your comment
ELVISINTHEHOUSE.
February 2nd, 2010
11:17 am
Ok captain midnite,im not black nor white but im not a racist to either.But reading some of these comments brings out whats in a person just like reading a book.By people posting comments of one’s displeasure will not change anything.Thats why i say it is what it is be real like the police supporter,guess he think it takes a english class to be rich.It don’t just ask ted turner.
Ted Turner
February 2nd, 2010
11:22 am
Why ya gotta bring me into it? But since ya did, Vick is a dirtbag.
ELVISINTHEHOUSE.
February 2nd, 2010
11:25 am
SISSY MIDNITE,your insecure to get heated off blog comments.Thinking your telling a person off really rocks your boat huh? next you will be thinking your the king of the blog
.Its gonna be ok just take a deep breath and realize that what ever your comment is about mr vick won’t change didley.
Captain Midnight
February 2nd, 2010
11:26 am
Elvis,sir the color of the mans skin has NOTHING to do with any of this.Why can’t you people understand that? Lemme guess,because Eeevvrrything has to do with skin color right? Sssooo old. Ssso tired. Ssooo now unaffective. The man is evil. If he was white, he’d be evil. If he was yellow, he’d be evil. If he was red, he’d be evil. But cause he’s black, yall gotta stand up for him. It leaves you with zero credibility.
ELVISINTHEHOUSE.
February 2nd, 2010
11:30 am
Captain midnite,its all for the fun for me man.Happy newyear and hope you have a prosperous year dude.God bless
.
ELVISINTHEHOUSE.
February 2nd, 2010
11:34 am
LOLOL The ted turner joke was kinda funny
I like ted and he’s laughing all the way to the bank.
Captain Midnight
February 2nd, 2010
11:36 am
“Sissy Midnite”? Your a namecalling little girl and I’m trying to tell people off? . Vick has fallen from grace and nothings gonna change that either.Remember this friend, White America made OJ,White America made Michael Jackson and White America made Mick Vick. Where are thay now? OJ’s hiding in Fla. MJ’s dead and Vick is crawling to Black Entertainmet Tv. Justice served. You’re dismissed.
ELVISINTHEHOUSE.
February 2nd, 2010
11:52 am
Soooo white america gave them there talent? last i checked they did not make money just for white people.And the saying you’re dismissed sounds kinda sweet.LOLOLOL,Remember its all for the fun
.
Captain Midnight
February 2nd, 2010
12:00 pm
My bad, I forgot, OJ’s in prison. Have fun.
ELVISINTHEHOUSE.
February 2nd, 2010
12:02 pm
Soooo white america gave them talent huh? and you’re dismissed sounds kinda sweet,you ok man.LOLOLOL Remember midnite creeper :-0 oops umm i mean captain midnite,its all for fun
SammyDavisinthehouse
February 2nd, 2010
12:06 pm
White America didn’t give us the talent babe..They just paid us for it.
Sha boing boing babe..Cookoo man..
ELVISINTHEHOUSE.
February 2nd, 2010
12:06 pm
Captain midnite im out dude have a good one.
Captain Midnight
February 2nd, 2010
12:08 pm
Be safe Elvis. We’re Americans first brother. Later
ELVISINTHEHOUSE.
February 2nd, 2010
12:10 pm
I like that SammyDavisInTheHouse.
Captain Midnight
February 2nd, 2010
12:11 pm
That was me. You probably figured that out.
Who’s planning to watch Vick Project tonight? | Atlanta Falcons with D. Orlando Ledbetter
February 2nd, 2010
12:52 pm
[...] The AJC’s Rodney Ho has seen the first part of the 10-part show. [...]
delois
February 2nd, 2010
2:07 pm
Police supporter – wow I thought I was the only other person out there who admires Condoleezza Rice. She’s just a female Uncle Tom to the black community. Forget her politics – her other accomplishments outshine just about anybody out there – black or white – and I would encourage any young woman of any color or race to try to accomplish just half of what she has..
jmt
February 2nd, 2010
3:45 pm
I don’t understand why people cannot get past this and let the man do everything he can to help stop this from repeating itself. I hate what he did I can’t stand to watch it and I don’t even like dogs. I just got through watching Outside the Lines story of Ray Carew how he set up a murder of his girlfriend because he did not want to pay support, she died and her son is left MS. Not only did she forgive him she wrote the man in prison that shot her daughter 4 times and forgave him. What is wrong with us as a people we cannot forgive? What does that say about us. I understand holding Mr Vick accountable for what he did but is that not what he is doing? You can’t read his heart you are not capable and neither am I but God can and that is why he got another chance. So I will never question that. It time to let this go.
stop
February 2nd, 2010
3:59 pm
To all the people who call Mr Vick for dogfighting what do you call a person that hangs another human being for no reason rape their daughters hose them down with water turn dogs on them not only that go to other countries kill and rape their all because they hace the power. What do you call them. You are them and you have no credability and really can call anybody out.
SJR
February 2nd, 2010
4:34 pm
Everyone needs to get over the black vs white thing. Vick’s evil has nothing to do with his color, and everything to do with who and what he is…….a thug. I also wish people would stop comparing what Vick did to other crimes. We are talking about what Vick did, not anyone else. He made a decision everyday to torture and kill innocent animals. Fine to forgive him, just don’t allow him to be idolized like some hero. Why in the world would anyone support allowing him to return to the NFL and get paid what he does????? I also wonder how Vick can afford to attend the Super Bowl with his family if he filed bankruptcy and left many creditors hanging. And he says the BET show is not about money, but he is taking the money and his production company is co producer. What about giving the money to animal welfare then if it is not about money? I don’t believe a thing ConVick has to say.
white people get your facts straight before you mke a comment worthless jealous loser
February 2nd, 2010
4:41 pm
The hate for Vick is not about dogs it is about money and power PETA knew he was fighting dogs in 2004 claimed they did not say anything because they did not want him to go underground Oh really right. You are not harrassing and blogging about the other co-defendents who killed and fought most of the dogs they f
get a pass because they snitched. Don’t tell me you give a damn about dogs when shelters are over filled. You care so much no dog would be homeless and no child would be hungry you phony hypocrites. You been exposed for the hateful bullies you are
jmtyl
February 2nd, 2010
4:54 pm
For those who think Vick is begging BET maybe you need to research before you make comments. This man has more powerful connections than you can imagine and guess what a lot of them are in the Falcons front office. Arthur Blank went to Vick”s home in Virginia to see him when he got out of prison and was instrumental in getting him back in the league. Falcons had someone visit him in prison monthly and not one coached that Vick played for said anything negative about him. And this man wanted the Vick story and went after it read the following
Santa Cruzan a central figure in the ongoing story of Michael VickReality TV show debuts Tuesday on BET By WALLACE BAINEPosted: 02/01/2010 07:32:09 PM PSTSANTA CRUZ – A central figure in the ongoing rehabilitation of disgraced NFL quarterback Michael Vick is himself a former quarterback, with a Santa Cruz connection.Former Harbor High and Cabrillo College quarterback Wali Razaqi is the executive producer of a new reality-TV series debuting Tuesday night on BET called “The Michael Vick Project.” The show aims to present a behind-the-scenes view of Vick’s dramatic 2009 experience, from the moment he is released from prison in Leavenworth, Kan., to his resumption of his career as a pro-football star.Vick served almost two years in federal prison for running an illegal dog-fighting ring. At the time of his arrest, he was one of the professional sports world’s brightest stars. When the details emerged of Vick’s involvement in the death of countless animals as part of the dog-fighting ring, he quickly became a public pariah and remains a polarizing figure. But Razaqi hopes that the new show will begin to turn around Vick’s public image.”He really did pay a price,” said Razaqi, an actor and producer, who now lives in Southern California with his wife Emily Card Razaqi, who also grew up in Santa Cruz. “Anyone who says that now he’s out of prison, he’s sitting pretty, well, that’s just wrong. The truth is he lost everything.”Razaqi had been working hard to gain exclusive rights to Vick’s story for close to year before his release from prison in May 2009. His efforts bore fruit, he said, when he was Advertisementfinally granted an interview with Vick by officials at the federal penitentiary at Leavenworth, and Vick agreed to work with him. Vick and his girlfriend Kijafa Frink were given executive producer credits on the series.It was Razaqi, acting as Frink’s personal driver, who first greeted Vick on his release and who helped the beleaguered football star evade the crush of media camped outside Leavenworth on the day of his release. The cross-country trip from Kansas to Vick’s home in Virginia is featured in the series’ second episode.Razaqi and his film crew stayed with Vick at his Virginia home and chronicled his first weeks facing the wrath of the public and waiting for his status as a player to be determined by the NFL. “It was a fascinating experience,” said Razaqi, whose previous claim to Hollywood fame was his 2004 independent film “September Tapes,” shot in and around Kabul, Afghanistan where Razaqi was born shortly before the Soviet invasion of that country.”People have the right to doubt him,” Razaqi said of Vick. “But I spent months around the guy, and the things that mattered to me was the things that happened when the cameras weren’t on. I never once heard complain about his treatment, or say anything bad about PETA (the anti-animal cruelty organization that has been a loud critic of Vick’s actions). I never once heard him make any kind of excuse for what he did.”Razaqi said that his series isn’t meant to be a public relations exercise in image management. He said that that show goes into Vick’s long relationship with dog fighting and his killing of dogs that didn’t measure up to his fighting standards.”He has to answer for what he did,” said Razaqi, who also said that he anticipates criticism that, by giving Vick this kind of platform, he’s rewarding Vick’s behavior.”The criticism is, ‘Why are we letting him get paid for this?’ And, we can’t really argue with that. He is going to make money on this show. But scale of this money, in comparison to that (recording-setting contract he signed before his arrest), it’s really nothing.”
http://nov1.m.yahoo.net/nov10/UaTD1jjgXEpc69L*zvh07Q__/1265093635/nov_ses_id032_28191265093633521/YONO_0/www.santacruzsentinel.com/ci_14312693
jmtyl
February 2nd, 2010
5:48 pm
Sir maybe you should not speak until you get your facts straight. Vick has a condo in Miami and is doing his off-season training and was given tickets as a gift so get over it. You can’t make eveybody hate him because you do. Hate take too much energy. As far as the bankruptcy it is chapterf 11 reconstruct paying back his debts he did not stiff anybody. He ha been put on a budget to live off 300,000 a year for 5 yrs and anything over what he pays a year to court has to go into a retirement or investments for his future per the judge. You people also forget Vick paid 975,000 to the maintenance of the remaining dogs more money than you or anybody you know or will ever know. You people wamt to excused for the evil things you have done and continue to do. But we are suppose to fogive you and not talk about it but you can’t forgive Vick please give me a break
Deborah Broadnax
February 2nd, 2010
7:27 pm
Yes I am a true fan of Michael Vick’s, he was a great player to the Falcons and I really feel bad that the Falcons just turn there backs on him. I an proud of the way the eagles took him under their wings and I an so proud of him, keep up the good work it is going to get better.
Stephanie
February 2nd, 2010
7:40 pm
Terrell in the ATL, your suggestions for annoying and disrupting are so typical of the racism we see these days. What a pathetic exercise in hate. Many of these people making comments need to spend time learning proper English instead of showing off your ignorance. And this nonsense about Vick making a “mistake” shows further ignorance. A mistake is not intentional. What he did was intentional, cruel and heartless. He’s only remorseful that he was caught. He’s a thug who should not be a hero to our kids or to anyone else. And anyone who puts him on a pedestal is not aware of what’s right and what’s not. It’s a sign of how low our society has fallen. Sodom and Gomorrah. Ever heard of it?
Vick Supporter
February 2nd, 2010
7:59 pm
Vick will shine again
superstarscomefromva
February 2nd, 2010
11:18 pm
“The last shall be first, and the first last.”
That is the truth. For so many years a certain segment of society felt that they had all the power. In these last days they are being shown who is in control. They are fearful and when they write these hateful comments about a human being it is all out of fear. There are quite a few people commenting on Mike Vick who really could care less about his crime,but are more angry because of his race. They won’t admit to it because they know how to justify what they say and do. I even read a comment about a particular race not speaking English well. They will try to insult people so that they feel superior. Come on English! (English is not even half of our dialect). I say to all of you Mike Vick supporters and I am, keep supporting him and don’t give anyone else your power. Channel your positve energy toward supporting Mike. Ignore the powerless and know that GOD is in control. No man can stop what GOD has planned! Mike Vick is a SUPERSTAR and so are we!!!!
rhailey4
February 2nd, 2010
11:40 pm
It is hurting to read some of the racist and mean comments. What happen to all the men that beat, burn, cut and kill black mem and women. Some of them NEVER went to jail not even to court. They died with their story. It’s so hard to hear all of this about a good black man, I say good. He was a good student and a good adult. I too watch dog fighting in my city and did’nt know the level of crime it was. No animal should be treated in such a way, and no human should…oops unless he is a N/Black. Get real! Because Micheal is being real.
Farmer Jamal
February 3rd, 2010
9:50 am
The best way a failure of a “human being” like #7 could now give SOMETHING of value back to society would be to serve as fertilizer for food crops for starving children in Haiti and Africa or possibly even for crops used for dog food.
ATLObserver
February 3rd, 2010
3:06 pm
What SJR said.
I don’t get annoyed by Vick getting a second chance. He committed a crime, he paid a penalty. The legal end of it is done.
But I *do* get annoyed by people giving him the adulation that is richly deserved by other talented players that have done more and have done less hurtful and harmful things.
Guess what? When Tom Glavine bolted for the Mets, he got booed when he came back. Now, did any of you that are saying “give Vick a break!” step up in defense of this man who put a decade plus in and actually helped BRING A CHAMPIONSHIP to the city? Did Glavine murder any dogs, humans or get into any sort of disgraceful behavior that would have justified the booing? No, he just signed a contract with another team.
And those of you that cite Heatley need to check yourself. Most people– white and black– were disgraced he didn’t do time. And Heatley got booed when he came back.
Vick has paid his legal penalty but he never paid a penace to his worshippers. At no point during his trials and tribulations did his supporters step back and say “I hope he gets it together but I’m not a fan right now. I hope that he gets himself in order.” They didn’t forgive him because they never bothered to get angry with him to begin with. And hanging on his every word and acting like he’s “the man” isn’t forgiveness, it’s idolatry.
I think some of you need to look up “forgive.” It isn’t a synonym for “worship.”
Amber Jones
February 10th, 2010
9:22 pm
Mike you can do all things through christ that strenghten you. Dont let the devil still your joy everyone deserves a second chance. Tell the Devil no weapons formed against me shall prosper because i tell him everytime i feel like the devil is trying to challenge me become a better person. I was born an raised in Los Angeles , CA and had hard times too but only god can judge us and what we been through. Just pray for everyone else who may look at you different. Alot of people dont know how it feel to grow up without everything and having no choice but to do what you have to to survive because eveything was given to them with out having to do anything for it. So just trust in God and he will see everything in your favor…GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY Love Amber J
He who judges, shall be judged
February 18th, 2010
9:25 pm
OK people — let’s stop with the racist comments already! I WILL watch the Mike Vick Project because I’m interested to see how (and if) he’s grown any…if he’s remorseful…if he’s learned his lesson and ready to be a productive citizen in society. I personally am very offended by both my black, white, and other counterparts that are using this medium to disrespect one another. STOP IT ALREADY!!! Everyone entitled to their own opinions, but let’s remember that none of us are qualified to sentence anyone to HEAVEN or HELL. In fact – for those of you who really know and believe in Godly principles – the mere fact that Vick has repented and asks for forgiviness (on top of the fact that he’s profest Christ to be his Lord & Savior) he’ll probably make it into HEAVEN before any of us who sin EVERY DAY willfully without any remorse, regret, etc. So – tonight I’ll leave you all with this thought: “Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?” – Matt. 7:3. Be careful before judging others. My advice would be to pray for Mike Vick in hopes that he’ll never make this mistake again!
J.I in MD
February 21st, 2010
8:58 pm
There are some of you that wrote Michael paid ____ sum of money to the maintenance of the remaining dogs. Yes, remaining because he or his friends did not ” kill” them. I am not a racist, but what Michael Vick did was cruel and vicious. It will be a long time before ppl forget what he did. He had fame, money and he threw it away. he knew what he was doing was wrong, but continued to do so anyway. He SHOULD have paid and be paying for all the dogs to get well and get rehabilitated. I feel he should spend a few more years working in animal control facilities. He also needs counseling. That may require years and years. I can’t believe dog fighting was the only illegal thing he did. usually, when a person is involved in one illegal activity, it leads to others. I’m not a hater, but I feel Michael has a lot more owning up to what he did– to do. Shame on all of you that do not realize how serious dog fighting & killing is. – J.I in Maryland
J.I in MD
February 21st, 2010
9:02 pm
A pit bull is not ” wild game”. please don’t try to compare the two.
terryj
February 23rd, 2010
5:20 pm
This message is for all the ones who are so negative, please get on your knees and pray and i will pray for you and i pray you and none of your children fall short or do anything wrong in life,because there will be a time when you or a family member will need forgiveness if not already think about how you want people too judge you before you judge someone else and i bet yall call yourself church loving people( image that)i wouldn’t want to be around yall on judgement day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
terryj
February 23rd, 2010
5:30 pm
MIKE,keep your head up if you ask god for forgiveness thats all that matters because what god has for you it is for you no-one can that it away and you will find strength though him, what you went though was for a reason god makes no mistake you found out who your real friends are keep your family praying, i will continue to pray for you!!!