30 for 30: Michael Vick (1 Viewer)

I do think Vick is genuinely sorry for his actions, as opposed to being genuinely sorry he got caught. By all accounts, he was great to have in Eagles locker room. Vick seemed to want to be part of a team, and not have it all be about him.

On a more personal note, Vick was on his way to the Tidewater area several years ago and had a flat tire across from a local body shop. He asked for help at the shop and they went across the road to fix his tire. Vick was recognized and got the usual requests for autographs and pictures. The shop people went out of their way to note how gracious, grateful, and accomodating he was.

In 2005 I was at the Maryland/Virginia Tech football game shortly after Katrina. Maryland marching band members with 5-gallon buckets (I kid you not) were making their way through the crowd taking donations for post-Katrina cleanup. Michael Vick was there to watch his younger brother Marcus against the Terps. One of the co-eds saw Vick and approached him, asking if he'd like to make a donation. He replied "sure", pulled all the bills from his wallet, and tossed them into the bucket where they landed with an audible thump. She thanked him and, her curiosity getting the better of her, went around the corner to just how much he'd given--$1,500.00. Not bad for a rival QB.
 
Last edited:
Well said, as a believer in Karma and reincarnation, I don't think Michael Vick's next life is going to be very pleasant....
If Michael Vick is able to learn from his past actions and remain free of future such unskillful acts, he can mostly dodge the bullet of bad Karma :)
 
I will watch this and try to see what made it so terrible and unforgiving in a lot of people's eyes. I never paid attention to the details. I just knew it was dog fighting and it never stirred up any emotions in me.

It's one of those phrases (dog fighting) like "drag racing" or "fly fishing" that for reasons unbeknownst to me, some people like to partake in. I didn't feel any outrage, just surprise that someone would go to jail for it and and serve actual time.
 
Is this going to be one of those cases where an athlete is going to be remembered for being far better than he actually was? Yeah, dude could run fast but he wasnt a very good QB, was a terrible leader and wasted the potential he did have.

He won 5 games against the Saints in his entire career and most of them against bad teams.
 
Is this going to be one of those cases where an athlete is going to be remembered for being far better than he actually was? Yeah, dude could run fast but he wasnt a very good QB, was a terrible leader and wasted the potential he did have.

He won 5 games against the Saints in his entire career and most of them against bad teams.
Up until Ryan, that was the best era of Falcons football.
 
Is this going to be one of those cases where an athlete is going to be remembered for being far better than he actually was? Yeah, dude could run fast but he wasnt a very good QB, was a terrible leader and wasted the potential he did have.

He won 5 games against the Saints in his entire career and most of them against bad teams.
I don't people are engaged in revisionist history with Vick. He was the fastest QB I ever saw with a rocket arm but he would be the first to tell you he didn't begin to really learn the position until he got to Philly. I don't know what it's like to be a multi-millionaire in my early 20s but I did do dumb things as a broke college student at that age.
 
I do think Vick is genuinely sorry for his actions, as opposed to being genuinely sorry he got caught. By all accounts, he was great to have in Eagles locker room. Vick seemed to want to be part of a team, and not have it all be about him.

On a more personal note, he was on his way to the Tidewater area several years ago and had a flat tire across from a local body shop. He asked for help at the shop and they went across the road to fix his tire. Vick was recognized and got the usual requests for autographs and pictures. The shop people went out of their way to note how gracious, grateful, and accomodating he was.

In 2005 I was at the Maryland/Virginia Tech football game shortly after Katrina. Maryland marching band members with 5-gallon buckets (I kid you not) were making their way through the crowd taking donations for post-Katrina cleanup. Michael Vick was there to watch his younger brother Marcus against the Terps. One of the co-eds saw Vick and approached him, asking if he'd like to make a donation. He replied "sure", pulled all the bills from his wallet, and tossed them into the bucket where they landed with an audible thump. She thanked him and, her curiosity getting the better of her, went around the corner to just how much he'd given--1,500.00. Not bad for a rival QB.

The only people who can't forgive someone for making a mistake based on a lifestyle they'd known as a child are people who can't forgive themselves because they lack understanding. I don't feel sorry for them.
 
Is this going to be one of those cases where an athlete is going to be remembered for being far better than he actually was? Yeah, dude could run fast but he wasnt a very good QB, was a terrible leader and wasted the potential he did have.

He won 5 games against the Saints in his entire career and most of them against bad teams.

No revisionist history needed. He was the most athletic QB to ever pick up a football. Not only that but he was one of the best athletes period. Regardless of position. He never reached his full potential as a complete QB but there's nobody even close to him athletically.

The man paid his debt to society. He did his time. I'm not going to try to downplay how good he was because of what he did to those dogs.
 
The only people who can't forgive someone for making a mistake based on a lifestyle they'd known as a child are people who can't forgive themselves because they lack understanding. I don't feel sorry for them.
Years ago my wife mentored several students from a background similar to Michael Vick's. She had them over one day while I was doing some landscaping. Due to fires that happened on our property many years before, working in the yard could be like an archaeological dig and on this day I dug up a concrete block where I was going to plant a shrub. The three kids were watching and one says "What's that?" his buddy responds "It's a concrete block. You know, like what you tie a dog up to"

I hope Michael Vick finds redemption.
 
Last edited:
If you read the book about the dogs and what Vick and his cronies did to them you may feel differently....and yes, I'm a dog lover....
Understood, but you're viewing events through your cultural lens. Michael Vick was raised in a culture that routinely did things like this, and if there is no one there to show him how wrong those acts were, then those acts get replicated. What Vick did to those dogs was horrible and tragic, but without knowing all the facts I'd also guess Michael Vick's upbringing was substantially different from yours and mine.

I too am an animal lover, and spent 2 years volunteering at the local ASPCA. The level of cruelty shown to animals sickened me and I frequently found myself wishing for 5 minutes alone with the criminals who mistreated those innocent animals. Sometimes people really suck. That said, everyone deserves a shot at redemption.
 
Last edited:
I will watch this and try to see what made it so terrible and unforgiving in a lot of people's eyes. I never paid attention to the details. I just knew it was dog fighting and it never stirred up any emotions in me.

It's one of those phrases (dog fighting) like "drag racing" or "fly fishing" that for reasons unbeknownst to me, some people like to partake in. I didn't feel any outrage, just surprise that someone would go to jail for it and and serve actual time.
He didn't serve any time for animal cruelty. He violated the RICO Act by running a gambling ring across state lines and actually got a very light sentence when compared to what other violators typically get.
 
Understood, but you're viewing events through your cultural lens. Michael Vick was raised in a culture that routinely did things like this, and if there is no one there to show him how wrong those acts were, then those acts get replicated. What Vick did to those dogs was horrible and tragic, but without knowing all the facts I'd also guess Michael Vick's upbringing was substantially different from yours and mine.

I too am an animal lover, and spent 2 years volunteering at the local ASPCA. The level of cruelty shown to animals sickened me and I frequently found myself wishing for 5 minutes alone with the criminals who mistreated those innocent animals. Sometimes people really suck. That said, everyone deserves a shot at redemption.

I dont believe for a minute he didnt realize he was torturing animals. I dont care about him one way or another. He comes on I turn the channel.
 

Create an account or login to comment

You must be a member in order to leave a comment

Create account

Create an account on our community. It's easy!

Log in

Already have an account? Log in here.

Users who are viewing this thread

    Back
    Top Bottom