So, my beloved Eagles signed Michael Vick? If you don’t live in the Philadelphia area, you aren’t getting all of the sports talk radio call-ins, but I’m sure you’re getting a sampling on ESPN of the debate. There are some that are so disgusted with the signing that they have sworn to give away their season tickets, there are some that are overjoyed that this elite athlete and hero to African American youths is being given a “second” chance. Is it a second chance? Let’s count ‘em…
At Miami International Airport, Vick tried to dump a water bottle with a hidden compartment after being confronted at a security checkpoint. Officials said they believe marijuana residue was in it. Although no charges have yet to be filed in that case, authorities have submitted the water bottle for testing.
Vick twice flipped off his own fans after a November drubbing of the Falcons on the part of the New Orleans Saints, incurring a $10,000 fine.
Vick swore to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodall that he had no knowledge of dogfighting at his estate, and the allegations were false.
Vick still faces a 2005 civil suit charging him with giving Herpes Simplex 2 to a Georgia woman. The suit claims Vick admitted he had the condition after she confronted him.
AirTran Airways announced it would not renew his contract as a spokesman for the airline. Vick had failed to appear as scheduled before Congress April 24 to speak about the need to fund after-school programs. A spokesman for Vick blamed their airline for the missed breakfast date. AirTran said that claim was untrue.
April 20, 2007: Davon Boddie, Vick’s cousin, is arrested in the parking lot of a Hampton nightclub and charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute.
April 25, 2007 : Investigators searching Boddie’s residence, owned by Vick, in Surry County discover dogfighting items and more than 60 dogs.
April 27, 2007: Police find dog-training complex in the woods just behind Vick’s Virginia home. Animal control officers count 66 dogs on the property.
July 2, 2007: In court documents, authorities allege that dogfighting operation called Bad Newz Kennels has operated on Vick’s property for the past five years.
July 17, 2007: The U.S. Attorney’s office announces that Vick and three others have been indicted by a federal grand jury in connection with dogfighting.
Aug. 27, 2007: Vick pleads guilty to dogfighting conspiracy before U.S. District Judge Henry Hudson. At a news conference, Vick apologizes for “using bad judgment and making bad decisions. I offer my deepest apologies to everyone. And I will redeem myself. I have to.”
September 13, 2007 : Vick fails drug test for marijuana, violating parole.
Nov. 20, 2007: Vick surrenders to U.S. marshals and begins serving his sentence in a Virginia jail three weeks before his official sentencing.
Dec. 10, 2007: Vick is sentenced to 23 months in federal prison.
Jan. 7, 2008: Vick leaves Virginia to enter a drug treatment program at a Leavenworth, Kan., minimum security facility.
July 8, 2008: Vick files for bankruptcy protection.
Nov. 25, 2008: Vick appears in a Virginia courtroom to plead guilty to a state dogfighting charge and receives a three-year suspended sentence.
I’m all for second and third chances, but this is insane. This isn’t a second chance, this is like a 9th chance. The honest answer to this debate is time will tell, will Vick use his clout to really make a difference in animal cruelty as so promised? I definitely hope so.
The alarming trend I’ve listened to on sports talk radio is the polarization this issue has had between white and black males on the airwaves. Not to generalize, but wow. Last time there was this kind of split… well O.J. Simpson definitely comes to mind. Now granted… the call-screeners on these radio stations are looking for the Springer-Show-chair-flinging-morons of the group, but the white guys are saying “people that abuse animals can go on to rape and murder people” and the black guys are saying, “it was just dogs, there are converted convicts guilty of man-slaughter that have become part of society again.” Again, don’t mean to generalize at all, that’s just what is on the radio.
Now as far as Vick as an addition to the Eagles… I’m really unsure about this. Vick was one of the most electrifying open field runners I’ve ever seen, absolutely. But I’ve seen this guy play in very good seats (in 2007) and honestly, I can throw a better ball to a receiver 20 yards and further down the field. I don’t think this guy can even come close to replacing McNabb, let alone back him up. Wildcat formations? Definitely. Use him as a wideout? Absolutely (as long as he can catch a ball). Vick on an end-around? Awesome. He is a weapon, not a quarterback that will win a championship.
So will I stop watching the Eagles and cheering for them? No. My prediction is that Vick will have little to no impact on the Eagles this year. My theory is that he will see mop-up duty late in games that are out of reach, putting on auditions for other teams to trade away a third round pick to the Eagles. In the fourth quarter of a game already decided, he will score on some insane rush from a broken play and it will be all over SportsCenter for four days and will give him the media leverage for a starting job for a struggling team. I think that’s the extent of his tenure with the Eagles.
The only thing that truly bothers me is not resigning such a damn good player (and proven quality contributor to society) as Brian Dawkins and we give someone with a sketchy track record that has been out of football for two years a spot on our roster? That pisses me off as a fan. Look at BDawk in this picture… he can fuckin’ fly. That’s got to be an advantage on the football field.
The good news so far? Well, the rescued dogs from Vick’s residence are doing ok, check out Vicktory Dogs.
One thing I am really enjoying lately are signs like this. Down the road from me, a car detailing shop has their normal sign that lists the special of the day/week and above the car detailing special are the words, “STOP SOCIALISM”. Fascists do love a freshly detailed car.
A few observations from this past week…
