Give Vick a second chance

Give Michael Vick a break. Okay, maybe it wasn’t the most civilized or politic thing to do, giving a “double-bird” to Falcons fans following the 31-13 drubbing the New Orleans Saints administered to the Atlanta team a couple of weeks ago.

But there were frustrating circumstances that contributed to the actions. The Falcons began the 2006 season with a 5-2 record. By any standard, they were off to a good start, perhaps even in the running for a playoff berth, maybe even a Super Bowl appearance. Then, prior to last Sunday’s game, the Falcons lost four in a row.

Fans are fickle. Fans will cheer a team and bask in the reflected glow when the team is winning but, when the team is down, formerly faithful fans will turn on the team (and the players) with a vengeance.

Vick actually rushed for a season-high 166 yards in the New Orleans game, although he threw for a disappointing 84 yards. It’s probable that no one was more disappointed with the results than Vick himself. Yet, many fans believe that the price of a ticket entitles them to heap ridicule and scorn upon athletes who have left their all on the field but have fallen short of a win.

A promising season has turned into a disaster over the last month, although Atlanta still has a shot at a wild card playoff berth. Certainly, the fans are disappointed, but for professional men who make their living by performing and winning, the last month must be frustrating — even maddening for the members of the Atlanta Falcons team.

This does not excuse Michael Vick who, as a role model whether he wants to be one or not, should know better and should have conducted himself with more grace. Still, I can’t feel too harshly toward him. It’s hard to do your best and then have to endure the ire and taunts of people who, on their best day, could never do what Michael Vick or any other pro football player does on his worst day. Vick was aware that he crossed the line and immediately issued an apology.

“First and foremost, I would like to apologize for my inappropriate actions with fans today,” Vick said in a statement after the game. “I was frustrated and upset at how the game was going for my team, and that frustration came out the wrong way. That’s not what I’m about. That’s not what the Atlanta Falcons are about. I simply lost my cool in the heat of the moment. I apologize and look forward to putting this incident behind me.”

According to an article on sportinglife.com: “I would have never thought that six years into my career I would ever do something like that,” Vick said. “It will never happen again. Never.”

Falcons’ coach Jim Mora said the incident was isolated. “Mike offered a very sincere apology and that’s all I can say about it,” Mora said. “He obviously felt bad about it. He came forward right away and issued an apology and I’ll let it stand at that. To me that’s out of character for Mike, what he did. The Mike Vick I know, he appreciates the fans. It was more of just real frustration. I know he’s contrite.”

In addition to being castigated by the media for the incident, Vick was fined $10,000 by the NFL, or $5,000 for each finger. Vick also agreed to donate another $10,000 to charity for the obscene hand gestures so the total monetary cost to the quarterback will be $20,000. “I broke a rule and now I’m paying the price,” Vick said recently. “The good thing is I get to donate a portion of it to charity.”

Well, then, let that be it. Michael Vick is an outstanding athlete who lost his cool under intense pressure. He did something he shouldn’t have done but he made no excuses, has blamed no one but himself, and is willing to ‘fess up and pay the price.

Bravo, Michael. I wish that all of us would follow your example when we sin, do something dumb, or act in a manner than is inappropriate or shameful. Most of us, however, will make excuses, find someone to blame, and try to wriggle out of any responsibility. I haven’t really been a Michael Vick fan before but I am now.

“Go and sin no more,” Michael. And go and do what you do so well. Maybe the Falcons will capture that wild-card spot and end up with an exciting and successful season. And maybe, just maybe, that trip to the Super Bowl is not an impossible dream after all.

Huh ??

Submitted by skyspy on Fri, 12/08/2006 - 8:44am.

Was this supposed to be uplifting or informative? Are we called to forgive people who repeatedly display poor behavior? He apologized, and he has in the past..... Is this the real "christian" message ...apologize then go back out and do whatever the hell you want? You will be forgiven anyway?? Some message.

Enough of the "christian" message. Today I challenge you to act like a buddhist and pay it forward. Do something nice for someone that they would never expect. Whether it is giving someone the extra pocket change they need at the store....holding open the door for someone.....helping an elderly neighbor with decorations or yardwork...putting change in a meter that is about to expire....get creative.....

What small thing could you do for someone that they would never expect?

Happy Holidays If you are living right everyday is christmas ...and if you aren't living right one day a year isn't going to bail you out.

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NFL no fan of Vick’s ‘Ron Mexico’ jerseys

Submitted by bad_ptc on Thu, 12/07/2006 - 8:14pm.

I must admit that until recently, I hadn't heard anything about this.

I friend of mine was trying to tell me about this in between incapacitating bouts of laughter.

Ron Mexico

Does Epps have any idea who he's trying to support?

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Father Oops Has A Habit Of Stepping In It

Submitted by Git Real on Thu, 12/07/2006 - 8:51pm.

See Father Epps....even the thug Michael Vick uses a moniker when he's out spreading herpes amonst the ho's. Just like Bob uses the moniker Robert W Morgan and Bad PTC dubs himself Bad PTC. Man if I were you I'd start using the moniker Father Oops instead of Epps to protect your indentity when defending and praising clowns like Mexico and Morgan.

I'd just bet those aren't prayers you're hearing from your congregation when you turn around but rather chuckles.

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Mike Vick is a multimillionaire thug!

Submitted by myword_mark on Thu, 12/07/2006 - 7:12pm.

You may want your kid to emulate Michael Vick but not me. When he's not being sued for giving women STD's, or attending the funeral of a drug dealer friend killed in a drug deal gone bad, he's flipping off the people who made him a multimillionaire. Too much sr=tress Father?

Yea, give the guy a break after all, if he wasn't playing pro football he might be, a, .... well, gee, what would he be doing?

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What would Vick be doing??

Submitted by dollaradayandfound on Thu, 12/07/2006 - 7:29pm.

If, and I mean if, he ever graduates from VPI, which I doubt, he would make an excellent insurance salesman, or car salesman.

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Bravo Michael Vick? You've got to be kidding.

Submitted by Richard Hobbs on Thu, 12/07/2006 - 5:24pm.

Mike Vick should not be lauded. He should not be given some sort of pass for his behavior. He should be castigated for his actions.

Vick is a bi-polar player. Either he is throwing for 5 touchdowns while evading the rush or he's throwing interceptions and fumbling the ball. He is not a franchise ball player by any means. In fact, like Dallas was surprised by Roma, maybe the Falcons should give some less glamorous or exciting quarterbacks a chance. Vick's had 6 years to produce and he has failed miserably. Sure he is exciting, but his record is nothing to be proud about. Quarterbacks are supposed to throw, not necessarily run. So he's the best running quarterback in all of history, thats great, now if we only had a throwing running back, we would have a terrific back field.

Giving Michael Vick a pass, no pun intended, is plain wrong. I hope he is booed out of the Georgia Dome. He should thank the Fans for supporting his multi-million dollar high school quality play, instead of flicking them off because he can't pass worth a darn.

He's been given alot and to those that are given much, much is expected. Praising him for apologizing is silly. Thats the very least he should have done. I bet his agent was begging him to apologize since his salary is directly tied into his future earnings, especially to outside endorsements who will look long and hard at signing a whinning millionaire to wear their sneakers.

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Vick

Submitted by dollaradayandfound on Thu, 12/07/2006 - 7:07pm.

Epps comment surprised me also. I try not to get involved with the "bling," rap, and strip crowd very much since I have nothing in common with them. The fact that most American major sports have been ruined for the long term future by current excessive hero worship (shoes, gloves, gold, diamonds, long shirts, and cocked hats, etc.) can only produce several more generations of kids willing to spend enormous amounts of hours practicing sports instead of studying books, in order to have a chance at a big contract, and a small chance at that. With his attitude, Vick simply perpetuates that. It has nothing to do with forgiving him for his crude display to thousands of kids and other vulnerable people. It is simply an indication of who he really is. I am not thoroughly familiar with his nightlife, but most of the time his entourage of thugs protect him from embarrassment there. Epps attitude baffles me! We need to restrict the Michael Jacksons of the world and their influence.

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Dollar: Right on the Money on Vick

Submitted by muddle on Fri, 12/08/2006 - 7:47am.

I agree that the deeper problem is that of encouraging our children to emulate such people.

Only I would distinguish (genuine) heroes from celebrities in this way: Heroes are honored for their virtues, such as courage or perseverence; celebrities are revered for their particular talents or, worse, "personalities." A hero strives to cultivate good character; a celebrity seeks to project an image. James Kim, who died in a desperate attempt to find help for his stranded family, was a hero.

Our culture worships a pantheon of celebrities from the sports world, Hollywood and the entertainment businesses, and even politics and religion. Contemporary American religion is not the least bit countercultural in this respect as it ought to be, as it produces its own raft of celebrities, from megachurch pastors to Christian rock stars. Ted Haggard was a Christian celebrity, for instance.

As for the lack of sportsmanship that has become all too common among professional athletes, here's a 12-yr-old piece by none other than Wm. F. Buckley, Jr, written in the wake of the Tanya Harding - Nancy Kerrigan incident.

Poor Sports

It contains a bit more wisdom than, "Go thou and flip thy bird finger no more."

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Muddle: Hero or celebrity for Vick

Submitted by dollaradayandfound on Fri, 12/08/2006 - 8:50am.

I used the word hero here because that is exactly what he is to so many in Atlanta. He broke through his heritage and made a lot of money by means of sports. That is a hero to many.
The other parts of his life have little or no meaning to his admirers. That is partially the fault of the entire American way now. When we award hero medals to Bremer, Franks, and others partly responsible for failure, we indicate that they are celebrities and not heroes.

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