Betrayed by Michael Vick
By Craig Edwards
Despite being a Northwest boy most of my life, I've called myself an Atlanta Falcons fan for nearly 18 years. I still have my 1999 NFC Championship hat, know how to do the dirty bird, and am definitely "2 Legit 2 Quit."
So as a Falcons fan, I have two words for Michael Vick: Good-bye.
I write this as we wait to hear if Vick will accept a plea bargain deal with federal prosecutors on charges he operated a dog fighting kennel out of a property in Virginia. The accusations are pretty horrific, and date back to 2001, the same year the Falcons traded up in order to select Vick with the number one pick in the NFL draft. His three co-defendants in the case have already made deals, and will testify against Vick in any trial.
Even if he somehow gets aquitted of these charges.... Michael Vick betrayed his teammates, everyone involved with the Falcons behind the scenes, and every single fan who's ever rooted for him.
The Falcons, and the NFL, have gone to great lengths to market Vick as the face of the franchise, making him (at one point) the highest paid player in the league, and plastering his image over every piece of Falcons gear. His thanks and show of appreciation was to go out and get himself arrested along with three of his friends, apparently operating a highly illegal business for 5 years.
Here's a life lesson for you kids out there. If a buddy comes up to you and says "You know what, we should try (insert illegal activity here)," they are not really your friend. I don't care how long you've known them. No true friend would advise you to do something immoral and illegal. Second, if said illegal activity involves anything other than revolting against a totalitarian government, your first and only answer should be NO!
I don't know for sure which of these four guys came up with the idea for "Bad Newz Kennels," but Vick should have known better. Add to that descriptions of what happened to innocent dogs who had no choice but to fight, and were killed in ways that are unspeakable if they lost. Doing the math, it brings me to only one conclusion: I don't want Michael Vick on my team, and I've got a feeling I'm not alone.
Michael Vick is likely done with the Falcons, and the NFL if he pleads guilty, which is how it should be.
Now, I'll root for Joey Harrington.
Comments
Craig, as an avid and nearly life-long Seahawks fan, I'll root for Joey Harrington too, the same way I root for any player that will dismantle a franchise and eliminate yet another speed bump for the Hawks to win Super Bowl XLII.
Look, on the dog stuff, I have no sympathy for Vick. Anyone above the age of 10, when boys seem to like to destroy everything around them, should realize that dogs are animals, living, breathing, and feeling beings. To kill one for any other reason than terminal suffering is at least sick, and at most unforgivable.
I will say that Mike is a victim of his entourage, but in the end he chooses that too. So, it's sad so much talent and potential had to be wasted, but I'll bet this will eradicate a lot of the bad behavior in the league.
Posted by: Matt Reichmann | August 24, 2007 8:38 AM