Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Michael Vick-torious... or is he?

Why do we do it? Is it because it makes us feel better about ourselves and our own human flaws? Or maybe it’s because we secretly pray for the downfall of those who are doing better than we are… Oops, I’m sorry, I didn’t see you there! I was just having a conversation in my head (don’t worry, there’s just one voice) about Michael Vick and the unrelenting press coverage of every waking moment of his life. Enough already!!! As I was saying, I wonder why we think we have a right to dictate and determine, or even express an opinion about people’s future simply because they live in a glass house. It’s not as if Vick’s life is set up for the sole purpose of providing entertainment for the couch potato who lives vicariously through the professional athlete.

There are polls as to whether or not he should be given a free pass back into the NFL or whether he should serve a suspension for a few games, and then be given a free pass. Who cares? No really, who cares? I sure don’t, and if I’m being honest, I don’t think you should either. I’m just glad those poor dogs found homes were they were more than just the next Neanderthal side-show. It’s really not up to us whether or not Vick plays in the NFL again (nor should it be), and in fact, whether or not he does won’t change the games I watch this season. More so than whether or not he’s reinstated into the NFL is whether Michael Vick, this time around, makes the right choices for his family. He has two little kids that need a father around who will be a great role model and bequeath a good legacy, as opposed to lots of NFL dollars.

Hopefully he’s learned that fair weather friends are just that: fair weather friends! They only stick around when the goings good. Hopefully he’s learned that money doesn’t buy good behavior. Hopefully he’s learned that being a pro-athlete doesn’t entitle you to any more than it does “Joe Bloggs” next door. If Vick can adequately demonstrate that he’s learned these and other valuable lessons about living life with boundaries, then whether he’s immediately reinstated into the NFL or serves an ‘umpteen-game’ suspension, he’ll still be Vick-torious!

2 comments:

Jess said...

Hmmm not very sure I agree with what you have to say but I do know one thing. My sister went to college with Vick and also knew his younger brother. The family is bad news. I don't think serving any jail time for him or his brother is going to be any kind of wake up call. I think the only wake up call he call he'll answer is if they do take Football away from him. Letting him go back to playing no matter if he gets suspended for a few games or not is just going to let him have a sense of 'I got caught but still get to play'.

I hope very much that he's a changed man, but my head and heart tell me there's very little hope for that.

Good post. Glad I stopped by.

~Jess

Joseph said...

Jessica, thanks for stopping by. I'm not sure which part of what I had to say you don't agree with, but that really is the beauty of opinions... we all have them! :)

Whether or not serving a prison sentence will change him, would be purely speculative on both our parts. His living life daily will be the sole proof of that. I don't for one moment believe that he and his family should suffer for the rest of their lives because of a stupid decision he made.

His talent is football. People with football talent can make money playing professional football. Ergo: Vick should be allowed the same opportunity. After all, Ray Lewis is still in the NFL, and he faced double charges for murdering his girlfriend and their unborn baby.