My dream season with Michael Vick has finally ended. I’ve used this column twice in the past several months (coincidentally every 7 weeks, like Vick’s number) to illustrate the reasons why I was so in favor of him not only excelling in his comeback, but ultimately wanting him to win a championship.
After yet another disappointing 21-16 loss and playoff exit for the Philadelphia Eagles, Vick finds his season over and the tale of ultimate redemption put off at least one more year.
It’s obviously a tough one to accept for Vick, the Eagles and the many people out there who were rooting for him, not only because he’s done playing football and amazing us all with his talents, but because it ruins such a great opportunity for someone to successfully make his way back to the top by doing what our society tells us is right.
You know, like admitting guilt, accepting the losses you brought on yourself with poor judgment, serving time in prison and then avoiding new mistakes while focusing on your career.
While there are understandably those out there who rightfully object to the crimes he was convicted for, life always goes on and his celebrity status doesn’t change that fact.
It’s the ultimate hypocrisy to refuse to give him second chances when we all make mistakes or even worse, repudiate his violence by expressing wishes of violence up on him.
In many ways, eternally vilifying him and refusing to ever forgive or forget his past was an easy route to forever hate him for more than just dog-fighting. Take Tucker Carlson, a political talk show host who said he wanted Vick executed for his crimes.
Yes, freaking executed. I shudder to think what type of punishments Carlson would have condoned for “people like Vick” if he were around 200 years ago. (Ps, shouts to Charles Barkley for calling him out on it.)
Call me crazy, but something tells me he wouldn’t have been quite as adamant about an execution if it were Ben Roethlisberger or Brett Favre who had done the crimes.
Whether it’s the mentality that black athletes are thugs because they like rap music, have dozens of tattoos or refuse to be quiet, formulaic robots on the field, there’s always that undertone of making sure they never get second chances.
It’s going on with wanting Tiger Woods to fail every tournament now, LeBron James felt it via his former owner and fans and Vick has been living it for years. There are people who hate the guy for a lot more disgusting reasons but hide behind the famous misstep.
I’m not one of them. I know what he did was wrong, I loved the way he’s handled it all with maturity and I really wanted to see him make a point worth proving, for all those Tucker Carlsons out there who tout morality and goodwill yet constantly hoped for him to fail.
It won’t happen with a Super Bowl, but even in defeat, he’s taken great steps toward showing why he’s worth rooting for again; the old Mike Vick killed dogs, but the new Vick turns the other cheek and behaves better than those shouting insults and ill will his way.
That’s a big win on it’s own.
- Will.
The Sports Snob will be published once a week here on YouBeenBlinded.com. Will R. is a journalist/writer who covers sports, news and music for several websites. His music work can be found on www.WestCoastRydaz.com
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