I'm a Sucker for Apologies
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by NickF8
I've been a Michael Vick fan since he was the first overall selection in the 2001 NFL Draft. I never have been a Big East/ACC football fan by any stretch of the imagination (I'm mainly a Big Ten guy), but once Vick broke into the NFL, I really thought he would revolutionize the quarterback position. We had seen runners with passing ability (Randall Cunningham), and we had seen passers with some good mobility (Donovan McNabb, Steve Young, Mark Brunell's early years), but a specimen like Vick had never before been unveiled to the NFL.
Yeah, he had his ups and downs in his football career, but that's all irrelevant now. I've been his most avid supporter through bashings by football talking heads who say he can't play, or will never learn the right way to play. I've endured trash talking from my friends when almost opting to buy a Vick jersey, the first football jersey I would ever have owned outside my beloved Buffalo Bills organization. I've gone through the painstaking task of selecting him as a fantasy football star, and seeing the potential go by the wayside each week. But none of it matters anymore, the possible final chapter in the Michael Vick football novel was written earlier today with Vick's guilty plea.
So, as a Michael Vick football fan, I've been following his case through it's entirety, especially since I was basically forced to by ESPN. The "Michael Vick Experience" (God, I loved those Nike commercials) has it's peaks with the blazing speed, ridiculous agility, and powerful, if mostly imprecise, arm. Unfortunately, it's rough dips and jarring turns come with talking trash, run-ins with airport security, flipping the double bird, and, now, a guilty plea to dogfighting charges and probable jail time. The roller coaster has come to a screeching halt here.
By now, we've all seen it. Vick's apology to the media this afternoon immediately after placing his plea, was a step in the right direction. With his first comments to the media, Vick chose the high road by taking responsibility for his actions, and apologizing to all the people that he has affected.
Vick, usually rocking flashy suits, long dreadlocks, and a big mouth, seemed, understandably, subdued. Standing on display in his plain black suit, a short-haired and clean-cut look, and a mature, deep voice, you can tell, he may finally get it. The usual fast and flashy speech was replaced with well-articulated sorries and heartfelt regret.
Vick did the right thing by not planning a speech; we've all heard that before. Yeah, his apology may have been a bit rambling at times, but it's refreshing, to see the flaws of everyday humans on display inside seemingly untouchable athletes.
While it is difficult to trust anything that is said to the media these days with PR spin and political-correctness constantly being scrutinized, I am willing to be labeled a "sucker" for trusting Michael Vick. While I am too old to be influenced by the "athletes as role models" gig, there is a generation behind me that saw Michael Vick as the "new" NFL. The best thing that Michael did was stress that these children look at Michael Vick not for what he did right, but use him as an example of what not to do.
Vick stressed that he would not blame anyone else for what he did, that he would take full responsibility, and he apologized for lying to Arthur Blank and Commissioner Goodell earlier this year about the investigation. He admitted he was too ashamed and embarrased to tell them anything, and I can't blame him for not telling the truth, because not many people would.
Lastly, and most importantly, Vick said that he has time in the next year or two to think about what he has done, and where he wants to be as a person from now on.
Michael, as you said, take this time to grow up, to work on Michael Vick the man, and forget Michael Vick the NFL poster boy.
I'm willing to accept Vick's apology, let him regain what little footing he has left in his life, and root for him to turn it around. Vick's apology and plea today and the sentence that will be coming soon is enough for me to close the books on what has happened and give Michael a second chance.
Vick will never fully regain a good standing with mainstream America, and he probably shouldn't with everything that he has done. But I feel like we got a preview today of a new Michael Vick... a "Mr. Michael Vick", if you will. Welcome to the road to redemption, Mr. Vick.
Nick, there were some great discussions on my blog, please check them out: http://alisb...eads-guilty/
http://alisb...till-my-boy/