There are few things in this world that elicit more emotion from people than animals.
Just being in the same room as them can make us so happy that we forget all of our troubles for a few minutes. On the flipside, seeing them hurt or in pain — especially out of negligence or, even worse, the deliberate infliction of harm — can bring about a seething, unforgiving rage that we didn’t even recognize we were capable of.
That’s where a lot of Pittsburghers — football fans or not — find themselves today. Last week, the Steelers signed free agent quarterback and convicted felon Michael Vick to a one-year contract. The team made the move after backup quarterback Bruce Gradkowski suffered a season-ending injury Sept. 23.
Vick needs no introduction. He is the talented, prolific college quarterback who brought his game to the NFL and to another level in 2001 when the Atlanta Falcons drafted him first overall. His big arm and quick feet led him to three Pro Bowls and a couple of playoff appearances in his first six seasons.
Then he screwed up big. He became the target of a federal racketeering investigation that alleged that Vick was the central figure in a massive dog-fighting operation. The allegations were disgusting. The fights were put on as sport. Money was wagered. Dogs tore each other apart and, if they performed poorly, Vick and his associates tortured and killed them. It was despicable.
In August 2007, Vick pled guilty to financing the operation, prospering from the proceeds and to the destruction of several animals. He turned himself in and that November began serving time before being sentenced a month later to 23 months in prison. He was released in July 2009 after serving 18 months in the federal penitentiary in Leavenworth, Kan.
After prison, he spent five seasons playing for the Philadelphia Eagles, and last season with the New York Jets. And now Vick is with the Steelers, and a lot of fans aren’t happy.
Just ask Twitter:
“How the ‘f’ does Michael Vick get signed to the Steelers on #NationalDogDay.”
“Bye Bye @steelers. I’ll be back when you get rid of Michael Vick!”
“Sucks to be a steeler fan now. Thank you Michael Vick for ruining #steelernation”
Emotionally, I see why people are upset. But when I stop and think about it, and I process this situation through my own personal belief system, this new level of Michael Vick hatred seems unwarranted and a bit unfair.
To be clear, I’m taking football completely out of it. Could Michael Vick help the Steelers? Maybe, if it comes to that. From a football standpoint, he’s a 35-year-old quarterback whose skills have declined and who has been inconsistent in recent years. But he was probably the best veteran backup available. I’m also refusing to answer this absurd notion that signing Vick is not the Steelers way. That somehow this franchise is better than that. The team’s handling of past legal controversies of guys like Ben Roethisberger, Alameda Ta’amu, James Harrison and Santonio Holmes, to name a few, shoots holes through that whole conversation.
Here’s my issue with the Vick bashing: an incontrovertible belief in second chances. We have written many stories here at City Paper over the years about the need for programs that give those released from prison a chance to turn their lives around. We have covered Amachi Pittsburgh, a program that works with the children of inmates to help them cope with a parent’s incarceration and helps the family reunite after the inmate’s release. We have written about efforts to “ban the box,” undoing the requirement that those previously convicted of a crime check a box on a job application indicating their past incarceration.
Michael Vick has been out of prison for more than six years. He hasn’t reoffended. He has put his life back together. He has fought for stronger laws against dog fighting. He paid to rehabilitate the dogs from the grotesque dog-fighting ring. So why, six years later, are we so put off by him playing football in this city? The answers are simple. First, he’s a professional athlete, and second, his victims were animals.
If you are a person who believes in second chances, this type of scrutiny is wholly unfair. I believe that if Mike Vick were just an Average Joe in the same situation, many of the same people who want him run out of town in an Uber would applaud him for turning his life around.
Regardless of his job, I’m glad that he turned his life around because it was in a really bad place. The same as I cheer for other ex-offenders who get out of prison and make something of their lives.
Look, fans are right for hating what Michael Vick did in the past. And those actions might still burn so much that some people don’t like him now. But regardless of who he is, he has done enough with his second chance to earn at least a little grace from a city that knows a little something about making the most out of second chances.
This article appears in Sep 2-8, 2015.
Michael Vick pled “not guilty” to animal cruelty charges — charges that were eventually dropped in a sweetheart of a plea bargain — and he was convicted only of one count of Conspiracy to Travel in Interstate Commerce in Aid of Unlawful Activities and to Sponsor a Dog in an Animal Fighting Venture, a violation of Title 18, US Code, Section 371., for which he served 18 months in prison before being welcomed back to the public spotlight.
http://hosted.ap.org/specials/interactives/_documents/vick_plea_agreement.pdf
Even worse, Vick has NEVER shown a sign of understanding of, or regret over, the fate of his dogs.
“Vick has never expressed one word of remorse for what he did to those dogs,” said McClay. “Not in any of his public statements, and not in his appearance on ’60 Minutes.’ Vick said he ‘let it happen.’ He slammed and beat and hung dogs to death. It’s like Ted Bundy saying, ‘I let someone murder this girl.’ He doesn’t take any responsibility for it.”
http://www.sfgate.com/pets/yourwholepet/article/Michael-Vick-s-unpaid-dues-Why-dog-advocates-2455696.php
Yes, he served his time for his one count that had nothing to do with the horrific abuse he PERSONALLY inflicted on the dogs. But the biggest part of second chances is OWNING what you did wrong in the first place – which Vick has NEVER done.
Perhaps that is why many fans feel that the Steelers should have given a well-deserved first chance to a younger player who deserves the opportunity to shine, and be a worthy role model for Pittsburgh’s loyal fans, than a player on the decline professionally, and at the bottom of the hill ethically and morally.
Hey charlie deitch.
Do you believe the greensburg six who tortured and murdered Jennifer Daugherty deserve a second chance? If they made donation to a center that assists handicapped individuals would you hire them as staff journalists for city paper? After they serve their time that is.
Why are you not printing editorial condemning the suspension of a steeler team member for smoking what presidential commissions have declared “the safest therapeutic substance known to man”, a plant legal for medicinal and recreational use in a growing number of cities and states that is greatly increasing tax revenue in those communities while not increasing crime rates or use of truly dangerous and deadly drugs?
Instead you choose to defend and support a sociopath who tortured and killed innocent defenseless animals!!!
How sad. I truly hoped and believed that you replacing chris potter as editor of city paper was a step toward more integrity and respectability for this shitty rag. Clearly my hope was misplaced. Will you next editorial defend second chances for child rapists, serial killers and nazi concentration camp guards?
Go cry a river…
You can’t force people to forgive Vick. They either do or don’t, I don’t have a problem with either side. If you forgive Vick because he turned his life around, good for you. If you don’t forgive Vick for what he did because he tortured animals, good for you. No one is going to be writing articles about forgiving Jared when he gets out of prison. Or are they?
Trying to change someone’s mind is stupid. He did what he did, he served his time. He did bad, hate him, he did good, love him, we don’t need any more articles telling people how they should feel.
I think there may be a little “Not in my neighborhood” attitude with the Vick signing.
If you really believe in second chances, ask yourself this question…would you hire someone with Michael Vick’s or Ben Rothelisberger’s past to work in your office?
Ask your employees for their reaction to possibly working with people who killed dogs and sexually assaulted women.
In real life, they’d most likely end up in menial jobs, struggling to get by.
Sports and entertainment are about the only places where guys with their histories of misconduct can rebound and become millionaires…unless your daddy is rich and you went to an Ivy League school
edbr
really? how in the world does this have anythng to do with race? Give me a break.
Sadistic psychopaths do not deserve a second chance. They deserve to experience exactly what they did to others – even if they are “only” dogs.
It has a lot to do with race.. 99% of the protesters and displeased fans are white. Black people Love Vick, we stand behind him 100%. Anyone who knows what its like to have made a terrible mistake and got an second opportunity on life supports him too. Everyone understands what Vick did was wrong but far worse atrocities have been committed against “HUMANITY!” and these people that continue to harbor hate and un-forgivness for him are extremely petty, ridiculous and Close Minded human beings. There are Pedophiles, molesters, Rapists, Abortions, Murderers, theres even the f’kn humane society! But they choose to ridicule and hate Vick with all their heart.. SMH, this world is Sick! Leave Vick Alone!!! None of US are any better!
I’m white and don’t give a rat’s patoot if the Great Satan, Michael Vick was green and crawled out of the swamp. So these tired accusations of “black man get bad break so must be whitey’s fault”, simply hold no water with me.
As for those who natter about rapists, pedophiles, and serial killers committing far worse crimes, you are completely correct. But read a little further down and you will see that 100% of these types of criminals began their illustrious careers pulling legs off of bugs, tying cats tails together and tossing them over clotheslines, or stuffing firecrackers in the mouth of a dog with its muzzle taped shut.
When the squeals of animals didn’t suffice, they turned to humans, John Wayne Gacy, Ted Bundy, Richard Franklin Speck, Jeffery Dahmer, the list goes on and ALL started on animals.
If mostly white folk want to overpay each weekend to watch mostly overpaid brothers to bash the hell out of each other, then more power to them. We are, after all, a county that thrives on capitalism and blood sports.
But do not hold the Great Satan, Michael Vick as something more than he is. At 35 year old has been. A sociopath. A liar. A felon.
At a million dollars, Steeler fans should demand half their money back. You overpaid. But that’s your problem. I shall simply watch with not a small amount of schadenfreude when the Great Satan gets his bell rung. By his own team mates or the opposing team. Doesn’t matter. Just as long as they knock his lights out.
Vick is the model image of anyone who has made a mistake and redeemed themselves—like you. He has apologized and continues to speak out and donate to animal rights organizations. Why can’t people forgive him? http://killingthebreeze.com/hating-michael-vick-is-hating-yourself/
Worry about your own life. This goes for the blogger and everyone still holding hatred towards Vick. He paid a huge price for his deeds. Turn your energy toward hanging those all Street cats tht robbed the nation and Automobile Giants that got a bail out on our dime. Your priorities are messed up.
America has long looked at Public Figures, Celebrities & Athletes as role models. Michael Vick should not in any way be considered a role model- he has failed miserably as a role model & as a human being. Unconditional Love Foundation has received many messages & seen comments about how we should forgive Michael Vick, move on, he has paid his debt to society, he made a mistake, he is sorry etc. Sorry but we do not agree. Electrocuting, beating, drowning, shooting, hanging dogs and making dogs fight to the death for years is no mistake- it is reprehensible. Michael Vick did not make a mistake- he made a conscious decision to kill and torture dogs for his own amusement & financial gain. His only regret is getting caught. We have all seen photos & videos of Michael Vick working on his anti-dogfighting campaign, rest assured he is not doing that because he is reformed or cares about animals- it’s a PR stunt called damage control. Don’t believe me then look at the video below where someone who adopted one of Vicks dogs tries to talk to him. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, I think we have made ours pretty clear. Something else we want to make clear is Unconditional Love Foundation cares about people, pets & the planet and we do not condone any acts of violence, abuse, neglect or cruelty to any living being. https://www.facebook.com/340141625998854/videos/vb.340141625998854/1088581901154819/?type=2&theater