Big puppy eyes do Vick no good with public

By Cory Anotado
Collegian Editor
August 29, 2007

Let me propose a trade to you: how about you give me $22 million, and I’ll give you $17,000 with the risk of going to jail for a long, long time? It sounds like a terrible, horrible deal. No one in their right mind would ever make any kind of business proposition, because no one in their right mind would take such a deal.

It sure says a lot about the mental state of former Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick.

Vick pled guilty to charges relating to his owning and operating Bad Newz Kennels, a dog fighting ring based on property owned by Vick in Surry County, Va. Over 50 dogs, mostly pit bulls, were seized by law enforcement officials. Some of the dogs showed signs of injury. A number of dog carcasses were also found on the same property during subsequent searches. Nike has suspended Vick’s contract without pay and will not sell Vick goods. Reebok, the NFL Online Shop, Donruss, Upper Deck, Rawlings and Dick’s Sporting Goods have all publicly stated that they will no longer sell or create Vick merchandise.

Statements of facts filed in Richmond relating to these allegations show that not only did Vick financially back bets on dog fights, most of which netted the winner around $17,000, but he also killed dogs that did not fare well during what were called “testing sessions.” In the statements, it says that the dogs were killed via “various methods, including hanging and drowning.”

Why would someone with a multi-million dollar NFL contract, numerous merchandising deals and more money than God himself throw all that away? Talking to a source close to Vick, Sports Illustrated’s Don Banks uncovered this: “He’s not very bright at all and that’s a big part of his problems. He’s a very unintelligent person and he makes poor decisions because of it. It’s not a white or black thing. Paris Hilton is an idiot, too. Mike Tyson was totally dumb, but for a long time his trainer kept him protected from his worst mistakes. You have to have someone around you who can protect you from yourself at times.’’

Another source, this time in the NFL who has watched Vick for years, had this to say: “I’ve seen what he’s truly about, and now, the rest of the world sees what he’s truly about. He’s not dumb, and he’s not a bad guy. He’s just selfish. He’s an extremely selfish human being. He doesn’t care about his team or his teammates. He says he does, but he doesn’t.”

No one can read into the mind of Vick. We can, however, look at his past actions and draw some good ideas of how his mind works.

Michael Vick keeps incredibly bad company. In 2004, two men were arrested in Virginia, Vick’s home state, for distributing marijuana. They were driving in a truck registered to Vick. Later that year, two men traveling with Vick were caught on tape stealing an expensive watch from a security screener. Vick promised to return the watch to the screener.

Michael Vick puts others in harm to benefit himself. In 2005, Vick was alleged to have passed herpes onto a woman without letting her know he had the disease. His knowledge of his disease was confirmed when it was discovered that Vick went to get tested under the name “Ron Mexico.” The matter was settled out of court.

Michael Vick is crude, rude and vile. In November of 2006, Vick flipped up his middle fingers at booing fans. In January 2007, Vick was caught at Miami International Airport with a specially-designed water bottle normally used to hide marijuana.

I would think that both sources stated earlier were, in a way, right about Vick. He is very selfish, but to think he’s able to pull wool over the eyes of the public is very stupid. Say what you will about his on-field performance, Vick is a despicable, deplorable human being.

anotadoc1@lasalle.edu