TPOP: On Giving Michael Vick a Second Chance

Here is my newest article on The Point of Pittsburgh.  


On Giving Michael Vick a Second Chance  
by Tiger Rowan  

Pulverized dog corpses strewn about in puddles of congealed blood.

Understandably, that is the visual that comes to mind whenever someone mentions the name Michael Vick. Dog owners worldwide have condemned him.  Comedians have used him as a punchline. To the average non-football-fan on the street, “dead dogs” is about all that they know about the man.

So when the Steelers signed Michael Vick yesterday, the immediate reaction for many Steelers fans was ire...

Keep reading:
http://www.thepointofpittsburgh.com/on-giving-michael-vick-a-second-chance/

Fee free to pass it on to anyone who may be interested... or, who needs help calming down.

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Good stuff!

tony hipchest wrote:

Good stuff!

Thanks, Tony.

shared it on my FB page. Great read.

Excellent article!

Good article.

HeinzMustard wrote:

Excellent article!  

Thanks

jak341 wrote:

Good article.

I appreciate the kind words.

stlrtruck wrote:

shared it on my FB page.  Great read.

That is much appreciated. Thanks.

good writing teegre and i agree some what , but i still think he's a piece of shit human being and a shitty QB. like all these other high profile criminals , i believe his only regret is getting caught. these guys have to hire PR experts to formulate their apologies and coach them how to respond.

Master_Of_Puppets wrote:

good writing teegre and i agree some what , but i still think he's a piece of shit human being and a shitty QB.  like all these other high profile criminals , i believe his only regret is getting caught. these guys have to hire PR experts to formulate their apologies and coach them how to respond.

Most of the guys out there, I don't believe. They apologize, because that's what they are "supposed" to do.

But, to me, Vick seems sincere.

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another great write up teeg

exactly, the media and everybody has no problem riding ray lewis' nuts why can't they forgive vick?

Mark Kaboly ‏@MarkKaboly_Trib

I think this is classy -- Art Rooney stops and talks to the Vick protesters when leaving facility. All 9 of them.

https://twitter.com/MarkKaboly_Trib

I understand why people are upset. I really do. I have two dogs myself and have had a pet dog for pretty much every year of my life. But Vick did his time and he has acknowledged the wrong he did and tried to do better. i don't blame people for not liking the guy. I am certainly not a fan still but as you point out Teeg, Ken Lay never apologized for ruining the lives of dozens of people and Ray Lewis is treated like a hero especially by the Ravens fans who are hissing at the move. And honestly those who say the Chief would not have permitted this are ignoring that Art Rooney, Sr went to bat for Ernie Holmes when Ernie fired a weapon at a police chopper I believe. I think the Steelers FO does have higehr standards than most but they also believe in that age of old virtue of forgiveness. Michael Vick actually spent time in jail for what he did. He shouldn't be ruined forever. Again you won't see me buy a Vick jersey or profess to be a fan of his just because he's a Steeler now but I do believe he's earned a second chance. Others who have done far worse than vick don't get anywhere near the hate he gets.

2nd chance? Have you guys been living in Pluto the last 7 years? Michael Vick has had a full career since he served his time for this. hahaah

Personally I value people more than dogs and there are some players on our roster who did some bad things to other "people" or put themselves in situations where they could have done harm to people (i.e. driving a car while high)

If you find yourself easily rooting for the current Steelers but have an issue with Michael Vick - a person who admitted he was wrong, went to prison, paid for his crimes and made restitution after prison by doing charity work for animal shelters, etc ... then I just can't understand your point of view unless you feel that animals such as dogs are much more valuable than people.

I think there are a bunch of scumbags on this football team as there are on all teams. They have hurt women and I bet those women will never forget the fear and trauma for the rest of their lives. And when you have no problems rooting for these Steeler players who have hurt women but then protest over Vick - you are basically telling them that "dogs are way more valuable than you, bitch!"

I don't like what Vick did nor do I like what I know some of the other Steelers have done - but all of them have admitted their wrong doing and some of them (especially Vick) have paid for their crimes.

I will root for Vick with no conflict in my conscience. And I root for all the other Steelers with no conflict as well.

Good article teegre. Dante Stallworth killed a man while driving drunk,bought his way out of it and was welcomed back into the NFL. I have mixed emotions about Vick. I didn't like him before his crime came out but I watched him play because of his ability and even in a Steeler uniform I'll be curious to see if he can throw a 65 yard bomb to Bryant or Brown or whoever is running that fast. I don't think there is anyone on this board who (if Ben took a hit and came out for a play or two and Vick came in ) would not go crazy watching a 65-70 yard bomb for a TD. After the game we can say "I still don't like him"!

ETL wrote:

Personally I value people more than dogs and there are some players on our roster who did some bad things to other "people" or put themselves in situations where they could have done harm to people (i.e. driving a car while high)

If you find yourself easily rooting for the current Steelers but have an issue with Michael Vick - a person who admitted he was wrong, went to prison, paid for his crimes and made restitution after prison by doing charity work for animal shelters, etc ... then I just can't understand your point of view unless you feel that animals such as dogs are much more valuable than people.

I think there are a bunch of scumbags on this football team as there are on all teams.  They have hurt women and I bet those women will never forget the fear and trauma for the rest of their lives.  And when you have no problems rooting for these Steeler players who have hurt women but then protest over Vick - you are basically telling them that "dogs are way more valuable than you, bitch!"

I don't like what Vick did nor do I like what I know some of the other Steelers have done - but all of them have admitted their wrong doing and some of them (especially Vick) have paid for their crimes.  

I will root for Vick with no conflict in my conscience.  And I root for all the other Steelers with no conflict as well.

Driving a car while high don't kill people, driving that car kills people. A stoned driver is one of the safest, most cautious drivers you will encounter on the road.

If all drivers were stoned, accidents, speeding tickets, and road rage incidentss would all be reduced dramatically.

Bell was pulled over for emitting a scent, not endangering peoples lives.

I can't believe people still believe in this false and fake stigma attached to weed.

And are you suggesting ben has caused women fear and trauma for the rest of their lives?
I fear winning the lottery tomorrow. I may blow all that money, leaving me with nothing. That would be traumatic.

tony hipchest wrote:

ETL wrote:

Personally I value people more than dogs and there are some players on our roster who did some bad things to other "people" or put themselves in situations where they could have done harm to people (i.e. driving a car while high)

If you find yourself easily rooting for the current Steelers but have an issue with Michael Vick - a person who admitted he was wrong, went to prison, paid for his crimes and made restitution after prison by doing charity work for animal shelters, etc ... then I just can't understand your point of view unless you feel that animals such as dogs are much more valuable than people.

I think there are a bunch of scumbags on this football team as there are on all teams.  They have hurt women and I bet those women will never forget the fear and trauma for the rest of their lives.  And when you have no problems rooting for these Steeler players who have hurt women but then protest over Vick - you are basically telling them that "dogs are way more valuable than you, bitch!"

I don't like what Vick did nor do I like what I know some of the other Steelers have done - but all of them have admitted their wrong doing and some of them (especially Vick) have paid for their crimes.  

I will root for Vick with no conflict in my conscience.  And I root for all the other Steelers with no conflict as well.

Driving a car while high don't kill people, driving that car kills people. A stoned driver is one of the safest, most cautious drivers you will encounter on the road.

If all drivers were stoned, accidents, speeding tickets, and road rage incidentss would all be reduced dramatically.

Bell was pulled over for emitting a scent, not endangering peoples lives.

I can't believe people still believe in this false and fake stigma attached to weed.

And are you suggesting ben has caused women fear and trauma for the rest of their lives?
I fear winning the lottery tomorrow.  I may blow all that money, leaving me with nothing.  That would be traumatic.

On the subject of driving under the influence of marijuana, I once stopped at a stop sign waiting for it to turn green And that was back in the 'dirtweed days" If I smoked some now I'd still be waiting.
as far as Ben we will probably never know what really happened there. I've seen no evidence that either party was "paid off".
I've read nothing about settling out of court. Maybe I missed it. If he did what he was accused of then he is a common criminal but my take is he was a jerk putting himself situations that would harm him AND OTHERS!

One comment in the article that I disagree with is that some crimes are unforgivable. All crimes are forgivable, provided the people who did them are sorry that they did and commit to never doing them again. The severity of the crime does not matter, nor does the degree of punishment received (if any at all).

I'm nobody's proselyte or theologian, nor am I a devout religious adherent, but if Jesus Christ could forgive the prostitute taken in adultery even though she was never formally punished for her sin, or if He could forgive Saul of Tarsus for killing Christians, then who are we not to forgive Michael Vick? If George Wallace could be forgiven by black people for his active racism and using the powers of a state government against them, then who are we not to forgive somebody who's never directly harmed us? If PETA, of all organizations, can live and let live...

Lisa Lange, PETA Senior Vice President wrote:

As long as [Michael Vick is] throwing a football and not electrocuting a dog, PETA is pleased he is focused on his game.

...then who are we not to live and let live? If we can forgive Ben Roethlisberger for his shameful behavior, then who are we not to forgive Michael Vick for his? (No, just because Roethlisberger was never indicted for a crime doesn't change the fact that his behavior was shameful.)

It's been nearly a decade since Michael Vick was punished for his crime, and he's taken the straight and narrow path since. Likewise, it's been five years since Ben Roethlisberger embarrassed himself, his family, his team and his fans, and he's taken the straight and narrow path since. Who are we to keep holding their pasts against them when they've both repented and atoned?

Good read.

Keep up the good work.

ETL wrote:

Personally I value people more than dogs and there are some players on our roster who did some bad things to other "people" or put themselves in situations where they could have done harm to people (i.e. driving a car while high)

If you find yourself easily rooting for the current Steelers but have an issue with Michael Vick - a person who admitted he was wrong, went to prison, paid for his crimes and made restitution after prison by doing charity work for animal shelters, etc ... then I just can't understand your point of view unless you feel that animals such as dogs are much more valuable than people.

I think there are a bunch of scumbags on this football team as there are on all teams.  They have hurt women and I bet those women will never forget the fear and trauma for the rest of their lives.  And when you have no problems rooting for these Steeler players who have hurt women but then protest over Vick - you are basically telling them that "dogs are way more valuable than you, bitch!"

I don't like what Vick did nor do I like what I know some of the other Steelers have done - but all of them have admitted their wrong doing and some of them (especially Vick) have paid for their crimes.  

I will root for Vick with no conflict in my conscience.  And I root for all the other Steelers with no conflict as well.

Great post! This is a viewpoint that is very close to myself. I have a dog, but I dont have a breed that has been bred to fight. I personally know people that have had pitbulls and rescued them from fighting and I think I know some people that could have been fighting theirs. So I know a little about both sides of the coin I think.

I think that young athletes that have been showered with praise and preferrential treatment make mistakes when they are young. It doesnt matter if they are wearing #2, #26, #7, #92....I think that guys have made bad decisions, paid for it and hopefully learned from them.

I dont make athletes my heros, because many of them are less than saintly off the field, let alone on the field. Vick did the crime, he did the time and if he ever needs to go in a game for the Steelers, I hope he does well.

tony hipchest wrote:

ETL wrote:

Personally I value people more than dogs and there are some players on our roster who did some bad things to other "people" or put themselves in situations where they could have done harm to people (i.e. driving a car while high)

If you find yourself easily rooting for the current Steelers but have an issue with Michael Vick - a person who admitted he was wrong, went to prison, paid for his crimes and made restitution after prison by doing charity work for animal shelters, etc ... then I just can't understand your point of view unless you feel that animals such as dogs are much more valuable than people.

I think there are a bunch of scumbags on this football team as there are on all teams.  They have hurt women and I bet those women will never forget the fear and trauma for the rest of their lives.  And when you have no problems rooting for these Steeler players who have hurt women but then protest over Vick - you are basically telling them that "dogs are way more valuable than you, bitch!"

I don't like what Vick did nor do I like what I know some of the other Steelers have done - but all of them have admitted their wrong doing and some of them (especially Vick) have paid for their crimes.  

I will root for Vick with no conflict in my conscience.  And I root for all the other Steelers with no conflict as well.

Driving a car while high don't kill people, driving that car kills people. A stoned driver is one of the safest, most cautious drivers you will encounter on the road.

If all drivers were stoned, accidents, speeding tickets, and road rage incidentss would all be reduced dramatically.

Bell was pulled over for emitting a scent, not endangering peoples lives.

I can't believe people still believe in this false and fake stigma attached to weed.

And are you suggesting ben has caused women fear and trauma for the rest of their lives?
I fear winning the lottery tomorrow.  I may blow all that money, leaving me with nothing.  That would be traumatic.

please tell me you are being sarcastic. i've been on the same board as you for the the last 8-9 years and know that you are smarter than that.

vasteeler wrote:

another great write up teeg

Thanks, va.