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August 19, 2009Teaching an Old Dogfighter New Tricks
Michael Vick appears truly repentant. Can we forgive him?
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I was home in Philadelphia last Thursday when the news broke that my beloved Eagles had signed Michael Vick to a two-year contract. This came just four months after his release from prison on charges related to dogfighting. Local reactions were immediate and impassioned; people picketed the Eagles’ offices, called for boycotts on team sponsors, and returned their season tickets, which some estimate to have between a 400- and 4,000-year wait. “Hide Your Beagle, Vick’s an Eagle” was a popular rallying cry on the nightly news.
But others lined up at sporting goods stores to see if they could get one of the first Vick jerseys printed on Eagles green, nearly salivating as they described the new life Vick might breathe into the offensive strategy. While Philly fans are known for their passionate, vocal responses — both positive and negative — to their teams, it seems like since Thursday, even people outside Philadelphia and even the sports world have had something to say about it.
The big question is whether Michael Vick should ever be allowed to play football again, especially in the nation’s premier league. He’s had his chance, and he messed up. Big time.
But this is a story about second chances. Michael Vick wants one. The Eagles are giving him one. Will we extend him the same courtesy? How do we decide who deserves a second chance, and what form that might take?
This all hits close to home for Eagles head coach Andy Reid, who took time off two years ago when his two sons were arrested for drug charges. The Philadelphia Inquirer reports on Reid’s introduction of the newest Eagle at a press conference, which was uncharacteristically personal in tone:
“I'm a believer that as long as people go through the right process, they deserve a second chance. Michael has done that. . . . He has some great people in his corner, and he has proven that he's on the right track." Reid also admitted that his personal life influenced his strong feelings about Vick, referring to the arrests of his two sons . . . "I've seen people that are close to me who have had second chances that have taken advantage of those. . . . It's very important that people give them an opportunity to change, so we're doing that with Michael. The other side of that is we're getting one of the best football players in the league.”
Even Donovan McNabb, whose security as the Eagles’ starting quarterback is threatened by a new superstar QB who has held the position with another team, has vocally supported Vick’s return to the Eagles. He writes on his blog that he brought the idea to Reid first, advocating for his friend and future rival, because he believes the situation will give Vick the best support to move on and practice the lifestyle changes he says he wants. “I want to see him continue to grow as a person, spend time with his family and re-establish himself as a leader on and off the field,” McNabb writes. “Due to the nature of what happened and the attention it has received, it may not always be easy for him but he seems up for the challenge. Fortunately, with a tremendous individual like Tony Dungy in his corner, he will have the support he needs.”
Dungy, the former Indianapolis Colts coach and a committed Christian, sat by Vick’s side at his first Eagles press conference. Since retiring in January, Dungy has worked with imprisoned young men as part of his Christian outreach program. Of Dungy’s visits to Vick’s cell, the Los Angeles Times reports:
"I talked to him about where he wanted to go in the future," Dungy said. "That's one of the things my dad always used to say to me when he was alive. . . . And that's what I kept asking Mike. 'Where are you going to go from here?' "And the other thing I asked him was where the Lord was in all this. We talked about him growing up and having that side, that Christian background, but really getting to the NFL and feeling like he was his own guy. Somewhere in the course of all this he realized that he had left that spiritual side. When he kind of described that to me and the fact that he needed to get back closer to the Lord, that's when I said, 'I'm going to stay involved in this. I'm going to help you.' "
When Vick’s agent approached the Eagles to discuss a future relationship, Reid said Vick brought with him a wish list that included no guarantees of playing time or a lucrative salary (though there is that), and hopes for a coach that would be a mentor and teammates who would support him as he tries to turn his life around.
We can look at what Michael Vick did with horror — as well we should. We can insist that we would never do such a thing — we probably won’t. But it’s just not that simple. We are not Michael Vick, and we don’t know what it’s like to be surrounded by a culture that celebrates and normalizes the things he did. Dungy acknowledged as such, saying, “Dogfighting is just one situation. I've dealt with guys, and they don't see the harm in it. But eventually the light goes on and they change. That's part of coaching, that's part of being a parent, that's part of helping young people grow into adulthood."
Vick’s brush with the law forced him to do some growing up. As with many celebrities, NFL stars growing up in the spotlight can get trapped in an adolescent mindset. In his 60 Minutes interview, Vick said:
The first day I walked into prison, and he slammed that door, I knew the magnitude of the decision that I made, and the poor judgment, and what I allowed to happen to the animals. And, you know, it's no way of explaining the hurt and the guilt that I felt. And that was the reason I cried so many nights. And that put it all into perspective . . . I let myself down, not being out on the football field, being in a prison bed, in a prison bunk, writing letters home, you know. That wasn't my life. That wasn't the way that things was supposed to be. And all because the so-called culture that I thought was right, that I thought it was cool. and I thought it was fun, and it was exciting at the time. It all led to me lying in a prison bunk by myself with no one to talk to but myself.
Animals inspire great passion in people, and it’s difficult to see beyond the anger at what Vick did to them. But the more I read and listen and think about who Vick has become, and what he’s now asking us to do, the more I cannot ignore the call to forgiveness.
Vick paid the sentence asked of him, now admits his wrongs, and is seeking help in the form of Christian counsel. He’s already lost his money and his reputation; now he can pursue a career in the only field he knows. It if will help him turn his life around, I’m ready to offer my forgiveness and support.
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Comments
I think we do forgive him. God calls us to forgive. Even if he hadn't repented, we should forgive. Forgive doesn't have to mean being okay with him going back to play football, and for me it wouldn't if he hadn't repented. Considering that he seems to have repented (there is no way for us to tell if he is sincere), and that he has paid his sentence, I don't see any reason why he shouldn't be allowed to play.
I do find it worrisome that many people seem to find it easier to forgive people the things they do to other people than the things they do to animals. Yes, dog fighting is horrible, but is it any less forgivable than the sins we perpetrate against each other?
Posted By: Anna | August 19, 2009 10:09 AM
Love the support Vick has gotten within this article...Maybe NOW others will stop their screaming about Vick not deserving a 2nd chance...
If someone is NOT given that 2nd chance how will anyone ever know if someone could do better?
I believe everyone reading this has been given a 2nd chance at least ONE time in their life!
Posted By: hedy | August 19, 2009 11:12 AM
It's possible it's an act to garner some good PR, but that's a risk I believe we should take. Sometimes, all we need is to suffer the consequences of our sin to change.
I don't think an unforgiving attitude will help anybody. It might even push a man like Vick back into his old lifestyle.
I really do hope he's sincere in his desire to change. There is nothing more joyful than to see somebody turn away from a sinful life.
Posted By: Merciel | August 19, 2009 2:15 PM
What he wrote about feeling hurt and guilty, and oh boo hoo he was in a prison bunk with no one to talk to and not out on the football field...doesn't anyone see how sorry he is for HIMSELF? Everyone deserves a second chance, but is he really sorry for the horrible things that he did to innocent living creatures? Or just sorry that he got into trouble? Has he been psychologically rehabilitated? He was involved in cruel, torturous, horrible acts against God's little creatures and saw nothing wrong with it because of the "culture" that he was involved in. That says loads for the so-called "culture" doesn't it? Forgive him? Yes, if he is truly sorry for what he DID, not just sorry for letting himself and his fans down. Second chance? Of course, but why does he have to become a super sports hero again? Let's see him do something like donate most of his money to humane groups. Put it in perspective: look at your family dog and just think of him/her being chewed apart by another dog while people cheer, or being electrocuted, hanged from a tree, or bludgeoned to death. Just for fun. All for the pursuit of money, power, competition, glory and entertainment. Ooops...wait....
Posted By: Maryann | August 19, 2009 6:40 PM
I agree 100% with Maryann. Why the large salary - he couldn't handle that type of money before and was greedy and earned more money through DOG FIGHTING? Where is his remorse? Give 1/2 his salary to animal right's groups. He'd still be more comfortable on 1/2 his salary than most Americans. Get real. Playing games for millions of dollars -- what does that contribute to our society? Vick was given a second chance by being released from prison. Second chance, but not as a celebrity. He needs to learn to earn an honest living with a real job, like most of us. I scoffed at last year's news when Westbrook whined about his salary and "threatened" not to play. What would be the harm in not giving in to all their demands -- Jeez, they'd have to really work for a living. Did you notice all the football players in trouble with the law? What a great group of role models. Come on fans, wise up.(BTW, Where did you get the Vick doll in your picture? My rescued dogs would love one)
Posted By: Golden retriever mom | August 20, 2009 7:59 AM
I don't follow sports at all, but I read the paper every day so I'm familiar with Vick's story, and I think of him the same way I think of Roman Polanski.
For those unfamiliar, Roman Polanski is a director of undeniable talent (Chinatown) who is also a U.S. national living as a fugitive in a non-extradition European country for over twenty years now after fleeing the U.S. the night he was convicted of statutory rape. A few years ago, he made a big film for the first time since his conviction: The Pianist, a stunning Holocaust drama starring Adrian Brody (who won the Oscar for it). Polanski was nominated for a Best Director Oscar, which set off a firestorm of debate. Many people felt he should not be nominated because of his crime, an unreconciled crime at that. He won the award that year.
I think it was right of the Academy to give it to him, because The Pianist is an excellent film, and because Polanski's ability to make movies, or his right to be recognized for it, has absolutely nothing to do with his sins, legal or otherwise. (Though I'll admit, Chinatown became even more disturbing after I learned that his crime came on the heels of making that film.) Vick sinned in public, and we tend to apply an extra degree of horror to sins that break earthly laws too, and horrific his sin was indeed. But it has nothing to do with whether or not he should continue to play football, or his quality as a player, or what he should do with the money he legitimately earns on the football field. I don't defend his crime, I just don't see how the two are connected. If they were correlated, and that correlation fairly applied to the whole world, we'd all be out of work, penniless, and obliged to burn everything manufactured or produced by someone who's sinned.
And I have to say, I pity Vick, because I know how impossible it is to move forward when someone refuses your apology on the basis that they assume you lie. I know few states more miserable and hopeless than living under that kind of condemnation.
Posted By: elly | August 20, 2009 12:08 PM
Maryann and Golden retriever mom: Great points! I actually agree: forgiveness can be given to him without giving him to chance to return to the NFL. It might even be the worst thing that could happen as it'll enable him to return to that carnal life.
I want to believe that he's sincere and he will do the right thing. He has decided to work the Humane Society to combat dogfighting. Perhaps it's a PR stunt, but I'm hoping that he is serious and might even become a very valuable asset to animal rights
Posted By: Merciel | August 22, 2009 12:35 PM
I actually find this entire discussion odd. He committed a crime, was convicted, served his sentence, like many other criminals. Who are "we" to forgive or not forgive him? Did he sin against me? I don't think that lies within my power or scope of responsibility. What would that mean anyway? Forgiving him means we watch him on television? Support his sports team? What?
Obviously, someone chose to give him another chance. Honestly, I couldn't care less about that or professional sports in general. What he did was reprehensible. But it's really not my decision to hand out "forgiveness." Perhaps he should be asking God for forgiveness. Or, I suppose, maybe his fans if he still has any.
Posted By: Anonymous | August 24, 2009 1:56 PM
As an immigrant to this country, I am kind of surprised at the amount of outrage people have at what he did. People here eat beef, pork, and chicken that comes from animals that suffer far worse conditions than those of Vick's dogs. And yet, because they're dogs the whole country foams at the mouth? Torturing cows is ok but dogs are the major no-no? And as a Christian, I also find it disturbing how so many people can extend such compassion to their pets and make the pet industry a %15 billion one, and yet fail to show compassion to their fellow men.
Posted By: Deedee | September 18, 2009 3:44 PM
As someone who works with male offenders on a daily basis I know how difficult it is for people to take you seriously after you have committed some outrageous crime.
I work with men who find it extremely difficult to find decent employment after leaving prison because no one believes they have changed. I also know men who have had a hard time finding that one person who will take a chance on them after they leave prison. I must also say that I have worked with some men who have blown their second chance as well.
Nevertheless my sympathies lie with Michael Vick. When a man walks out of prison after paying for his crime he ought to be allowed to live as a free man. Not to allow him to work, and to do those things he does best is to punish him twice.
Only time will tell whether or not he is a changed man, and I believe he should be given that time.
And for those who think he is getting off easy, I invite you to think again. Michael Vick may never return to the giddy heights from which he has fallen, may never regain the respect and admiration that he has lost, may not ever again become the player many expected him to become.
He has already lost, big time, now only time will tell if he is man enough to give a second chance his best shot.
Posted By: Steve Skeete | September 22, 2009 10:00 PM