February 1, 2017 3:00 PM
Michael Vick Writes A Letter To Atlanta
Ten years is a long time. In two weeks, “Icarus” has his tenth anniversary.
It’s with that in mind I enjoyed reading this. It’s a letter from Michael Vick to Atlanta.
I don’t care if you like sports, the Falcons, or if you love or hate Matt Ryan. You need to take the time to read it. It’s long. Make the time.
For now, that’s all I’ll have to say about that. This is the Falcons’ week, and I’m glad Mike Vick has chosen and been chosen to be a part of it. Second chances are awesome things.
Rise up.
About Author
Charlie
Founder of GeorgiaPol.com; Now weekly columnist Very interested in Georgia and Georginas. Interest in politics is waning daily.
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I really hope Michael is rehabilitated and can lead a productive and rewarding life. But he resisted taking responsibility for his actions for so long that I still have to reserve judgement on that. We shall see.
I probably have a bigger problem with the NFL as regards Vick. Playing in the NFL is a privilege, and those players are expected- no, required- to act like the role models they are. For the NFL to hire Vick again into the club shows the depravity the pursuit of profit can become. I do not begrudge Vick a second chance in the world to make a living, as an insurance salesman, a roofer, a personal trainer, a website designer… but to accept him back into the exclusive club that millions of kids look to for inspiration is hard to swallow.
“But he resisted taking responsibility for his actions for so long that I still have to reserve judgement on that.”
He served prison time. IN LEVINWORTH.
He didn’t declare Chapter 7 (I did), but did a repayment plan. The Falcons were completely repaid on his contract from his much more meager earnings he made when he returned. He could have easily (and probably should have, in all honesty) wiped his slate clean while he was in prison. Anything he made upon release would have been his own upside. But instead, he paid money back to the Falcons organization.
How much is enough, really, before someone should be allowed to start over?
He never cooperated with prosecutors, he violated his bail, he filed bankruptcy while paying $30,000 a month to his family and friends, he failed a lie detector test. There is ample reason to withhold forgiveness until he demonstrates remorse beyond reminiscing about not being a star anymore. He is very, very fortunate to have had the opportunity to make millions of dollars a year after what he did. Now that his football career is finally over maybe we’ll get to see what kind of character he has. As I often say, everybody makes mistakes, it’s how you react to those mistakes that determine who you are.
The bankruptcy plan he filed was a reorganization plan that made his creditors whole. While he was in prison. While he had no income. While he could have (and financially should have) been able to walk away from all of his debts. But he didn’t. And his creditors were repaid.
Seriously man. Let it go. He did more than most should, and almost anyone would.
It’s not like he voluntarily offered to pay everybody everything they were owed. He contested every claim (no fault there, he’d be an idiot not to), and almost every one resulted in a summary judgement against him. Then he submitted a financial plan that allowed him to keep 3 homes and pay his friends and family $30,000 a month, which was quickly rejected by a judge. The revised reorganization plan is the one you refer to, but even then he illegally withdrew a million dollars from a retirement fund he controlled! Dude must have the worst financial advisors in history.
If he were a plumber we wouldn’t be talking about him. The only reason we are talking about him is because he was a star, a hero to some, a role model. This is the trust that he betrayed and has yet to repair. But I suspect he will get some TV analyst gig and still make millions a year and be seen by many. Hopefully he would use that platform as an opportunity to teach. The letter he wrote was an opportunity to do that and he whiffed. It was all about how he missed being in the spotlight.
In the letter he wrote he is sorry for a lot of things- a lot of things his mistakes caused. But is there one word about being sorry for what he did? I didn’t see that. How could you write a letter like this and not at least say that in some way?
All I can say is, after reading your posts, either you have a ridiculously strict demand for a ‘certain level’ of public groveling for your fallen hero, or you don’t like the fact he is a man of color, who was very very successful at what he did.
Because all this ‘ain’t good enough for me’ is just that, it’s you. He did three years for killing a dog in a manner not prescribed by law. That. Is. It.
Get over your issue off if a man should be ‘welcome back to a former employer’ or now, because that demand, even though you won’t admit, is tenuous and tenacious.
You know, far be for me to defend B, but where in the hell did you get the “man of color” thing from his posts! It’s nowhere to be found. Folks can disagree about this guy without you throwing out a non existent race angle. Sheeeesh!
Great link, thanks.
Thanks for the article but I have to agree with B’s point of view. I think there are many who agree with you Charlie, as far as giving him second chance. It’s therapeutic to forgive, they say. I’m glad he’s made his creditors whole. He’s apparently doing and saying and writing all of the right things. However, I’ll never forget what he did to the weakest and most defenseless of creatures. It’s the most sadistic and evil of acts imaginable. I cannot imagine the pain and most of all, the fear those dogs must have felt. And maybe I’m in the minority, but there’s no redemption from that.
Then please skip church this Easter season.
Sure, I’ll have lunch with the family of Kate Steinle instead. Oh, and I didn’t forgive Tookie, either. Am I bad?
“It’s the most sadistic and evil of acts imaginable. I cannot imagine the pain and most of all, the fear those dogs must have felt.”. Let’s replace the word dogs in your statement with Syrian refugees. Does that change your mind on anything or do you care more about dogs than women and children? I Disagree with Charlie. You may need a little more churching.
If you are going to wear your self-righteous on your sleeve let’s try to be a little more consistent.
Oh, so I’m self righteous for saying Vick’s crimes were heinous? Got it…
And when ISIS themselves say they’re populating the ranks of the refugees with radical terrorists, I’m inclined to take them at their word and not to let them in. Common sense, really. But maybe they can come live with you, E?
No, you are self righteous for caring more about dogs than human beings. I’ve had dogs my entire life and believe what he did was heinous. He deserved to go to jail.
http://politics.blog.ajc.com/2016/10/16/60-minutes-takes-on-georgias-syrian-refugee-stance/
Also, the link above it about the church I attend. They aren’t in my home, but every article of baby gear we own has been donated to the Syrian families at our church. I keep waiting for them to blow the place up every Sunday. Still waiting.
Good for you. I’ve done the same with my old clothes to Goodwill and Salvation Army. Are you a better man for your donations? Or do all donations usually find their way to someone in need? Syrian or otherwise? And you’re the one who inserted the human element into my post. I never mentioned people when discussing Vick.
I will simply go back to my original statement about you caring for dogs over human beings. Just be consistent in your self-righteousness.
Keep floundering on this one, E. Like I said, my original post made no mention of humans, only Vick’s horrid treatment of animals.
Of course I can read and of course I can read what you post on other threads. I know I brought the human element into this discussion. I did it on purpose.
I don’t think I’m floundering, but you call it what you want. One of the biggest problems conservatives have is consistency in their opinions. But you keep on hating a man who served his time. I’m sure it make you feel better.
If you’ve had dogs you should understand why people may have more sympathy for them that other humans. Humans, even refugees, are perceived to have at least a little bit of free will. Dogs only want to please you. All they can do is do the best they can to please you. For that to be rewarded with torture is very hard to accept.
I’m with Charlie here. Jail doesn’t have to redeem you – I wouldn’t let an embezzler handle the books – but it is supposed to square things with society. Vick did his time and he’s OK with me.
I read his letter and I thought it was a good heartfelt explanation to Atlanta he didn’t have to do. According to our judicial system Michael Vick’s debt is now paid and he is square with the house again. Because our justice system has said that Vick has paid for his transgressions does not mean individuals will forgive him and I’m sure he knows that. Having watched this play out with people who will never forgive him I often wonder if the tables were turned and they ran afoul of the law would they want redemption for themselves? I guess karma is them knowing they too would never really be forgiven.
I forgive him but, from the git go, have opined convicted felons be barred from professional athletics. Nothing changes behavior like money or the loss of it. Go find another job.
Salty some of us would be happy if you would just go get a job. 🙂
The goal is to punish. And here is a logical question, which I know you’ll hate: If the debt is paid upon completion and release, how come sex offenders, after they’ve completed their sentence, can’t live within certain distances of schools and have to register with the county? Have they paid their debt or not? Apparently, they have to continue to pay after jail. Please be consistent.
And he did get out and he did get back into his chosen profession. So no problem with the legal aspect of this. But the NFL is a club and they can make their own rules, and if you break those rules they can decide their own punishment. I think they erred by letting him back in. (Pete Rose should never be in the HOF either.)
Disclaimer: I don’t know Mike Vick and have never spoken to him, so it is possible that he really is remorseful and has convinced the NFL and the Phila Eagles and NY Jets of his remorse, and that they weren’t just cravenly pursuing winning at all cost or whatever revenue stream they thought he might generate. I don’t know. But other than a few statements he has made and a donation here and there, I haven’t seen any remorse, and this letter didn’t provide any either. I do hope I am mistaken though and he can be a positive influence going forward.
i felt compelled to find out what he was up to when the steelers signed him to be a back up last year…and he really does appear to have made an effort to make amends for what he did, he has worked extensively with the humane society and their anti dogfighting campaign, he has worked in pennsylvania to get other animal welfare laws passed and the way it was explained to me is that he has humbly and without exception done everything that has been asked of him on the road to rehabilitation…he seems legit from everything i have been able to find…
Good to hear.
Vick made a big mistake and it cost him millions, a few years in a very tough prison environment and his reputation. But unlike other NFLers who get caught then caught again and again and again doing the same stupid stuff, Vick made serious life changes and came out on the other side a much better human being. For this he should be forgiven and commended.
Every job is special whether you are an NFL QB or the guy washing their uniforms after a messy, muddy game. If a person pays his/her debt to society they should be encouraged to continue their career pursuits. The alternative which happens all too often is they get deeper into crime becoming a societal burden for years. Vick is a model for how to rehabilitate oneself after making some dumb decisions. If I had kids, I would point to Vick as an example of bouncing back from rock bottom.
I know, I’m going for afternoon ritas as preparation!
Great letter that struck all the right notes…….BUT, why would he release it now and steal from the team’s glory? The letter would have gotten the same publicity two weeks ago or even next week.
Redeemed or not, it’s not for me to say. But I will call out a narcissist when I see one.
Narcissist!