So what happens after jail? Ron Wolf think he should get a second chance. Because “you’re supposed to get a second chance in this country.” Pfffft. Too much huffing cheese during the Green Bay years, Wolf.
First of all, need I point out the obvious–not everyone does get a second chance. Some people go to jail for life. Now, I’m not advocating that Vick go to jail for life for dogfighting. I’m just pointing out that there’s no inalienable right to second chances. We get life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Second chances, particularly when the first have been blown spectacularly, are not a guarantee.
But then, I also submit this to you: Vick will get a second chance. He will get a second chance to to return to society and prove himself a productive member. He will get a chance to relish his freedom again. He will get a chance to go back to most of the things that he enjoys. Professional football just might not be one of them.
See, we don’t get to dictate the exact terms of our second chances. “Second chance” doesn’t necessarily equal “automatic return to precisely same station and situation in life, with no ill effects.” A second chance can still be meaningful, even if he’s lost certain elements irretrievably.
If Vick was smart with his money, he’s probably set for life. Even if the Falcons try to recoup some of the signing bonus money, he had endorsement money coming out his posterior. If he’s so inclined, he’ll have his chance to restore his good name (good being a relative term with the water bottles and the middle fingers and such). He’ll be a free man again. If the worst that ever happens to Michael Vick as a result of these crimes is that he doesn’t get to take another snap in the NFL, then you won’t hear me crying for him.
Also, I realize this has escaped notice for many years, but HE’S NOT THAT GOOD OF A QUARTERBACK. Don’t cry for him, Argentina. Or Atlanta, for that matter. Five years from now, this could look like the best thing to happen to the Falcons, ever, so long as it forces them to get an actual quarterback. Being a good athlete with a freakish skill set is not the same as being an NFL QB.
August 21, 2007 at 7:56 am |
So many good points, and I must say, I agree with you. Vick will have another opportunity, but he does have to deal with the consequences of his actions, which will be magnified because of his position in the public eye. Is that fair? I don’t know, but the man gets paid enough that he will just have to deal with it. And if he is “ruined financially” as I heard some talking heads speculate, that’s tough. I have limited sympathy for those who make more in a year than I will in a lifetime.
But your best point is your last — he is an incredibly talented athlete, and in grade school and even some high school football, that means you get to be QB. That doesn’t (or shouldn’t) hold true in Division I college and the NFL. Has Vick broght the Falcons the glory that was anticipated with his arrival? I think not. Has Atlanta risen to the top? Not really. What he has accomplished is putting black marks on the careers of head coaches he ran out of town.
Oh, and he has backed the provision of violent, illegal entertainment to who knows how many people. Seriously folks, do you need to watch dogs kill each other? Ugh. Why not just stick to the bone-crunching hits of NFL football? Rules keep the violence in check, scoring is more interesting than “dead or not dead,” injuries are more limited, it takes a tiny bit more intelligence to appreciate, there’s less blood, and it’s legal. And if you are really into the pain, join Coach Ditka.
September 13, 2007 at 1:40 pm |
[...] pretty consistent. Professional football is a privilege, not a right (see also: Vick, Michael and “Second Chance” Entitlement Syndrome) and if you mishandle that privilege you may find yourself on an unplanned vacation. The coaches [...]