According to the Associated Press, Michael Vick has sunk to a new low. Well, considering he was convicted of incredibly inhumane and cruel acts of violence against dogs, perhaps it would be inaccurate to say he has sunk to a new low. I suppose his latest remarks during a surprise appearance at a basketball camp at Hampton University in Virginia are just par for the course.
I understand that he has “done his time” and “paid his debt to society.” So has “PacMan” Jones. Anyone out there want him doling out advice to your kids? No, you don’t. And that’s why the only football he is playing these days is on “Pros vs. Joes.”
According to the AP’s reporting, Vick is far from accepting responsibility for what he did to those animals. And if he does not accept responsibility, he cannot be remorseful, by definition. How can you feel bad about what you have done if you do not think you have done anything wrong in the first place?
Vick apparently told a crowd of about 250 campers that they should “use me as an example for your dreams.” I suppose if your dream is to be born head and shoulders above just about everybody else in the world athletically, make it to the NFL and sign a 100 million dollar contract before pissing it all away because you are a blood-thirsty criminal, Michael Vick is a man you should emulate.
But if you want to grow up to be a man or a woman who steps up and takes responsibility for your mistakes, Michael Vick is likely the last person you should be listening to.
Vick went on to essentially tell the children that he was the victim of circumstance. That his only mistake was that he trusted the wrong people. The AP reports the school put out a press release that quotes Vick as saying he “allowed someone who didn’t have my best interests at heart to take all that away from me.”
How long before Vick’s camp says he was misquoted? Not long, you can bet.
Michael, do you know who the person that didn’t have your best interest at heart was? You, Michael. It was you. When you risked your career and very freedom to fund and participate in an illegal dogfighting ring, you put yourself behind bars. Nobody else. You.
You did this to yourself. If you don’t know that, you shouldn’t be in the NFL. I would only be slightly surprised if you never do.
And it is almost as disgusting to watch the press absolutely making up stories about where he will be playing. A lot of little birdies seem to be tweeting a lot of bullshit into a lot of reporters’ ears.
After his latest statements, I don’t think Vick will ever get it. I expect his upcoming interview on “60 Minutes” to be the final nail in the coffin of what was once a nine figure NFL career. All evidence shows Michael Vick is simply a bad person. When the cameras start buzzing, the mics are turned on and he doesn’t have a lawyer or agent to speak for him, he will be able to hide that about as well as Roger Clemens was able to deflect steroid accusations when Mike Wallace was lobbing him softballs and he used the fact that he did not have a third ear growing out of his forehead as evidence he was clean.
You can fool some people sometimes, Michael Vick, but you can’t fool me. Ever.
I don’t think you will be playing NFL again as soon as you think, Michael Vick. I don’t care how many scenarios the people you have speaking for you make up. I don’t care how many stories ESPN publishes, republishes and then republishes again almost verbatim expect for changing the names of the teams. I think it is all a bunch of hot air.
As of right now, I don’t think any NFL team is interested in you, Michael Vick. At least to the point of having you sign on the dotted line.
Why would they be?
You were a middle of the pack quarterback when you were convicted. Look at the team you left. Do you think they miss you? They traded your back-up for two second rounders, drafted super-stud and non-dogfight funding QB Matt Ryan and almost immediately recovered from the shambles you probably thought you left their franchise in. Their future is as bright as yours is bleak. Plus, the Atlanta Falcons were able to recoup a nice chunk of the dough they squandered on a sadistic thug like you, Michael Vick.
I will not write one more story about who is interested in Michael Vick unless he is signed and it is actually news, or at the very least, until a reporter comes up with a rumor that has a verifiable source.
That said, I will be a media watchdog. I will be here to call out reporters who put out ridiculous rumors supported by their own desire for attention and relevance rather than an actual scoop.
I no longer want to debase myself the way the rest of the media has. And I am guessing all of the owners in the NFL feel the same way.
Have fun on “Pros vs. Joes”, dude. Tell “PacMan” “Wassup.”
Update: Michael Vick Drops Eagle Egg All Up On My Face
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Mason Lerner
Mason Lerner is a freelance writer and stand-up comedian in Austin, TX. His works has appeared in the Houston Chronicle, ESPN the Magazine and many other publications. Lerner is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin with a degree in Anthropology. ...
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adam says:
this article is ridiculous. you, mason lerner, are ignorant. in no way am i trying to justify what michael vick did, but he has done his time. He has every right to make a living playing football in the nfl and continue on with his life. You're just stupid if you say he will never play in the nfl again. And by the way there are teams interested in him so id suggest getting your facts straight before you take your ignorance and write an article like this
Bernadette says:
Great article. He's no role model and I wish people would stop idolizing a sociopath. Michael Vick is only sorry he got caught. It makes me sick to my stomach to hear people defending him.
ryan says:
Is this serious? This is the most ignorant, mindless article I have ever read. Do you even bother to read the news? It's obvious that Michael Vick will be signed to a team this season. Stop trying to sound intelligent and dramatic. He went to jail, served his time, and now he's out. Get over it.
Brian says:
Mason Lerner- First of all you need to read an article in the Los Angeles Times by a REAL writer that actually interviewed Mike Vick.
http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-spw-vick-column13-2009aug13,0,6151214.story?track=rss
adam says:
ignorance is simply the only word to describe you, mason lerner. how can you say that michael vick does not have the right to make a living playing in the nfl. if he were lets so going to make a living as a garbage man, or any other job in the world, would you say he does not have the right to do that? what he did was wrong, he got caught, he went to jail, he served his time, and now he has every right to continue on with his life. and anyone that says otherwise is simply ignorant.
Mason Lerner says:
Adam,
Thanks for reading. I never said that he has no right to play in the NFL. Please show me where I said that. I think he has every right to play in the NFL.
You know, he may or may not play in the NFL. But I don't see him being signed by the end of the week. If you have a link to someone besides one of Vick's people or an unnamed source saying he will, please provide it. Until then, you should just go eat a big fat bowl of "Shuddup"
Brian, I did read the article in the LA Times. My favorite part was when Vick said he was going to be the face of the NFL in the future. I definitely went out on a limb saying he won't sign by the end of the week, but if I lived a million years I would never say something that dumb. Also, I love how you say the LA Times reporter is a REAL writer. I feel as angry as Rocky when Clubber told Adrian if she wanted to be with a REAL man she should shack up with him. How about this, hotshot. Send me a REAL link showing anyone outside of Vick's camp saying he will be signed.
adam says:
and seriously do you even watch football? michael vick was one of the most amazing athletes to ever step foot on a football field. he was definatly not a "middle of the pack" quarterback. once again..... pure ignorance. Oh and my favorite part of the whole article..... "Look at the team you left. Do you think they miss you?" haha this has got to be the stupidest article i've ever read.
Jarrett says:
Hey Adam
Mason Lerner says:
Ryan,
This is not someone sounding intelligent. It is someone being intelligent. Yeah, I read the news. Hit me with a link, yo. A lot of pedophiles have done their time too. You want them talking to your kids about anything? Doesn't change what they did or that they are sick. Perhaps you don't value the lives of animals or recognize the brutality and suffering Michael Vick inflicted on these animals.
adam says:
"eat a big fat bowl of shuddup." really mature.
Mason Lerner says:
Adam, stop, you are embarrassing yourself. Do you watch football?Vick had 20 TDs and 13 picks in 2006. He threw for less than 2,500 yards. He rushed for two TD's and fumbled NINE times. The Falcons were 7-9 that year.That is the definition of a middle of the pack QB. Tell me how I am wrong, homie.
Matt Ryan was the NFL AP ROY last year. The Falcs were 11-5. I suggest you catch a game some time. They are loaded. They don't miss Michael Vick.
Jarrett says:
Hey how many "middle of the pack quarterbacks" have a 100 million dollar contract?!
adam says:
show me where we implied in any way that we "do not value the lives of animals or recognize the brutality and suffering Michael Vick inflicted on these animals." i said in my original comment that i am in no way justifying what he did.
Mason Lerner says:
Adam, I am sorry if saying "Shaddup" hurt your feelings. I loved it when you called me "stupid" and "ignorant". Very articulate. But please, do tell me again how Michael Vick was one of the best QB's in the NFL in 2006. You should take the "shaddup" as advice. If you don't speak, you can't show what you don't know.
Mason Lerner says:
"adam says:
show me where we implied in any way that we "do not value the lives of animals or recognize the brutality and suffering Michael Vick inflicted on these animals." i said in my original comment that i am in no way justifying what he did."
Ok lets add "I wasn't talking to you" to follow "Shuddup." I was talking to poster Ryan, big guy.
adam says:
i called you ignorant because you said and i quote "I don’t think any NFL team is interested in you, Michael Vick." tell me how that is not an ignorant statement when there are multiple teams that are interested.
Mason Lerner says:
"Jarrett says:
Hey how many "middle of the pack quarterbacks" have a 100 million dollar contract?!"
It used to be only one. Now there aren't any. I didn't say Michael Vick was always a middle of the pack Q. I said he was when he was convicted. His numbers were very average his last few seasons. His career QB rating is 75.6. That would have ranked him 28th in the NFL last year. Upon further review, he might have been below average toward the end.
Mason Lerner says:
Adam, please provide a link where somebody not Tony Dungy, Joel Segal or an unnamed source says anyone is interested in Vick. Show me. Dungy says he will be signed by the end of the week. We'll see.
Jarrett says:
If you want to use that logic... Name your source about how no team is interested in him and he won't be signed. Wait you can't you hypocrite.
adam says:
no i'd rather go eat a big fat bowl of shaddup
Mason Lerner says:
Jarret, let me explain how things work in journalism and the world at large. You have to have a legit source for something to be a story. If Joel Segal says "lots" of teams are interested in Michael Vick, it is not legit because he is not an NFL team. I can't provide a link that says Michael Vick isn't Elvis's love child, but that doesn't mean he might be. I can provide a link to show 26 teams that are not interested in Vick Show me a link that says that anyone has even worked him out.
Anyways, I am done arguing with y'all. The fact that you two think Vick was an elite QB in 2006 shows how limited your scope is.
Jarrett says:
Well also in journalism there is something called integrity and trustworthyness... Tony Dungy one of the best NFL coaches and leaders of all time would not risk his integrity over an issue like this. What would him lying in this case do to help him?... Nothing. The best way to see whose right and wrong with the signing issue is to watch and see what plays out. Until then I trust Tony Dungy more then you.
adam says:
"im a cocky arrogant journalist who likes to argue with teenagers and sound intelligent"- mason lerner
Jarrett says:
btw there is also something in journalism called don't insult your readers. Ever heard of it?!
Mason Lerner says:
Jarret,
Thanks for the lesson. It's funny that you are giving me a lesson on trustworthiness when the whole point of this post was express my opinion on Vick and the state of the journalists covering him. At no point did I say any of this was written in stone. The fact that you don't understand the difference between opinion and news or a story and innuendo kind of underscore a lot of problems with media today. I know all about Tony Dungy. I wrote about that yesterday.
Also, guys, we are talking football. Not of the fate of the free world. You should be able to do it civilly.
And did the "Shaddup" really hurt your feelings that much? Sorry, dude. You shouldn't take this so seriously. I had to delete Adam's last post because his language grew vile.
The fact that I can delete posts, but I don't as long as the language is ok, should tell you I am open to debate and do not find myself to be infallible.
But I do know Vick was a mediocre QB in 2006. Why am I wrong?