In his first interview since going to prison, NFL star Michael Vick sat down with CBS’ 60 Minutes to discuss how he went from the highest-paid football player in history to a disgrace and a disappointment, all because of his involvement with violent dogfighting.
“I blame me,” Vick told James Brown, his voice low and eyes sincere. It seems the two years in prison has really had an impact on the former Atlanta Falcons quarterback, who was exposed to dogfighting as a boy in Newport News, Virginia. “I thought it was cool, and I thought it was fun and I thought it was exciting at the time,” Vick explained. “And it all landed me in a prison bunk.”
Back in November 2008, Vick pleaded guilty to dogfighting and began a 23-month sentence in Kansas. While in prison, Vick says he had time to think about everything, and now he really is sorry for what he did to the animals, and everything he put his family through.
Vick has been paired up with mentor and retired NFL coach Tony Dungee, who has experience mentoring inmates, especially African American young men. Vick has also made an unlikely connection with Humane Society president and CEO Wayne Pacelle; the two will work together to educate young people about dogfighting, a widespread problem in all parts of the country. Vick now teaches children to love animals, something he said he never learned growing up.
You know, as an animal lover it is hard to forgive a guy like this for what he has done. But he’s served his time and he seems like he has really reformed and does actually feel bad for what he did. While, ignorance isn’t always a good excuse, it does help explain why he did what he did.
I think it’s time we give him a second chance.
Vick interview provokes howls of protest.
See:
http://notionscapital.wordpress.com/2009/08/17/michael-vick-signed-to-nfl-amid-howling-controversy/
I wouldn’t for a second defend or justify what Vick did – but I do believe he deserves a second chance. He went to prison, did his sentence, and now he’s out. If we believe in the legal system and rehabilition, we have to believe that people can learn, grow and change.
If nothing else, Vick now has an amazing opportunity to speak out against the very the thing that brought him down.