Are you rooting for Michael Vick? (1 Viewer)

[Polar Dude]

I didn't root for him before the dog thing, and I'm not doing so now.

 

[Holy Schneikes]

Nope. In the short time he has been out of college:

2004 - A couple of dudes were busted for selling dope out of a truck registered to Vick

2004 - One of his boys ripped off a watch in an airport security line

2005 - He knowingly gave a chick herpes in 2002 (2005 was court date). The lawsuit was settled out of court (of course), but it was fairly obvious he knew about it since he had sought treatment for it under an alias prior to giving it to the chick.

2006 - Gave HIS fans (the ones paying his checks) the double bird.

2007 - Went through the airport screening with his "secret stash". No big deal legally, but is there any doubt about what that secret compartment was really for?

2007 - Blew off Congress when he was scheduled to lobby for a charitable organization. Missed not one, but two scheduled flights, and three separate meetings.

THEN we roll into the felony convictions for dog-fighting, gambling, etc which involved brutal torture that he ultimately ADMITTED to being a direct participant in.

He has lied through his teeth about most these incidents at one point or another, taking zero responsibility for anything until he absolutely had (i.e. it yielded the best results for one Mike Vick). Also, while on bail for the thing he finally got busted for, he failed a drug test.

Since his release, there have been allegations that he was supplied steroids during his Falcons days. Which of course he denied.

On the financial side, the man who has pulled in millions upon millions of dollars filed bankruptcy protection in 2008 (hosing all of his creditors). However, he had multiple suits against him indicating breach of contract BEFORE any of the the big legal problems. He shockingly had a bad habit of backing out of deals that weren't favorable to him after the fact. His two primary financial advisers before the bankruptcy filing were both charged with major frauds. A big chunk of the fraud involved trying to hide Vick's money prior to the bankruptcy investigation. He also illegally withdrew $150,000 from a pension fund for his employees AFTER he was advised against it and made one of many big speeches about how he was turning his life around. His original "charitable organization" more or less turned out to be a front for sliding cash to various members of his posse. I think the net result (before it was dissolved) was that they spent about 12% of the organization's budget on charitable programs.

All in all, why ANYONE would "root" for this guy is beyond me. If he wasn't busted by the feds, this stuff would probably all still be whitewashed away, but as far as I can tell, he's a sociopath. He cares about Mike Vick, and that's all.

The whole "he's paid his debt" think doesn't pass the sniff test. Yeah, he's paid his LEGAL debt to society (I guess), but that doesn't make him a "good guy" worthy of being rooted for. There are hundreds of other guys in the NFL who have done more with less talent and who AREN'T complete A-holes. Root for them.

 

[Deranged Hermit]

Why would I 'root' for a guy that's done such terrible things? Yeah, he's paid his debt to society, but that doen't mean I have to like the fact that he's on my TV screen. I feel this way about a lot of sports figures. I'm a Mets fan, does that mean I'll root for K-rod if he ever comes back to pitch for them? Absolutely not.

 

[3nOut]

I am rooting for Vick to connect with Maclin (owner here). Other than that, I am not emotionally vested one way or another.

 

[TheDirtyWord]

To the argument of 'he'd probably still be fighting dogs if he didn't get caught'...

While that may be true, getting caught is often a method for reform. This happens to us as kids when we know we're doing something wrong, but it seems to enticing at the time not to do. You get caught and realize how stupid it was to do whatever it was we were doing.

Obviously, Vick's transgressions involved much more heinous crimes, but the basic tenants of reform still apply, no? No donut his lifestyle choices were terrible, but should he not be evaluated on the choices he makes now, now that he has paid his debt to society?

 

[nyy45]

As a die hard Giants fan who hates the Eagles as much as the Red Sox, I can honestly say I want to see Vick do well, as long as the Eagles lose, which doesnt seem to probable with him under center. The whole soap opera that went on made me sick. Granted, what he did was wrong. It's not right to treat animals like that, end of story. But, the media's hard-on for this story and they way they used this unfortunate situation to scapegoat Vick as the biggest culprit in dogfighting history, was unacceptable, when in fact he wasn't even close to the biggest 'bad guy' in this underground sport. The way the media exploited him was almost as bad as what some of these dogs went through. Watching this never-ending drama play out over and over, day after day, was worse than sitting through an episode of the OC. Hey, as long as the networks were getting paid right?

The only thing worse than watching this end with Vick getting sentenced to jail, was seeing Dante Stallworth get away with drunk driving and 2nd degree manslaughter with 30 days in jail and 1,000 hours of community service. The worst part was that nobody seemed to care. He killed an innocent HUMAN, while driving drunk and get's off easier than Vick. Makes me cringe. It's disgusting the disregard some people have for humans and the empathy they have for animals.

seriously.....?

Yes. He was wrong without a doubt but it's part of the underground culture and when your a celebrity/athlete and you get caught up in a situation like that, you have a target on your back. So basically, he was just stupid for getting caught up when he had so much to lose but when you grow up with that type of violence around you, it becomes normal. I think he really does realize that what he did was unethical. Anyone who gets behind the wheel after drinking, knows they are wrong. Especially when you can afford to have a car service or cab pick you up. That's my problem. All of us are one the road with these people and it affects us, our kids, family and friends. Torturing animals, especially for game, is wrong, but it has been happening throughout history and it really doesn't affect the general public. You put other people in danger when you get behind the wheel under the influence of alcohol.

 

[Frot]

ya know

there is no RIGHT answer here

if people want to say he did his time he served his debt so be it, that's legit

if people think what he did was bad enough they cannot root for the man, that's legit too

if people want to wish he does just well enough to keep the QB situation a mess in philly, but not good enough to resolve it or lead them anyplace, well those people are just smart

 

[Happy Ragnarok]

As a die hard Giants fan who hates the Eagles as much as the Red Sox, I can honestly say I want to see Vick do well, as long as the Eagles lose, which doesnt seem to probable with him under center. The whole soap opera that went on made me sick. Granted, what he did was wrong. It's not right to treat animals like that, end of story. But, the media's hard-on for this story and they way they used this unfortunate situation to scapegoat Vick as the biggest culprit in dogfighting history, was unacceptable, when in fact he wasn't even close to the biggest 'bad guy' in this underground sport. The way the media exploited him was almost as bad as what some of these dogs went through. Watching this never-ending drama play out over and over, day after day, was worse than sitting through an episode of the OC. Hey, as long as the networks were getting paid right?

The only thing worse than watching this end with Vick getting sentenced to jail, was seeing Dante Stallworth get away with drunk driving and 2nd degree manslaughter with 30 days in jail and 1,000 hours of community service. The worst part was that nobody seemed to care. He killed an innocent HUMAN, while driving drunk and get's off easier than Vick. Makes me cringe. It's disgusting the disregard some people have for humans and the empathy they have for animals.

seriously.....?

Yes. He was wrong without a doubt but it's part of the underground culture and when your a celebrity/athlete and you get caught up in a situation like that, you have a target on your back. So basically, he was just stupid for getting caught up when he had so much to lose but when you grow up with that type of violence around you, it becomes normal. I think he really does realize that what he did was unethical. Anyone who gets behind the wheel after drinking, knows they are wrong. Especially when you can afford to have a car service or cab pick you up. That's my problem. All of us are one the road with these people and it affects us, our kids, family and friends. Torturing animals, especially for game, is wrong, but it has been happening throughout history and it really doesn't affect the general public. You put other people in danger when you get behind the wheel under the influence of alcohol.

So how exactly is this "almost as bad" as being hanged or drowned?

 

[Stinkin Ref]

As a die hard Giants fan who hates the Eagles as much as the Red Sox, I can honestly say I want to see Vick do well, as long as the Eagles lose, which doesnt seem to probable with him under center. The whole soap opera that went on made me sick. Granted, what he did was wrong. It's not right to treat animals like that, end of story. But, the media's hard-on for this story and they way they used this unfortunate situation to scapegoat Vick as the biggest culprit in dogfighting history, was unacceptable, when in fact he wasn't even close to the biggest 'bad guy' in this underground sport. The way the media exploited him was almost as bad as what some of these dogs went through. Watching this never-ending drama play out over and over, day after day, was worse than sitting through an episode of the OC. Hey, as long as the networks were getting paid right?

The only thing worse than watching this end with Vick getting sentenced to jail, was seeing Dante Stallworth get away with drunk driving and 2nd degree manslaughter with 30 days in jail and 1,000 hours of community service. The worst part was that nobody seemed to care. He killed an innocent HUMAN, while driving drunk and get's off easier than Vick. Makes me cringe. It's disgusting the disregard some people have for humans and the empathy they have for animals.

seriously.....?

Yes. He was wrong without a doubt but it's part of the underground culture and when your a celebrity/athlete and you get caught up in a situation like that, you have a target on your back. So basically, he was just stupid for getting caught up when he had so much to lose but when you grow up with that type of violence around you, it becomes normal. I think he really does realize that what he did was unethical. Anyone who gets behind the wheel after drinking, knows they are wrong. Especially when you can afford to have a car service or cab pick you up. That's my problem. All of us are one the road with these people and it affects us, our kids, family and friends. Torturing animals, especially for game, is wrong, but it has been happening throughout history and it really doesn't affect the general public. You put other people in danger when you get behind the wheel under the influence of alcohol.

what exactly did Vick get that he didn't deserve.......?.....(the herp does not count).......

 

[JAA]

I have hated Vick since he (and his brother) played against WVU. He is a 100% complete doosh. I could care less if he plays 1 more down in the NFL. That said, as an Eagles fan I am rooting for my team to win. If the NFL thinks he can play, then I have to support that, and I can support his play, but not him as a person. No nope never

 

[r3t2]

This is one where I have to say no I am not rooting for the player.Vick didn't make a mistake/mistakes....he was living a lifestyle......to me there is a little bit if a difference.....a mistake might be being in the wrong place at the wrong time......this guy was living a lifestyle where everyday he was part of a hideous crime/organization......he thought it was okay....he was/is a thug, and the only reason he "isn't" anymore is because he got caught......do any of us really think that had he not got caught he would have woken up one day and said "you know what, what I am doing is wrong, I am going to be a better person".....hell no......the only reason he acts the way he does now is because he got caught, had to do some time, and knows he will be under the microscope for a long time......part of me still thinks, if he had it his way he still rather be rollin with the boys living the thug life.....normally I am about second chances and what not and I know people can turn their lives around.......I just can't give him a hall pass here because he was living a lifestyle, not just making a mistake........I hope he is a better person, but that doesn't change the way he was....

 

[OMG! Ponies!]

i don't root for players. i don't think i've ever really thought about that. but i don't think that i do.

 

[Manster]

Where is the "I'll root for the Eagles regardless of who wears the uniform" option?

and the "i hate the eagles and can't root for anyone who wears their uniform." optionalso, i cant stand him anyway. he's a thug. he may be towing the line right now, but he's a thug at heart.

 

[plyka]

I think this entire question is ridiculous. Michael Vick basically had his entire life destroyed! 4 years gone from the absolute peak of his prime in a profession that spans about 10 years. That's like taking 40% of your career years away from you. Especially in a career that you relish. All for what? Because he was an idiot and gave money to people who ran a dog fighting ring? I'm sure everyone here has made dumb decisions before. It was an idiotic decision to give money to your "friends" who run a dog fighting ring, that's true. But it's not worth taking a man's livelyhood away.

 

[David Dodds]

in order.1-Cancer2-Hitler3-Vick4-AIDS5-The Macarana

Add Jersey Shore and I think this is the list of all lists

 

[Manster]

I think this entire question is ridiculous. Michael Vick basically had his entire life destroyed! 4 years gone from the absolute peak of his prime in a profession that spans about 10 years. That's like taking 40% of your career years away from you. Especially in a career that you relish. All for what? Because he was an idiot and gave money to people who ran a dog fighting ring? I'm sure everyone here has made dumb decisions before. It was an idiotic decision to give money to your "friends" who run a dog fighting ring, that's true. But it's not worth taking a man's livelyhood away.

um, he broke the law and went to jail. and, to some of us dog owners, what he did is unforgivable. maybe he should choose his friends and hobbies more carefully. i say he's a loser for being involved in a dog fighting ring. and that opinion will never change.

 

[ProBowler88]

America is the land of second chances, I love Vick and am rooting for him 100%. This is the same reason I love Bill Clinton, he did something messed up (cheated on his wife and lied to the entire country that he ran) and most people still loved him after it was all over. Albeit cheating on a woman isn't comparable to killing dogs, it's still the same concept.

He's an amazing athlete, yeah he's an idiot and made mistakes, but damn I love this guy. Where else can you see a former convicted felon lead a team to victory in an organized sport?

 

[Multiple Scores]

Does this sound like Mike Vick?

# Glibness and Superficial Charm

# Manipulative and Conning

They never recognize the rights of others and see their self-serving behaviors as permissible. They appear to be charming, yet are covertly hostile and domineering, seeing their victim as merely an instrument to be used. They may dominate and humiliate their victims.

# Grandiose Sense of Self

Feels entitled to certain things as "their right."

# Pathological Lying

Has no problem lying coolly and easily and it is almost impossible for them to be truthful on a consistent basis. Can create, and get caught up in, a complex belief about their own powers and abilities. Extremely convincing and even able to pass lie detector tests.

# Lack of Remorse, Shame or Guilt

A deep seated rage, which is split off and repressed, is at their core. Does not see others around them as people, but only as targets and opportunities. Instead of friends, they have victims and accomplices who end up as victims. The end always justifies the means and they let nothing stand in their way.

# Shallow Emotions

When they show what seems to be warmth, joy, love and compassion it is more feigned than experienced and serves an ulterior motive. Outraged by insignificant matters, yet remaining unmoved and cold by what would upset a normal person. Since they are not genuine, neither are their promises.

# Incapacity for Love

# Need for Stimulation

Living on the edge. Verbal outbursts and physical punishments are normal. Promiscuity and gambling are common.

# Callousness/Lack of Empathy

Unable to empathize with the pain of their victims, having only contempt for others' feelings of distress and readily taking advantage of them.

# Poor Behavioral Controls/Impulsive Nature

Rage and abuse, alternating with small expressions of love and approval produce an addictive cycle for abuser and abused, as well as creating hopelessness in the victim. Believe they are all-powerful, all-knowing, entitled to every wish, no sense of personal boundaries, no concern for their impact on others.

# Early Behavior Problems/Juvenile Delinquency

Usually has a history of behavioral and academic difficulties, yet "gets by" by conning others. Problems in making and keeping friends; aberrant behaviors such as cruelty to people or animals, stealing, etc.

# Irresponsibility/Unreliability

Not concerned about wrecking others' lives and dreams. Oblivious or indifferent to the devastation they cause. Does not accept blame themselves, but blames others, even for acts they obviously committed.

# Promiscuous Sexual Behavior/Infidelity

Promiscuity, child sexual abuse, rape and sexual acting out of all sorts.

# Lack of Realistic Life Plan/Parasitic Lifestyle

Tends to move around a lot or makes all encompassing promises for the future, poor work ethic but exploits others effectively.

# Criminal or Entrepreneurial Versatility

Changes their image as needed to avoid prosecution. Changes life story readily.

 

[Instinctive]

Hell yeah I'm rooting for him...he's my QB. I want my team to win, therefore I root for him. Plus, I would call him one of the top 5, maybe even top 3 most exciting players in NFL history to watch play the game.

It was just dogs...good god you should see the #### we do to chickens and cows and goats and pigs...what makes them different? Get over it, bunch of flippin hypocrites.

ETA: my vote would have been different 6 months ago because back then he was still on another roster...

 

[ProBowler88]

Hell yeah I'm rooting for him...he's my QB. I want my team to win, therefore I root for him. Plus, I would call him one of the top 5, maybe even top 3 most exciting players in NFL history to watch play the game.It was just dogs...good god you should see the #### we do to chickens and cows and goats and pigs...what makes them different? Get over it, bunch of flippin hypocrites.ETA: my vote would have been different 6 months ago because back then he was still on another roster...

This guy gets it

 

[Ladsud]

Could care less, hes an #######

 

[whitem0nkey]

Hell yeah I'm rooting for him...he's my QB. I want my team to win, therefore I root for him. Plus, I would call him one of the top 5, maybe even top 3 most exciting players in NFL history to watch play the game.

It was just dogs...good god you should see the #### we do to chickens and cows and goats and pigs...what makes them different? Get over it, bunch of flippin hypocrites.

ETA: my vote would have been different 6 months ago because back then he was still on another roster...

maybe if your 3 years old.

Harold Edward The Galloping Ghost - if not for him the NFL would be celebrating perhaps it's 60th anniversary not its not its 90th

Barry Sanders

Jerry Rice

Lawrence Taylor

Walter payton

Reggie White

John Elway

mike singletary

**** Butkus

Brett Favre

Bo Jackson

Gale "i'm a grumpy jealous man" Sayers

Jim Brown

Joe Greene

Ray Lewis

Deion Sanders

Sammy Baugh

Mike Ditka (revolutionized the TE position) and now he is a tool

Hester only for 2006 - 6 Special teams return TDs NFL record

this is just off the top of my head if I wanted im sure 100 players+ could be listed.

 

[Instinctive]

Hell yeah I'm rooting for him...he's my QB. I want my team to win, therefore I root for him. Plus, I would call him one of the top 5, maybe even top 3 most exciting players in NFL history to watch play the game.

It was just dogs...good god you should see the #### we do to chickens and cows and goats and pigs...what makes them different? Get over it, bunch of flippin hypocrites.

ETA: my vote would have been different 6 months ago because back then he was still on another roster...

maybe if your 3 years old.

Harold Edward The Galloping Ghost - if not for him the NFL would be celebrating perhaps it's 60th anniversary not its not its 90th

Barry Sanders

Jerry Rice

Lawrence Taylor

Walter payton

Reggie White

John Elway

mike singletary

**** Butkus

Brett Favre

Bo Jackson

Gale "i'm a grumpy jealous man" Sayers

Jim Brown

Joe Greene

Ray Lewis

Deion Sanders

Sammy Baugh

Mike Ditka (revolutionized the TE position) and now he is a tool

Hester only for 2006 - 6 Special teams return TDs NFL record

this is just off the top of my head if I wanted im sure 100 players+ could be listed.

Elway was nowhere near as exciting as Vick. Here's the conversation, IMOSanders

Sayers

Sanders

Vick

Taylor

Those 5 are in no particular order. Hester was extremely exciting as a return guy too, I'd put him above a lot of the guys on that list. Rice was way better than Vick...but more exciting to watch? Not on this planet. Ditka? Seriously? I don't care if you changed how the game was played, it doesn't amek you exciting to watch. My heart never pounded with "OMG Ditka's gonna get the ball what will he do with it next?!" I don't care which anniversary the NFL celebrates...doesn't make a guy exciting (Galloping Ghost).

 

[Iwannabeacowboybaby!]

I am rooting for him. What he did was wrong but his debt has been paid.

I don't know why I don't feel that way, and I may need to do some soul searching. I dont' feel like he's sorry, that may be my biggest problem and to be honest, I don't really know if he is or not. All I know it seemed like Tony Dungy had some issues with him as he was trying to mentor him, I didn't like to hear he was at the nightclub and then 20 minutes later or whatever it was someone was shot that he wasn't allowed to be around by court order. That whole lifestyle (that many live, not just him) doesn't seem to fit a guy that is truly sorry for doing what he did. Do I think he'll do that again..nope, he has now recognized he has too much to lose and there won't be another chance after this one.But still, he did do his time. I certainly don't want to be a hipocrit because I've done plenty (haven't gone to federal prison....yet) wrong in my life and want/asked foregiveness from those around me so I am going to try and be a little more open minded about Mike Vick.

 

[notdarkyet]

He's on 2 of my fantasy teams because I think he'll perform well on the football field. Am I rooting for him? Hell no. I gamble with my head and not my heart. Compared to other football player's transgressions (Leonard Little and Stallworth spring to mind) he's definitely satisfied society's price. Compared to actual humans, he sucks.

Me too.

 

[Holy Schneikes]

I think this entire question is ridiculous. Michael Vick basically had his entire life destroyed! 4 years gone from the absolute peak of his prime in a profession that spans about 10 years. That's like taking 40% of your career years away from you. Especially in a career that you relish. All for what? Because he was an idiot and gave money to people who ran a dog fighting ring? I'm sure everyone here has made dumb decisions before. It was an idiotic decision to give money to your "friends" who run a dog fighting ring, that's true. But it's not worth taking a man's livelyhood away.

Every problem Mike has right now was a result of decisions he made. Nobody made him do the revolting things he has done. Why should I feel sorry for that?He had life by the short and curlies (based 95% on God-given talent) and he pissed it away.Oh, and his "runied" life? He's STILL a millionaire (despite being "broke"), playing a kids game for a living. His future NFL prospects seem fairly bright. He's still loved and admired by a sizeable chunk of society (like yourself) for reasons I cannot fathom. He doesn't CARE that a lot of people find him disgusting. He never did. He has less money/earning potential that he did before (but still FAR beyond anything most decent folks will ever dream of), other that that, he has the same life he always had. Even in the pokey, there's a decent chance he experienced and enjoyed celebrity status. Cry me a river.Again, given the choice between Vick and an average NFL Joe with average NFL talent who works his balls off to get everything he has and somehow manages not be a felon along the way, I'll root for the Joe. How is it even a choice?

 

[VICK-tory]

He's on my fantasy team, so I'm 100% rooting for him.As a football player, I've been a fan of his since his VaTech. days.

Alays been a fan, he's always on my ff team, and I always root for 2nd chances in life if someone deserves it. Vick served hard time in a federal prison and fully paid his debt for awful deeds. The dog thing is in the past.

 

[fatness]

I root for anyone to turn their life around. Of course I'm rooting for him.

 

[kingsofromance]

As a die hard Giants fan who hates the Eagles as much as the Red Sox, I can honestly say I want to see Vick do well, as long as the Eagles lose, which doesnt seem to probable with him under center. The whole soap opera that went on made me sick. Granted, what he did was wrong. It's not right to treat animals like that, end of story. But, the media's hard-on for this story and they way they used this unfortunate situation to scapegoat Vick as the biggest culprit in dogfighting history, was unacceptable, when in fact he wasn't even close to the biggest 'bad guy' in this underground sport. The way the media exploited him was almost as bad as what some of these dogs went through. Watching this never-ending drama play out over and over, day after day, was worse than sitting through an episode of the OC. Hey, as long as the networks were getting paid right?

The only thing worse than watching this end with Vick getting sentenced to jail, was seeing Dante Stallworth get away with drunk driving and 2nd degree manslaughter with 30 days in jail and 1,000 hours of community service. The worst part was that nobody seemed to care. He killed an innocent HUMAN, while driving drunk and get's off easier than Vick. Makes me cringe. It's disgusting the disregard some people have for humans and the empathy they have for animals.

seriously.....?

Yes. He was wrong without a doubt but it's part of the underground culture and when your a celebrity/athlete and you get caught up in a situation like that, you have a target on your back. So basically, he was just stupid for getting caught up when he had so much to lose but when you grow up with that type of violence around you, it becomes normal. I think he really does realize that what he did was unethical. Anyone who gets behind the wheel after drinking, knows they are wrong. Especially when you can afford to have a car service or cab pick you up. That's my problem. All of us are one the road with these people and it affects us, our kids, family and friends. Torturing animals, especially for game, is wrong, but it has been happening throughout history and it really doesn't affect the general public. You put other people in danger when you get behind the wheel under the influence of alcohol.

This is a horrible attempt to justify Vicks actions. He is a piece of #### for sure. Blame the media? come on.

 

[willoconley]

Why does everybody seem to assume that people who don't root for Vick because he's a vile scumbag are hypocrites who DO root for Ray Lewis?

What you will likely find is that people care very little for human life but an innocent animal is much more acceptable. The same people who cry about dog fighting find it acceptable that a very large population of the Earth's people feast on canines and that on a weekend it's fine to watch a UFC fight where human beings are beaten to a pulp. To me this is confusing...Personally I care much more about the well being of a human being then I do about a canine. Yes I've had many dogs as pets in the past, but to me dogs are a lower life form then a human. And if I can root for a killer of a human being then I can root for the killer of a dog. Human beings are the superior life force in my eyes. Yes I know I look at things differently then most do but if you always think, act, behave the same as everyone else you'll find yourself just like everyone else

I don't think you understand how dog fighting works.Most people given the choice between a helpless human life and helpless canine life will choose to save the human life. That doesn't make torturing and taking helpless canine lifes' more forgivable. And btw I don't own any Lewis/Littlte/Stallworth jerseys.If society says Vick has paid his dues and deserves a second chance, fine. Somehow I feel like this is one of those special circumstance situations. Even if it isn't I will never root for him.