Michael Vick and the Dogged Pursuit of His Kinder, Gentler Side

Isn't it enough to marvel at what Michael Vick is doing on the field—and to respect the obvious preparation he is putting in to perform so brilliantly on Sundays and the occasional Monday night?

I guess not.

Casually perusing the local sports news online on philly.com, I ran into the following teaser of a headline: 

Michael Vick: "I would love to get another dog"

Huh?  Wha—?  I was baffled, bewildered and a little ballistic after reading this

But before filling in the blank on a what the ___? that almost escaped within earshot of my young son, I decided to read on. I was linked to an interview on a site called "theGrio" which has the video feed and transcript of an interview of the controversial Philadelphia Eagles quarterback conducted by Mara Schiavocampo.

So, what baffled, bewildered and set me off despite a pretty good interview— one in which most of the questions and answers seemed to be appropriate?

At times, I was impressed with Vick's sense of perspective. When he was asked what the Mike Vick of 2010 would say to the Mike Vick (of 2006), he replied, "Mike [2006] probably wouldn’t listen to anything I had to say. So I think it would be like talking to the wall. The conversation probably wouldn’t last no more than two minutes because the old Mike probably would’ve walked away."

His answer was insightful and resonant; hopefully, all of us mature over time, and I hope that most people want to see him succeed on the field and off, as I do. This answer is a good sign.

But of course, the headlines were all of the nature of what philly.com teased, and what the Grio itself advertised on its site:  

Michael Vick: A New Dog Could Help My Rehabilitation

Here is the exchange that prompted such headlines.

Ms. Schiavocampo asked Vick, “Now…you’re not allowed to own dogs right now. Would you like to get another dog in the future?”

Vick’s response: “I would love to get another dog in the future. I think it would be a big step for me in the rehabilitation process. I think just to have a pet in my household and to show people that I genuinely care, and my love and my passion for animals; I think it would be outstanding.

"If I ever have the opportunity again I will never take it for granted. I miss having a dog right now. I wish I could. My daughters miss having one, and that’s the hardest thing; telling them that we can’t have one because of my actions.”

Hold on there, Mr. Vick. You amaze us on the field, and you seem to have done and said most of the right things—at least since that pesky offseason nightclub incident at your birthday bash where your former co-defendant got shot. But okay, you seem to be taking full advantage of your third chance to be a uniquely great player, a supportive teammate and leader and (as far as we can tell) a good citizen.

I hope you can keep it up, and truly be a good role model for many. But can we all hold off on rushing to judgment on Michael Vick, the human being. Shouldn’t we get past one whole football season with him in the spotlight and another offseason?  Maybe two or three of them?

And even if Ms, Schiavocampo asked you that inane question about your prospects of owning another dog, did you have to try to sell us that answer? Not being familiar with the interviewer or the website, I’m trying to figure out if her question was tricky and brilliant (forcing a headline) or designed as a softball to elicit more sympathy.

But Vick answered it, and even the most fair-minded people are asked to ponder how in God’s name he can consider himself a dog lover who misses “having a dog right now.”

In the same interview when asked if he thought that the heinous acts he committed were intrinsically wrong, he said (in effect) “No, nobody told me it was wrong.” Perhaps (and I’m not being facetious) he does not understand what intrinsic means, but my point is more than just semantics.

Wouldn’t a self-described animal/dog lover not engage in, support or bankroll dog fighting in the first place? Or even if “cultural differences” could explain that duality, is there any culture in the United States that would condone a person drowning, electrocuting and strangling dogs, among other forms of torture?

Isn’t Vick, to say nothing of any of his most ardent apologists, insulting an entire culture by saying this?

Again, he can tell me he has changed, and I hope he has. I don’t know what’s in his heart and what really matters is what he does and what he says publicly. Just don’t have the audacity to tell us how you're  an animal lover. You didn’t just casually watch a dog fight or two, you know.

This columnist would be happy to write and talk only about football when it comes to Vick, or any other player for that matter. But he is doing the interviews, and we are being assaulted with these pieces—and this interview produced a quote that I found to be too ludicrous, insulting and embarrassing to ignore.

Michael Vick, the football player, has been great this year, and looks better than ever on the field, and he was an amazing talent before his incarceration. Yesterday, I ranked him second in the league on my fictional MVP ballot.

Vick is obviously taking his profession a whole lot more seriously now, and deserves some admiration for this apparent maturation.

Whether court-ordered or not, and whether or not his words are sincere, it appears that he may be reaching some impressionable youth on his talks to schools and community groups. Laudable as well.

I just ask, futile though it may be, that we stop the assault of “Michael Vick, Humanitarian” pieces. Let’s give this all just a little, and perhaps a lot, more time please.

And Michael, (at minimum) please do not insult our intelligence and collective conscience (and hopefully your own) by telling us how you love animals and wish you had a dog right now.

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