One would presume we've seen the last of pics like this
I’m not sure Michael Vick is reformed, or how sincere he seems in his exclusive interview with James Brown on 60-Minutes. You can judge for yourself here on the website if you didn’t catch it Sunday night. Many of us tend to be skeptical about a felon’s ability to be truly redeemed, especially when you consider the heinousness of the activities Vick was involved in. He admits in the interview, he was programmed to be involved in the dog-fighting culture from age 8, and there’s a popular opinion amongst psychologists that our mental and emotional make-up, and the sense of right and wrong, is basically instilled by age 7. Many of America’s most violent criminals began with a pattern of viciously abusing animals. That’s a lot of programming to turn around, so Vick’s only chance is to stay surrounded by the people who want to steer him in a better direction, like former Colts coach Tony Dungy. Vick also concedes in the interview, and Dungy confirms it, that when he was a star in the NFL, he was lazy, didn’t work at his craft, and relied on his exceptional athletic ability. Once he thinks he’s got this solved, fixed, and all behind him, and can do it on his own, is when the grand experiment will fail. Those offering him the opportunity, like Eagles owner Jeff Lurie, and Wayne Pacelle, president of the Humane Society of the United States, need to stay strict in their pledges of accountability by Vick. In Dungy, and Eagles coach Andy Reid, he’s been given an extraordinary match in trying to turn his life around. Reid has dealt with the very public problems of his own sons’ imprisonment, and drug use, and Dungy, a devoutly spiritual man, lost a son to a drug overdose suicide. Their investment in Vick, who has also had drug related incidents, is personal. Michael Vick said one of his biggest regrets, and deepest pains was lying to Falcons owner Arthur Blank, and embarrassing and hurting a man who had done so much for him, and treated him like a son. He’s got a chance with Lurie, and Dungy, and Reid, and the others who are supporting him, to repay Blank, and in turn, the American public.
