All Nonfiction
- Bullying
- Books
- Academic
- Author Interviews
- Celebrity interviews
- College Articles
- College Essays
- Educator of the Year
- Heroes
- Interviews
- Memoir
- Personal Experience
- Sports
- Travel & Culture
All Opinions
- Bullying
- Current Events / Politics
- Discrimination
- Drugs / Alcohol / Smoking
- Entertainment / Celebrities
- Environment
- Love / Relationships
- Movies / Music / TV
- Pop Culture / Trends
- School / College
- Social Issues / Civics
- Spirituality / Religion
- Sports / Hobbies
All Hot Topics
- Bullying
- Community Service
- Environment
- Health
- Letters to the Editor
- Pride & Prejudice
- What Matters
- Back
Summer Guide
- Program Links
- Program Reviews
- Back
College Guide
- College Links
- College Reviews
- College Essays
- College Articles
- Back
Michael Vick: No Hero MAG
The Michael Vick saga is the story of a man who had everything and lost it all. And I cannot remember a tale more atrocious than his.
In 2001, the Atlanta Falcons selected Vick to be their franchise quarterback. He was seen as the savior of the team. The Falcons were so sure about Vick, they traded a shot at getting LaDainian Tomlinson, who many considered the best running back in the NFL. After the 2002 season, when Vick led the Falcons to the playoffs with a 9-6-1 record and beat Brett Favre in Lambeau Field, he received the biggest contract in NFL history: $130 million for 10 years. The following year, Vick missed most of the season with a broken ankle. In 2004, he led Atlanta to the NFC Championship but fell short.
Last year, Vick’s legal issues began to mount. In January, he was held at an airport on possession of marijuana, but tests revealed no illegal substances and he was never charged. In April, Vick was charged and convicted of dogfighting. His sentencing date – December 10th – was the same day the Falcons would play the Saints on Monday Night Football. He was sentenced to 23 months in prison.
In my opinion, this penalty is not harsh enough. By forcing innocent dogs to fight to the death, Vick has disgraced his family, the Falcons, and the city of Atlanta. Vick had a dogfighting ring on his property and mass graves for the burial of these dogs yet he initially pleaded not guilty. This is a testament to how immature Michael Vick really is.
Vick himself made me mad enough, but then I watched the Monday Night game. “Free Vick” signs were visible around the stadium. When Roddy White scored a touchdown, he displayed a “Free Mike Vick” T-shirt. I could only think, Do they know what this man did? He killed innocent animals for his own amusement. And, to me, the reaction by the Falcon fans was distasteful and atrocious. Vick deserved to be disciplined. Atlanta must realize the severity of his actions.
The Falcons and their fans need to move on. To me, Vick has played his last down in the National Football League. And rightfully so.
Michael Vick is no hero. He was an average quarterback who could run. But it’s time for the Falcons to move on and forget him.
Similar Articles
JOIN THE DISCUSSION
This article has 365 comments.
well what the heck, if a convicted rapist serves his time, let's let him go back to being a teacher. If a murderer serves his lenient sentence, let him go back to the streets.
It's not like Vick was hurting himself only; if he sold drugs or if he was tax evading or something then yeah let him come back. But he is torturing living things. That's like sociopathic behavior--signs of a murderer. And I'm not one to say animals have more rights than humans, but it's pretty inhuman to torture animals.
Of course I don't have to do what they do. It's all about influence. Role models don't show you how to act they show you what you can get away with and what happens to them for the way they act.
And no I don't know anything about Disney because I don't watch it lol.
And like I said you don't have to do whatever they do. And if you follow people like that, then it doesn't make you much better, does it?
Disney is a great example of good role models. . . but have you not seen who started off in the Mickey Mouse Club? Or even some of the newer Disney stars? Kids look up to these people and they have done some inappropriate stuff too, and they still have jobs. (Not intended in a bad way, because everybody makes mistakes.)
What he does has everything to do with football. I've been playing for 6 years and I've seen how NFL players influence people my age and younger. The way they celebrate touchdowns is the way we do. The way they hype up their teams is the way we do. The way they argue with coaches or referees and what they say in interviews is the same kind of stuff that we do.
And when pro football players get away with terrible crimes like this, guess what kind of aditude we start to have for when we get in trouble?
The people wearing skimpy outfits and do drugs are not intended for child audiences. They're for mature audiences. Football players are for all audiences and there's an honor code (well there used to be) associated with them--there's no such thing associated with other celebrities usually.
