Michael Vick Moving On

Monday, November 2nd, 2009
by RJ DeRemer

What can we learn from Michael Vick?  Michael Vick served an eighteenth month sentence for illegal dog fighting.  Michael Vick is back playing for the Philadelphia Eagles.  This once icon in the National Football League will finally have his chance to prove that he is back in rare form.  Renewed from his past experience and eager to surge forward with a zest for the sport and improved purpose.  Michael Vick has served the time for his crime and should be able to move on and prove himself as a professional football player on the field.

In the 60 minutes interview, Michael Vick was apologetic for his behavior and the pain and suffering that he had inflicted upon the dogs.  Since his crime he has been active in efforts to positively support dog shelters, and has been working with the Humane Society of the United States.  This is one of the ways that he is trying to make up for the previous actions that were not supportive to the appropriate treatment of dogs.  Michael has also been to counseling for the appropriate treatment of animals and has attended classes to improve his actions towards these animals.  Vick is trying to do positive works to remove the scars of his past.

It is encouraging to see Vick back in the NFL without people discussing his controversial past.  Vick has certainly done his time and paid the price for his crime, he should be able to move on and put his focus on the game.  Fans should do the same and watch this talented athlete perform to the best of his ability and grow throughout the season. Ex NFL coach, Tony Dungy, has become Michael’s personal mentor.  Dungy is a well respected man throughout the National Football League as a great football coach and a genuine person.  If this man is willing to back Michael Vick then people should thing twice and move forward.  Michael Vick has earned my respect by the way that he has managed this situation and removed himself from the spotlight on this situation with the hope of renewing his professional athletic career with the hope of some impressive statistics.

Now that Michael is back, fans should watch his performance and learn from this players return.  He will now have to establish a winning partnership with a new group of players.  This will certainly be a challenge however he has demonstrated his determination to be a teammate by stating that he wants to play the game with his new members of the team and has shown how grateful he is for any playing time that he will receive from this team.  Right now, Michael Vick is not the player he once was nor would one expect him to be right off the bat, hopefully with time he will be able to reach again to his once high level of performance and be one of the top players in the league.  Michael Vick has served his two year sentence and should not look back and fans should stop worrying about Michael’s past and leave it in the past because what has been done is done.  We can learn from Michael that if you do commit a crime, far better to accept the punishment and do the time and also apologetic.  He has been willing to do all that he can to focus on the future and improve himself and the public’s perception of him.

Photo Credit: Ed Yourdon, bwana

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