CBS News: Double Standards & Vick

[ReleaseTheHounds]

Double Standards And Michael Vick

Ben Domenech: He Should Have The Chance To Sink Or Swim On His Own Abilities

Anyone who lived in Virginia in the 1990s heard plenty about Michael Vick. It was impossible not to. He was another child of the Tidewater region, famous for producing some of the best athletes in the country, even to the point of rivaling California, Texas and Florida in producing football stars, at least at the collegiate level.

Vick never got the national coverage he deserved prior to going to Virginia Tech - back in those days, and still to some extent, the Washington, D.C. newspapers were more interested in covering Maryland sports than southern Virginia - but once he was in college, he took off like a rocket. Virginia Tech alumni were invigorated by Vick's arrival - he made the Hokies matter nationally, and for all Virginia sports fans. And his performance on national TV in a loss against Florida State made him matter to the whole nation.

It's amazing to look back at some of the coverage of Vick prior to the 2001 NFL draft and see how much of what was to come was already being implied. Even then, the questions were lurking in the background: could he handle it?

In the first few seasons after Vick's arrival in the National Football League, it looked like the San Diego Chargers had made a huge mistake passing on him to select LaDainian Tomlinson (he fell to number 5 - can you believe it?) and Drew Brees. He was the Human Highlight Reel. He did things that were just incredible, superhuman - I remember watching a game against the Carolina Panthers where, down to their last play and needing a touchdown, Vick somehow managed to hover an inch above the ground as he flew in to score. His amazing ability revitalized football in Atlanta, coming off 5-11 and 4-12 seasons - his jerseys were everywhere - and put him on the cover of Madden, even though the curse of that video game ultimately doomed his next season.

But in 2006, he broke a 34-year-old record for rushing yards by a quarterback, breaking the century mark. That's an incredible achievement, especially for a kid who just a few years ago was being wheeled around with a cast on his foot by owner Arthur Blank. He was already considered one of the best mobile QBs of all time by many in the NFL. Vick wasn't just a sideshow - he won, too. In 2002, when he was just a 22 year-old kid, Vick did what no other starting quarterback had ever done - winning on the road at Lambeau Field in the playoffs, a performance that, if it ended today, would probably go down as the biggest game of his professional career.

My own favorite Vick clip from his time in the league came in a different game against the Panthers when he staged a fourth quarter comeback by levitating like Superman, inches above the turf (go to the 1:40 mark) to dive into the endzone on a fourth down scramble. So much of his career is encapsulated in that moment - incredibly close to failure, but somehow managing to pull off what was, for others, impossible.

Then, it all came to an end. Vick was foolish enough to commit and fund a series of dogfighting-related criminal activities, mostly by paying for the activities of friends and relatives who turned on him the minute they were arrested, that had only recently become federal offenses. Roger Goodell's announcement this week of his decision on Vick's suspension has riled the sports radio stations and opinion pages across the country once again. Just two years ago, a lifetime ban was being discussed openly. Now, some are crying racism that he was suspended at all.

Let's be clear about this: Michael Vick deserved to go to jail. He broke the law, and he's suffered a major penalty. For a football player, he missed two of his prime seasons. But there is no question in my mind that he deserves a shot to resume his career. And on balance, Goodell's decision is an understandable one, if still - as with all this Commissioner's decisions - a bit heavyhanded.

At the time, I think Gregg Easterbrook took what was a pretty brave stand on this point. While I don't agree with him or with Howard Bryant about the racial nature of this crime - I think that any player would have experienced this sort of reaction and coverage if, say, Jeremy Shockey had committed the same crime, or if Tony Gonzalez was running a cock-fighting ring - I do agree that there's a distinct lack of perspective on this. Looking back, PETA and their lobbying forces successfully convinced the sports media to turn dogfighting - a vile activity, to be sure, but one that's engaged in all too frequently in the South - into the worst possible crime an athlete can engage in. And that's just ridiculous.

Here's the truth: the NFL has had more than its fair share of thugs, criminals, and drug pushers in its recent history. Easterbrook cites the obvious examples of two murderers - that you can still purchase an O.J. Simpson or a Rae Carruth jersey, and that the former is still in the NFL Hall of Fame. But there's far more than that. There's thief and attempted murderer Barret Robbins, there's Lawrence Taylor and Lawrence Phillips, drug dealers like Jamal Lewis and Terrence Kiel and Bam Morris, there's Brian Blades, Nate Newton and his pounds and pounds of pot…and of course, there's former ESPN analyst and newest NFL Hall of Famer Michael Irvin, whose long litany of drug related offenses reach a new level of ridiculousness each year. And then we have the examples of self-destructive embarassment, like Plaxico Burress and Pac Man Jones…but enough has been said about them already (and remember, it's the NBA that's supposed to have "thug" problems).

But perhaps the best example of the double standard Michael Vick experienced is one Leonard Little, defensive end and sack machine for the St. Louis Rams. With a pattern of DUI offenses, the intoxicated Little plowed through a red light into an intersection and killed a middle-aged wife and mother. Little got 90 nights in jail (work-release), and 1,000 hours of community service. When he was picked up in 2004, speeding again and drunk out of his mind, Little could've been prosecuted for a felony. Instead, he just got more probation, and a brand new multi-million dollar contract. ESPN's coverage of Little was muted at the time, and his past crimes are rarely referenced if at all during broadcasts of Rams games. Dogfighting is round the clock - alcohol-fueled vehicular dual-manslaughter, let's just pretend it didn't happen.

Michael Vick, by action and inaction, did horrible and illegal things, yes. He has received the punishment for his crime. But his crime should not end his career simply because of the political pressure of a powerful lobby or the hot lights of round the clock sports coverage. Vick is still a competitor, and having served his sentence, he deserves the chance to compete and win a shot with another team in the future. That team - and I do believe there will be a team who eventually takes the shot - will likely have to endure protests from the animal rights lobby. But it shouldn't.

Let's be honest about what this all means for this young man. Ending the prospect of a possibility to play football again will, in all likelihood, take Vick down the sad path toward despair and self-destruction. Commissioner Goodell's choice on this matter hasn't just determined the future of an athlete, a commodity for his sport - it determines the future of a young man who has hoped for, worked for, and risked his body for one singular goal since he was just a kid, playing tag in the inner city streets, and dreamed of the gridiron and the bright lights of Monday night.

Whether Michael Vick ever reaches the big stage again or not, he should have the chance to sink or swim on his own abilities - not simply because some view his crime, unlike those perpetrated by the rest of his fellow players, as unforgiveable.

[StopBSL]

That just shows exactly how the AR fanatics have successfully created a portrayal of people involved with the dogs as horrible monsters. .. murders are better people in their eyes.

[BoogiemanBlood]

Well to start with they sure portray MV as much more of a superstar than he is/was. Yes he excelled in college as many athletes do. At the pro level he was merely average at best as a QB. His pocket presence was average at best. Instead of focusing on finding a receiver and delivering the ball, he always looked to run and scramble. NOT the way you play QB in the NFL. Was this his fault? Some....not all though. QB coaches should have worked much harder with him and made the scramble the last ditch part of his game instead of the first thought.

Then the article wants to compare him to LT and Drew Brees. Like he got juked by not being picked over them in the draft. I think both players have PROVEN they were well worth their picks OVER Mick Vick. They have both been superstars who have excelled. To even compare the mediocre career of MV to them is ridiculous. He never even got close to the level of play of either of them.

While I do agree with the part about the long list of thugs and criminals, let's not forget it was a different commisioner dealing with the players then. Goddell isn't fooking around with these guys anymore. I would say it's safe to assume had he been commissioner during any of the above listed offenses they would have gotten what they deserve too. While we are on the subject let's not forget the murderer Ray Lewis. Cuts a deal to testify against his "friends" and then just goes on with life and career like nothing ever happened. Like I said, diff commish, diff time. I sure don't agree with any of the maggots getting to stay like nothing ever happened.

As for the OJ part, LOL we all know he's a murdering shitbag. That has nothing to do with what he accomplished on the field. He did that LOOOOOOOOOONG after his football career was over. What is the NFL supposed to do? Go take away his heisman? Remove him from the HOF after he's already been inducted? I would simply suggest adding a page to the story in the HOF with the story of what he did and what the consequences were.

Then you got the part where this clown babbles Vick got no recognition until he got to college. OK just tell me how many high school players do? This is just retarded. I can't say I've ever turned sportscenter on Sat mornings and seen highlight reels from the Fri night high school football games. I don't pick up the USA TODAY and see highlights from them either. Yet this writer wants to cry cuz Vick didn't get any. Grow up dildo.

From the looks of it to me this goofass is a Vick fan writing an article as a Vick fan. Not on facts. Yes some of the stuff is true, but as I pointed out diff commish, diff time. Does that make it right? NO! That doesn't mean Goddell is operating under a double standard. Now if he were to go light on players pulling shit under his watch, then scream foul all you want. Truth of the matter is if you want to bitch about all the thugs on the list from the past go scream at Paul Tagliabue. After all he was the one with the power to do something about the shit bags and didn't. I for one am GLAD to see Goddell taking the stance against the thug mentality.

[ReleaseTheHounds]

I can't say I know much about the technical aspects of football and the careers you are talking about, so I apologize if this is a bad article in those terms. I just found it to be an interesting read that I think people would be interested in giving a look over. I know folks here have been very interested in this story lately, but I can't pretend to be a big football fan or to understand the player comparisons, etc.

Thanks for your opinion and the sport's facts Boogieman Blood - taught me some stuff too.

[redboylove]

I don't think that the reporter was necessarily talking about the commissioners I think it was moreso pointing out of the differences in the way society has handled this MV things. I have dealt with these dogs for a good amount of time and love them but they are dogs. I think the double standard was more about the coverage of this versus the other issues. I think he may had gotten away from his message by becoming a fan rather then staying a reporter. Either way he paid his debt now let the man get on with his life.BR