If you ever been to Tech, especially in the 90s, the Black population was very small (less than 1%) and so we all knew each other or knew of each other. As popular as Mike was, he kept a low key persona. He never was the "life" of the party and that's if he ever attended any parties. If he did, you would not know it, he would be up against the wall somewhere with his teammates. I think in person one-on-one, he is a very humble, personable person while on the field he is a very confident football player, maybe arrogant but I think it is warranted.
We all know by now the story of this young man; he was caught and admitted to owning and running an illegal dog fighting kennel in a home he owned in his home state of Virginia. He went to jail for 2 years, declared bankruptcy, lost every endorsement he ever had, and pretty much became the devil to anyone who ever owned a pet.
Vick came out of jail and had to start completely over in all aspects of his life; he had to start over financially, he had to start over in the NFL, and he had to start over as a man. The Phildelphia Eagles recently signed him to a new $100 million dollar contract and Vick has also landed a lot of the same endorsement companies, e.g. Nike, that supported him before he went to jail.
Although my wonderful New York Giants stomped a mud hole in the Vick-led Eagles this past weekend, I have to admit, I was rooting for Vick to be successful, NOT WIN, but to be successful. I root for Vick when he is not playing against the G-men and not because he is a heck of a talent or because he is Black or because he went to Va Tech. I root for Vick because he stood up in front of the world and said he was wrong.
As a man, we often have a lot of pride and do not want to admit when we are in the wrong. Vick could have made up excuses or looked for sympathy like that idiot Plaxico Burress but he did not; he took sole responsibility for his actions, served his time like a man and came back and has rededicated himself to the sport he loves. He surrounded himself with people who cared for him and will show him the right way and I am sure he has had to turn his back to the folks he thought had his (not an easy thing to do).
Vick did rule #1 in Man Code Law and that is admitting when you are wrong. We can all learn a thing or two from this man because we all are not perfect. We all make mistakes or lose our way sometimes and that is okay. It is the willingness to admit the wrongs and make them right.
If Vick never wins another NFL game, he will always be a winner on and off the field and will always have my support as a fellow man. Eddie Robinson coached the Grambling State University football team for over 40 years and is one of the winningest coaches in college football history. He said something to a reporter one day after a game, he said, "I just dont want to win the game, I want to win the guy." Eddie Robinson did not want to just beat his opponent but he wanted his opponents respect and admiration and that he achieved.
I think Vick has won the guy.
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