By Ronald N. Guy Jr.
At the risk of being stale (and losing your ear just after
hello), your friendly neighborhood bleacher bum is going to weigh in on Michael
Vick’s much-publicized attempt to resume his once thriving NFL career. Vick, of course, was convicted of felony dog
fighting and recently completed a nearly two-year sentence that included a stay
at a palatial federal penitentiary and a couple months at home with one of
those stylish ankle bracelets. As my
fingers strike the keys, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell is struggling with the
decision to reinstate Vick, and if so, whether his reinstatement should be
conditional carrying a suspension into some portion of the 2009 NFL
season. By the time this article lands
on your lap or arrives on your computer screen, we may have the NFL’s answer to
both, but regardless of what Goodell decides,
Vick’s situation raises curious questions about how we, individually and
collectively, view the transition of criminals back into mainstream
society.
Continuing with the legal tone let me take the witness stand
and disclose that I found Vick’s involvement in dog fighting deplorable. I have had pet dogs my entire life. Their loyalty exceeds what is humanly
possible. In short order, they become
bona fide, ranking members of the family – often outranking husbands on their wives’ popularity list. They are there for dads when domestic
tranquility falls victim to a revolting teenager. They faithfully deliver unconditional love to kids or teenagers
after a tough game or a devastating breakup.
Simply put, dogs are, in my opinion, the best pets a family can
have. Training dogs to fight to the
death for nothing more than entertainment is vile, sub-human behavior. So in the wake of Vick’s admission of guilt,
the NFL’s decision to “indefinitely suspend” him seemed just; and if that
indefinite suspension ultimately led to a lifetime ban, so be it.
Fast-forward two years and we find in Michael Vick a man
that has lost much. His heinous act cost
him a lucrative NFL career, his freedom and will leave him branded “convicted
felon” for the rest of his days. To be
frank, this is the new reality Vick sowed through his pre-meditated, barbaric
acts. But Vick is now a free man and
the question before the NFL, and one we can ask ourselves is, is Vick deserving
of - or more bluntly has he earned - another chance? And if so, under what conditions? There is some indication that Vick may be conditionally
reinstated and subjected to an additional suspension for a portion of the 2009
season. Unless Goodell just isn’t sure
Vick “gets it” yet, I don’t get this approach.
If Vick really doesn’t get the seriousness of his crime after the price
he’s paid – meaning he was arrogant and unapologetic
in his meeting with Goodell – then he shouldn’t be allowed back in the
league in any capacity. After two years
of incarceration and a career in the balance, I highly doubt that’s Vick’s
state of mind, unless there’s a deeper psychological issue in play. To answer the question though, Goodell and
Vick have had, as of this writing, at least one conversation. If Goodell found him to be genuinely humble,
penitent, and willing to be an activist on behalf of animal rights groups, he
deserves an immediate second and final chance.
Vick has done his jail time.
Part of his continued rehabilitation – which the NFL should support -
should include an opportunity to work again, provided he demonstrates he’s a
changed, contrite man. Now whether an
NFL team will hire him is another question.
That however should be a question for individual teams, not the league,
to decide. Even at 29, Vick is likely
still a gifted athlete so it’s a near certainty that some team will take a shot
on him. When they do Michael Vick will
have an opportunity to take another huge step in his rehabilitation and,
perhaps through his fame and personal ordeal, to continue to shed light on and
prevent the despicable practice of dog fighting. Maybe then some good will come from this awful affair.
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