MIKE VICK: NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE OR NOT?

As my buddies and I were walking down the golf course the other day, we got onto the subject of Michael Vick. In case you have been in a coma for the last few years, Vick is the former Virginia Tech quarterback who was drafted and starred (some would say) for the Atlanta Falcons pro football team.

He is also the person who bankrolled his buddies in a dog fighting operation. Needless to say they were caught and after several denials etc, they “fessed up” to the crimes.

Future and current politicians take note: it is always easier and better in the long run to confess to something than to deny, deny, deny, and then ultimately have to confess anyway! The Richard Nixons, Bill Clintons and Rod Blagojevichs (I never could have spelled this without spellcheck) of the world can attest to this strategy!

Anyway, back to Michael. It is also a lesson to be learned to associate yourself with people who won’t get you in trouble! However, in this case, we really don’t know which came first the chicken or the egg; I mean, who got who into the dog fighting business: Michael or his buddies? I won’t speculate on that.

What I do want to talk about is the future. In a recent ruling before the bankruptcy judge in his case, Vick’s bankruptcy plan was rejected. His plan was simple; he was going to back to pro football and earn money so he could repay his creditors and make restitution for his crimes.

The judge rejected the plan and sent him back to prison. He is scheduled to get out in July of this year, with possible early release. One of the reasons given by the court for rejecting his plan was that it was not known if Vick would be allowed to play pro football.

Well, if you and I went into bankruptcy and owed millions, we couldn’t just say “approve our plan to play professional golf, basketball, football or baseball and we can pay back the money”. Why? Because we aren’t good enough to do that is why! We might be able to get a tryout if you stretch this some, but good enough to play? Forget it!

However, in Vick’s case, he might still be good enough to play pro football. But, Roger Goodell, the NFL commissioner, refuses to say, even now, if Vick will be allowed to try out or be given another shot.

Why is this? He won’t say. Just that he hasn’t made up his mind. What is he waiting for? How long does it take to make up your mind? Is he afraid of the PETA lobby?

I love pets and dogs just as much as they do but we are humans beings with the ability to think, reason, and forgive. When should lobbying groups determine the future of a human being? Why should these groups want to continue to punish someone who has been punished and wants to make restitution? Why can’t they forgive? I am not saying they should forget but at least forgive and let this man live his life and try to pay back his debts in the manner that he has been trained to do.

Vick is serving and presumably will finish out his time. In the eyes of the court, he will have done his duty and paid his price and is released back into society. My bet is that he won’t ever harm a dog again; which is the purpose of serving time for the crime he committed.

Isn’t this America? Where we forgive people who have paid the price and done their time? Ok, let’s even bring the church into this discussion. The Bible says to forgive people for their sins. Does he deserve a second chance?

What if this was you or I? Would we want a second chance to be productive in our society? You bet we would!

So, Roger Goodell, get off your butt and make a decision. Give Michael Vick the chance to play pro football again. It is still not a given that he can get drafted or chosen and further that he can actually play, given his age. But let that be up to him.

GIVE HIM A SECOND CHANCE, JUST LIKE WE WOULD ALL LIKE TO HAVE, EVEN YOU!