Michael Vick has taken up a lot of space in the news, and finally, he has done what he should have done before. From CNN.com:
RICHMOND, Virginia (CNN) — Shortly after entering a guilty plea Monday to a federal dogfighting conspiracy charge, suspended NFL quarterback Michael Vick apologized “for all the things that I’ve done and that I’ve allowed to happen.”
Really? That you allowed to happen? That’s what you are sorry for? I mean, sure, he finally plead guilty, but it took until the chips were stacked high against him for that admission. And pleading guilty isn’t much of an acceptance, just an agreement with the court. Sorry if this rings a little false for me.
“What I did was very immature so that means I need to grow up,” he said.
Growing up would be one of the first things on the agenda for Vick, and if I were him, I would do it quickly, as in before going off to prison. It isn’t often that people go to prison for allowing things to happen, but that must be what he believes. In fact, accountability should probably be the first place he grows up.
The NFL, along with the NBA right now, are embroiled in battles of moral high-ground. Refs involved with gambling and first round draft picks executing dogs are pretty ugly. Hockey fans have been quick to wag the finger at other sports, which must feel pretty damn good after seeing those sports chastised for not being as squeaky clean as hockey. Oh what short memories we have.
From the Washington Post on Aug 18th, 2007:
A former NHL player and assistant coach who ran an illegal sports gambling ring won’t serve jail time despite international headlines linking the case to hockey’s biggest star.
Rick Tocchet was ordered yesterday to serve two years’ probation for his role in the gambling ring.
Tocchet, 43, could have received up to five years in New Jersey state prison. However, there is a presumption against incarceration for first-time offenders who plead guilty to third- or fourth-degree crimes.
Even before the deal was sealed, hockey fans were putting the Tocchet case behind them, out of sight enough to wag the finger at other sports and their problems. Oh, and having a laugh at his attempt to get into the World Series of Poker. After having the sport we love trashed as often as possible for cheap headlines, hockey fans are quick to react, ready to swing back at any comers. We will take swings at ESPN, other sports, even some of our own in our rabid attempts at protecting the sport we love.
This should be a reminder that just because someone has a lot of money and is good at sports, it doesn’t make them a good person. For some reason, this still surprises people. You hear it often enough. “He had it all, what happened?” Some people have great qualities on one side and poor qualities on the other. I think Patrick Roy was a great goalie, but not always a good person. Michael Vick was a number one draft pick, but that couldn’t stop him from doing awful things. No, surprise surprise, fame and fortune do not make up for disfunction.
As quick as we are to judge other sports, we can not turn our backs on the problems that hockey has. To do so would be to continue discrediting our sport, beyond the initial problem. While we may have sympathy for the devil, you know the old saying. Let he who is without sin…
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