Posted on 08/22/2009 9:56:29 AM PDT by nickcarraway
Disgraced quarterback Michael Vick declared Sunday that he really "cares" about animals.
He says he wept in disgust over his own cruelty to animals while serving time for running a bloody dogfighting ring.
And yes, he also found God in prison. Treading the well-worn path of career revival, Vick went on CBS' "60 Minutes" pledging to devote himself to teaching kids from poor backgrounds to be kind to animals. "When I was in prison, I was disgusted, you know, because of what I let happen to those animals. I could've put a stop to it," he said.
"And that was the reason I cried so many nights," he said. The former Atlanta Falcons quarterback served 18 months for running a brutal dogfighting operation that involved beating, shooting and electrocuting hundreds of pit bulls. "I thought it was fun, and it was exciting at the time," he told "60 Minutes." "It's wrong, man. I don't know how many times I gotta say it. I mean, it was wrong." The NFL reinstated Vick last month, and the Philadelphia Eagles gave him a $1.6 million contract last week, shocking many fans.
A popular new T-shirt says "Vick's an Eagle, Hide Your Beagle."
Vick also apologized for lying about his role in the dogfighting ring to Falcons owner Arthur Blank, who defended him.
"He cared about me and I took it all for granted," Vick said, acknowledging that he repaid his mentor by "breaking his heart."
He said he had "just totally lost touch with my Lord and savior" and said returning to God was "the only way I made it through prison."
Vick, who grew up in a Newport News, Va., housing project, said he learned dogfighting at age 8. "We didn't think it was bad at the time," he said. As to the loss of his $135 million Falcons contract, he said, "I deserve to lose that because of what I was doing." Vick had a powerful advocate by his side in his quest for media redemption: Wayne Pacelle of the Humane Society. "If we just punish Mike indefinitely and don't pivot to this problem in the communities, where kids are victimizing these dogs ... we will not be doing our job," Pacelle said.
Pacelle estimated there are 40,000 professional dogfighters nationwide. "They get excited by the bloodletting," he said.
Vick pledged to persuade kids with pets "to love that animal dearly and with all your heart."
"People will see my work ... with the Humane Society and how I really do care now," Vick said. "I care about animals."
Getting caught and getting Christ - it’s an American tradition!
How true is that and what does it say about our country *sigh*
As for Vick finding God ~ maybe he did. Time will tell and he will prove it or disprove it by his actions. Like the rest of us, someone else will judge him in the end and there’s no fooling him.
If Tony Dungy vouches for him then I think that speaks volumes (so did the NFL) about giving him a 2nd chance.
BTW how may of you who doubt have spent any time in prison? Or even the weekend in a jail cell - you do do a lot of soul-searching there...
How much did his agent have to forfeit on the Falcon’s contract and bonus? That must have really hurt.
It is not business as usual. He lost the biggest contract at the time in the NFL, he is broke and he still has to earn a spot on the team. They just don’t give those away in the NFL. You have to earn it. So it is not business as usual. But he has one of my hero’s as an advisor. (Tony Dungy)If Vick listens to him he will be OK. “Business as usual” to me would be dog fighting again and hanging with a group of guys he sould have not been hanging with. BUT? Conditional forgiveness? Either you forgive the guy or not.
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