Vick on dogfighting: 'What I did was inhumane'
The Philadelphia Daily News - Eagletarian
Vick on dogfighting: ‘What I did was inhumane’
Dom Amore, For the Daily News
NEW HAVEN, Conn. — Michael Vick looked out at the assembled high school students, some of whom were football players, many of whom come from a background similar to his, and he asked them to calm down.
Every mention of his football career brought cheers. He didn’t come to talk about football.
“I want to tell the truth,” the Eagles quarterback said today, “because these kids deserve the truth. I don’t hold back, because when you hold back, that’s when you have slip-ups . . . I want to bear down on the message.”
Vick’s off-day began with a 5 a.m. wake-up and a 6 a.m train up the Northeast Corridor. He spoke at two high schools in New Haven, the kind of urban area where it is feared “street dogfighting” has grown in scope.
“Don’t let your environment shape and mold you,” Vick told the students at Wilbur Cross High. “Go out and be the best ambassadors to your community that you can be.”
Vick was introduced by Wayne Pacelle, chief executive officer of the Humane Society of the United States. They have become partners in trying to right the wrong of animal fighting. As Vick was nearing the end of his time in federal prison, he contacted Pacelle and offered his time.
“And in the year-and-a-half I’ve known Mike, he has never turned me down once,” Pacelle said.
Vick told students of his experiences with dogfighting, of falling in love with the pit bulls that men would walk past the barber shop in his hometown, of falling into the underground world of dogfighting and landing, ultimately, in prison.
“I heard God say to me, ‘It’s wrong, what you’re doing to these dogs, and I’m going to punish you for it’ ” Vick told the students. “Four days later, I was indicted.”
Students asked about getting his fame back and rehabilitating his image. Vick said he has been “scrutinized and ridiculed” and “I deserved every word of it.”
Vick’s talks to schools and youth groups around the country have generally been unpublicized, but the Humane Society let it be known he would be in New Haven, Pacelle’s hometown, and made him available to local and national media. Vick’s return to the NFL stardom with the Eagles can only help to amplify the message.
“I know that there are people who will never forgive me,” Vick said, “and I understand that. What I did was inhumane. I can’t change people’s minds, I can’t change that — if I could, I would. All I can do is what I am doing, to try to help more animals than I hurt, to try to be part of the solution instead of part of the problem.”
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Wow. Moving. But what I'd like to know, is what the heck ever happened to the principle that the "ground can't cause a fumble." My blood is midnight green, but Eli's "fumble" wasn't one, in the days of sandlot football and Bill Bergey.
good to hear MV7 admit his cruelty to animals,next step is to write a Big check to the Humane Society when he gets his Big contract..my man......wolf.— wolf 4
Comment removed.- I'm glad he is trying to make a difference. Tell me what Big Ben is doing, where he is speaking to let people know what he was accused of was bad. What about Ray Ray, Donte, Leonard Little where are they speaking. I have always and will always support MV7.— MV7FanInGa
- DHowardisdaman, Eli fumbled because he wasn't touched. If he had been touched before the ground caused the fumble it would not have been a fumble.— allen_jones
- I don't think they're letting Little Ben near any high schools to speak...— Phillies1120
- Good job Vick. Keep doing what you are doing. And don't complain that Big Ben doesn't have to go around to high schools and tell people how wrong it is to date rape, or Dante Stallworth tell kids not to drink and drive, or Marv Albert have to say it's wrong to bite a woman's back, but every one has a different cross to bear. Keep holding yours up.— notch44
- Look i don't care about any of them speaking to kids or groups. My point is they served their time and no one else has ask them to speak, show remorse, contrition but we do for a guy that pleaded guilty to killing 6 dogs. Give me a break, our society is screwed up on our morals.— MV7FanInGa
- Never cared for him, not in college not in Atlanta. Was very wary after the Birds signed him, but very impressed with his play and off the field work he is doing. Watching/listening/reading what he says, you want to believe him not like Tiger where you can tell its all lip service. It could be my green tinted glasses i wear, or not but love watching him play and hope he's here for a long time. He was always a boy in a mans body as i am sure a lot of us are, but looks like he's all growns up or at least on his way. GO BIRDS!!— JohnnyN
- I have said this b4...I truly believe that Mike Vick is a different person,,,because a lot of things he has said...it's great that he doesn't run from what he did or ask people to forget it because it's in the past and now he's playing great football...some people won't forgive him,,,other's say you should forget all that dogfighting stuff because it was a long time ago...vick hasn't forgotten it & if he did, he definitley wouldn't be on the right path...i like to look at what he is doing now,,,some on the field with his work ethic,,,but also the words that come out of his mouth...not SELF or SELF that...he seems to genuinely be thankful for life and his role in being part of a team and an example for kids like he once was...keep doin' what your doin' bro,,,— theglue
- It's interesting... a lot of dog lovers think Mike Vick should still be in jail. However: based on his NFL success and the work he's doing with Humane Society of the United States, it seems that the best way to prevent future dog-fighting is for Mike Vick to have continued success in the NFL and to continue with the Humane Society's message. Bottom line: if you truly love dogs and hate dog-fighting, root for Mike Vick's continued success, both in the NFL and in his attempt at redemption.— knighn
- MV has a good publisist, that's what it comes down to, a publist that writes good speeches that vick recites...if you ever listened to him speak nothing comes from the heart, it's all learned. The first thing he needs to do is write a huge check to the humane society and more importantly to the sanctuary that rehabilitated his dogs and who worked to get them new homes. I will say it again....ANY CONVICTED FELON SHOULD BE BANNED FROM PRO SPORTS!!!— cynmoe
I have no life at all and all I care about is that my football team win. Since Im a loser Eagle fan I only feel good about myself when others do well like million dollar athletes. Eagles winning is all I care about in my useless life. Makes me feel better about myself. Rah rah ...go Eagles! Win at any cost, heck id root for Hitler if he could win a game and make me feel like a winner.— bill19666- MV7FanInGa: Couldn't find a bigger dog-lover than me, and I agree with you ONE MILLION PERCENT. Humans need to realize, what he did was bad and inhumane, but at the same time, his victims were dogs. Some cultures still eat them, use them for force labor, etc... the list goes on and on. This man was given the STIFFEST penalty ever in an animal cruelty case in the entire history of the U.S. He has repaid his debt and CONTINUES to do so. Those other guys do not, because what they did affected PEOPLE, real live human beings???? It makes no sense whasoever, other than those guys were convicted of lesser charges for cooperation or not indicted at all(Big Ben). But, even though Ben was not indicted for a crime, isn't there a lesson in his drama that he could pass on and make a true effective message to kids? Like young boys and how to treat women. Why isn't he out there giving speeches and rallying the pro-women movements. I am a white man, and I can safely say if the player in question was white in MV7's case, it wouldn't have gotten to these ridiculous porportions.— Jaylangus100
knighn -- well put
