Eagles

I Think Michael Vick is Full of Shit

By Kyle Scott

Published: Oct 10th, 2012 · 3:43 PM EDT

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You know, fuck this shit. 

Michael Vick, who wrote a goddamn book about his ridiculous life, refused to answer a question today about owning a dog. He told reporters that he wasn’t going to discuss it and what goes on in his personal life is not to be talked about.

From Tim McManus, who asked the question: [Philly Mag]

“I’m here to strictly talk about football,” said Vick. “What goes on in my personal life is not to be talked about. What’s most important right now is the Philadelphia Eagles and getting a win this Sunday.”

 

[The folks at Taking It To The House have the audio.]

That’s fine. Don’t talk about it. You don’t have to. But find another reason, Mike.

Even though our own Adam Reigner was the one who caught Vick tweeting and then (ridiculously) deleting and re-taking a picture of him and his daughter at their kitchen table – first with an open box of Milk-Bones on the table, then without – let me be the first to say that I couldn’t give two shits if Michael Vick owns a dog (literally, I tried to think about it and shit– I couldn't), which he very obviously does. He spent more time in prison than anyone else for his particular crime. And I’m fairly certain he’s not going to beat, choke or electrocute his daughter’s dog. But Vick and his gaggle of hanidicapable handlers have spent the past two years jamming his personal life down our throats. He’s a changed man. He’s a great family man. Buy this product. Buy this book. Check out my little cousin wearing my V7 swag (available exclusively at Modell’s!). Check out my three-year-old niece’s clothing line for kids! Buy this non-licensed Eagles shirt from my wife’s store! Buy my fucking book! Buy my fucking book! Buy my fucking book! Buy my fucking book! 

 From the book's website:

Michael dives deep into every aspect of his life, including family, faith and football. He shares never-before-told details about his youth, career, conviction, imprisonment and his return to the NFL.

The book also tells the story of redemption. How a broken man sought and received forgiveness for his wrongs, was shown grace by the most unlikely people and had a fairy tale-like NFL season for the Philadelphia Eagles in 2010.

 

His niece's clothing line:

 

You get the point. Vick may be the nicest, most changed guy on Earth. But his public image – whatever it is – may also be the most carefully crafted in sports. He literally can’t afford one misstep. So, his speaking out against dog fighting, his family man status, and his $100 million contract which actually isn’t a $100 million contract since the final year was voided when he played in his sixth game last year and because only about $40 million is guaranteed… all carefully constructed things to present Vick in a positive light. There’s nothing wrong with that. But, Vick’s been more than happy to use his wife, kids, life, whatever to promote his new self. Now he won’t talk about his personal life? Bullshit. That's because it doesn’t suit the perfect image he is trying to project. He knows that – right or not – the general reaction to him owning a dog wouldn’t be a good one. That was made clear when comments he made to Piers Morgan this summer, that he planned on getting a dog for his kids, became national headlines. So his hesitancy to talk about it is understandable, even though he now looks worse by avoiding it. But his line about not discussing his personal life? That’s bullshit. 

[I enjoy Eliot Shorr-Parks' take, too. He buys Vick's redemption, and that's precisely why Vick refusing to answer bothers him.]