In another step toward the rehabilitation of Michael Vick’s image, an organization in his native Virginia has announced that it plans to honor him at an event next month for his off-field activities.
The Virginian-Pilot reports that the Southeastern Virginia Arts Association announced its intention to honor Vick and made clear that the honor was not just for the football player, but for the man.
In a statement released by the group, Vick is praised because he “epitomized the meaning of ‘hero’ not only by his unparalleled accomplishments on the football field, but more importantly, by his relentless resilience in overcoming the obstacles he has faced . . . and becoming a true example of life success for all to emulate.”
We’ve been down this path before several times, notably when Vick was given the Ed Block Courage Award and when Vick was given the key to the city of Dallas. Some people think Vick’s ability to get his life back on track after serving time in prison is worthy of praise. Others think the people who deserve praise are the ones who avoid going to prison in the first place.