That said, another component to pro sports is that of personality. We cheer for underdogs, we cheer for the poor boy reaching for the stars. We cheer for people who make us laugh, we cheer for the millionare who does good things with his money. At some point, players stop simply being a chunk of muscle scoring a touchdown and become our role models. Children watch these men and pretend to be be them. Is this entirely fair, to elevate these guys to celebrity status? Maybe not, but its the reality and they’re paid more than enough to justify it.

This is why we’re upset. Vick sends the message that you can flip off the people who cheer for you, that you can torment those weaker than you and come out ahead by muttering that you’re sorry. He’s done the bare minimum ever since he got out- he could actively volunteer at a shelter walking dogs, he could openly pursue therapy, he could become a spokesman for dog fighting awareness in commercials. I believe certain people can learn empathy later in life, but that it takes way more effort than I’ve seen come out of Vick. If he truly felt remorse for his crimes, he would understand the world’s skepticism towards him. Sadly, he doesn’t. What disturbs me is the creative ways he slaughtered animals- electrocution, drowning, hanging, bashing a creature’s brains in. He was a gleeful participant. If you want to know the extent of a man, see how he treats those ‘beneath’ him and actions like these go far beyond anyone whining about his upbringing.

I doubt he’ll do it again, but only because the world will never stop watching for it. I do think, though, that if he doesn’t get his violence out on the football field, there’s going to be a dead prostitute showing up eventually. Without serious help, abusers don’t stop abusing and Vick obviously has a taste for blood. He doesn’t care what people think of him, because we’re all just haters, right? He’s actually whining that he can’t have a dog- talk about being self-centered. I think they should let him run a pitbull rehabilitation program out of his house (under close watch)- I’d love to hear him stammer on about why he suddenly doesn’t want a dog anymore

1) People who adamantly hate vick and refuse to forgive/forget his past discressions. And, thinks anything positive he does is just a show, and anything negative should have him cast back into federal manlove prison.

2) People who love the guy and labels everyone who talks bad about him as racist.

3) Those of us who really don’t give a F-word,and find humor in the self-righteousness of everyone else.

winning!!

ME? Racist? You coming to that conclusion further demonstrates the idiocracy you continue to portray. Hint I’m mixed, get it? I’m both white and black, you calling me a racist makes as much since as thinking Clayton Bigsby is a real person.

Let us do the thinking, you sit in your “I hate Mick Vick” chair and continue to think your opinion is the only one that makes sense.

Fair enough.

Pro athletes / entertainers cancel events the day of all of the time or just simply do not show up.

No they don’t. And if they do, they get rightly crucified for it.

If it wasn’t Mike Vick it would be simply about rescheduling but since it is, its about his rehabilitation.

No it wouldn’t. You can’t just up and reschedule something that’s been planned months in advance because one of the invited panelists doesn’t show up. There are other people involved who cleared their schedules for this event. Now you’re going to ask them to do it again because of Mike Vick?

Give me a break, his girl probably made him a good breakfast and they went back to bed, which is his right as an individual to do.

Yes, he does. On his own time. Not when he’s committed to something else. Do you just blow people off when you’ve made plans with them because you had a good meal?

Yes, racism is part of the fabric of our society. But Michael Vick is not an appropriate posterchild for unfairness because people would find his former activities equally appalling if he were white.

My feeling is that he’s served his time and is entitled to move on. I don’t think his sentence was sufficient, but that was the prosecutor’s decision. I pray his turnaround is genuine, but only God can judge his heart. Unless he breaks the law again, people should let it go.

However, organizations that laud Vick as an example of courage for overcoming obstacles are misguided. Criminal behavior isn’t an “obstacle”–it’s a choice. He can be commended for cleaning up his act, but he shouldn’t be hailed as a “hero” simply because he no longer behaves in a vile manner. That kind of bizarre and unwarranted hero worship–plus failing to honor his commitments–is what sets some people off. And that has nothing to do with race.

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Everybody and their mother knows its about race. They just can’t stand that Vick is back on top of the NFL after sitting for 3 years and came back better than ever

Give it a rest guys, Vick is the new style of NFL quarterbacks…..HA HA.

Bye-Bye Peyton, Favre, Brady, etc.

Hell, who is the 2nd leading rushing qb in 2010? Aaron Rodgers and what did he do? MVP in superbowl.

Better be a duel threat at the qb level in the NFL or you will be a clip board holding fool just like you David Duke fan club members

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You’re also stupid. Does the name Ryan Leaf ring a bell? And he never tortured anything to death as far as I can remember.

Right cause there is no such thing as black power or black panthers.. Why does everything have to be about color to some people? Seriously.
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How ignorant. Must be the public school education.

So, there is slavery all over the world, but you pick out white people? Then, you give no credit to white people who fought and died to get Africans Americans released from slavery in the U.S. (never mind all of central and south america). Or England, who quit buying products from Africa as they were producing them from black slaves owned by blacks. So, they went to India for their products. Try reading up a little more about all the good that “white people” have done to make a better life for blacks all over the world. Always complaining aren’t you? Pathetic.

IF Martin knew that he wasn’t showing up why is there a big stink? Things happen, speakers have to cancel.

Why didn’t Martin tell the anxious organizers that he cancelled?

Instead of blasting Vick, blast the fact that people still expected him to show up after he gave notice he wasn’t going to make it.