Michael Vick: "I Blame Me"

"Why would you put your reputation on the line in working with Michael Vick?" Brown asked Dungy.

"I've visited a lot of prisons. It's something that I do. And I know that there are a lot of young men, especially African-American young men, who need a chance. Who made a mistake. Who did something wrong. Who had a problem but are looking to bounce back. That's what I've always been concerned about. Not just for Michael Vick. But for hundreds of guys that I've talked to."

Pacelle's relationship with Vick is even more unlikely. His organization provided evidence that helped put Vick in prison. While Pacelle says he remains skeptical, he nevertheless enlisted Vick as an anti-dogfighting ambassador.

"If we just punish Mike indefinitely and don't pivot to this problem in the communities, where kids are victimizing these dogs and then going down a dead-end street themselves, because there are no heroic dogfighters, we will not be doing our job. And I felt we needed to get involved and we needed to do some creative things to reach these kids. So that's why we have our community based programs. And I am really hopeful that Mike sticks with this and reaches these kids because he can turn some of them around. I really do believe that," Pacelle explained.

Their first effort was in Atlanta last weekend, where Vick talked to children in neighborhoods like the one he grew up in. "I encourage you to love your animals. Whatever animals you have, whether it's a dog, a cat, a reptile, if it's a horse. I so encourage you to love that animal dearly and with all your heart," he said at the event.

It's a message Vick says he never heard when he was a kid in Newport News, Va., where he was first exposed to dogfighting when he was eight years old.

"I was introduced very young, so I didn't think it was wrong because I'd seen older guys condoning it and then, you know, doing it," Vick said.

"You shared with me the story about, even the police riding through the neighborhood and seeing what was happening. Explain that situation," Brown asked.

"When they got out the car and seen that, you know, it was two dogs fighting, they got back in the car and they left. So that right there kind of made me feel like, 'Okay, you know, this ain't - it is not as bad as it may seem.' We didn't think it was bad at the time. And, you know, that kind of put a stamp on it," Vick said.

"We knew it was a huge issue before Michael Vick was prosecuted, but the public didn't know. We estimate there are 40,000 professional dogfighters in the country and perhaps 100,000 street fighters. We're talking about something that's occurring in every part of the country, rural and urban, white, black, Latino. It's an industry," Pacelle said.

Asked what the attraction is, Pacelle told Brown, "People enjoy watching these animals compete and fight. They get excited by the bloodletting. They gamble on the outcomes. The fights may last ten minutes, they may last three hours. Dogs die from shock, they die from blood loss. They suffer, if they survive the process, to maybe fight again. All for what?"

When the allegations of dogfighting first arose, Vick made another monumental mistake. He lied about it to everybody: law enforcement, his family, his coaches, and to NFL Commissioner Goodell.

"I was scared. I knew my career was in jeopardy. I knew I had endorsement with Nike and I knew it was gonna be a big letdown. I felt the guilt and I knew I was guilty, and I knew what I had done. And, not knowing at the time that, you know, actually telling the truth may have been better than not being honest. And it backfired on me tremendously," Vick said.

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[lifeislife07]

EVERYONE DESERVES FORGIVENESS AND A SECOND CHANCE. Michael Vick is a human being and he shouldn't be treated with 'special treatment' from his fans. People argue Vick probably gets special treatment in jail but it doesn't always have to be good. Vick gets 'special treatment' from his fans by them being extremely angry at him FOREVER and insulting him just because he is a famous football star. Everyone makes mistakes but should deserve a second chance.
What would happen to this world if no one forgave each other?
I believe Michael Vick would have never done anything like this if he had a dog in his childhood. Dogs will change everything, your life. You would never know what its like to have love for a dog UNLESS you get one. I think that should have been his 'punishment.' Then he'll feel truly sorry for what he did if gets a dog.

[russoT]

Vick is a sick, demented individual who is incapable of feeling empathy and compassion for a living thing. Having a dog won't suddenly change him. How many dogs did he watch get tortured and how many did he torture himself? You don't have to wonder if he's sorry for what he did to those dogs, he isn't, he hasn't apologized for it. He said it himself in the interview, he felt sorry for his fans, his family. Please, please stop talking about second chances, this drives me crazy. This went on for SIX YEARS!!! Every day he had another chance to make a different decision. EVERY DAY FOR SIX YEARS!!!!

[lifeislife07]

aChangeOfIdeas...fthr_of_4 is partially right. People run over deers with their cars accidentally but people would just leave it there to die. People do kill fish and shoot birds. It is true that people shoot animals to eat but why today? We have all the food in the world in grocery stores. I mean its normal to do it back in the day but today its not needed to kill animals regularly to 'eat it.' I see so many stray cats in my area but no one bothers to keep one except one house feeds them. I see dead cats in the streets when driving but people usually just pass them. I do believe most of America loves dogs. 1 out of every 3 households has one or more dogs. It is horrible what Michael Vick has done. But he is TRYING to make up for what he did. He already spent more than an year in jail and jail is no joke. He deserved that but does he still deserve to be judged now because of what he has done in the past. Everyone deserves to be forgiven. Everyone deserves a SECOND CHANCE. Even if he is not really sorry for what he did to the dogs, he is still spending his time to tell kids to love their animals and is involved in organizations. No one should be punished forever like Vick is punished by his fans. FORGIVENESS IS THE ANSWER! If there was no forgiveness in this world, life will not move on. Michael Vick is a human being! You know he feels really bad, not maybe for dogs, who knows, but for what he did to his fans.

* I just thought of this now. Michael Vick grew up to think dog fighting was cool and awesome. He was 'bred that way.' These dogs grew up to think dogfighting was life. Vick knew it was wrong but no one told him not to do it.

PS- Im open to opinions

[beastb]

im just happy to be a part of this crazy comment cluster f***

[JerseyGrrl]

What's with PETA's selective persecution that by-passes higher profile personalities like Sarah Palin and Dick Chaney, to ruin a lesser known personalities, like Michael Vick. A

Is it because he's black?

I'm not hatin', I'm just sayin'...

[russoT]

What are you talking about??

[chop02]

Ok, just came across this article, and I can't believe there are 932 comments on this issue. Im sure the people that have posted there disgust on this issue have also posted there disgust with politicains who have molested children and gotten away with it by going into AA meetings and speaking with thier pastors, or actors who have murderd people and gotten away with it etc. Im sure if I go to any of these other blog sites pertaining to those issues I will find all of your names up there with your comments of hatred for those types people(right), and how you are petitioning to have those individuals thrown in jail or atleast tried for the crimes they've committed. I'm sure I've trained and had more dogs than the majority of you who posted, and I still don't have the disgust you guys have. You all need to reevaluate your priorities. This guy plays football (football), there are others out there who create the laws we abide by that do far worse, with huge underlying agendas, how about concentrating on that.

[russoT]

Fine, within the proper forum. This isn't about any of those people it's about Michael Vick.

[susancotton]

i can't stop thinking about what those men did to those dogs. the idea that they enjoy bashing a helpless creature's teeth and electrocuting them and beating them to death. and they do it for fun... and from reading these comments of MV supporters it's clear that it's ok with them. they admire it. i look at my neighbors now and wonder. to know that it is a cool national pasttime for a lot of guys to cause great suffering. what a savage country we have become.

[EasternNavajoRezdawg]

Little men who feel inadequate behave this way. Real men don't have anything to prove.

[Zoelife32]

No sir James Brown was on the Michael Irvin show in Dallas. He said he had to be tough for america's sake. He is one of the guys who went to visit Mike when he first went to prison. He is a christian brother that understands forgiveness totally. He said really he had to act out that way for the people sake, so it want seem one sided with a black interviewer letting a black mike vick off the hook. Hopefully this helps. Also go to Michael Irvin podcast on 103.3 to listen to james brown. It's great!

[russoT]

Sounds like there should've been full disclosure on Brown's part. There wasn't.

[susancotton]

Michael Vick repeatedly lied to fans, owners, NFL officials, judges, and anyone else who would listen. Only when confronted with irrefutable and damning evidence did he admit to his crimes. And yet, in interviews with Michael Vick, CBS News 60 Minutes unequivocally takes him at his word. How can this be?

Michael Vick beat, drowned, electrocuted and otherwise savagely tortured and killed many defenseless animals. CBS News 60 Minutes is well aware of the facts. But in their interview with him, CBS worked with Michael Vick to obscure the facts of his participation in and the savage nature of his crimes. Why is this?

I think it is of very little use to ask Michael Vick about his ethics or his reasoning or his motives. But, why did CBS News 60 Minutes so eagerly partner with him and his handlers in their efforts to restore his reputation?

[buddy10462]

Hi My name is Fran. I think that Michael Vick is regretfull only because he got busted. He has been running this ring for many, many years, and what he did to those dogs is horrendous, and unforgiveable. There are people in jail for plenty of years because of the Rockefeller Law. They are in there for marijuana, etc. Michael Vick only served very little time for what he did. I think that he cares less about the humane society, and is only doing talks about dog fighting because he has to. He should have been tortured just like he did to those helpless animals. I think he is a very sick puppy, who is in dire need of psychiatric care. I do believe in second chances for people because I worked in a methadone maintenance treatment program, and was very compassionate with my patient's issues. In his case, I feel what he did is unforgivable, and he should have never been reinstated in football. To me, he is the lowest of the lowest!!!!!!!!!!

[aggiemariposa]

Hi Fran - I am appalled at what he did too and agree with many of your points. BUT - sorry, we have to forgive. I do not wish Mr. Vick a bad life, he certainly can be a productive citizen. However, even though we forgive, sometimes there are premanent consequences to be suffered, that's just the way life is. In some states, felons can't vote. They are barred permanently from certain kinds of employment and cannot obtain many kinds of professional licenses. It is ridiculous that the NFL reinstated him. He has already had his second chance - he got out of prison.

Believe me, I understand how you feel, but try to find a little forgiveness. God loves all people.

[buddy10462]

Hi My name is Fran. I think that Michael Vick is regretfull only because he got busted. He has been running this ring for many, many years, and what he did to those dogs is horrendous, and unforgiveable. There are people in jail for plenty of years because of the Rockefeller Law. They are in there for marijuana, etc. Michael Vick only served very little time for what he did. I think that he cares less about the humane society, and is only doing talks about dog fighting because he has to. He should have been tortured just like he did to those helpless animals. I think he is a very sick puppy, who is in dire need of psychiatric care. I do believe in second chances for people because I worked in a methadone maintenance treatment program, and was very compassionate with my patient's issues. In his case, I feel what he did is unforgivable, and he should have never been reinstated in football. To me, he is the lowest of the lowest!!!!!!!!!!