Michael Vick Begged Judge For "2nd Chance"

Disgraced QB Wrote Fruitless Five-Page Plea Asking For Leniency In His Sentencing

(AP)  Michael Vick declared "I am not the bad person or beast I've been made out to be" and asked for leniency in a letter to the federal judge who sentenced him to 23 months in prison for a dogfighting conspiracy.

Vick made his handwritten plea from jail as he awaited Monday's sentencing by Judge Henry E. Hudson. His five-page letter and several others from Vick supporters, including baseball great Hank Aaron and former heavyweight boxing champion George Foreman, were released by the U.S. District Court in Richmond on Thursday.

"I take full responsibility for my actions and am ashamed that my actions hurt animals and allowed animals to be hurt and killed," Vick wrote. "... Your Honor, I just ask for a second chance."

The suspended Atlanta Falcons quarterback's appeal wasn't enough to overcome Hudson's finding that Vick lied at various times about his hands-on role in helping kill pit bulls and about his marijuana use, which was detected by a drug screening. Hudson cited those lapses in giving Vick a longer sentence than two fellow defendants, who previously were sentenced to 18 months and 21 months.

"Throughout this entire case, I've just tried to be honest," Vick wrote. "Sometimes I didn't know how to be and was scared, but eventually I put everything out on the table and left no stones unturned."

Vick said he's an animal lover but that he grew up in a culture where dogfighting went unpunished while people were arrested for guns or drugs. His mother, Brenda Boddie, also alluded to Vick's upbringing in a rough area of Newport News in her letter to the judge.

"Michael could have easily followed the wrong crowd but he chose to make something out of himself and he got his family out of the projects," she wrote. "Michael has had a lot on his shoulders since he was around 14 yrs old, working hard to get where he wanted to be."

Vick said he now knows his actions were wrong.

"Your Honor, I am not the bad person or the beast I've been made out to be. I have been talked about and ridiculed on a day to day basis by people who really dont know Michael Vick the human being," Vick wrote.

He described himself as a "humble, soft spoken and caring" father of three and lamented the effect his crime has had on his older children, ages 5 and 2.

"This has been painful because my son watches the news and can understand whats going on with his father," he wrote, adding that his daughter asked him on a regular basis when he would be home to play games with her, "but I have no answer."

He also said his actions have left his own once-enviable life in tatters.

"Honestly, I wish I had never been involved in dogfighting," he wrote. "As a result I've lost everything - my good name, job, endorsements, and now my freedom."

Vick blamed his marijuana use on his father, Michael Boddie, who talked to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution about his famous son's dogfighting activities in August. Boddie told the newspaper: "I wish people would stop sugarcoating it. This is Mike's thing."

Vick wrote: "I was suffering from a deep state of depression, and after my father attacked me in the media, I was heartbroken. ... That's no excuse for using marijuana, but I didn't know how to cope with all the difficulties I was facing because it was all new to me."

He alluded to the nearly $1 million the court ordered him to set aside for the care and placement of dozens of pit bulls that were seized from his property in southeastern Virginia, saying he had no objection to paying because he believes the dogs "should live a good life."

Vick noted that he had never before been convicted of a crime, and he listed some of his charitable contributions and vowed to use his money only for good works in the future.

Aaron, the former home run king who is now an executive with the Atlanta Braves, lauded Vick's community service.

"From the moment Michael moved to Atlanta, he appeared to deal with his success very well," Aaron wrote. "From what I understand, he took it upon himself to support the area's underprivileged kids, bring them to games, visit them in the hospital, and give money to the organizations that help them. Michael made a favorable impression on me from the moment I met him."

Vick's lead attorney, Billy Martin, said in a statement: "Mr. Vick is much more than the caricature some in the media have chosen to portray."

He listed other charitable works by Vick and said the former Virginia Tech star "deserves to be judged on the totality of his actions, not just the latest headlines."

Vick's troubles still are not over. He and his three co-defendants - Purnell Peace, Quanis Phillips and Tony Taylor - face state animal cruelty charges in Surry County. Vick's trial is set for April 2.

[NicoleWebster]

Does Michael Vick Deserve a second chance?
Watch this preview for VICKtory to the Underdog

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjostWvg9tU

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"Vicktory To The Underdog" takes an in depth look at world renowned tattoo artist "Brandon Bond" and his dog rescue efforts - particularly rescuing the infamous Michael Vick fighting dogs.
Rather than focusing on the dog fighting problem, the movie sheds light on solutions leading to "Vicktory" for all the underdogs in the movie - tattoo people, pitbulls, parolees and all the other people in this world that society has turned their back on through ignorance and racism.
The movie also examines the life of Brandon Bond and his struggle with balancing fame, fortune and the Rock-N-Roll tattoo lifestyle with a more fulfilling life that focuses on the betterment of both animals and society as a whole.
Featuring celebrities like Debbie and Danny Trejo, Michael Berryman, Pixie Acia and Donal Logue, the movie takes you on an incredible journey you will never forget!

Proceeds for this film will be going to Villa Lobos Pitbull Rescue. http://www.vrcpitbull.com

[kailumego1]

Keithle1, there are a lot of intelligent black men, but because of the "victimization role" that has consumed many blacks, post-slavery, instead of the black communities, e.g. mothers, black women period, having "higher-expectations" for black men, through urging and nudging them to go to college, vocational school, become entrepreneurs etc...

[kailumego1]

Through her [black women, mothers, etc.]persistent "pampering" and "enabling" his behavior, the black man in America has become a mirror of his African ancestor.

Where black women are the head of household, although their liberties and rights are truncated and circumscribed, for example African women have the highest illiteracy rate, aids rate, and poverty rate than men, but they are the bearers and custodians of the household, similar to those black women in America.

I''ve heard it and read it where black psychologists and sociologists have repeatedly stated, the black mother "spoils her son", but "raises her daughter".

In most cases this is true!Now most black psychologists and sociologists have argued the reason for this behavior is because how the black man was treated during and after slavery, but I vehemently disagree--if you research African history, for the most part, the African woman has always taken upon herself the "head-of-household" and laborious role, while the role of the African male has been one of "leisure" and self-aggrandizement.
This would explain why Africa continues to be in social/cultural/political turmoil even today, notwithstanding, the effects of colonialism.
The African[black]male leadership has been one of great disparagement, egoism, and chaos, e.g. West, Central, East, and South Africa, of which this grandiose ideology has done absolutely nothing to further Africa economically, politically, or socially.

[kailumego1]

Seventy-percent of AIDS cases are reported in Africa, of which a huge percentage are women, and South African males , along with South East Asians, following their egoistic self-aggrandized ideological beliefs feel absolutely no regards as they viciously rape and brutalize virgin women, children, and even babies consumed with a "magical belief", that raping a virgin will rid them of the AIDS virus.

A virus that is largely due, as a result of their self-aggrandized egoistic selfishness.

This aversive behavior has transcended into the African American culture and that''s always been the real problem.

[kailumego1]

Black women need to stop pampering black men and start holding them accountable as "men", instead of treating them like "spoiled-rotten children".

And black women need to stop making a million excuses for selfish egoistic irresponsible black men, e.g. racism, poverty, etc., and start having higher expectations of success.

I know a lot of black folks love to harp on slavery, but let''s face it, if our African ancestors were not forcibly brought to America, do you really envision yourself living any better in Africa knowing the brutality and in-group fighting between African tribes?

Although European slave traders, along with European discourse itself, was principled on an inhumane misanthropic ideology, of which their brutal barbarian treatment of African slaves speaks volumes of their "collective consciousness".

But, please don''t dismiss the brutal barbarianism bestowed on Africans by Africans, which has been a continuation within the black communities e.g. black on black crime.

Because we''re in no greater position to point the finger of injustice without looking in the mirror at ourselves, and if the black woman doesn''t start stepping up to the plate and thwart this long-standing generational degradation that allows the black man not to mature responsibly then you''ll continue to see a lot of Micheal Vick''s running a muck.

[keithle1]

If black men didn''t have athletic skills that were good enough to get a contract with a pro team, they would probably still be in the hood doing God knows what.

Most black men aren''t able to get out of the hood & move on to bigger & better things by using their BRAIN. How many black men get an academic scholarship?

[keithle1]

Another innocent black man headed to prison...

If he was white, I don''t think there would be anyone here crying about the "injustice" of it all & the "cruel & inuhumane punishment."

If you had dogs & I stole them one night & did what these guys did to these dogs & sent you photos, would you be willing to forgive me & give me a hug? Perhaps invite me over for Christmas egg nog?

[rukidding75]

thgdriver, what city do you live in because it does not sound like any I am aware of...

[rukidding75]

What Mike Vick did was wrong!
However to put an animals life be fore a humans is inhumane. As a society and as a country if he get punished and put in prison we are telling our entire county that life of a dog is more important of that of a human. I believe that he has lost enough, his NFL career is history if we as a society make him do an un for seen amount of work in an animal shelter would be much more punishment then our tax money going to him by way of electric, water, food etc... This way he can see just how innocent the animal he & other killed really are innocent and everyone will but Mike Vick since h will in part loose him NLF Career and endorsements. I would think one month for each animal that was injured up to 60 months at 5.25 an hour working in an animal shelter should help clear him of his "upbringing" Let the punishment fit the crime!

[thgdriver]

There are many, many people in the world who are born into poverty or oppression and cannot simply get out. My point is, until humans learn to get along and stop killing each other it''s a little premature to worry about animals.

Posted by incog-nito

That to me is the sorriest part of the whole Mike Vick story. He was born in poverty!! The black community will still site opression in this country!! He over came it all, became a multi millionare, then bankrolled a illegal dog fighting venture. STUPID!!

[thgdriver]

Spend more time and energy taking care of fellow humans first, then we''ll talk about the animals.

Posted by incog-nito

Thats where you are wrong, Animals have no choice, they need our protection from the slime of dog fighting. My fellow humans have a choice and can do what I have done all my life. Take care of themselves!

Those that cannot take care of themselves? My tax dollar already provides a number of goverment agencys they can turn to.

[thgdriver]

thgdriver, this is where humans are not treated as well as humans should. ...are you saying that our handicap can take care of themselves or the homeless on the street or the children in the adopt agency.

Our handicapped are well provided for by the government.
There is a number of government agency''s available to the handicapped, the Americans with disabilities law was instrumental in helping with their welfare.

People on the street? There is a number of agency''s available to them also, I am not on the street because, as I stated, I have taken care of myself all my life. Kids at the adoption agency hopefully get adopted, if not, when they come of age, they take care of themselves.

To me it has always been a matter of getting a job, putting your two feet on the ground, working hard every day and making a life for yourself and start a family.

Don''t tell me it cant be done, without giving out a lot of personal information, that I have no intention of doing, it can be done.

[kailumego1]

What''s disgusting about this tragedy Vick had a promising career--he was in the position to make millions and millions, along with showing, by example, how blacks growing up in squaller conditions don''t have to become another statistic of this degradation engulfing blacks.

While, thank God, he doesn''t speak or is a spokesperson for the "BLACK RACE", as some ignorant whites would love to shove down black folk''s throats, he symbolizes the underlined problem plaguing black communities in inner-cities everywhere.

Many blacks vehemently disagree with how the media has gone after Vick with a vengeance, along with the "witch hunt", by many whites in this country.

I''m an animal lover, not just dog, of which I own two dogs, and find it appalling what Vick has done, equally appalling because it doesn''t stop with him.

But, what many blacks find as a "double-standard", the dog-fighting enterprise started and still continues in the deep-South, which it originated among "Southern whites" reaching enclaves in black communities.

Up North, in predominately black neighborhoods it is a "common sport", as lower-class blacks engage in the dog fighting ritual.

So, lumping all blacks into the monolithic schema is simply ridiculous, notwithstanding, there are a lot of blacks siding with Vick, because they feel he''s been singled out as the "sacrificial lamb".

[kailumego1]

The problem, however, most blacks should have focused on is how this type of behavior e.g. Vick''s, rap music, etc. has done nothing positive for young black males/females, but has further escalated and perpetuated the self-degradation within impoverished black communities.

Not only does it widen the gulf between blacks and whites, it widens the gulf between middle-class educated blacks and lower-class egocentric blacks.

So, this shouldn''t be a fight between blacks and whites on this matter, but black folks coming out of denial and dealing with the self-degradation within black communities.

And blacks folks can pontificate until they are blue in the face how this case against Vick is unjust, which it probably is, but that shouldn''t be the "driving force", by which to take a stance, or make a declaration.

These type of incidents will continue to happen, and this should be a wake up call to blacks that tolerating this type of behavior has to stop.

Personalities like Vick have been blessed with the opportunity to make a chance, and not further the self-degradation by continuing to engage in illegal and amoral behavior, which I don''t care how many times he states he didn''t know, he''s a lie, he knew his behavior was illegal and amoral, but didn''t give a DAMM.

[jim3215]

Whether is is Michael Vick or David Huckabee, hurting dogs is disgusting and should be punished. I have no sympathy for people who torture or kill dogs.

Also, I could never support a Presidential candidate who has a son that would hang a dog by his neck, slit his throat and stone the dog to death. Even if the dog killer is a son of a Baptist minister!!

[rukidding75]

jeff92706~
let it be known I am a white, female, mother, wife, student, employee in the Awesome USA and I get offend by the %u201CN%u201D word. = Slang: Extremely Disparaging and Offensive. a person of any race or origin regarded as contemptible, inferior, ignorant, etc.

Do you see where it states of ANY RACE? People that use this word are IGNORANT and I find it offensive!

[rukidding75]

Thats where you are wrong, Animals have no choice...My fellow humans have a choice and can do what I have done all my life. Take care of themselves!

thgdriver, this is where humans are not treated as well as humans should. ...are you saying that our handicap can take care of themselves or the homeless on the street or the children in the adopt agency? This (I personally feel) is where we as all humans (white, black, tan etc) are putting WAY to much into the punishment of Mike Vick and not worrying about the humans down/on the streets...

[docofthebay]

People treat their pets like kings, up until they don''''t want them anymore. Then off to the pound or the streets they go. Spend more time and energy taking care of fellow humans first, then we''''ll talk about the animals.
Posted by incog-nito

No, we take care of all the living things that we can all at one time. That other people treat their pets like cr@p doesn''t lessen the severity of what this ridiculous idiot did, or others like him.

[rudy654-2009]

Yes he deserves punishment, but this was too excessive. I have nothing against pets, but I put humans first. Some people in this opulent country elevate their pets'''' status to near human, until they don''''t want them anymore. Then it''''s to the pound or the streets. Posted by incog-nito at 05:38 PM

I don''t know about just punishment or not, but the focus here is excessive that is for sure. First of all, most of the posters here are only concerned about the cruel treatment of dogs, not cats, roosters, bulls, or whatever, I they show this by trying to minimize those crimes involving other animals. The second thing is that is this man were white, yes, you would have a few posters here protesting, but a greater majority would be defending the guy by point fingers at Jessie Jackson or Al Sharpton. It''s the game they play. (Btw, I totally agree that this was a vicious crime, it''s the hypocrisy that gets me).

[incog-nito]

My fellow humans have a choice and can do what I have done all my life. Take care of themselves!

Posted by thgdriver at 11:32 PM : Dec 14, 2007

This is where I beg to differ. There are many, many people in the world who are born into poverty or oppression and cannot simply get out. My point is, until humans learn to get along and stop killing each other it''s a little premature to worry about animals.