Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick’s  return to the NFL has been a long and winding road.The man seems to breed contempt and condemnation from the public for his attempt to play the game, despite his athletic ability, which is frankly quite superb.But perhaps people should look to an example set forth by characters in the HBO series “The Wire.”In the opening scene of the series’ first episode, the viewers see a man, Omar “Snot Boogie” Betts, lying dead in the streets of Baltimore.Apparently, Betts was murdered because he had a habit of playing in and subsequently robbing dice games throughout the neighborhood.Usually, according to a witness of the crime, Betts was simply beaten up for his transgressions.The whole situation puzzled homicide detective Jimmy McNulty, and he wondered aloud why Betts was allowed to continue to join dice games.”If every time Snot Boogie would grab the money and run away, why’d you even let him in the game?” he asked the witness. To which the witness simply   replied: “Got to. It’s America, man.”This is an awfully simplistic reason to want Vick back on the field, but it’s just as valid of a reason as those who would want to deny him.America is the land of second chances, and those who would seek to deny Vick his chance at redemption are hypocritical at best and idiots at worst.After all, there are players in the NFL who’ve committed crimes against other humans, yet we as people don’t seem to mind them getting their lives back on track and playing on Sundays.
There’s no doubt Vick has had his fair share of off-the-field problems.He was once punished by the NFL for making an obscene gesture to the crowd at a Falcons game following a defeat by the Saints in 2006.He’s gotten into trouble a couple of times in airports too. Once he was caught with a water bottle with a secret compartment that many speculated held drugs. Another time, while he and some of his associates were going through a security checkpoint in an airport in Atlanta, one of his associates was seen stealing a watch.
But, few things are seen as more morally reprehensible than his biggest misstep.After a federal investigation, charges were filed against Vick for his involvement with a dog fighting ring.Vick was accused of financing the ring that sometimes held fights at his home in Virginia, participating in dog fights, executing dogs and handling the illegal gambling money.He eventually plead guilty to “Conspiracy to Travel in Interstate Commerce in Aid of Unlawful Activities and to Sponsor a Dog in an Animal Fighting Venture” and was sentenced to 23 months in a federal prison in Leavenworth, Kan.Dog fighting is wrong — there’s no doubt about it. But nearly two years in a federal penitentiary is sufficient enough punishment for a crime that only carries a six-month sentence in some states. Animal rights groups have been on Vick’s case since the charges have been filed, and many requested his permanent ban from the NFL — which is just absurd.Vick paid his penance by serving his prison term, and at this point he’s just trying to get his life back on track.He’s being mentored by one of the greats in the coaching profession, Tony Dungy, and by many accounts has turned his life around.He’s trying to work with animal rights groups, get his finances in order and spend time with his family.He doesn’t need PETA on his case claiming his signing has “disappointed millions of decent football fans,” and refusing to work with him while implying that Vick may be a psychopath.This is America, man — the country where everybody should get a second chance.
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