Vick is back, and he deserves it
Just because Michael Vick deserves a to be back in the National Football League, playing for a team, does not mean what he did was not stupid, inhumane, and completely out of line. However, looking at it in context, he deserves to be back doing what he loves.
He had a fair trial in the court of law, was found guilty, given a sentence, and respectfully followed it. Anyone who says he shouldn’t be back competing might be saying a criminal like that has no place in the NFL. They are putting themselves above the law, and the commissioner of the NFL. Both the law and the NFL say that Vick is allowed to go back to his sport.
Apparently they do not know that there are other men actually playing and doing well in the NFL, convicted or charged of more heinous crimes. Lets, look at Ray Lewis, linebacker and defensive captain for the Baltimore Ravens. While he may not be a household name, you don’t have to be a football fanatic to have heard of him. Almost 10 years ago he was charged with murder, and, just like, Vick he went to court and received his sentence, without being all over the news for decent amount of time. Since this time Lewis has gone on to play in multiple Pro-Bowls, and even land himself on the cover of the video game Madden.
Much more recently, this year, Donte Stallworth, of the New Orleans Saints hit and killed a pedestrian with his car. He has received a lighter sentence, lighter suspension from the NFL, and far less media buzz and haggling than Vick. Leonard Little of the St. Louis Rams, was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in 1998, and just yesterday, September 27th, played for the Rams recording 2 sacks and 2 tackles to his statistics list, showing that players can rebound from felonies and still follow their dreams and talents.
Many will argue that a convicted felon has no right to be playing a professional sport due to the role model responsibilities they face. Sure Vick may not be the best example for the average pop warner football player in America, but how about all of the younger athletes’ that have spent time in juvenile detention centers or have had other run-ins with the law? Vick is a perfect example for those who have already gotten convicted or in other types of trouble. He responsibly, went to court, did his time, even donated time and money to the organization he may have hurt most, and is now back doing what he loves.
Surely a young criminal, who looks up to Vick can realize that if he can go through serving time in jail and be back doing what he loves, that the youngster can do the same. Whether their dream be playing a sport, being a business man, going back to school, or even living a life just getting by without crime, Vick has shown that it is possible to mess up on a huge degree and still recover.
After getting out of jail, any parole officer would encourage their client to get back to their profession and regular life. Why wouldn’t they encourage a professional athlete to do the same? Sure Michael Vick might have been involved with some cruel activity, but he has done his time and learned his lesson. Anyone keeping him out of football would be the true heartless ones.
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