news-record.com

BLOGS

Thinking Out Loud

Vick's interview

Having seen Michael Vick's interview Sunday night on "60 Minutes," I can't say he convinced me of very much.

He certainly said the right things -- about remorse and sadness and not taking his natural talent for granted --but the answers seemed rote and unemotional.

I have to wonder whether these words were the work of his PR coaches (an irony: in his earlier career he wasn't known for listening to coaches) or really did come from the heart.

I still believe he deserves a second chance.

I'll have to wait and see what he does with it.

Permalink

Posted by Allen Johnson on Monday, August 17, 2009 at 5:15 pm

This article has been closed to new comments. Comments are generally closed after 14 days. However, comments may be closed earlier at the discretion of the News & Record.

Inappropriate content? Please report abuse.

Advertisement | Advertise with Us

Doug Johnson

August 17, 2009 - 8:45 pm EDT

No doubt he was a well polished apple!
Still do not believe, he should not be allowed to get on with his life.
Playing in Philly, should be punishment enough!

brian444

August 17, 2009 - 11:56 pm EDT

Of course it's a canned apology. Look, we kill millions of animals of every day for food, shoes, lack of space, sport, etc. If you give me a choice of being one of Vick's dogs or (a) a Perdue chicken, or (b) a dog at the local pound, I'll take Vick any day. Although I'm no fan of dog fighting, I can't help but think that Vick, who's immersed in a culture that sees nothing wrong with it, can only simulate remorse for violating a taboo that is essentially nonsensical.

Seymour Hardy Floyd

August 18, 2009 - 12:46 am EDT

Time will tell us more than anything else.

Vick's apology and his comments in general, coached or not, have been more impressive than many others who also have had much for which they should have apologized.

I'm thinking about a couple Carolina governors (representing both directions), our state's former presidential candidate, a coach from another state well-known for it's college basketball teams (of which he's coached two), and many athletes, politicans, and others out there who haven't even been able to say the "right" things one looks for in a sincere apology.

I don't believe I heard Vick making any excuses or blaming anyone but himself. He didn't break down and cry on air, but maybe he's done that on his own. Judging sincerity is sometimes a hard thing to do, even though we tend to try. I was not a Vick fan before, and I was personally disgusted by his involvement in dogfighting, but maybe he has changed for the better or is in the process of doing so. At least it's Tony Dungy who's standing beside him instead of some others who tend to try to represent people in bad situations (and sometimes only make everything worse).

The best indicator will be the passage of time, not this interview, but it's potentially a step in the right direction, and if Vick's future example makes a positive difference for others, then he will earn my respect.