MICHAEL VICK

­­­­228 – Sunday, August 16, 2009

Michael Vick is in the news once again. He has been picked up by the Philadelphia Eagles of the NFC East as an unrestricted free agent on a one-year, $1.6 million contract, but will have to serve some yet-to-be-determined term of suspension for his involvement and ultimate imprisonment for an unlawful interstate dog-fighting ring which was prosecuted in 2007. Vick, a former Atlanta Falcon quarterback, served an 18-month sentence during which time one of my all-time favorite sports figures, Tony Dungy, went to visit him. As I expected, Tony did not spend time talking with Michael about sports and his future in them, rather he talked to him about his faith, about being a man, accepting his responsibilities as a father and member of his community, and doing the right thing (it is no wonder that Tony is #1 pick in my book). Mr. Vick has offered a public confession of wrong doing, made and continues making financial restitution for his crimes, has publicly apologized to the sports world and his community for the disgrace he has brought upon them – in short, he has done more than the average sinner is required to do to attain forgiveness from a much Higher Power than the media, no matter what you may have been lead to believe about them and the power they weild. The rest of the world awaits Roger Goodell’s decision regarding the future of this superb athlete, reserving their acceptance of Michael until a later time, but not I. I am in full recognition of the effort that has been given and now await the proof of his statements to be forthcoming. We all have a stake in Michael Vick as a fellow member of the human race – a part of his recovery will be dependant upon our forgiveness and reinstatement to fellowship. He has paid a social debt which is all that we would have been required to do given similar circumstances. I, for one, am thrilled that my own personal moral failings have not been paraded across the splash of national media and exposed to the scrutiny of every informed citizen. I am thankful that God has forgiven me in the privacy of my own soul and restored me to right fellowship with Him in an instant and given me another chance and will do the same again if I fail again! Now if God will do that for little old me, who are we to withhold the same opportunity from Michael Vick. Play Ball!!!

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