Vick Venom

I've been meaning to do this for quite a while, but with the news of Michael Vick pleading guilty to the unbelievably graphic and horrific charges against him regarding dogfighting, I figured it was finally time to get my personal blog going.

When first seeing Michael Vick on the football field at the 2000 Sugar Bowl against the Seminoles in New Orleans, it was fascinating just how athletic, fast, and overly talented this guy was. He literally ran circles around the FSU national championship defense, and despite coming up a bit short in one of the higher scoring BCS championship games ever, he ran the one-man show for the Hokies like a man among middle school kids (think Rob Schneider in Benchwarmers x 100). Although Peter Warrick might have stole some of his thunder in that game, Vick surely proved he was on another level than most other supreme athletes.

Forge ahead a few years later to see Vick leading the Atlanta Falcons to a playoff victory at Lambeau Field against the future Hall-of-Famer Brett Favre and it seemed pretty obvious that Vick was the future. Lightning speed, rocket arm, sick cuts and moves that reminded you of the great Barry Sanders...this kid was the future.

There is one huge catch, though....Talent can only take you so far. Although physical talent generally wins out over mental abilities or off-the-field incidents in professional sports, sometimes even your phenomenal athletic abilities come crashing to a halt with the wrong decisions.

Although this will be a blog mostly about sports, this sad story about Vick and his transgressions is more about life than sports.

Vick had it all. He had the 10-year, multi-million contract with the Falcons. A great endorsement deal with Nike. An owner who basically put the well-being and success of the organization in his QB's hands (and feet). And to top all of that, he was a black sports hero in a city well-known for its diverse community and support of African American celebrities.

Vick could do no wrong, right? Wrong!

Like the Powerball lottery winner that throws all of his millions of dollars down the drain in a matter of months on drugs, frivolous purchasing habits, and other money mismanagement, Vick has thrown it all away quicker than one of his trademark cut-back runs for a touchdown.

Dogfighting? Was it really all worth it Mike?

Sure, athletes have tons of free time in the off-season and plenty of money to use it as they please, but is the vicious brutality of innocent dogs to pass your time worth squandering your legacy, your career, and your dignity, Mike? How about millions upon millions of dollars thrown away?

For Mike Vick, apparently it was.

We are all judged by our decision-making, whether it be in the workplace, dealing with a friend, or in a athletic environment.

Remember how Vick was so supremely gifted on the field making the other players look like prepubescent middle school kids? Now, his off the field actions will forever remind our society and sports fans nationwide how his mental decision-making capabilities were less than that of a 10-year-old.

Suddenly, I don't feel as bad for those athletically inept Seminole defenders who looked so silly on that field at the Superdome.