I am super inspired by Michael Vick.
As someone who isn’t afraid to admit that I haven’t lived my life mistake free, I am proud at how tall Vick is standing right now. His story of rise and fall has been told countless times. We all have been reminded by vivid footage of the horrendous conditions he kept dogs in to fight for pretty expensive pay days.
We all know he spent what I believe to be a very unfair 18-month stint in prison for being involved in dog fighting.
We all know he didn’t spend too much time studying his NFL playbook and was usually the last guy to arrive at practice and the first one to leave while with the Atlanta Falcons.
Now that I’ve reminded you once again of Vick’s troubles and laziness – let’s move on. Let’s move on and talk about how Vick took every shot at him imaginable and continues to apologize. Let’s move on and talk about how he’s been a model spokesman for the Humane Society of the United States. Let’s move on and talk about how addicted Vick is to watching film and how his playbook rarely leaves his side. Finally, let’s move on and talk about how amazing Vick is playing football.
No, one word to describe his play isn’t enough. How about, out of this world? If you didn’t witness Vick’s Monday Night Football clinic against the Washington Redskins in November where he threw for 333 yards and four touchdowns you missed a very special night. A night where I thought Vick’s light couldn’t shine any brighter, but then came the Dec. 19 game against the New York Giants at the Meadowlands. If Vick hadn’t solidified his comeback party yet, he did so against the Giants. Down 31-10 with less than 8 minutes to go, Vick threw a 65-yard touchdown pass, ran for 35, 33 and 22 yards in the span of five minutes and threw another touchdown dagger right in the Giants heart. Game tied: 31-31. Thanks to an unbelievable punt return by DeSean Jackson, Eagles win and Vick’s light blinded every person who refuses to let the man move on and live his life.
I love stories like this one that is full of redemption. So many people think Vick should still suffer because of the dog fighting. I’ve read comments that borderline on pure hatred for another human being. People continue to judge Vick on a mistake he admitted to and went to jail for. He missed his son’s first birthday. His take home pay check has dwindled from nine figures to six. It’s as if people forget that they aren’t perfect and they have skeletons that we’ll never see because they don’t play in the National Football League.
I love that Vick was winning and winning the right way. He’s winning because he owned up to his mistake. He’s winning because he made promises to God and he’s kept them. He’s winning because he’s trying hard. He’s winning because everyone deserves a second chance.
Michael Vick is my 2010 Comeback Person of the Year because I believe everyone deserves a shot at a comeback. And man, by season’s end he was playing some great football.
