The Sporting Image

The Sporting Image: What If?

Book title:

An anthology of creative writing based upon reallife events in sport Edited by: Book Co-Authors:

Clive Palmer Clive Palmer, Iain Adams, Ray Physick, Mitchell J. Larson, Anthony Maher, Joel Rookwood, James Kenyon, Chris Hughes, Paul Hall, John Metcalfe and 26 students

With a foreword by Philip Caveney

Author(s) and Chapter

Publisher:

David Hurst and Ray Physick (Chapter 24: 303-312) What if… American football star Michael Vick was found not guilty of dog fighting charges? SSTO Publications (School of Sport, Tourism and the Outdoors) University of Central Lancashire, Preston, UK.

ISBN:

978-0-9566270-0-1

Date:

September, 2010

Notice: The contents of this book as presented are creative stories stemming from interpretations of real-life events. Whilst the accounts have some factual research to underpin them, the outcomes they propose are deliberately fictitious for the purposes of education achieved through developing writing skills and using of imagination to create a ‘good tale’. They are set out in good faith for the general guidance of student supported research and the promotion of pedagogical discussion in teaching and learning contexts. No liability can be accepted by the Editor or the Co-authors (first or second named) for loss or expense incurred as a result of relying upon particular circumstances or statements made in this book. To reference this chapter: Hurst, D. and Physick, R. (2010) What if… American football star Michael Vick was found not guilty of dog fighting charges? (Chapter 24: 303-312). In, Palmer, C. (Ed.) The sporting image: what if - an anthology of creative writing based upon real-life events in sport. SSTO Publications, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, UK. Other research web host: https://www.academia.edu/3512859/Palmer_C._2010_The_Sporting_Image_What_If_An_Anthology_ of_Creative_Writing_Based_Upon_Real_Events_in_Sport

Amazon.co.uk: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sporting-Image-Anthology-Creative-Reallife/dp/0956627005/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1283766937&sr=1-2

The Sporting Image: What If

Chapter 24

What if… American football star Michael Vick was found not guilty of dog fighting charges? David Hurst and Ray Physick

Research Preface

U

ATLANTA FALCONS in 2001 Michael Vick became a National Football League (NFL) superstar and became one of the biggest ever names in American football. In December 2005 Vick signed a record 10 year, $130 million contract, a deal that confirmed his status as an elite player. PON JOINING THE

Two years into this contract, however, the career of Michael Vick was thrown into jeopardy: “Six years on from being selected as the first pick in the 2001 NFL draft, the Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick should have been looking forward to the best years of his career” (The Guardian, 2007). However, an accumulation of incidents between 2006 and 2007 saw Vick‟s reputation among football fans and the nation being brought under scrutiny. In 2006 Vick had been fined $10,000 by the NFL for making obscene gestures to Atlanta Falcon fans. The following summer Vick and three other men were found guilty by a federal grand jury of sponsoring a dog-fighting venture called „Bad Newz Kennels‟ (Searle, 2008: 7). The three other men were Purnell Peace, Quanis Phillips and Tony Taylor. Vick was released on bail while the judge deliberated upon what sentence to give the four men, during this time Vick added to his problems after testing positive for marijuana. 303

David Hurst and Ray Physick

Initially, Vick pleaded his innocence to the dog-fighting charges but on 20 August 2007 he announced that he would plead guilty to the case against him. The saga came to a conclusion on 10 December 2007 when Vick was sentenced to 23 months in prison for running a: "cruel and inhumane dogfighting ring and lying about it”. (Fox News, 2007) The other three men involved in the case with Vick also received prison sentences, Purnell Peace was sentenced to 23 months, Quanis Phillips received 18 months in prison while Tony Taylor got off lightly receiving a sentence of 60 days (ESPN, 2007). Vick could have received up to five years in prison but after making several different apologies to his family, the NFL, his club and to the nation the judge was prepared to err on the side of leniency. Vick was, however, suspended indefinitely by the NFL. Throughout Vick's time in prison there were constant questions of whether he could come back to American football and if so would he be able to recreate the form that made him one of the most exciting players in the game? The Falcons managed to recoup some of the money from the huge contract they gave Vick prior to his fall; an NFL arbitrator paved the way for the Atlanta Falcons to recover nearly $20 million in bonuses paid to suspended quarterback. The Atlanta Falcons moved on without Vick, although the media were always interested to know if Vick would come back to play for the Falcons or if he would be able to play in the NFL again at all. The Vick saga was officially re-opened in May 2009 when he was released from jail after serving 19 of his 23 months sentence: although he still had to serve two months in home confinement before his sentence was fully completed. Although his career with the Falcons was over the final decision regarding his reinstatement as a player rested with NFL commissioner, Roger Goodell. Goodell‟s decision was made easier by the Falcons owner, Arthur Blank, who stated publicly that Vick deserved a second chance, but not with Atlanta: “which has severed ties with its former star” (ESPN, 2009). Goodell initially reinstated Vick to the league in July 2009 with conditions that allowed him to sign for a team and to take part in pre-season practices, workouts and meetings and play in the final two pre-season games”. (ESPN, 2009) Only a week after his conditional reinstatement Vick signed a oneyear contract, worth $1.6 million, with the Philadelphia Eagles. Although signing a contract had come earlier than Goodall had planned the NFL 304

Michael Vick – football and dog fighting

granted Vick full reinstatement three weeks into the 2009 season. Goodall‟s decision received a mixed response from the press: “To root for someone who participated in the hanging, drowning, electrocution and shooting of dogs will be impossible for many” (CNN, 2009). Despite such scepticism Vick‟s first season back was a success with the Philadelphia Eagles extending his contract for a further twelve months.

References CNN (2009) Agent: Michael Vick signs with Philadelphia Eagles [online]. Available at: http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/08/13/vick.eagles/index.html (Accessed on 7th December 2009). ESPN (2007) Apologetic Vick gets 23-month sentence on dogfighting charges [online]. Available at: http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3148549 (Accessed on 5th December 2009). ESPN (2007) Falcons' Vick indicted by grand jury in dogfighting probe [online]. Available at: http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=294006 (Accessed on 5th December 2009). ESPN (2007) Judge orders Vick's conditional release [online]. Available at: http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=295022 (Accessed on 5th December 2009). ESPN (2007) Judge: “You were as much an abuser of animals as any other defendant” [online]. Available at: http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=315457 (Accessed on 5th December 2009). ESPN (2009) Vick cleared for preseason participation [online]. Available at: http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4359354 (Accessed on 5th December 2009). ESPN (2009) Vick leaves federal penitentiary for Va. [online]. Available at: http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4183786 (Accessed on 5th December 2009). Fox News (2007) Michael Vick sentenced to 23 months in jail for role in dogfighting conspiracy [online]. Available at: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,316319,00.html (Accessed on 6th December 2009). Fox News (2007) Michael Vick turns himself in to begin serving time in dogfighting case [online]. Available at: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,312207,00.html (Accessed on 6th December 2009).

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Freberg, K. J. (2008) Perception of sport celebrities among college students: are high-risk sport celebrity endorsers more negatively perceived than low-risk sport celebrity endorsers? 11th International Public Relations Research Conference Proceedings, pp 190-206. Guardian (2007) Vick pleads guilty to dog-fighting charges [online]. Available at: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2007/aug/21/usa.paolobandini (Accessed on 5th December 2009). Mail Online (2007) Falcons told they can recover Vick money [online]. Available at: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/othersports/article-486908/Falcons-toldrecover-Vick-money.html (Accessed on 5th December 2009). Searle, A. M. (2008) Release the dogs: creating a social remedy to the dogfighting epidemic, pp 1-29 [online]. Available at: http://works.bepress.com/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1003&context=amanda_se arle (Accessed 24th January 2010) USA Today (2007) After the plea: What's next for Vick, Falcons? [online]. Available at: http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/falcons/2007-08-27vick-hearing_N.htm (Accessed on 5th December 2009).

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Creative Story

What if… American football star Michael Vick was found not guilty of dog fighting charges? David Hurst and Ray Physick

S

TANDING ON THE SIDELINES OF THE PRISTINE OUTFIELD,

I knew it all came down to this one last chance for unmatchable glory. One chance to pull off a Super Bowl victory, the ultimate dream of any American football player or fan. The nerves tugged at my insides like an excited dog on a lead trying to get away. I've only ever felt that kind of gut retching feeling before, waiting for the verdict in the now infamous dogfighting trial. Exhaling into the cold winter air, each breath visible, I waited and felt the expectant eyes of the fans in the packed-out stadium all focusing upon me. The nervous tingling, the probing looks from everywhere, took me right back to that day of the verdict. However, now was not the time to be dwelling on the past. I had to get onto the pitch and use the remaining seconds in the game to engineer one last scoring play. Whatever the outcome, the 2008 Super Bowl will be forever remembered for me, Michael Vick, getting to this grand stage having endured the off field controversies that have constantly shadowed my every move for the past year. Coach Petrino leisurely walked across to where the eleven of us were standing, he entrusted us with the task of snatching victory from the jaws of defeat: “Get in there and get this game won”, he said in a stern and uncompromising manner. A simple enough thing to say, but would it be possible? “Yeah boys, this is our time man, our moment”, I contributed. Ten yards to go for the game winning touchdown, it was now or never. We lined up ready for the last play. I could see a mixture of expressions on our boys' faces who were fighting for overall power and control. I knew I had to 307


focus, but it was hard not think back to the events of the past year that had led to this point. Standing in the courtroom, my hands were clammy and I was unsure what to do with them. They made their own mind up and rested in my trouser pockets. The stuffy room in the hot summer weather wasn't helping my discomfort. As the jury waited to give their verdict, I sensed an eagerness within some of them to get it over with. Shifting about in their seats as if they were uncomfortable with what they were about to do, or maybe they were finding the heat just as frustrating. The trial begun with Judge Hudson asking how did I plead? “Not guilty”. Straight away, I was annoyed at the way it had come out, too loud, too suspicious. The defence lawyers had done all they could and now I waited for the outcome. My heart appeared to want to be somewhere else, as it pounded against my ribcage seemingly trying to escape. Following the prison sentences given to Purnell and Quanis' last week, 21 months and 18 months respectively, I was feeling pretty despondent. Maybe I should have changed my plea to guilty and faced the consequences. Nobody will know it, but that decision played on my mind for weeks. Obviously I knew the truth, no time to think of that though as the jury began giving their individual verdicts. “Not guilty” stated the first jury member. I remained unmoved, but my heartbeat increased yet again and was now trying to take the ribcage with it on its passage out of my body. “Not guilty”..”.Not guilty”..”.Not guilty” it continued, until it came to the last member of the jury. “Not guilty” she announced. As my heart made its last attempts of escape through my mouth, I found it impossible to focus on what Judge Hudson was saying. I only managed to hear “...therefore you are free to go”. And that was really all I wanted to hear. Only a day after the verdict, the suspension that the NFL imposed upon me during the investigation, was lifted and I was cleared to play in the 2008 308


season. Atlanta Falcons coach Bobby Petrino called to inform me. “Great news Mike, you're able to play next season.By the way, Mr Blank wants to see us both tomorrow morning to discuss some things”. “Man I'm so up for playing now. You know what it is he wants coach?” “I know as much as you Mike, guess we'll find out tomorrow. Meet at his office, 10am”. Mr Blank, refers to the Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank. I was unsure with regard to the possible content of the meeting, but felt apprehensive beforehand. From the outset Blank looked stern: “Look Michael, I'm not sure that it would be in the best interests of the Atlanta Falcons to keep you on as a player. I do not want anything negative associated with our organisation”. He stated abruptly. “I've been cleared though sir. There'll be nothing negative surrounding the team”. I argued. Before Mr Blank could respond, coach Petrino stepped in: “Mr Blank, I want Mike in my team and if you want this team to make it to the Super Bowl then we need to keep Mike. I've got complete faith in him to amend his attitude and I believe he can lead us to a championship very soon”. It was quite hard to keep the confident grin off my face as coach Petrino spoke. The praise washed over me, bathing me in a warm and satisfying feeling. However, his standing up for me increased the respect I had for him, and boosted my confidence in my own ability to change. It also seemed to change Mr Blank's thinking. “Well coach, if you have that much faith in the boy, I'll let him stay. However, if we don't succeed in the near future, or there are any problems, no matter how small, you will both be looking for new jobs”. I knew the team and was confident in my ability to be successful with the team. Now I had the added incentive that coach Petrino had stuck his neck out to keep me. The new season couldn't come soon enough. 309


Although I knew the jury had got it wrong, believing I was not involved and that I had no knowledge of what was going on at the property. Even though I was the owner, I certainly wasn't there very often, and this clearly worked in my favour. However, I wasn't planning on dismissing this good fortune and continuing down the wrong road. The amount of stress and worry from the trial alone was enough to make me see I had to change. Visiting Purnell, one of the other guys charged, and ultimately found guilty, in prison also contributed to my change of attitude. “Well if it ain't the superstar,” Purnell mocked. “Good to see ya looking happy bro,” he said in a friendly tone that set me at ease straight away. The metal chair in the visiting room was unyielding and caused stinging pains up my back. “I gotta say I'm sorry man. It should never have ended up this way”. I tried to sound sincere yet sympathetic. “Ain't nothin to be sorry about star, I had no chance with the idiots on my jury,” he joked. “But seriously, you should take this chance you've been given, win back the fans and just dominate the sport. You've got all the skill in the world and you better use it”. The visit to see Purnell opened my eyes to how different my life could have been, and perhaps, should be right now. The fact that I could continue my career in American football was a blessing, and I was really looking forward to the new season starting in a fortnight. The start of the season came and went, and each game seemed to pass in a blur, and the wins flowed quite easily. Coach Petrino's predictions of success were coming to fruition. I managed to repay coach Petrino's faith in me, leading the team to a Super Bowl appearance at the end of the season. Everyone associated with the team was delighted getting to the Super Bowl, especially Arthur Blank. “I knew it was the right decision to keep Michael here Bobby,” he said to coach Petrino. I had to laugh at this but I didn't really care if Mr Blank wanted to take the credit, I was just happy to have people taking about my performances on the field and not my legal issues. 310


Super Bowl day is one of the most surreal experiences ever. It feels like more of an exhibition match than a competitive match due to the carnival atmosphere that penetrates every part of it. This was the perfect stage to firmly leave the legal problems in the past. Winning the Super Bowl would prove to the world I'd moved on and re-established myself as one of the great players. The game appeared to go by in double speed, and before I knew it, there were two minutes left. One touchdown between the teams, and we had the ball. With ten seconds remaining, I completed a pass to my receiver ten yards short of the endzone, and called a timeout. That left us with time for one more play to snatch victory. Receiving the ball for the final play, it felt unusually heavy, as if gravity was conspiring against me, pulling me, and the ball, to the floor. I managed to stay on my feet and looked for someone in the endzone to pass to for the winning touchdown. Nobody was open for a pass so I made my decision that I was going to run for the line: it was only ten yards, it should be easy. At each step my legs felt wobbly and uncontrollable, as if they were folding in on themselves as I ran. Two defenders tried to tackle me, but neither of them got enough purchase to bring me down. Three yards from the line, a huge bruising defender who appeared to block out the light from the floodlights threw himself at me, I dived for the line. The defender hit me as I hit the goal line, the game clock had run to zero seconds remaining. That was it, had I made it? The referee appeared in my field of vision, signalling for the touchdown. I lept to my feet, feeling none of the physical effects of the game. The bitter cold no longer got to me and pure adrenaline took over. I ran across to coach Petrino. “That's what I call proving a point!” I yelled delightedly. He just laughed before being taken away for TV interviews. Once again I looked back on the events that had led to me being here and achieving the pinnacle in my sporting career. I had mixed feelings I was lucky to be let off the charges I had faced, I contemplated how drastically different 2008 could have ended up. I could have been with Purnell and Quanis watching the Super Bowl in prison. Instead fame and greatness had been thrust upon me.

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