Terrelle Pryor’s Tribute to Michael Vick
September 8th, 2009 at 10:09 pm by Displaced Cleveland Fan
The big story to have come out of Ohio State’s season opener against Navy has nothing to do with the game. The talk has been about Buckeye QB Terrelle Pryor’s tribute to Michael Vick. (Under one eye, he had the name “Vick” written on the eye black.)
Since being released from prison for his role in a dogfighting operation, Vick has signed with the Philadelphia Eagles and is waiting for his suspension to be over so he can play football in the NFL once again. The league has been criticized for reinstating him. The Eagles have been criticized for signing him. Now Pryor is under criticism for this show of support.
Many are quick to jump on Pryor for this. Now, I believe he should have run this idea by his coach before doing something that would generate this much controversy. And I believe he could have framed his response better when questioned about it (”Everyone kills people.”). But remember, he’s still just a sophomore in college, so it’s not surprising that he might do something unwise. It’s just that this caught national attention. I don’t believe the coaches will allow him to do something like this again.
But this post is not so much about Pryor’s lapse in judgment, but about the continued animosity people have toward Michael Vick. It has bothered me for a while and this episode with Pryor gives me an excuse to write about it.
Let me be clear at the start. My comments here are not a justification for Vick’s actions related to dogfighting. What he did was cruel and inhumane. On top of that, his actions were against the law and he was rightly sent to prison.
However, I believe the responses that many have towards Michael Vick go too far. Yes, he broke the law. But he served his time. Yes, he treated these dogs inhumanely. But he’s demonstrated remorse. Even now he is actively spreading the message to kids to not follow the crowd and make mistakes like he did.
He’s been punished. He’s remorseful. He’s trying to prevent others from doing the things he did or other such things. What more do people want from him?
Some people seem to believe that Vick got a free pass. He didn’t. He went to prison. His life was ruined by this. Now he’s having to start over, which is what he should be doing.
It also seems like some believe that cruelty to animals is the height of all wickedness. Again, let me be clear: What happened in his dogfighting operation was inhumane and wrong. But… these are just animals. Does that excuse it? No, it doesn’t. But to value the life of an animal as equal to or greater than the life of a human being, I just can’t relate to that. Again, what he did was wrong. (Have I been clear enough on that point?) But we need to put his actions in perspective.
So, as Michael Vick has hopefully learned his lesson and is turning his life around, I for one support him. Not because I’m a biased Vick fan. Personally, I’ve always thought he was overrated as a player. But I’m glad to see him trying to make this right. And I’m glad to see others like Terrelle Pryor showing support for a remorseful, penitent individual, even if he should have found another way to show that support.
-dcf
Tags: dogfighting, Michael Vick, Terrelle Pryor
