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Award-winning columnist Tom Archdeacon — an old-school storyteller in a brand-new venue — writes about sports, the city, southwest Ohio and anything else that catches his fancy… or yours.Home > Blogs > Through the Arch > Archives > 2009 > October > 08 > Entry
Michael Vick reality show a doggone bad idea
The Animal Planet has the show starring Victoria Stillwell called “It’s Me or the Dog.”
Now BET is about to launch a reality show starring Michael Vick.
While it could be tagged “It’s Me — The Dog’s Dead,” folks at the cable network have tentatively named the show “The Michael Vick Project.”
The LA Times reports that the eight-part docu-series will focus on the life and times of the newly-reinstated Philadelphia Eagles quarterback, who spent 21 months in prison for his role bankrolling and supporting a dog fighting operation on his Virginia property that lasted some six years and tortured, maimed and killed numerous dogs.
Vick told the Times he wants to be seen as a human being:
“I just want people to really get to know me as an individual. What I want to do is change the perception of me. I am a human being. I’ve made some mistakes in the past, and I wish it had never happened. But it’s not about how you fall, but about how you pick yourself up.”
Maybe something good could come out of this, but I doubt it. I think it’s a bad idea.
While the Humane Society has recruited him to help in their campaign to end inner-city abuse of dogs, I think this is nothing but a six-figure money grab and a public relations snow job by a guy who, to me, often seems disingenuous when he talks about his dog involvement.
In a rambling speech soon after his reinstatement, Vick continually described his fascination with fighting dogs to the death— and torturing and killing others who under-performed — as ‘pointless.”
Pointless?
There was a point to it. A bad point. How about focusing on what you did to the dogs, not just dismissing your own vile actions as “pointless.”
I think it’s okay that he’s back in football, but I believe he should be working at reestablishing himself as a pro player and talking to churches, schools and kids’ groups about right choices, not giving us an eight-part series that celebrates him as a misunderstood person.
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Comments
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By CincyObserver
October 9, 2009 10:41 AM | Link to this
Actually, Pete Rose DID bet on his own team.
By Jim
October 8, 2009 6:13 PM | Link to this
CA, Rose bet on baseball, but never against his team.
By eyeque
October 8, 2009 5:34 PM | Link to this
Couldn’t be any more tasteless then “Growing up Gotti”. Her only claim to fame was that her dad murdered people.
By quantoid
October 8, 2009 5:02 PM | Link to this
I completely agree that the show is a bad idea. I heard and like the idea that he should clean up after and help to train seeing eye dogs for a couple of years. Very sad that this is viewed as entertainment. Great piece Arch
By Wake up
October 8, 2009 5:02 PM | Link to this
To acknowledge what you say Steve H.”I’m white and I would like to tell you that there is Black History Month because all the other 11 months are White History Months. All other channels are White Entertainment Telivision” etc…Is to say that people are different based upon their race. That we require different forms of entertainment and so on. This in itself is also racism. The World would be a much better place if people could just acknowledge people as people with different tastes as opposed to seeing race as an identifier for everything up to and including entertainment. Single out and celebrate human achievements, not racial. This only perpetuates the problem by acknowledging that race needs to be celebrated as an inequality, be it positive or negative.
By Steve H
October 8, 2009 2:33 PM | Link to this
1st of all what Vick did is wrong. What the man did was horrible even though he was never caught dog fighting he just supported it. But like Mom says If your with them you’ll get caught. The man did his time and learned from his mistakes (hopefully). I mean not even rapists get that kind of time. As far as the man getting his job back. O yes. He is a great QB and he is excellent at what he does. He plays football that’s how he puts food on the table for his family. If you went to prison I’m pretty sure you would try and go back to your job as well and if you say you wouldnt your a liar because you are good at what you do and you know that you can get that job done effiently. As far as BET being racist. WHAT???? That sounds a little racist to me. That is like being mad becaus February is Black History Month. One month out of the whole year. One channel out of a million. I’m white and I would like to tell you that there is Black History Month because all the other 11 months are White History Months. All other channels are White Entertainment Telivision. So leave Vick alone let the man try and create a new life in which he took away his first. Everyone deserves a second chance. You would want one too. If you say not your a liar. Put yourself in his shoes. So come on Peter Pan….Count Chocula. Grow Up and I think the Big J says to “Forgive and Forget”. Thank You
By Wake up
October 8, 2009 1:59 PM | Link to this
Vick should not have been given the chance of a lifetime, a second time. He had the dream and he chose to ruin it. Yet it’s degenerate corrupt organizations such as the Eagles that keeps this country down. In response to Robert, BET is a racist network. Maybe I don’t watch enough TV but last time I checked there was no “White Entertainment Channel”. It’s reverse racism like this that perpetuates actual racism. Guess what, the rest of the world wants to move on! Next they’ll be giving extra money to people based on their race! Oh wait…
By Robert
October 8, 2009 1:18 PM | Link to this
How can you call BET racist. hell what’s wrong with showing black programming. when other networks only show white programming. and also for all the haters. he still comes out on top. all the hating only puts him out there more.
By CA
October 8, 2009 12:55 PM | Link to this
What is wrong with this picture? This man has committed many acts of animal cruelty & we allow him to continue his football career? Now we allow him to have a TV series? Pete Rose got thrown out of baseball & lost the chance of being in the hall of fame for betting against his team. Something is seriously wrong here. Michael Vick committed a crime & doesn’t seem to feel that he’s done anything wrong. The only thing he’s sorry for is that he got caught.
By James W.
October 8, 2009 12:35 PM | Link to this
What do you expect from a struggling racist cable TV network?
By Jim
October 8, 2009 12:00 PM | Link to this
Sorry Mr. Vick, but you owe this country a lot more than just listening to you asking to be understood. You were doing wrong for years and it didn’t seem to bother you in the least, so why should people understand you now? I think that most of us believe you are giving people a real snow job. For someone to make a mistake once and ask for forgiveness, is one thing. To make the same mistake for years and years, and then ask for understanding, is absolutely ludicrous. Why don’t you join the service and devote your time to protecting this country and its people AND ITS DOGS. Then maybe some people will start to believe in you. Jim
By Doc
October 8, 2009 10:53 AM | Link to this
Vick you big IDIOT, being involved in dog fighting and the heinous acts you personally did speaks VOLUMES about you as a person and your character. A leopard does not change his spots. You’re lower than whale krap. Please just go away and stay away. There is NO vindication for you…