What Michael Vick Really Did that Cost Him His Career: Do We Do This as Well?
Every Day, We Approach the Same Slippery Slope that Brought Michael Vick Down
The thoughts of dogs caged in hutches and crates, physically treated as if they were inanimate objects? Or was it the money - so much money - that Michael Vick poured into his seeming obsession with dog fighting that drew so much ire and attention?
In a word: no, no, no and no.
What did Michael Vick do that was so very, very wrong that he pled guilty to federal charges and will serve time in prison?
He lied. He lied not once, not twice, but several times - to Roger Goodell, to Arthur Blank, to former coach Bobby Petrinno, to his fans and the public.
But the worst part: he got caught in those lies.
In a casual conversation the other day with a fellow writer regarding an incident that had happened at our local high school, he mentioned that his feeling was that 99% of all people will lie if given the opportunity. The incident about which we were speaking was the total trashing of a high school cafeteria one week before graduation.
Over 400 high school students took part in a food fight that completely covered the floors, walls and ceilings - yes, the ceilings - of our local high school. The incident had been carefully planned and even more carefully executed. The clean up of the cafeteria cost several thousand dollars, to say nothing of the immense anger on the part of school administrators and the Board of Education.
Who was held responsible for something that took place with 400 people present? One boy, a senior, was charged and arrested. The other 399 students denied taking part in the food fight. They denied knowing about it. Hell, they probably even denied that it took place.
They all lied. And they got away with it. Despite pages lifted from accounts on www.facebook.com detailing who did what in some pretty descriptive accounts, the Board of Education did not - could not? - prosecute any additional students.
The kids had this "snitch" attitude: if you say anything to anyone who is a teacher or supervisor at the high school, you're pretty much dead meat for the rest of your high school career. There was no denying this attitude, because the kids said so, in writing, on a number of threads running throughout several 'causes' linked to the vandalism.
Students boasted of what they did, of who threw the first - and the second, and the third - article of food. They boasted about who hit which teacher. They talked about who pummelled the assistant principal with a barrage of ketchup until her entire head of hair was red.
They lied. The Board of Education had realms of online information implicating several dozens of them. But except for the sole male senior student, they all, each and every one of them, got away with it. They lied, and they weren't caught.
The high school food fight was just one incident on one day. Multiply that one incident by hundreds, thousands of similar situations that happen every day around the world. Did you complete the accounting report by Thursday? Your wife asked you to pick up clothes from the dry cleaners; have you done it yet?
The waitperson at your favorite restaurant undercharged you by over $20 on your bill; did you mention it to him and correct the error (which he most likely had to pay himself at the end of the evening)? Your room mate asked if you found a $10 bill that he had left lying around in the kitchen; did you tell him the truth, that you did find it two days ago and pocketed the money?
We're faced with the truth staring us in the face every day. How we chose to answer it is a question of personal morality.
What would have happened back in March or April of this year if Michael Vick had told the truth about his involvement in dog fighting to Roger Goodell? What if he had come clean to that courtly older gentleman, team owner, Arthur Blank? We all know Mr. Blank by now; we've seen video footage of him pushing an injured Michael Vick, in a wheelchair, out to the sidelines.
If Michael Vick had told the truth early on, instead of having federal investigators build a wall of evidence against him, what would have happened? Would he be better - or worse - off for having done the right thing?
Published by Patricia Elane
Maryland native, mother of wonderful daughters who are now grown. Avid sports fan! Writing is my passion; thanks, AC, for providing an outlet for that passion. We each have so much to share with the world. View profile
- Collateral Damage? The Effect of Brown Vs. Board of Education on Black TeachersThis is a research paper examining the effect the decision of Brown vs. Board of Education on African American teachers.
- The Brown Vs. Board of Education Case in Contemporary Urban CommunitiesThis article analyzes the outcome of the 1954 Brown vs. Board of Education enactment as it relates to public schools in the 21st century.
- Sparked by Brown Versus Board of EducationBrown versus the Board of Education was the leading catalyst for race relations today, as well as many opportunities for black people today.
- Brown V. Board of EducationThe article shows how important the decision of Brown v. Board of Ed. was and how it changed the way we live.
- A Firsthand Glimpse of the North Brunswick Board of EducationThere are many levels of government within the United States, ranging from the federal government to our small local governments. However, many people underestimate the value of local politics.
- Michael Vick Reinstated by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell
- Fantasy Football Has Increased the NFL Fan Base
- Wilson Board of Education Approves Bond Election
- Virginia Students Advise State Board of Education
- The Brown Vs. The Topeka Board of Education National Historic Site, Topeka, KS
- Brown v. Board of Education, 50 Years and Beyond: Promise and Progress
- Brown V Board of Education of Topeka: The Influence of Social Science
- We're faced with making the very same decisions that Vick did every day.
- Would his fate be better - or worse - had he done the right thing?
5 Comments
Post a CommentThis article lessens nothing. It is basically stating that we are all human. So be careful who you judge, because you never know what you would do if that situation was at your door.
Thanks
-Amanda NIcole Milo
Age:15
To lie or not, it does not matter. Once found guilty of this crime, justice should be swift and profound. The article seems to lessen this cruel act by stating, "To human is to error". Hello...this is not an error of judgement, it is a very sick person that needs help and isolated from society until the medical professionals state otherwise.
Um, no. It wasn't the lies. It was, well, let's see...killing dogs with his bare hands? Yeah, that was it.
if we would have told the truth...he'd still be going to jail. i agree with you that he made the mistake of thinking that, somehow, he was actually going to get away with it.
Sorry to hear of the improper handling of the cafeteria situation. Our school has a zero tolerance policy, and I suspect that all extra-curricular activities would have been suspended until there were 399 more confessions. Two years ago, we were classified as an "at risk" school for violence. At the end of last year, we weren't even on the list. It takes some tough administrators, strict rules, and swift enforcement; but it made a huge difference. I'm not saying that your school is violent, but I am saying that administrators set the tone and need to be held accountable for what goes on in their schools. I know I'm going on and on, but it's kind of a hot-button issue for me.