Say Hello (and Goodbye) to the Bad Guy
Michael Vick got a head start on a possible long prison stretch Monday, surrendering three weeks before he was to be sentenced for his involvement in a bloody dogfighting ring.
The disgraced Atlanta Falcons quarterback surrendered to U.S. marshals in what his lawyer said was another step in his public repentance.
And then you lost me.
"From the beginning, Mr. Vick has accepted responsibility for his actions, and his self-surrender further demonstrates that acceptance," attorney Billy Martin said in a statement. "Michael wants to again apologize to everyone who has been hurt in this matter, and he thanks all of the people who have offered him and his family prayers and support during this time."
Vick pleaded guilty in August to a federal dogfighting conspiracy charge after his three co-defendants pleaded guilty and agreed to cooperate with authorities.
From the beginning? Really, you want to go there? Cause...that's part of the problem here. Sure, Vick's utter dishonesty with the NFL, the Falcons and anyone who tried to call him on it until the evidence was out there...well, that's the least of his offenses. (There's the whole abusing and murdering dogs, the illegal gambling, the resin soaked water bottle at the airport...the list goes on.)
Let's remember this about the repentant Michael Vick:
His troubles began in April when authorities conducting a drug investigation of a Vick cousin seized dozens of dogs, most of them pit bulls, from a Surry County property, along with equipment linked to dogfighting.
It's there that the dogfighting enterprise known as Bad Newz Kennels operated since 2001 on 15 acres of land Vick owned.
...
The gruesome details outlined in the federal indictment -- dogs were hanged, drowned and electrocuted -- fueled a public backlash against the Falcons star and cost him several lucrative endorsement deals, even before he agreed to plead guilty.
In his written plea, Vick admitted helping kill six to eight pit bulls and supplying money for gambling on the fights. ... Vick and his co-defendants also face state felony charges. Vick has been charged with two state felony counts -- beating or killing or causing dogs to fight other dogs and engaging in or promoting dogfighting. Each felony is punishable by up to five years in prison.
In short, this is not a nice guy - showing up a few weeks before you have to is actually impressive, but it just moves up the date of when we say goodbye to Michael Vick for awhile. He'll be back - nobody goes away anymore - but for now, it's time for him to actually to go away.