Stephen A. Smith: Hypocrisy Surrounds Michael Vick Haters
In a year where we have witnessed the resuscitation, resurgence and resurrection of the mercurial Michael Vick, we’ve also witnessed a level of hypocrisy and repugnancy unseen in our society in quite some time.
We’ve witnessed some animal rights activist go from describing Vick as a low-life to propping him as a spokesperson for their cause. We’ve seen Eagles fans go from saying they want no part of Vick… to flagrantly throwing their affection his way.
And now, in the midst of an unfathomable season that has reminded everyone of Vick’s greatness, a season in which he’s been voted to the Pro Bowl and is a leading candidate for MVP honors, vultures have emerged from the political spectrum of our nation now – nearly two years after Vick was released from prison stemming from his involvement in a dog-fighting ring. One particular pundit even surmised that the Eagles’ star quarterback “should have been executed” for his role in the heinous crimes.
Happy New Year, everybody!
It is moments like this, when the dissipation of our culture’s compassion is so punctuated by such incendiary rhetoric from the likes of Tucker Carlson that one should pause, think and take more than a moment to reflect on exactly who we are as AMERICANS – who we’re supposed to be and where precisely we are heading.
Did Tucker Carlson, filling in for the vacationing Sean Hannity on Fox News Channel recently, really mean it when he said: “Michael Vick killed dogs and he did it in a heartless and cruel way. I think personally he should’ve been executed for that?” Was he just so willing to engage in political hyperbole that he would stoop so low to use the Vick’ scandal to take a shot at President Barack Obama, who reportedly praised the Eagles just days ago for giving Vick a second chance?
If so, was Carlson really being honest when he said he “believes fervently in second chances?” Or, that he’s actually a “Christian” for that matter?
More importantly, for anyone possessing the temerity to agree with him, to co-sign wishing such repercussions upon any individual, what exactly does that say about YOU? About anyone who THINKS like YOU? Or, to probe even further, the mentality of those who are quick to place a greater significance on the life of an animal over a human being, which we know has happened far too often.
It’s the Christmas Holiday Season, so forgive my negligence in refraining from naming names. It’s called compassion. But the National Football League has at least a couple of individuals playing right now who have killed actual human beings after getting behind the wheel of a vehicle while intoxicated.
No protests. No uproar.
Domestic violence is a societal issue permeating the sports world, as well.
No protests. No uproar.
Drugs, alcohol, criminal activity and deviant behavior have all invaded the sports world. Every year. Every generation. But had it not been for sports talk radio, we’d barely hear a peep about what people truly feel. We wouldn’t see any protest, for damn sure.
Yet somehow, someway, Vick can’t escape the shrapnel of vitriol coming his way.
I wonder why that is?
Maybe it’s jealousy – emanating from witnessing Vick’s speed, agility, arm strength and a newfound commitment to actually studying a playbook that has netted him 3,018 yards passing, 676 yards rushing, likely a comeback player of the year award and possibly, a nod over Tom Brady for league MVP honors.
Maybe it’s disgust oozing from the naysayers and haters, from this notion that Vick would still be in jail if he were not this NFL star filling up stadiums around the country.
Maybe, dare we say, it’s repugnance from a different cadre of haters. The kind who believe, in their heart of hearts, that Vick would have never amounted to anything in life had it not been for football – using his animal rights violation to accentuate an ingrained belief they were anxious to express all along.
The specifics are things we do not know. Just the hatred!
But shouldn’t that level of hatred be enough incentive for all of us to express our concerns about the lack of compassion infecting our society right now? If not our lack of common sense?
To address the latter part first, where’s the common sense in not wanting Vick to have a second chance? Who can argue that Vick has not been the best thing to happen to the Humane Society or animal rights organization across the globe over the last year and a half.
Because of his participation in such heinous crimes, after spending 18 months in a federal prison, not only has Vick re-emerged as a contrite individual completely aware of what he’s done, he’s gone beyond the call of duty to bring attention to his actions.
Vick is a spokesman against animal cruelty. He speaks on behalf of the Humane Society. He’s granted more interviews than any of us can count. He’s been very forthcoming and candid about his actions and its deserved vilification. And…
He’s gone as far as to open up and admit everything else he’s done wrong as a football player all of those years in Atlanta – from being the “last one to practice and the first one to leave … to not studying film … to ignoring instructions from his coaches.”
As Vick has now spent months telling everyone, “I wasn’t a professional. I completely took my God-Given gifts for granted. I didn’t do the things I was supposed to do.”
Oh, by the way, Vick has done this in impromptu fashion. No choreographed, cliched answers. No written speeches. No prompters.
“I did what I did,” Vick told me. “I own it. In the end, I’m the one responsible for my actions and I’m the one who has to pay the price.”
It’s been paid. Now what?
To the Carlsons of the world, “death” apparently is more appropriate for Vick than it is for drunk drivers or murderers. To animal rights activists, if a worse alternative was available, some of them would choose that.
Yet here Vick stands, lunging himself forward at the proverbial firing squad, using himself as a prop to bring attention to his once-insidious ways. All in an effort to help others understand his way, once upon a time, is precisely not the way to stray.
Last time I checked, such rehabilitative measures personified not only the intent of America’s justice system, but the American Way – a characteristic that elevates us a notch above everyone else. It is a huge part of what makes us who we are.
Hopefully, as our New Year’s resolution, we’ll focus on remembering the good in us all and not focus so much on just forgetting the bad.
That would make 2011 truly special – and better.
For us as a nation, more so than Vick himself.
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