Suspended Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick's best chance at public redemption lies with Oprah Winfrey. At least that's the conclusion of Detroit Free Press columnist Drew Sharp, who makes a convincing argument that "now that pop culture dictates news judgment, it's only appropriate that a pop culture diva quite possibly holds the key to Michael Vick's NFL future."
Vick should take Sharp's advice. If Vick goes on Oprah, his handlers would no doubt encourage him to cry, talk about "finding Jesus" and encourage young people to make smart decisions. Unfortunately for Vick, the road to redemption starts with the talk show queen. Vick will have to spend the next few months apologizing until the American public is sick of seeing his face.
The question for Vick's handlers is where to go after Oprah.
Will he try to reach NFL fans through Walt Disney Co.'s (NYSE: DIS) ESPN cable network or News Corp.'s (NYSE: NWS) Fox?
What about the morning shows? You can bet that ABC, General Electric Co.'s (NYSE: GE) NBC and CBS Corp. (NYSE: CBS) would kill to land an interview with the disgraced athlete. "Dateline" and "60 Minutes" are probably working on stories about the evils of dog fighting. The story also continues to be the gift that keeps on giving for Time Warner Inc.'s (NYSE: TWX) CNN, Fox News channel, and MSNBC.
But I am not sure that all of the apologizing in the world can save Vick's NFL career. People understand that young, rich athletes misbehave and occasionally break the law. But Vick's behavior was so heinous that it defies explanation.











Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
8-29-2007 @ 11:57AM
ebppoch said...
M.Vick shld b imprisoned 4atleast a yr or less bailed heavily atleast a million for been a JACKASS n then the falcons shld take him back cuz he's the man.there r alot more serious criminal out there so y waste so much time on a dog killer,his acts where cruel n injustifiable but yet the justice/cops shld focus on hardened n serious criminals such as rapists n HUMAN murderers n e.t.c
8-29-2007 @ 12:54PM
TH said...
Oprah is a huge dog advocate. I do not think she will see many redeeming qualities in M. Vick. Tho... "we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God". Does God forgive killing inocent animals? Of course he does!
Vick will have a long climb to reedemption What a way to be taught a lesson.However, he should not be able to play football. His new job after the 3 month sentence haha , should be working for the humane society cleaning cages....oh wait...he can't do that...he will drown the dogs
th
8-29-2007 @ 12:54PM
Michael Fowlkes said...
Being a graduate of Virginia Tech myself, I have tried very hard to look at both sides of the arguement. Sure, Vicked messed up... but should it really be enough to keep him out of NFL for life? I have tried to convince myself that he should be allowed to serve his time and then be allowed back into football.
But I just can't make myself believe that there will ever be a place for Vick in the NFL ever again, I wish I could convince myself otherwise but I can't.
Like it or not, 50% of being a professional athlete is not what you do on the field, but what you do off the field. This is especially true for a franchise player like Vick was (is).
Sorry Vick, and all my fellow Hokies out there... but you should never be allowed to represent the rest of us Hokies again!
Michael
8-29-2007 @ 1:06PM
Marge said...
Oprah doesn't know everything and needs to stay out of it period. Just because she is rich and black doesn't make her the pied piper for black folks. If Vick is found guilty of this, he should to beaten burned, electrocuted,
and hung until he is DEAD! Then take his dead body and throw it to the dogs. MF!
8-29-2007 @ 2:14PM
Lezza said...
I think she should have him on the show - and show him and the audience the attrocities that he has admitted to committing adn let him try to explain himself with audience questions - no that he deserves more attention than he already has, but he does deserve to pay through his ego for what he has done, since he has pleaded guilty to being more powerful than innocent animals. He does deserve a taste of the pain he helpef inflict upon helpless animals
8-29-2007 @ 3:01PM
Katie said...
I am bothered by the question of 'redemption' posed by the title of this. Micheal Vick is beyond such a thing. The minute those dogs were destroyed, he had sealed his fate with the dog loving community. I am sick of Oprah sticking her nose into things best left for the people..ie the Don Imus controversie. That show was laughable and got people no where. Micheal Vick is a waste of time and space. He has no morals, how can someone who would do such a thing to dogs. He has dissgraced the breed, and further helped to justify why owners need to be banned, and not dogs.
8-29-2007 @ 4:17PM
awiifemale said...
What gets me is the people who say he made a "mistake". A mistake is something you do once. Fighting and killing dogs for personal pleasure for years on end is not a "mistake".
He doesn't deserve a second chance any more than any of the other men involved. Just because he's famous doesn't excuse his behavior!
As an owner of a pit bull, and knowing the wonderful personality and temperment of the breed, this sickens me. I've actually had nightmares about those poor dogs being killed.
Good riddance- If I had a show, I'd never let Vick appear on it. Let him convince his cell-mates about how wonderful he really is.
8-29-2007 @ 5:54PM
ALBERT said...
vick found JESUS and promptly overthrew him by twenty yards. do the time do the crime michael. PEACE AND PHILLIPS ARE BEING SENTENCED on november 30th. being the ring leader, vick will get more time than them
8-30-2007 @ 8:50AM
allmond said...
Don't you all think enough is enough? Are the dogs coming back to life after you skin the bird? Get off the boys back. Where did he come from? What was his childhood training? What did you expect a boy to do with all that money if he had not been prepared to be a few million in such a short time?
Better yet WHO else was hanging on the dog pen during the fights, hiding in their doghouseswhile the boy takes all the heat? If you dog lovers want justice then ask you dog fight watchers to PLEASE STAND UP. How many other millionaires, local community public servants and other elites? Oprah help the boy out. Dogs have their place but humans have been abusing and killing humans for years and nobody nailed them to the cross. ex: men have been raping women and children thoughout this country's history - don't they get something like "Oh" less than five years? They just take a peek, put their heads down, walk by and pretend they did not see a thing. He made a mistake, counseled by too many rich-get-richer white collar crime lawyers, asked for forgiveness, etc., etc., etc..
8-30-2007 @ 9:47AM
anabanana.chinn said...
I hope ophra is smart enough to stay
out of it, Dr.phil had to help her the last time with the cattle men . she better thnk this one out about vick.......
8-30-2007 @ 12:06PM
MsBabbles said...
Would she allow her great show to be a platform for that low life? I hope not!
8-30-2007 @ 1:30PM
tj said...
I think vick should get the max for what he has done. It was no mistake, he is only sorry because he got caught. i also think Opra should stay out of it.But I think she should keep her mouth shut on a lot of issues,but when you have her money there is no stopping.
8-30-2007 @ 2:00PM
p garrett said...
wht m vick was involved in was disgusting as it has been for many years but it will be going on as long as blood-thirsty-money hungry gamblers support it. what I found even more disgusting was a front page photo of an animal in a dog show in colorado that was part COW AND PART DOG. THAT SHOULD BE ILLEGAL! that is sick!!!!!
8-30-2007 @ 6:51PM
dmorency said...
Michael has found jesus???? Give it a rest buddy! While I believe that you are sorry and are humbled by your recent experiences I just don't believe that you are sincere. Where was jesus when you were slaughtering these animals? You deserve everything thats coming to you Michael and I am sure that you would have kept doing it if you were not busted. I think 2.5 years and community service with the SPCA and a donation of one million per year for each dog that was killed at your kennel. That at least would atone for the crappy things you did.
8-30-2007 @ 9:08PM
Kathy said...
Oprah would not let Michael Vick lick her dogs' paws!!!!
8-30-2007 @ 9:13PM
Platnum Dezign said...
I believe if Michael Vick went on Oprah, the prosecution wouldn't have a chance to eat him a live because Oprah will probably strip not only every inch of "dignity" he had left, but when he walked off the set, there'd be a full picket line of protestor's just waiting to pounce on him. But I am still skeptical. The media presents it to us as if Michael Vick was "right there" with everyone else dogfighting. I'm not going to put it past him but I am going to keep an open mind.
8-30-2007 @ 9:51PM
Platnum Dezign said...
After reading the previous comments, I firmly believe the following: (a) Oprah is not just a rich African American, she's had her moments in the news. I don't even think she should be compared with the Pied Piper for Black folks. I have seen a few of her shows and read her O magazine each month. I believe she has rightfully EARNED her spot in today's society as one of the most prominent "sistaz" in our African American culture. But this isn't about Oprah, is it? I am skeptical because I have heard of family asking for favors from a member who is "rich" or "well off" and then getting said member into a heap of trouble by doing something illegal with their name. Michael Vick may have pleaded guilty by advisement from his legal support knowing the case and the statements made by "not so happy" ex-colleagues could be more detrimental in the end if he upheld his plea of innocence. Then there's the flip side of the coin .. He could have actually been involved. I don't think making him clean dog cages at the Humane Society is going to make taxpayers any happier. There is a line that has to be drawn where celebrities (athletes or not) are concern to ensure they understand that they are NOT above the law. As an African American myself, I only have two words left: BE CONSISTENT!
8-30-2007 @ 9:51PM
Kathy said...
Oprah is too intelligent and has far too much integrity to be bothered with that low-class demon Michael Vick. He is not worthy to lick the paws of Oprah's much beloved dogs!!!!
8-31-2007 @ 8:17AM
jennifer said...
I am highly dissapointed with Oprah for giving MV this highly public venue where he can put on the fake tears and cry his false appologies.
You know he was involved with the gambling too! But since that is a Federal offense it's easier to plead to this lesser offense and rely on getting public figures like Oprah (shame on you) to come to his rescue in helping him to gain public sympathy.
Also, I'm quite sure that if he were to admit to the gambling he would have been offered a much lessor sentence in exchange for exposing the (probably high sought after) unsavories in the background of this gambling/fighting ring, but, they could be or have all ready posed a threat to his or his family's lives if he were to expose them.
Bottom line...he did the crime, now do the time! If he REALLY???? is remorseful he can best show it by setting up a trust fund for the animal shelters allowing them all to become 'no kill' shelters and he himself donate a certain amount of time, monthly, WORKING in the shelters. And I don't mean pushing paper.
8-31-2007 @ 9:02PM
mcaldwel said...
Why did Vick find Jesus only when he sawhe was caught and backed into the corner? How special is that? I will never watch Oprah again if she allow Sick Vick to use her show as a platform for whining.