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.
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Reader Comments (Page 2 of 2)
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.
9-01-2007 @ 9:18AM
heldmanfam said...
Vick should be sent to prison and forced to fight inmates in the yard where the prison guards can bet on who kills him...doggie style...i like it
9-03-2007 @ 1:06PM
pyo said...
I hope Oprah has enough class not to allow that trash on her show. Believe it or not there ARE other good football players and the game will go on. Children make heros of these players. I would never let a child of mine see him play. This seems to have wiped that cocky, smirky smile off his face. Send him to the pen and ban him from the NFL. There is something wrong in the mind of someone who would participate in this kind of thing.......I don't think it is our place to decide if Jesus will forgive him.......it is just our responsibility to keep him off TV and away from football. Paris and Britney are angels compared to his kind and this is NOT a race issue.........it is a humanity issue and he has none.....he is a monster.
9-05-2007 @ 8:05AM
Carrie said...
Imagine the pain those poor animals had to endure 24/7. Stubbing your toe is painful enough and so can skipping a few meals, so how about greatly magnifying those feelings and then maybe we can begin to understand how the dogs felt while being slammed to the ground, having their lips, faces, etc. mutilated, being raped on the "rape stand", etc. Vick is a sub-human P.O.S. who should be banned from the NFL. There are wonderful, undiscovered athletes in the world who would serve the NFL with integrity and be great role models for future generations. Throw that scumbag in prison where he belongs and do not give him the honor of an interview (Oprah) - that is disgusting!
9-04-2007 @ 6:07PM
willowreed said...
Good Lord Who CARES? That guy needs to be put away for a long time.
9-07-2007 @ 8:38AM
Bob J said...
The country couldn’t get the first black football player so they are determined to get the other. I see all the dog lovers want to kill this man but do you know that over 50% of dogs in pounds are put there by their owners, then they half to be killed, to make room for the next batch of unwanted dogs. Do any of you dog lovers know how we legally treat our dogs in science, medical research, hair care or makeup? Do you care? No I don’t think so. I think you got your hooks in a black super star and want to rip him up. Opra should let him tell his story. Give the man a break. You dog lovers are not so innocent either, with your holier then thou attitude.
9-06-2007 @ 4:59PM
Family Advocate said...
You abuse dogs and the world goes crazy. You abuse a spouse or a child and you get counseling or pay a fine. This happens over and over with sports athletes yet they do not get suspended or fined. What about the humans who suffer? Put as much into the family violence converstion and see if we can't change a human cause.
9-06-2007 @ 4:50PM
Endenver said...
You abuse or kill a dog and the world goes crazy. You abuse or seriously injure a spouse or child and your get counseling or pay a fine. You do it over and over again and nobody cares. Can we get the same amount of conversation going about this situation as there has been on Vick's handling of dogs? How can we be so blind to a human being and so outraged about dogs?
10-18-2007 @ 7:17AM
Rose said...
It's funny to me how people are so judgmental. Vick is consistently referred to as a "low life." I'm sorry, but there are crimes WAY more heinous than killing a dog for performing poorly in a fight. The Humane Society "euthanizes" dogs ALL the time, simply because these crazy dog lovers don't want to adopt them all. I LOVE dogs personally, and I would never do anything to harm one. However, I can't pretend that dog fighting/killing is more important than a DUI (Paris Hilton, Nicole Richie, etc.) which could kill PEOPLE. It's ridiculous how "justice" is aggressively sought out for some dogs while "justice" takes its time for the "Jena 6" and for Gnarlow Wilson. What about seeking justice for Megan Williams? Nobody's talking about that. What about Shaquanda Cotton? Justice for her seemed to drag its feet. I'm not arguing for forgiveness for Vick's crime, I'm arguing that there be fair punishment for all. As far as Oprah goes, she can have whomever she wants/can get on her show. If people stop watching simply because they don't agree with only ONE of Oprah's views/decisions, then you never were a fan of Oprah. Before you start condemning everyone else, you should take a look in the mirror - I promise you won't see a perfect person.
10-18-2007 @ 7:19AM
Mark said...
Why would anyone try to redeem M. Vick?
To even go there is beyond my comprehension.
This is just another story of someone who is talented gone off the deepend. Money tends to do that to some.
To those who never had money the gaining of it tends to bring out the worst in them.
For Oprah to even try to redeem Vick to me would seem to stem from some PR person convincing her people that what has happened to him is in some way a blemish on either sports as a whole or on a race.
I think that neither has anything to do with what has happened to Vick.
When some reach the level of fame like he has, it seems to me that they think they are beyond and above the law. "I am M. Vick and I can do anything I want," seems to be the attitude.
When one reaches that level of fame, someone should be telling them that now is the time to make a mark in life. Now is the time to shine because now is the time to make a difference in someones life by just setting a good example. Greed and ego at times get in the way of that.
It happens more and more these days...Sad to say that it seems to be a comment on our time.
And by the way....since when is anyone (even an athlete) worst so much money?
Thats what it has come to..it's not about the sport, its about the money and selling products. So very sad!
10-20-2007 @ 5:57PM
HAROLD STEELE said...
I THINK THAT M. VICK IS BEING RAILROADED BECAUSE HE IS MICK VICK I BELIEVE THAT THERE IS KNOW DIFFERENCE FROM DOG FIGHTING AND WHEN HORSE RACING IF THE HORSEBREAKS A LEG THEY PUT IT DOWN WHY DONT THEY JUST LET THE HORSE LIVE IN THE PASTUERE OH LET ME GUESS PEO[LE WOULD SAY THAT THE HORSE HAS A CHOICE RIGHT [BS] IF ITWASNOT FOR THE FACT THAT MIKE VICK WAS A PREMIER ATHLETE ALL OF THE MEDIA WOULD NOT BE INVOLED