When the 2006 season began, football player Michael Vick had it all. The #1 pick in the National Football League's 2001 draft, he had become an all-pro as quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons. Vick's endorsement income from contracts from Nike, EA Sports, Coca-Cola and other top corporations had earned him 33rd place on Forbes' list of Top 100 Celebrities in 2005.
During the 2006 season, however, Vick's image began to change for the worse. A well-publicized finger gesture to the Falcons' fans during the season was a harbinger of the devastation to follow.
In April of 2007, all hell broke loose when Vick was accused of operating a six-state dog fighting ring based from his notorious Bad Newz Kennels. Further details, including the accusation that Vick personally executed one of his dogs, disgusted the American public and sent his endorsement deals down the drain.
After admitting his guilt in a plea deal, Vick was recently sentenced to 23 months in a federal kennel. Although prosecutors recommended a shorter sentence, the judge overrode their request due to Vick's lack of promised cooperation. As a result of his conviction, his financial empire has also collapsed, and his future earning potential looks as bleak as O.J.'s. Vick agreed to return nearly $20 million of his signing bonus, and banks are after him to return more than $4 million in business loans.
Animal lovers can take some solace that, even from the grave, the dogs Vick tormented managed to bite him back.
Be sure to check out other Money Losers of 2007.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
12-21-2007 @ 6:23AM
brooks diggans said...
another clown in jail
12-31-2007 @ 1:28AM
natasha said...
Too the person that says that rappers need to be checked out, you are ignorance & a racist. Get your dumb remarks off bloggs such as this. You probably have your children in the suburbs that enjoy rap music. I'm sure they are not inspired to become dog fighters but maybe a rapper. You probably hate rappers equally as much, huh?
Michael Vicks is an outstanding althlete that made poor decisions with the company he choose to keep and the engaging activities. I hope it's a lesson learn for him. I hope this is a humbes him. When he is released, he may only be worth half of his $300(+)millions of dollars but he'll still be that multi-million dollar mogul.
He's apologetic and obviously ashamed but we live in a forgiving society. America you got to love it!His true fans will remain loyal. He's bouce back in 2-3yrs and still only be 30yrs old. Just makes you sick to your stomach doesn't it?!!!
Your kid didn't get a break in NFL, huh? LOL...
You are foul
12-21-2007 @ 12:19PM
Squeegis said...
The police and feds really need to do more investigations on dog fighting. Many of the people involved in rap music are also abusing their dogs with dog fighting. These rappers need to be checked out!
They'll find the same mess.
12-21-2007 @ 12:46PM
eddwatt said...
Vick made a grave error of judgement which he is paying and suffering for it. He lied and was caught in the act. He learned a lesson. Lets leave him alone for now and let him go and give the man a chance to reform. He is only an imperfect human being who happened to have a poor man form of excitement and fun. He should have gone to big time casino or Vegas then no one will condemn. Its now a boring and tiresome issue. Let us go on...
12-21-2007 @ 12:52PM
richard davies said...
We tend to forget that most pro football players are no better than well paid thugs. I am not talking about the few educated players, the Steve youngs, I mean the players that went through college on a sports scholarship, but cannot put a complete sentence together or can barely read or write, and there are many more of those. If these
players like Michael Vick, had not played football, they would be mere street criminals, or gang bangers. We should not be surprised when football players get busted for crimes off the field. We have only to watch how they behave on the field to know their true mentalities. Who but a thug celebrates injuring another person? Dances around the field beating their chest? And for those who say it is a game. Who are they trying to fool? Baseball is a game. Soccer is a game. Football is war without weapons! And many of these players would take their guns onto the field, if they thought they could get away with it!
Pacman Jones, OJ Simpson, Michael Vick...The list goes on and on...
Read my other football article.
http://www.helium.com/tm/754017/professional-football-players-obsessed
12-21-2007 @ 3:13PM
Bobbi B said...
Some people cannot get it in there head that Michael Vick is a bad guy...a criminal! He's not the first athlete to be convicted of a crime, and won't be the last. As a matter of fact, criminal activity runs rampant in sports, on every level!
I believe a lot of it goes untouched by management, because they lack the power to make it stop. You got a guy like Vick as your Quarterback and the front office wants you, as the manager, to win games [money] for the Boss. Your job is on the line ~ what are you going to do? You shut your mouth and pretend, as long as it's under control, and hope the shit doesn't hit the fan! That's what your gonna do!
12-21-2007 @ 5:08PM
GB said...
Why do so many people find peace in constantly going after Mike Vick. We have criminals in Congress. We have criminals on the police force. I believe some people are obsessed with athletes. What about bootleggers who now own brewery's. What about "canned" hunting where tigers and other exotic animals are taken from Africa and smuggled into the United States and killed just for the joy. Stop being scared and stand up to all criminal offenes. Stop selective attacks!!!
12-21-2007 @ 6:27PM
Buddy said...
We also need to remember that many people in country music are involved with dog fighting I think this culture needs to be investigated, along with the morons who kill Deer and or Bear for sport (meaning they are not killing for food)and put their heads over a mantle. Only sick and twisted people kill an animal to display it. It's only a sport if the animals can shoot back-Hippocrits.
12-21-2007 @ 7:18PM
FRANK said...
TO BAD IT WASN'T 23 YEARS IN THE SHITTER
12-21-2007 @ 8:13PM
LATONYA WHITMAN said...
Yeah Lots of people happy bout this but that's why the world is the way it is! HEARTLESS! It's just money can't take it with us when our lights go out!