In the new GQ, Michael Vick bares … some
Michael Vick bares a bit of himself — literally and figuratively — in the new (September, 2011) issue of GQ, now available at a newstand near you.
In an article written by Will Leitch, Vick makes some revealing comments that seem to come from a little deeper place than his public relations team (it consists of seven members, according to the article) normally allows.
But most of them — like the tired old argument that dogfighting is part of black culture and thus OK – seem aimed at rationalizing, if not excusing, what he did to dogs. Leitch quotes Vick as saying:
“[The media] are writing as if everyone feels that way and has the same opinions they do. But when I go out in public, it’s all positive, so that’s obviously not true … You got the family dog and the white picket fence, and you just think that’s all there is. Some of us had to grow up in poverty-stricken urban neighborhoods, and we just had to adapt to our environment. I know that it’s wrong. But people act like it’s some crazy thing they never heard of. They don’t know.”
Vick didn’t make the cover of GQ — that honor went to another quarterback, the New York Jets Mark Sanchez, who was decked out for his photo shoot in a $185 sweater, a $895 pair of pants, a $590 belt and a $8,850 watch.
Vick — wait a minute, a $590 belt??? — Vick is featured in three photos accompanying the online version of the article about him. He’s clad, or at least partially so, in what appears to be underwear/protective gear from his new sponsor, Nike.
We don’t know if that was a condition of him doing the interview, or just business as usual at GQ, taking a perfectly good story and turning it into something that doubles as advertising — not to mention also serves to make us covet unnecessary things we can’t afford, such as $590 belts.
The article itself, though, is well done. It manages to partially penetrate the facade built around Vick by his public relations team, and get beyond the canned and rehearsed remarks he normally emits while suppressing his real self and following the dictates of the image-makers. At one point, Leitch recounts one of Vick’s first appearances before students, which, in conjuntion with the Humane Society of the United States, he does from time to time, impressing upon them the evils of dogfighting.
Vick is fielding questions from students at Philadelphia’s Camelot School when one asks, in connection with Vick’s prison sentence: “Are you mad about what happened to you?”
Fifteen feet away, halfheartedly taking notes alongside a cluster of reporters, I snap to attention. What a strange question. Certainly to many, framing the past four years of Michael Vick’s life in terms of something that happened to him suggests a gross misunderstanding of how he wound up behind bars. But this is not the way the Camelot students see it at all. The kid’s question is met with head nods and shouts of “You better believe it!” and “That’s right!”
Vick, who has barely changed his expression throughout the thirty-minute session with the students, smiles wide and looks over his left shoulder, directly toward the hallway of reporters. He glances left and right, cartoonishly grinning, all mock-conspiratorial. “Where the media at?” he says, and everyone laughs.
The article, to its credit, doesn’t totally gloss over what happened to Vick’s dogs:
In April 2007 … Vick, who had been taking great pains not to be seen at the kennels, “helped out” in the killing of seven dogs—the ones who had lost in the fighting sessions. He then assisted in burying the dogs, too. A week later, police raided the compound. Vick said at the time, “I’m never at the house…. I left the house with my family members and my cousin…. They just haven’t been doing the right thing…. It’s unfortunate I have to take the heat behind it. If I’m not there, I don’t know what’s going on.” He tells me today: “I was walking away, just totally refocused on something else…. I just happened to get caught out in the yard trying to help out.”
Vick also told Leitch that he wants a dog: “I miss dogs, man. I always had a family pet, always had a dog growing up. It was almost equivalent to the prison sentence, having something taken away from me for three years. I want a dog just for the sake of my kids, but also me. I miss my companions.”
In addition to making public appearances with the Humane Society, Vick recently spoke out against the Android app called Dog Wars and appeared on Capitol Hill to back an anti-dogfighting bill.
Since his release from prison in July 2009, Michael Vick has had a team of “at least seven” PR professionals working for him, the article says. Together, they formulated a plan to redeem, if not the man, at least his image.
Rightly or wrongly, as Leitch notes, what may be working most in Vick’s favor — when it comes to the whole “redemption” thing, and putting dogfighting behind him – is his stellar performance on the field last season. Leitch concludes:
We can be repulsed by his past, we can choose not to root for him, but we can’t drown out the cheers from Eagles fans. In the $9 billion juggernaut of the NFL, Michael Vick’s transgressions just don’t matter anymore, and maybe they never did.
(Photo: From GQ, by Peter Hapak)
Posted by jwoestendiek August 19th, 2011 under Muttsblog.
Tags: article, comments, culture, dogfighting, gq, humane society of the united states, image, magazine, michael vick, nike, philadelphia eagles, public relations, quarterback, redemption, will leitch
Comments
Comment from dee
Time August 19, 2011 at 8:18 am
Seriously? The man is human, he made several stupid mistakes. At the end of the day, he’s paid for his crime. Let’s move on people. If they allow sex offenders back in society, then he deserves a chance. Leave him alone.
Comment from Sue
Time August 19, 2011 at 8:46 am
I’ve read what Vick, personally, did to dogs. I not only don’t think he should ever be allowed to have another dog, I don’t think he should be around children. Including his own.
Comment from Starla
Time August 19, 2011 at 10:02 am
I second what Smoketoomuch says! And “seriously” Dee…a stupid mistake is when you spill paint on the carpet or run over your wifes flowers w/ the lawn mower…His “stupid mistake” caused pain, suffering & brutal torturous death to animals who could not fight back. Paid for his crime…Really? Yes, he paid for the crime of illegal gambling..he did not serve time for dog fighting. He never admitted any guilt in that…though he did it & that is why we still have a bug up our butts over Micheal Vicks image polishing performances w/ the HSUS. Yes, they let sex offenders back in society, but I don’t like them any more than I like people who torture & abuse animals. You can like him, that’s your right. I do not & that is my right, Thank You very much!
Comment from James vick jr
Time August 19, 2011 at 10:31 am
People make mistakes isnt deer hunting bad just as all the other aninals that die not just dogs smh you people seriously need lives talking about he shouldnt have his own kids go to hell
Comment from Jennifer
Time August 19, 2011 at 10:35 am
Yes, Michael Vick is human, but my heart aches when I read a news article or watch a story on animal abuse. I don’t think people like Michael Vick deserve my attention, but I hope he continues his efforts to lobby against dog fighting and supporting humane shelters. I am a parent of a previously abused dog. She is thriving and my heart just glows with pride every time I think about how far she’s come along. But, at the end of the day, I strongly believe that if you are in no condition to take care of a pet, whether it be a dog or not, or do not consider dogs as a member of your family then don’t adopt one! And to those who think it’s unnecessary- think twice about spaying and neutering your pets. Thank you.
Comment from shannon
Time August 19, 2011 at 10:48 am
When I was alittle girl I heard a preacher do a sermon on “Them Dogs”.
“Them Dogs” were the hounds of hell.
Mike vick made a mistake and like many became scared. Who
out there is perfect? Mike not only did jail time he did mental and emotional time.(thank you media) mike should not let people become “Them Dogs”.
Tyler Perry wrote “There’s no future in the past”. Mike should stop answering non current event questions. As for smoketoomuch…
YOU ARE A NON (expletive removed by moderator) FACTOR!!!!
Comment from joe
Time August 19, 2011 at 10:52 am
Mike Vick is my new fav player, yea he did stupid things but its hard to see the error in one ways while living it, but now that he got caught, he now knows what he did was truely wrong and is active in inforcing his new position.
Comment from shannon
Time August 19, 2011 at 11:11 am
Yea. NO!!! Sue you keep that comment about his kids in the web world cause in the real world that shit would get ur head beat.
Starla. Could you forgive him if he was ur dad,brother,or husband. DON’T LIE NOW!!!!
Comment from Hassan
Time August 19, 2011 at 12:22 pm
You guys just don’t know what it is like to grow up in a society like his. If you grow up thinking its not bad, then its not bad! I grew up hating gays, and have now only recently been exposed to the other side of the story. Its your environment! This is not a man who lived in an amazing white neighborhood like I do. He grew up in the urban ghetto and learned that this was ok. If you only knew. Two full years of jail! 500 days waking up in a cell! You don’t think that’s enough? I’m sorry, but if your neighborhood smokes weed, your going to smoke weed too. It’s just how it is. Vick is honestly, being made an example of.
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Time August 19, 2011 at 12:41 pm
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Comment from smoketoomuch
Time August 19, 2011 at 12:53 pm
Allowing those who have been convicted of things such as; Weapons Offenses, Sexual Assault, Racketeering, or Animal Cruelty to make millions of dollars in the “Entertainment Industry” is both a factor in, and a symptom of the current moral decline in our once great society and loudly sends the wrong message, to our youth, many of whom are already troubled.
If one is either unable, or unwilling, to see that, then in my opinion at least, a reexamination of personal values is probably in order. (And name calling changes nothing.)
Comment from bmore pug mom
Time August 22, 2011 at 8:54 am
I think there’s a few important things to remember when it comes to this issue. First, he did jail time because he broke the law. The end. He doesn’t deserve extra credit because he served time. Second, I think it’s great that he is partnering with the Humane Society to speak out about animal cruelty and dogfighting, but he needs to stay on message at all times if he wants to be taken seriously by the animal advocates that are working on the same issues. What he personally thinks about dogfighting doesn’t matter – if he wants to try and undo some of the negative hype around him, he should stay consistent. How can you take him seriously when he says one thing in front of the cameras and another when they are turned off? That’s the price of fame – someone is always watching. If he doesn’t like it, he should just step out of the spotlight and stick to playing football.
I understand and appreciate the impact of the culture he was raised in. The bottom line is what he did was illegal, and he got caught.
Comment from shannon
Time August 22, 2011 at 12:36 pm
Hey two face!! Excuse me…smoketoomuch. you renamed the national football league the national felon league! How many kids did you joke that to?
Just like good people do wrong, so do good dogs.
Remember that saying “sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me”? It does!! When some people in the world just keep beating you..
Look,to be stupid is a choice.but to be unforgiving is a sin!
Comment from smoketoomuch
Time August 24, 2011 at 2:54 pm
@Shannon – It’s not MY place to forgive Mr. Vick’s transgressions. But it IS my choice, as well as my right, to turn my back on those things in our current culture which I find wrong-headed and distasteful. Rewarding obvious wrongdoers with fame (as well as highly lucrative multi-year contracts) happens to be one of those things.
Frankly, I do not care whether Mr. Vick gambled or not, got caught or not, or did his time or not. What I care about is the way he cruelly treated defenseless animals in his care and control. It is those actions which are indefensible in my opinion, and what has spewed from Mr. Vick’s mouth thus far has done absolutely nothing to convince me that he yet sees the error of his ways.
It has been said that animal cruelty is not something one does, it is rather something one IS. That is how I feel, and I am within my rights to both feel that way and to act accordingly.
Watch football if that is your thing, laud Vick’s return to prominence if you wish, you have that right, just don’t preach to me about how I am “two faced” and a “sinner”, I see the issue quite differently from you and the readers of this blog are intelligent enough to decide for themselves which one of us to agree with.
Comment from shannon
Time August 26, 2011 at 9:12 am
SMOKETOOMUCH…Who writing for you?Even though the groceries the same the bag is different. I didn’t call you a sinner! I said to be unforgiving is a sin.
I hope you understand that forgiveness doesn’t always mean we cool.
It means (for me) that I won’t let you take my peace or stop my growth.
I know and understand he did wrong, but when you got some people who make it a new battle everyday…
Is this madness or jealousy?
Comment from shannon
Time August 26, 2011 at 9:50 am
One more thing SMOKETOOMUCH.
I don’t need no-one to take my side.
I don’t need back-up!
I don’t need a middle man to talk for me!
Pick one then put the other two in your pipe and smoke it!!!
Comment from Smoketoomuch
Time August 26, 2011 at 8:48 pm
Touch a nerve, did I?
Comment from shannon
Time August 27, 2011 at 1:19 pm
YUP! THE ONE THAT DON’T LIKE THE TASTE OF BULL-ISH
Comment from Smoketoomuch
Time August 27, 2011 at 6:57 pm
Wow, you win. I am totally outdone by your obvious grip on reality and completely defeated by your professorial command of the English language.
Comment from shannon
Time August 27, 2011 at 11:18 pm
WHATEVER!!!
Comment from smoketoomuch
Time August 19, 2011 at 8:14 am
“…but we can’t drown out the cheers from Eagles fans.” As a resident of greater Philadelphia I can assure you that I can and I do, and I know many others who do as well.
“In the $9 billion juggernaut of the NFL, Michael Vick’s transgressions just don’t matter anymore, and maybe they never did.”
Which is precisely why the NFL (aka the “National Felons League”) has become increasingly irrelevant to those who actually possess a soul.
Message to the Advertisers – When anything Football / Eagles / Vick related comes on the screen, I change the channel – and I am not alone.