I was a "bad dog" at one time and without my second chance who knows what might have happened. This guy was a product of his environment, what he was doing was viewed as "normal" or even celebrated in his community of friends. It took the law to step in and show him otherwise, he paid his price,seems remorseful, let him play on a lifetime probationary term. One screw up and he's out of the NFL no questions asked, but until then, let it be water under the bridge.
Agree 100%
He screwed up. He got caught. he did the time(and fines) levied against him. He should be done. Now it's time to drop it. IMHO the media that keeps this brought up are still punishing him. This should be against the law. It's like he is getting trials everyday, and continued punishment for something he has already paid for. Probation, let the professionals keep an eye on him, that's part of the deal, everyone else needs to find something else to do.
IF he is smart he should capitalize on this. Show the world what kinda athlete he is. Invest the money he makes in successful business ventures, and do some good with it too by supporting some do good operations.
I think if he keeps his nose clean, he can regain his respect. I think it would be a testament to any fan or would be fan to see him overcome his mistake and turn his life around.
Leave him be.
Yep
You are so off base and full of
it is insane. For years athletes have been ones to motivate young children to achieve greatness and follow in their footsteps. Pat Tillman is the first one that comes to mind. The man was so grounded in his belief's that he left a multi million dollar contract in Arizona to serve his country in the US Army. He was a football player first. That is an athlete
and a hero.
Couldnt disagree more
Yes but Tillman is a hero because of his service and willingness to sacrifice millions, NOT BECAUSE OF HIS ATHLETIC PROWESS
Yes an athlete is something to aspire to be. It teaches dedication, hard work and team work. None of these men and women who are playing any level of sports walked their way into it easily. There were hours in a gym, classroom and playing their sport to get where they are now. All of the above improves your character and work ethic.
We will have to agree to disagree here. I played with a bunch of guys in college (several of which went on to long pro careers) who worked far less than many others (myself included). The truth is natural ability and body composition plays a much larger role than most outside the pros want to admit. Now when you get natural ability paired with an extreme work ethic you get superstars.
Yes some get distracted by the bright lights and dollars but the vast majority are more of a benefit to society than the chubby fatass who sits around eating moon pies, playing xbox and sitting at the computer all day that has no social skills at all.
Why does it have to be one or the other. What about the hard working dedicated plumbers, electricians, mechanics, salesmen, etc.
They are every much a hero as the average pro athlete if not more so.
There are still good men out there who are hero's and doing more of a benefit to society. Everyone needs their escape plan...and numerous professional athletes who have learned to better themselves thanks to their sport can say they are who they are because of learning life lessons through their outlet and sport. No one is worshiping these guys, they admire the good ones for who they are and what they do. The kids and parents that look up to the bad ones and cannot differentiate between good and bad are our problem. Not athletes as a whole or parents and kids as a whole.
It has been unpopular for 20 years, but Charles Barkley was right, he was not a role model, he was a basketball player.
I used football to get me out of trash, to get a college education and make something of my life. I admired athletes as much as anyone and I follow sports today to an insane level, however my role model or hero growing up was and always will be my Dad. He met my mother when I was 2 and he was 17. He married her and took m as his own. he showed me how to be a man through his teachings and his mistakes, but he never left me. Even though he divorced my mother when I was very young he always was there for me and treated me as his son. When my first was born, I walked into the waiting room past my mother and hugged him and said thanks.
HE WAS, IS and ALWAYS will be my role model. When I heard my son recently tell one of his friends I was his hero, I will admit I walked into another room by myself and cried like a baby.
So yeah I will disagree strongly with athletes as role models.
now Vick has a CHANCE to be a role model to inner city kids BECAUSE of his mistakes. I hope he seizes the opportunity to do just that.
