Maybe in Michael Vick’s old world it was cool for his dogs to get so worked up they frothed at the mouth, but even Michael Vick seems to want to present a new side.  According to all accounts so far, he hasn’t flown the bird at fans nor protesters.  He hasn’t attacked anyone, hit anyone, bit anyone or passed on viral diseases across the border.  By that alone, he would ‘appear’ to be a new man.

I still don’t think he should be in the NFL, not because of who he is today, but because of what he has done in the past, what he represents with a lifetime achievement of mostly criminal behavior during his previous stint in the NFL.  One of the reasons why I think his past should be a measure of whether or not he is in the NFL today, is due to the fact that he does influence people.

Case in point

His fans and supporters in Atlanta went out and spit on dog fighting protesters that want Michael Vick and the NFL to add dog fighting and cockfighting to the list of banned activities for ALL NFL players.  Michael Vick has no authority over the NFL, but he IS the poster child for dog fighting promoters IN the NFL.  Like it or not, his name, image and number 7, will forever be associated with dog fighting, BECAUSE he spent many many years running a dog fighting ring paid for with NFL money.  (his current problem not anyone else’s).

His past activity seems to inspire his own former Atlanta fans, people that might have been Falcons fans at one time, but now rally against their own home team for any team that Michael Vick might be able to find work with these days.  His disregard for laws against dog fighting, could possibly be a major influence in his fan boys and girls who would completely disregard the law themselves and assault people in Atlanta, showing just how nasty southern hospitality can be.

Welcome to Atlanta, where we will spit in your face if we disagree with you!

Sorry, but that is not the Atlanta motto.  Even Michael Vick has enough composure these days not to go spitting on people.  That goes to show just how deep the damage is that he caused.  Even if he has moved on beyond the criminal that he was (and I’d hazard to suspect that he is still as sociopathic as he used to be, just more careful), but giving him the benefit of the doubt for the sake of argument, if he is no longer a criminal, no longer acting like a criminal, the damage he did when he was a criminal and acted the part, has in Atlanta and probably in many other areas, inspired too many people to engage in criminal activities as well.

This IS why, it will take Michael Vick, years and decades to begin to repair the damage he has done.  He has negatively impacted and inspired people to be criminals, to engage in criminal activities, to disregard the safety of others, to harm others, and to do so in the name of Michael Vick.

A few related articles on this sad topic

• http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/Vick-protesters-say-they-were-spit-on-by-fans.html
• http://content.usatoday.com/communities/thehuddle/post/2009/12/animal-activists-claim-fans-assaulted-them-outside-michael-vicks-return-to-atlanta/1
• http://life.atlantafalcons.com/topic/3877794-im-disgusted/
• http://www.cbsatlanta.com/news/21881976/detail.html#
• http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/Vick-exits-with-injured-thigh.html