James Brown (not The Godfather of Soul James Brown) interviewed Michael Vick on “60 Minutes.” In case you missed Vick’s disgusting shame spiral…the Philadelphia Eagles quarter back was convicted and plead guilty to financing and participating in a dog fighting ring for nearly 6 years. Details of his involvement were horrific. He tortured, abused and even killed the pit bulls by drowning, beating, electrocuting and shooting them if they didn’t fight. Drugs were also a factor in the ring.
He clearly explains that he found the dog fighting “fun” and “exciting” and cried about being in a prison bed.
“That wasn’t my life, that wasn’t the way it was supposed to be. The so called coaching that I thought was right. And I thought it was cool, I thought it was fun and it was exciting. It all lead to me landing in a prison bunk, all by myself, with nobody to talk to but myself.”
Clearly he feels no remorse for the animals that suffered at his hands. He was pissed he was thrown into jail. He goes on after Brown asks about the barbaric and sick ways he tortured the dogs and Vick gives a PR crafted answer.
“It’s wrong. I don’t know how many times I gotta say it. It was wrong and I feel tremendous hurt about what happened. I should have took the initiative to stop it all, and I didn’t. I feel so bad about that now, and I know that I didn’t step up. I wasn’t a leader.”
Also, when asked about how he currently feels about the abuse and death of the dogs he gave yet another rep scripted answer.
“I understand why, and I’m gonna say it again,” said Vick. “It sickens me to my stomach. The same feeling I’m feeling right now is what people was feeling. Disgust. Pure disgust.”
When Brown asks the question regarding the feelings and motives behind the enjoyment of the dog fighting he refused to answer what the element of enjoyment was, but stated he knew what it was about the abuse that he liked.
“Regardless of what it was, it doesn’t matter. I know why. I know why and regardless of what it was and why I was driven by what was going on…whether it was the competition or whatever it may have been, it doesn’t matter.”
He furthers his concern for his career over a moral consciousness by stating it was his inability to stand up to his friends that kept the dog fighting going.
Vick: “I could have put a stop from it. I could have walked away from it. I could have shut the whole operation down.”
Brown: “But you didn’t. What was keeping you going?
Vick: “Not being able to tell certain people around me. Look…we can’t do this anymore. I am concerned about my career. I am concerned about my family.”
Brown: “So for the cynics who say ‘You know what. I don’t know. Michael Vick might be more concerned about the fact that his career was hurt more than the dogs that were hurt.’
Vick: “You know, football don’t matter. It don’t matter. I deserve to loose the 130 million dollars.”
He ends the interview talking about finding Jesus and rediscovering God. What do you think? Forgive and forget or are you not buying what he is selling?
