Some people are just clueless, and that includes the entire Philadelphia Eagles football team.
It was bad enough that Eagles management signed Michael Vick to the team after he got out of prison for running a dog fighting ring. As I posted on August 24, 2009, in Can Michael Vick change his behavior?, PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), sent a letter to the NFL stating that Vick fit the profile of antisocial personality disorder, aka a sociopath.
I mean, the guy rewarded the animals that lost by personally electrocuting, hanging or drowning them—shoving their heads into five-gallon buckets of water.
So now, after sitting on the bench for most of the season, the Eagles players say Vick should win the Ed Block Courage Award. According to the foundation that presents it, “the Ed Block Courage Awards honors those National Football League players who exemplify commitments to the principles of sportsmanship and courage. Recipients are selected by their teammates for team effort, as well as individual performance.”
Many people, including the American Kennel Club, are outraged. On January 22, 2010, the club sent a letter to Jeff Lurie, owner of the Philadelphia Eagles. It stated:
On behalf of the American Kennel Club, our 5,000 clubs nationwide, and the millions of responsible dog owners we represent, we are writing to ask you to withdraw Michael Vick as the Philadelphia Eagles’ recipient of the Ed Block Courage Award.
We understand that his teammates selected Mr. Vick for this honor, but in doing so they are demonstrating a lack of understanding about the nature of both animal and child abuse, and are trivializing Mr. Vick’s heinous actions. Michael Vick horrified the world, and especially those of us who devote our lives to promoting the health and welfare of dogs, with his engagement in dog fighting. In addition to the bloody fighting contests, reports indicate that many dogs were electrocuted, drowned or hung for underperformance.
A man who has been convicted of these atrocities should not be held up as a role model of sportsmanship and courage. Further, Ed Block, the award’s namesake, dedicated his life to ending the vicious cycle of pain and despair suffered by children at the hands of their abusers. It is unconscionable that a man who tortured and abused helpless animals be honored by an organization dedicated to ending abuse.
Vick says he deserves it
So what does Michael Vick have to say about winning the award? According to NFL.com:
“I’ve overcome a lot, more than probably one single individual can handle or bear,” Vick said. “You ask certain people to walk through my shoes, they probably couldn’t do. Probably 95 percent of the people in this world because nobody had to endure what I’ve been through, situations I’ve been put in, situations I put myself in and decisions I have made, whether they have been good or bad.
“There’s always consequences behind certain things and repercussions behind them, too. And then you have to wake up every day and face the world, whether they perceive you in the right perspective, it’s a totally different outlook on you. You have to be strong, believe in yourself, be optimistic. That’s what I’ve been able to do. That’s what I display.”
The guys on ESPN’s Mike & Mike in the Morning talk radio show were incredulous. They talked about the men selected by other football teams. One football player been shot 14 times in a drive-by shooting, was paralyzed and lost a leg. Another player created a foundation to support at-risk youths. Another was well-known for his community service.
“Here’s the bottom line: Did Michael Vick exemplify courage?” one of the Mikes asked. “I gotta say the answer is no!”
The video clip is entertaining. See it at Mike and Mike: Vick Courageous?
An online petition against awarding Michael Vick the Ed Block Courage Award is available on Change.org.
Michael Vick on TV
And just when you think it can’t get any worse, it does—Michael Vick has his own reality TV show on BET.
The Michael Vick Project premieres next week, on February 2, 2010. Here’s what BET.com has to say about it:
In this eight-part series, produced by DuBose Entertainment, MV7 Productions and Category 5 Entertainment, cameras will not only capture the NFL star’s return to football after a two-year prison term stemming from his association with a dog fighting ring, but they will also focus on much of his life prior to that turning point. Viewers will be given an unfiltered and personal experience of Vick as he restores his past and starts fresh for the future — not only for himself, but for his family and fiancée, Kijafa.
“It’s our hope that this documentary series will serve as means towards Michael Vick’s search for his personal truth, what led to the choices he made that ultimately changed his life and also, enlighten viewers that every decision you make in life matters. We hope his story will be one in which years from now, people particularly young men, will view and learn valuable lessons from, James DuBose, CEO, Dubose Entertainment. “Mike’s life may be unique, but his story is one that could be told ten times over by young men who find themselves faced with trials and tribulations. His truth has come by way of bad choices. His triumph will come by way of his commitment to change.”
No role model
We all know how charming, charismatic and convincing sociopaths can be. They are experts at impression management. Vick must have put on a heck of a performance, and the Eagles players didn’t realize that it was only a performance.
It seems that Vick has stayed out of trouble for at least the length of the football season. And honestly, we know sociopaths don’t change, so if he’s not hurting other people or animals, it’s about all we can expect of him.
But Michael Vick as a role model? That’s just too much.
lesson learned: Alrighty, thanks for telling me! I thought that’s what it was! Maybe I’m a spathinator too. 😛 Although I wasn’t before I started reading this site. I was only able to spot my dad.
I can’t imagine looking out for sociopaths while dating. I’d be too paranoid for it. I prefer to stay single and alone in most cases anyway.
Near,
Keep reading near, you’ll learn to spot more of them. You’re dad’s a spath? UGH so sorry…..
Near, I hear THAT! Dating? Uh nooooooooooo, not ready yet anyway, but just the thought of it is EXHAUSTING when weeding out whose spath and who isn’t. I prefer to stay single and alone too. Although sometimes lonely, I’m learning to like myself a lot more this way.
LL
lesson learned: Yeah, my dad and just about every other “male role model” I’ve ever had. 🙁 Tommorrow is Father’s Day too! Wheee! *puts on party hat*
Yeah, dating a normal person would be tiring enough, it seems. Dating a sociopath or anybody with a personality disorder would be a nightmare! I’m sorry you’re lonely, though. 🙁 I’ve never really felt lonely before. It’s good you are liking yourself more and hopefully you’ll feel better over time.
There are more sociopathic guys, right? Does anybody have a ratio for guy and girl sociopaths? So I guess dating wouldn’t be too bad, since I’m a guy. Still, there are women who are just as toxic. So I don’t know what to do. For now I’m just focusing on education and distance from my dad. Dating can always come later.
Near,
Naw, the loneliness I think is spath slime LOL! I’ve only been out of the relationSHIT for six and a half months now.
Sorry about the spaths as male role models. My dad is a spath and my brother too. I don’t have any contact at all with any of them. Haven’t for a couple of years now. Once you learn to get past the distancing part, which can be painful once you realize what they are, things will be better. Yep, tomorrow is father’s day. UGH!
I think there are more sociopathic guys, but just as many women who have a PD of some sort or other. but there are women spaths for sure.
Education and distancing from your dad is a big chore in itself. Do you mind if I ask what you’re educational focus is?
LL
lesson learned: How long did the relationship last? If you don’t mind telling me. I can’t imagine years of living with them. My mom divorced my dad a long time ago and then he moved away. He’s still around, but I haven’t lived with him since I was 5 or 6 and I’m 20 now. Must be rough waking up every day to one. 🙁
Your dad too? I think Ox Drover and another woman on here said their dads were sociopaths as well. 🙁 My uncle and grandpa from my dad’s side are also sociopaths, and my aunt has something else, but I’m not sure what it is. Delusional and fantasy-based thinking. My grandma from that side is very cold and shallow as well.
Did you grow up with your brother? I heard sociopaths as siblings is ROUGH! I guess that’s true for any sociopath, really, but I’ve heard siblings are some of the worst.
Distancing is rough because my dad always tries to draw me back. I’ve already distanced myself emotionally, though. I don’t even listen to his drama, no matter how small. I barely see him now.
My educational focus is Psychology but I’m terrible at it. Marketing and advertising is another interest, but right now I have to get some other classes out of way. You never get the best classes your first year. 🙁
Near:
I totally get that about school. And no, you don’t. LOL! It’s about doing all the prereq’s first. That seems to me, the longest stretch before the hard core focus on whatever degree you select. UGH!
It lasted approximately 9 years, 364 days TOO LONG! That was my second relationship with a spath. The first I was married to a psychopath for 20 years. Oh joy.
Yep, my dad too. My brother AND sister both spath. Hard to say which one is worse of the three, although they all feed off of one another. Yep, grew up with both. It was more than rough! LOL!
I do understand about how rough it is when trying to distance. It took me awhile too. It didn’t happen overnight for me. I had to build up to it after I realized what I was dealing with. It does get better with time though and I’m SO glad I have no contact with them. It’s a lot more peaceful!
LOL! Why terrible at psychology? Marketing and advertising? Hmmm….ya know, as you progress in school, you may have several changes of idea when it comes to what you want to major in. I flip flopped between psychology, and Nursing. In the end, I decided to pursue neither and wound up pursuing a degree in the Administrative end of the medical field. I’m good at it, but I hope I don’t live to regret it. It’s a spath feeding ground!
ya know, near, you’re really blessed that you’re finding out about Spaths so young! Perhaps you’ll be able to better avoid the mistakes some of us here have made with involvement and some of us for a very long time, particularly since your dad’s a spath.
Seriously, while it’s rough now, it’s good to know it!
LL
Yes Ox I have had several dates over the past few years from online dating sites, I agree with you, nothin but turds, but I keep lQQking, maybe someday..There is this one guy that I am very interested in but in order to respond to his ‘flirt’ I have to become a paying member…..I wonder if this guy is worth 29.95?
Hens, the answer is probably “YES” that is PROBABLY ALL HE IS WORTH! $29.95, but you can get one at the local wino shelter that is worth just as much for less money! What does a bottle of Thunderbird sell for? Ha ha
I cannot **CAN NOT**** believe you still fish for turds in the on line dating site sewers. Sppppttttt! That’s the sound of me spitting the bad taste out of my mouth!
Well, you may have had more dates than I have but the REAL SCORE IS OXY 50% and Hens 0%—because I didn’t a date with but one turd…. and I didn’t meet him on line. It did take me 3 dates to decide he was a turd though. LOL You at least got yours figured out in one date each I think.
But you know, as time goes on, I am more and more satisfied SINGLE….
Yes, I agree the older we get the better single is…but you have 10+ years on me Ox – I aint ready to give up yet…
Hens, darling, AGE in “years” doesn’t matter a bit! BELIEEEEEEEVE ME!!!!! Because I feel inside the same as I did when I was 18, it is just that I am liking myself better and better and finding out who I am and don’t need someone else to tell me what an ass I am. LOL