On Mike Vick

As usual, my much-younger brother Mike (known on Tumblr as Hammerito) puts it much better than I could have.

Here's his original post:

Ray Lewis, arrested on suspicion of murder in 2000. Charges dropped.

Adam ‘Pacman’ Jones, arrested on charges of assault and felony vandalism in 2005. Arrested on charges of marijuana possession and obstruction of justice in 2006. Arrested on charges of disorderly conduct and public intoxication. 2 months later (also 2006), arrested on charges of misdemeanor assault. Arrested on charges of felony coercion, misdemeanor battery and misdemeanor threat-to-life. Charged with 2 felonies in 2007, he accepted a plea deal of misdemeanor conspiracy to commit disorderly conduct. Accused of hitting a stripper in 2008. Charges dropped. Got into a fight with the bodyguard whose job it was to keep him out of trouble in 2008. Jones currently plays for the Cincinnati Bengals.

Ben Roethilisberger, arrested on suspicion of rape in 2010. Charges dropped.

Michael Vick, arrested on suspicion of dogfighting in 2007. Pled guilty, spent 18 months in prison, lost $130 million dollars, $1 million of which was set up in a fund to care for Vick’s dogs for the rest of their lives. Filed for bankruptcy in 2008. Signed with the Eagles in 2009. The contract included $0 of guaranteed money. Vick struggles through 2009 season. Vick is mentored by Donovan McNabb. He turns his life around, develops a work ethic he never had, gives his time and money to local charities, speaks out against the lifestyle that he used to lead, and has now, 40 months after accepting responsibility and being sent to federal prison, turned everything around through hard work for the first time in his life.

He did his time. He lost everything. He took responsibility. He apologized, over and over again. He made amends. He earned his way back. What else would you like him to do?

A commenter than added in: You forgot Donte Stallworth and Leonard Little, who both killed people and got off scott fucking free.

Mike adds: And Leonard Little, who not only killed someone while driving drunk, but then was arrested for driving drunk AGAIN a year later.

Another commenter chimes in with: I just don’t get how that’s an insult. The fact that people continue to root for murderers and rapists says a lot about what they value over people, too.

To which Mike replies: Then what is the purpose of having a justice system? Why not just throw everyone who has ever been convicted of anything into an active volcano?

One of the very, very, very rare times someone manages to turn their life around, the rest of the world is standing there to remind them that they’re a terrible, awful, no good, very bad person.

NEW RULE: everyone should always be remembered for the worst thing they did. No exceptions.

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Bravo, sir. I abhor what Mike Vick did, but nothing can change it. The Earth only spins in one direction, forward. I hope that this change is sincere, real and lifetime. As a human being, I'm rooting for him. I work with kids, many of whom find themselves on the wrong side of the law. I believe in punishment, but for the good of society I have to believe in rehabilitation and redemption as well. If Vick can be a force for good, well, it will never erase the evil he did. But it might keep some future evil from happening. Isn't that a good thing?