The Message of Michael Vick

Michael Vick. The name is short but it brings along incredible emotion. Michael Vick may be more polarizing than Sarah Palin. He is a topic which transcends football America and divides the populous. Seemingly one is either a passionate Vick hater or a staunch supporter.

When discussing cases like Michael Vick, human nature tends to seek to justify or condemn evils done by an individual by comparing them to lesser or greater evils done by another in a similar situation. This was my initial instinct in the case of Michael Vick. Sports seems to always have great timing, as Vick’s release came just three months after NFL wide receiver Donte Stallworth served 24 days for a DUI which led to a second degree manslaughter. Thus, my argument: how can a man serve a year and a half in prison for fighting dogs when another serves less than a month in prison for taking a human life?

In retrospect, I now see that my argument was flawed. A man’s actions cannot be justified by comparison to another’s greater evils. Instead, we should objectively look at the wrongs committed by Michael Vick, and not at anyone else’s wrongs, and then examine the actions Michael Vick has taken since release from prison.

In court Michael Vick admitted to providing most of the financing for the dog fighting venture known as “Bad Newz Kennels.” He admitted to participating directly in several dog fights in Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina and South Carolina and to sharing in the proceeds from these dog fights. He admitted to being involved in the destruction of 6-8 dogs, by hanging or drowning.

To be frank, as I typed those sentences my stomach turned and a great anger built up inside of me. Michael Vick did terrible, horrific, disgusting things to dogs. Furthermore, this was not one isolated incident when Michael Vick lost his head. Judge Hudson, the man who sentenced Vick to 18 months in prison, said he was “convinced that it was not a momentary lack of judgment.”

Fast forward over two years from that court room to Tuesday November 23, 2010. Michael Vick now stands on a stage instead of in a court room. Vick is introduced by Wayne Pacelle, CEO of the Humane Society of the United States to students at Wilbur Cross High School in New Haven, Connecticut.

“I didn’t care about the welfare of animals,” Vick regretfully tells the student body. Now Vick stands firmly against animal cruelty. "Don't let your environment shape and mold you,” says Vick.

Vick appears remorseful when he tells the students that he has been "scrutinized and ridiculed" and "I deserved every word of it."

Pacelle spoke highly of Vick who has made 24 appearances with Humane Society officials – none of which were required by the court or the NFL. The relationship between Vick and Pacelle began when Vick contacted Pacelle towards the end of his sentence in federal prison and offered to volunteer his time. “And in the year-and-a-half I’ve known Mike, he has never turned me down once,” Pacelle said.

After the Eagles 34-24 comeback victory over the Houston Texans last week Vick spoke about the physical barrage his body endured throughout the game. "I'm used to taking hits. It's not that bad,” said Vick. “But I'm a pretty tough guy. I bounce back when I can.”

I find it impossible to not find an underlying message in Vick’s words and actions. Michael Vick is a man who has made terrible mistakes which led to him doing terribly horrific things. These mistakes led to the loss of his job, the loss of his wealth and a mountain of debt and 18 months in prison. I would say Michael Vick took a hit, to use his language.

While some will “never forget” what Vick did and hold hatred in their hearts, I will focus on what he has done since his fall. And that is this: he got back up and he started living with a purpose. And that is something truly worth focusing on.

Notes

Sorry for my lengthy post tonight. If you have the time I do believe it is very worthwhile reading, and if you want to skim anything, skip the baseball and read about Jarrod (he's back from Iraq!!!)

Today the Diamond Dawgs were defeated by the Oneonta Outlaws 3-2 in Oneonta, NY.
As I have seen four consecutive losses, all by one run, I am disappointed by the loss, however, today was an incredible day!

The hour plus drive from Little Falls to Oneonta is absolutely beautiful! We passed countless green pastures and hills along with beautiful mountains covered by gorgeous trees. And the view from Oneonta's ballpark is breathtaking. It is an even more stunning view than that from Veteran's Memorial Park (where the Diamond Dawgs play in Little Falls) and that is certainly saying something. As you sit behind or homeplate, your eyes constantly wander to the densely forested mountainsides which are visible over the outfield wall in leftfield and centerfield.

But I'll talk more about that in my next post!

And I'll do an exclusive post on Cooperstown as I will be going to the Hall of Fame on Wednesday!!!

Beyond Baseball

Thursday was a truly remarkable day. It was one of those days when life falls into perspective. Baseball-wise, Thursday was disappointing and exciting all in one game. With two outs in the seventh inning and two men on base, Justin got the call and hurriedly entered the game. Justin's entrance into the game was based on numerically proven facts about baseball; lefthanded pitchers perform better against lefthanded batters than righthanded batters, while righthanded pitchers perform better against righthanded batters than lefthanded batters. Thus, Justin came in for the so-called "lefty-lefty matchup." And he did not disappoint. After throwing his first pitch high for a ball, Justin induced a weak groundball out to the shortstop to strand the runners and end the inning.

The next inning was Justin's best as he induced three consecutive flyouts all on changeups.
While Justin was having a great outing, his team was not fairing so well. In fact, the Diamond Dawgs were being no-hit through seven innings. Lefty Kyle Hunter, who is to be a freshman at Dartmouth College in the fall, had allowed only three baserunners in the game, two on walks and one on an error. After Hunter threw another perfect inning in the eighth, Justin was sent back out to shut down the Amsterdam Mohawks who held a 1-0 advantage over the Diamond Dawgs.

Justin induced a groundout to shortstop on the first batter he faced. The second batter he faced hit the defination of a bloop single to rightfield. The next batter worked a 3-2 count. Justin had noticed that this batter was pulling out on his swings, so Justin decided to fire some high heat. The batter never had a chance. He swung at air and Justin had earned a crucial second out. Justin was now in a much better position with two outs and a runner on first base. However, you never know what can happen in baseball. The next batter hit nearly an identical bloop single as the first hit of the inning. The Diamond Dawgs rightfielder, Ryan Kemp, charged the ball as it "died" as it hit the outfield grass. Instead of making a great play on the ball, Ryan charged right past the ball. Upon seeing this, either the baserunner or the third base coach decided that the baserunner could make it home due to the fielding error in rightfield. Ryan quickly chased the ball down and threw a perfect threw to home plate. He hosed him! The runner was out and Justin and the Diamond Dawgs were pumped up! "Let's go!" they shouted. Now was the time for them to break up Hunter's no-hitter, and furthermore, to win the game.

Unfortunately, the first two Diamond Dawgs made quick outs. Hunter was now only one out away from reaching the great accomplishment of a no-hitter, and the Dawgs were one out from the great disgrace of being no-hit. However, the Dawgs had precisely the man they wanted coming to the plate: centerfielder Kyle "Richie" Richardson, the league-leading hitter with a .400 batting average. Richie delivered by smashing a ball over the Mohawk's leaping second baseman, with the ball clearing his glove by mere inches. The no-hitter was gone, and the Diamond Dawgs had new life. With only a double they could tie the game. Instead the Amsterdam closer came in and earned the save with a strike out of the final batter.

While the Diamond Dawgs were mourning their second consecutive loss, Justin was celebrating. He had just received news which made him happier than he would have been if his team had won in walk off fashion that night. "He's back!!!!!!!" Justin stuck his cellphone in front of my face so I could read and see the picture message that he had just received. Jarrod Brown, Justin's older brother and best friend, was back in Texas after a tour in Iraq. In that picture, Jarrod stood next to his wife Mallory, grinning ear to ear as he had just been greeted by her with a huge bear hug.

Justin and I talked for a while about Jarrod's return that night and Justin talked on the phone with relatives. The next day Justin got a call from Jarrod himself. Justin excitedly updated Jarrod on all of the major events in his life while Jarrod had been gone. Justin's joy was contagious as I sat and listened to Justin tell Jarrod story after story.

That day I came to a conclusion about my baseball trip. I told myself that my entire trip had become worthwhile in that one night. I had come to see Justin pitch in beautiful upstate New York, and I had, but something far more important had happened. I was able to be there for my longtime friend on one of the happiest nights, if not the happiest night of his summer. His joy, his excitement, his energy did not come from a great victory or a great pitching outing, but rather from the return home of his best friend and brother Jarrod from Iraq. And I, someone who has known Jarrod and Justin for ten years, was put into an incredible position. I was there to celebrate, to cheer on, and to praise God for the safe return home of a hero, a best friend and a brother. It was a day on which baseball was put into perspective, as brotherhood, literal and figurative, proved to be far more important.

Albany Awaits

Howdy folks,

Here goes nothing. Actually, here begins something new for me - a blog,
and hopefully my self-titled "trip of a lifetime." Tomorrow morning, or rather in six
short hours my flight depart for Albany, New York, the first inning of my seven inning trip,
if you will. In the next seven days I will watch the Mohawk Valley Diamond Dawgs of the New York Collegiate Baseball League (NYCBL), and most importantly, my great friend Justin Brown play the most beautiful game known to man.

To say that I am excited would be a gross understatement. I am more excited than a 13-year old girl the day before a Justin Bieber concert as I have worked, and waited for this day nearly all summer. This trip was a mere dream on June 5th, the Diamond Dawg's Opening Day. On that pivotal day Justin and I experienced days more than the mirror opposites that Yankees and Red Sox fans are.

That day was my first Saturday at the Mexican restaurant I work at in Irving, Texas. At 4:00 P.M. I began my scheduled shift with $15 in my pocket - money to make change for customers paying with cash. Eight and a half hours later, I left with $5 in my pocket - a total net of -$10 for my exhausting and dizzying night of work. Needless to say, I was as disappointed as Bill Buckner after his infamous play in the World Series. I was in shock.

Thus, I called my hometown friend, Justin, to hear about his Opening Day in Little Falls, New York for the Mohawk Valley Diamond Dawgs. From the moment Justin answered the phone, I could sense the enthusiasm in his voice. Justin began by telling me that a record crowd of 2,161 fans had attended the game. (The population of Little Falls, where the Diamond Dawgs play, is slightly less than 6,000 fans.) The Dawgs starter had gone 5 solid innings before being pulled from the game. That's when Justin got the call, in the 6th inning of the Opening Day game. The crowd and the situation did not faze him; Justin fed off the energy of the crowd. He retired the first batter with an infield pop out. The next batter reached on an error by the second baseman. Justin showed his cool by inducing a fielder's choice by the next batter. And with the crowd urging him on, Justin struck out the next batter, which further delighted the crowd. Justin returned to the bullpen and did something which he had not done before: sign autographs. He did not just sign a few; he signed autographs for the entire remainder of the game.

After Justin had given me as many details of the game as possible, I informed him of what he already knew by stating, "You're going to have the summer of your life." After he agreed I made a bolder statement by saying, "You're going to have the summer of your life. And I'm going to have the trip of my life by going up there to watch you."

Surely enough, my trip begins tomorrow. Or rather, tomorrow is the first inning of my seven inning trip.

Tomorrow's game: 7:00 PM vs. Albany Dutchmen
@ Bleeker Stadium (Albany, NY)