Mike Vick and the power of second chances….
We have all made mistakes; we’ve all made poor choices which negatively impacted us.
To be frank: everyone has fucked up once or twice in their lives …
What’s important is learning from our mistakes, and climbing higher.
A couple of years ago, Michael Vick, a black NFL football star was convicted and sentence to federal prison for his involvement with dog fighting.
I won’t give my opinion on whether I think he would have gone to jail if he was a “white” star athlete …
Nor will I give my opinion on whether I think serving 21 months in a maximum federal prison was necessary, considering he didn’t fight Lassie against Hooch.
I definitely wont adventure into discussing why Madoff who stole billions, ruined countless people’s lives sits in a medium security, camp-like prison, but black Vick went to a maximum security … for dog fighting.
None of that has to do with today’s theme…so I will keep my opinions on those issues to myself.
At the end of the day, what Mike Vick was allegedly involved with was illegal, and a jury of his peers found him guilty, convicted him … and he served 21 months in prison.
Michael Vick made some poor choices, and suffered the consequences for his poor choices – however, his mistakes did not hurt the lives of others; he did not kill anyone; didnt steal billions; he didnt rape….
(just to be clear: in my opinion, theft, murder, rape, etc …. are not mistakes or poor choices, they are heinous crimes)
After he served nearly 2 years in a maximum federal penitentiary, he was released … and spent another 2 months in home confinement before being released.
During this time, he went bankrupt – losing something like 100+ million dollars…
After he got out of prison — the Philadelphia Eagles (one of the only NFL teams who would) decided to give Vick another chance.
To make a long ramble short – Michael Vick (his first full season back in the NFL) is having an incredible year, and has guided the Eagles to the top of their division in American football.
What a great story – the guy fuck’s up … accepts the consequences for his actions, doesn’t moan or complain about the severity ….and serves his time.
Many people would have been further sucked down by negativity; or feel sorry for themselves for the rest of their lives — the guy lost everything, and had to start over….
I really hope to see him win the super bowl.
Arthur ZHANG
Keep learning, keep clmbing.
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year 2011!