Michael Vick decided to get a head start on prison life by surrendering to U.S. Marshals on Monday, three weeks before he was to be sentenced for a federal dogfighting conspiracy charge. Vick, who pleaded guilty in August after three co-defendants pleaded guilty and agreed to cooperate with authorities, decided to begin serving his sentence well before Judge Henry Hudson decides how long that sentence will actually be on December 10.
I understand the "rip off the Band-Aid fast" approach to life; It's going to hurt, but the sooner you start something dreadful, the sooner you can get it over with and move on with your life.
Yet I'm also a fan of delaying the horrible inevitable for as long as possible.
Prison is prison. It isn't a spa treatment at a five-star hotel.
It's not like foregoing your senior year of college and declaring early for the NFL draft. You're not getting a head start on a life infused with multi-million dollar contracts and endorsements, scantily clad women, VIP status, parties with the stars and lines like "Alfred, I think I'll drive the Lamborghini today."
Despite what Elvis led us to believe, jail ... does not rock.
No, starting prison early means one gets a head start on orange jumpsuits and bunking with guys named Bubba and "Finger-Licking Sal."
And those communal showers ... not so hot.
Why did Vick voluntarily sign up for the prison life, albeit an inevitable, early?
The general theory is starting prison early is a way for Vick to show the judge he's owning up to his mistakes and that he genuinely feels remorse and therefore may be rewarded with a lighter prison sentence.
Yet, according to Ronald Bacigal, a University of Richmond law professor specializing in criminal law and criminal procedure, there's not a real direct benefit to the move. "I don't think there's any benefit except getting (the sentence) started," Bacigal said. "I would think he's purely thinking about timing as far as when he can get back to his football."
What's most shocking about Vick's move is that he's voluntarily heading to jail a few days before Thanksgiving. A holiday which could have been his last time to be surrounded by family, friends, and food that doesn't taste like cardboard for a long time.
Then again, had Michael Vick stuck around for Thanksgiving this year, when his family gathered around the table, bowed heads to reflect on the gifts they've been blessed with ... what would Michael Vick have said?
Hmmmm:
"Dear Lord, I'm thankful to be an NFL quarterback, playing the sport I've loved since childhood ... Oh. Wait. I'm suspended from the NFL ... indefinitely ... Well, I'm thankful for my $130 million contract with the Atlanta Falcons ... Although I am suspended ... indefinitely ... without pay ... and I might have to repay the Falcons nearly $20 million in signing bonuses ... and I'm being sued for more than $4 million by banks claiming I defaulted on loans ... Nonetheless, I'm thankful for my ride-or-die friends, who have my back no matter what ... like the ones who turned on me in court ... Damn. This turkey's getting cold ... well, I'm thankful for the fact my ball handling skills will ensure I don't fumble the soap in prison. Amen. Let's eat."
Comments: (160)
Add a comment
By: William R. Hunt Jr. on 11/20/2007 11:32AM
It doesn't matter whether he starts his now or later, whatever the sentenced that handed down to him, should leave a lasting impression on his life. When we break the law, there are consequences that need to be paid. I commend him for choosing to go in early, because in early could really mean an early release. I really hope that he learns something from this life experience, because when this scene plays out, he need to be the one who got something out of all of this, and when he have kids, he can teach to them what he learned from this life experience.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: Brittany Butts on 11/20/2007 12:00PM
PEOPLE TIS THE SEASON OF HAPPINESS,BUT AMERICA STILL JUDGING A MAN THAT HAS ADMITTED,SHOWN REMORSE AND IS READY TI LIVE UP TO HIS MISTAKE.HOW WOULD YOU FEEL IF YOU HAD AMERICA JUDGING YOU FOR EVERY MISTAKE THAT YOU MADE LAW.SOME OF YOU WOULDNT BE ABLE TO COPE WITH HALF OF THE BACKLASH MIKE VICK HAS HAD THROWN TO HIM.THE JOKE MAKING ABOUT HIS HOLIDAY THANKS WAS VERY TACKY OF YOU.HE HAS SOMETHING TO BE THANKFUL FOR THAT HE HIS FAMILY AND HIS REAL FRIENDS SEPARATE FROM THOSE WHO CANT STAND A LIL PRESSURE.WHEN HE WAS WINNING GAMES AND SHOWING AMERICA HIS TALENT ARTHUR BLANK STOOD BEHIND HIM MORE THEN HIS OWN BACKBONE,NOW HE WANTS TO TAKE BACK WHAT MIKE HAS ALREADY MADE AND MORE.PLEASE PEOPLE LISTEN BEFORE YOU JUDGE.MIKE YOU WAS AND STILL IS A HERO IN MY BOOK.TO THE AUTHOR OF THIS ARTICLE GO RIDICULE PETE ROSE BECAUSE I DONT SEE HIM LIVING TO HIS GAMBLING "MISTAKE".
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: Rebecca Alexander on 11/20/2007 12:14PM
when it says he working with the authorities,I hope that means he is turning in all his "friends"that fight dogs. Those "friends"whether family or whatever don't care about him or the dogs. As with the PETA empathy course, I would like to think it's sincere. I am worried this is all for the NFL. I want a FIRM message sent to our youth. Thug life is death,jail,and hardship. If it were my son I would take him to jail myself!
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: Tee Knox on 11/20/2007 1:16PM
Wake up people, this is play from the lawyers playbook.
How many time have you heard of a person being sentence to time served and given probation for the reminder.
M O N E Y. Maybe.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: Tee Knox on 11/20/2007 1:09PM
Wake up people, this is play from the lawyers playbook.
How many time have you heard of a person being sentence to time served and given probation for the reminder.
M O N E Y. Maybe.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: Mike on 11/20/2007 1:45PM
Don't feel bad for him, he admitted his guilt like a MAN and instead of being a thug punk, he is going to take it on the chin.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: CHRISSY on 11/20/2007 2:01PM
And what's wrong with him turning himself in? Yes money talks.... you know the rest. The thing that gets me the most about this "Get Mike Vick Quest", is that he didn't just start these dog fighting events, they have been going on for years. I have learned that until you have walked a mile in a persons shoes, you don't know how their feet feel!! So unless all of the righteous out there, judging, have been sentence to jail, or had some kind of run in with the law.... which seems to happen to most blacks more often once they get PAID!! (They'll learn.....they'll never let us forget where we come from and we will never be above the law, no matter how minor or major the crime). Please let's focus on something more cruel and inhuman RACISM!!! Yeah that's still going too!! let's not get distracted from the real injustice.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: Jacky on 11/20/2007 2:09PM
this is why!
http://www.spymac.com/details/?2295305
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: BRIAN MOOREHEAD on 11/20/2007 2:55PM
i don't even understand how YT was able to lench this brotha and not face retribution from BLACK aMERICA ???
oh wait a minute we ain't did nothing since the RODNEY KING case.
NEW ORLEANS CATASTROPHE,JENA 6,CRACK SENTENCING,LIBERTY CITY SO-CALLED TERRORIST, and POLICE BRUTALITY
NATIONWIDE. YT don't take the BLACK DIASPORA OF THE U.S SERIOUS ANYMORE RED BLACK GREEN
{original man }
COMMUNICATION IS P O W E R !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: Racism Alive and Well on 11/20/2007 2:40PM
Just goes to show you blacks are treated very harshly when it comes to the law then whites. I think “the powers that be” are obsessed with making black people look back and brining them down. If Vick was a white pro player he'd get a slap on the wrist. Same thing goes for Simpson, Tyson, and Bonds (regardless of white you think of them). White folks are evil, America is evil and the judgment of God is going to be the demise of this country because of its biased, racist, evil ways.
White celebrities get in the same trouble and they go to rehabilitation centers, retreat for a while, issue apologies and white society and mass media excuses their B.S.
God Bless Vick, pray his enemies become his foot stool!!!
Reply to this Comment | Report This