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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)
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By: Mariah on 11/21/2007 11:14AM
It's a shame how people value the animal race than they do the human race. Don't get me wrong I don't believe in animal cruelty but a man can get more time in prison for dog fighting over him going and murdering someone is beyond me. Our society has their priorities backwards. We have people that are molesting and abusing young children, murdering people, robbing people, hate crimes, spousal abuse, and the list goes on and they can run for years have high positions in society or living right next door to you freely and its ok. It seems that sometimes race and financial status has a lot to do with the outcome of these cases. But doesn't seem that when a black man/woman or a lower class white man/woman always seems to get the raw deal or gets stiffer sentences whereas someone with money or a higher class rating gets a slap on the wrist or a walk free card. Look at Paris Hilton, Lindsey Lohan, Rob Lowe, Martha Stewart and countless of other stars and all they've gotten were sympathy, support, and understanding form faithful fans and supporters. Now why can't Michael Vick go to a male version of the prison like Martha Stewart spent her time in. And you'd think they'd help Michael more, he's made so much money for so many people that it's ridiculous. I don't agree with what he's done. He's wrong for the animal cruelty and he should be punished but don't exile the man some people are ready to do because of his mistakes. People have to realize that all these celebrities are human beings too and they are going to do things like normal people do. IF America stops putting them on this higher bracket of life to make them feel that they are superior to the ordinary public and whenm they do wrong punish them accordingly society would be better off. Or better yet stop putting them on this high pedestal so it won't be so shocking when they do do wrong.
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By: kim on 11/21/2007 11:12AM
You know, it's easy to sit back and point the finger at people and say they did this and that, good for them because they got in trouble and all that. All I have to say is, make sure there are no skeletons in your closet before you open your mouth. Because one day your's may come out dancing.
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By: Darcell Hooper on 11/21/2007 11:59AM
I pray that Mike learns from this and continues to move on; I don't believe that Mike got the "memo" that we have to be three times as better as well as careful. Also the old adage "show me your friends and I will show you your future", comes to mind. Keep your head-up.
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By: Gee on 11/21/2007 11:43AM
Why is this even a punishable offense! This is a slap your wrist at best.
I mean really famous people are driving with suspended licenses and under the influence of heaven knows how many substances yet that get probation.
Michael Vick fights dogs on his property and he may get 10 months in jail? What is equitable in that?
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By: JOHN M SMITH on 11/22/2007 1:40PM
MICHALE VICK,IAM SURE HE HAS LEARN HIS LESSON IN SELECTING HIS FRIENDS AND SO-CALLED HOME BOYS,THESE ARE NIGGERS THAT WILL SOAK APERSON FOR EVERY THING THAT THEY CAN GET FROM HIM,INCLUDING TO TELL THE WHITE AUTHORITIES EVERYTHIG THAT M VICK DI OR WAS PURPOSING TO DO. MICHALE VICK HAS LEARN ONE THING ABOUT HIS BLACK FRIENDS,AND THIS IS THEY ARE NOT WORTH THE SPIT THAT HITS THE GROUND,NOT A SINGLE ONE COULD TAKE THE HEAT AND SERVE THAT TIME FOR HIM,THESE ARE JUST NIGGERS,THAT LOOK FOR THEIR OWN PLEASURES,TO HELL WITH THEM. M VICK HAS TO BE ABLE TO JUDGE PEOPLE AND TO ASSOCIOATE WITH QUALITY PEOPLE WHO CAN BE BLACK,WHITE,MEXICAN,BUT WILL BE TRUE FRIENDS FOR HIM,HE HAS TO LEARN THIS QUICKLY IF HE IS GOING TO MAKE A COMEBACK IN THE NFL,AND HE MUST REMBER THAT SATAN COMES AT YOU IN MANY DIFFERENT FORMS,HE HAS TO HAVE THE ARMOUR OF THE LORD TO REPEL THESE TEMTEMPTATIONS.
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By: tyrone on 11/21/2007 12:17PM
lets not forget that vick isn't the only one that the nfl had problems with. Ray lewis was faced with murder charges and everyone said the nfl won't have him back,and ricky walters is the leading drug user in the nfl and now he is comming back, so the facts seem to show that no matter what you do in the nfl you can come back as long as you pay some type of debt that the nfl agrees with.
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By: Darcell Hooper on 11/21/2007 12:22PM
I would like to comment on your poll question and the coices that you gave; why did't you just say yes, instead of the choice "yes, they will take anyone back"? This is a disgrace and I do not believe that the punishment fits the crime. Let him make restitution and move on (he has already apologized).
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By: Nabil on 11/21/2007 12:43PM
Anybody ever thought that maybe Michel Vick, doesn't celebrate thanksgiving? Maybe he's concious enough to recognize the hypocracy in it. Maybe he's thinking, when the Native Americans start celebrating it, so will he.As far as jail is concerned, some of us are mentally imprisoned without the walls. Think about it!
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By: Anthony on 11/21/2007 1:26PM
Vick is more stupid than I thought. It don't matter what hle's accused of. He should never have pled guilty to shit. Make them prove it, even if others are testifying against him. He should have allowed a jury decide his fate. There was a better chance that he would have gotten only probation with a jury compared to a judge deciding and trying to appease the media and the peta.
He's studpid for putting his trust in a system that consistently incarcerated black men regardless of his guilt or innocence.
He should go back and make them prove he did it. And why start a prison sentence when he isn't even certain that he will get a prison sentence. He may get a suspended sentence or probation.
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By: Rebecca Alexander on 11/21/2007 12:57PM
I am at the point I don't even care what they do to him as long as those dogs are taken care of. I just hope they do enough that he and others who thought that was cool remember the punishment a looooog time.
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