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Police are refusing to discuss the specifics of the case, but Vick's attorney, Larry Woodward, is saying that the victim of the shooting was Quanis Phillips, a co-defendant in the dog fighting case that sent Michael Vick to prison. Vick is going to be interviewed by police on Monday.
Here's the deal with Michael Vick and what I fail to understand:
Dude, can you stay out of trouble? This is not to say that I don't understand how things happen. Vick's attendance at the event where the shooting took place hardly implies that he was doing anything wrong. But the truth is that Michael Vick's life is on a short leash, and the smartest thing for him to do is stay away from this kind of drama on any level.
Every time I see an NFL player being arrested for a drunken brawl, being shot or getting involved in BS, I shake my head. One of the most critical lessons for young black men to understand is that doing the right thing yourself is not enough: you must also make sure that you are not deeply associated with those who are doing things that might jeopardize your future. It's not just a matter of what you do yourself, it's also a matter of what the people around you are doing too.
My goal is not to be self-righteous as I evaluate Michael Vick. In fact, I defended him vehemently on CNN, when I felt that PETA was attempting to use Vick to promote their own agenda at the expense of Vick's civil rights. At the same time, there's something to be said about good old fashioned common sense, and I sometimes wonder if Michael Vick has any of it.
If I were Michael Vick, I would focus on family and football. Free time after practice is not the time for another party, it's the time to go home and do something productive. Unfortunately, I don't think Vick is going to get that lesson until he's much older and has paid a life debt for his mistakes. That's what makes me sad.
Dr. Boyce Watkins is the founder of the Your Black World Coalition and a Scholarship in Action Resident of the Institute for Black Public Policy. To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered to your email, please click here. 
Comments: (10)
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By: BG on 7/01/2010 5:05PM
He is a moron and somebody without sense.
You lost millions in endorsements, a beautiful wife and kids in distress, family in pain, coaches, fellow players and supporters disappointed.
Now came a second chance and all you want to do is party with thugs.
Why is it that we are self destructive as a human being? Why is it that we always choose a life in prison rather than life of comfort and luxury?
Note: To those who don't have common sense like him, do not reply.
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By: ARNEADER on 7/01/2010 5:14PM
If this is true Michael Vick like Lawrence Taylor is destined for FAILURE! Some people can't seem to shake the monkey that rides their backs. This stuff is deeply embedded in their psyche. These guys need DELIVERANCE! Or better yet PRAYER just in case they have a generational curse on their lives. There may even be something with the way they were RAISED! Were they taught any morals, values or standards during their up bringing?
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By: Paul Revere on 7/01/2010 6:04PM
Dam Michael can you not help yourself. It does begin to look as though what the status qvo states. The environment from whense you come is in you and becons the company of your inescapable legacy. Are you Michael still under the impression that your life is your own. Evidently you do and that is unfortunate. For if this is the case you where released from prison to early. Your guilt is twofold, of the two one would be the stigma you instill and the istiutionalized perception of black atheletes
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By: Rachel on 7/01/2010 6:13PM
Look, Dude, they haven't proven that he has done anything. Yes, he may have been in the vicinity beforehand, but he left the area before the shooting. Just because this man committed & paid for one crime in his past, people continue to point fingers. Talk about kicking a man while he's struggling to get back up. Everyone deserves a second chance.
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By: billw on 7/01/2010 11:23PM
another negro denfending a useless negro.
its always the negroes and their violence.segregate negroes now!!
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By: JJohns on 7/02/2010 4:08PM
Michael Vick continues to do want he wants, rather than staying away from trouble he finds it. Whether or not he has anything to do with the shooting why is he around the loser crowd. He has lost some prime years as a football player and lost important things in his life hanging around the clowns and doing dirty. He needs to make a life change like many of us had to do, grow up, use your brain to think and be a man. Just because you play football doesn't mean you can act like a fool, break the law and continue to be a boy-man, all secrets come to light for everybody at some point sooner or later, M.Vick's are just sooner.
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By: PACHONETTE on 7/02/2010 3:35AM
THAT LAST OPINION HAD TO HAVE COME FROM AN OTHA, SOMEONE OTHA THAN A BLK.. GET BACK TO WHENCE YOU'VE COME, YOU MATTER NONE!!!
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By: JJohns on 7/02/2010 3:36PM
You don't know the full story do you "girlfriend?" They already lied in regard to the time he left the area in relation to the time of the shooting. You should also try reading my letter in full, I am not pointing a finger at M.Vick. Sounds like you and Pac should take some of my advice, sounds like a hit a nerve with Pac, by the way Pac...there is a caps button on your PC, press it and the caps go away otherwise you sound very angry, I don't think what M. Vick does really affects us grown-ups just the kids watching his every move. Good day.
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By: mike on 7/05/2010 7:33AM
Can somebody with a brain please exaplain to me how PETA violated Vicks civil rights. Boyce makes no sense. At least now Boyce is like maybe I was wrong he is and always will be troubled person.
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By: Choice on 7/12/2010 5:23PM
What happened you didn't like the negative comments posted about you, so you decided to delete them LOL
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