Infinite MonkeysIt's worth doing a bit of parsing of Vick's apology -- undoubtedly undertaken after vigorous coaching by his lawyers and handlers (yet he still couldn't get it right).
First, I want to apologize, you know, for all the things that -- that I've done and that I have allowed to happen.
Well. That's nice. Love the vagueness of the "things" that he "allowed to happen." The passive voice is so tempting in these situations, but is not really up to the task.
... I was not honest and forthright in our discussions, and, you know, I was ashamed and totally disappointed in myself to say the least.
Yeah. Totally. You know. Maybe it's just me, but "disappointment" and even "shame" doesn't seem strong enough. I'm disappointed that instead of organizing the garage on Saturday, I sat on the couch watching movies. Doesn't quite match. Totally. You know?
I want to apologize to all the young kids out there for my immature acts and, you know, what I did was, what I did was very immature so that means I need to grow up.
Immature? Immature?!
Immature is throwing a hissy fit in the grocery store. Immature is wearing sports jerseys in public when you are neither a professional athlete nor under the age of 16. Immature is using a magnifying glass to burn ants in the driveway.
The definition of immature does not include organizing, funding and directing a dogfighting operation. A stronger, more accurate word is needed to describe the kind of moral depravity that leads to electrocuting dogs that don't perform well enough in your unimaginably cruel blood sport.
I totally ask for forgiveness and understanding as I move forward to bettering Michael Vick the person, not the football player.
Totally. Good luck with that. Won't be getting it from me and millions of others.
I take full responsibility for my actions.
Seriously? Full responsibility? Your lawyers and handlers may think that going to jail means taking full responsibility -- and in the physical sense, that is true. You're freedom will be taken away as punishment for what you were responsible for. But taking full responsibility means directing, head on, what you've done -- with no passive voice and vague language.
I'm totally responsible, and those things just didn't have to happen. I feel like we all make mistakes. It's just I made a mistake in using bad judgment and making bad decisions. And you know, those things, you know, just can't happen.
Again. "Those things." "Mistakes." Yeah, Mike. We all make mistakes. I forgot to bring my lunch to work the other day. That was a mistake that cost me $6 for lunch. I used bad judgment when I decided to go to Sizzler and have the all-you-can-eat lunch buffet. That lump of fried chicken wings didn't sit well with me the rest of the day.
Mike is confusing mistakes and bad judgment with a lack of basic morals. These were choices Mike made -- for years and years on end. For how long is one supposed to go on until they realize they are making "mistakes" and exercising "bad judgment"? In Mike's case: Until the feds uncover your sick and illegal hobby and put a stop to it. Sorry, jerk. No credit for copping to your mistakes when your only real regret is getting caught.
"Dog fighting is a terrible thing, and I did reject it.
Yeah after you got caught you "did reject it." If not for the bust, you'd still be doing it, and hardly thinking it is a "terrible thing." No sale, asshole.
I'm upset with myself, and, you know, through this situation I found Jesus and asked him for forgiveness and turned my life over to God. And I think that's the right thing to do as of right now.
Of course you found God. So many of us do at time of peril. But save it, please. It's really just too much for me to take -- you making it public and all.
Like I said, for this -- for this entire situation I never pointed the finger at anybody else, I accepted responsibility for my actions of what I did ...
Actually, Mike. You did point the finger and you did not accept responsibility for "this entire situation." You tried to pass the buck for as long as you could. We're supposed to just forget the finger pointing you did against your co-conspirators -- claiming that you "never" visited the property, that you didn't know what they were up to -- for WEEKS ... pretty much until the day you copped the plea. Nope. I have a hard time forgetting your early hubris, lies and blame-shifting.
I hope that every young kid out there in the world watching this interview right now who's been following the case will use me as an example to using better judgment and making better decisions.
So nice of you to FINALLY be an example for the kids. Because it's always about the kids. Did you worry about being a poor role model when you were getting busted for pot? Did you worry about being a poor role model when you kept up an entourage of thugs? Tell that sob story to your new boyfriend in the pokey.
Forget the rest of Vick's speech, except to note that he didn't once specifically apologize for what he did to those dogs. He didn't refer to those who suffered the most: The animals he killed. To him, apparently, they're still just dogs. No big deal.
What's the big deal is that he got caught. And he has cost himself at least $100 million in future earnings and will likely never play football in the NFL again.
As it should be.
Posted by Dr. Zaius at August 27, 2007 10:47 PM