12/21/24
February 08, 2011
Dallas Gives Michael Vick Key to City: The city of Dallas awarded Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick with a key to the city on Saturday, a decision that prompted Mayor Tom Leppert to announce that Mayor Pro Tem Dwaine Caraway bestowed the honor without his permission or the official sanction of the city. Vick, who admitted brutalizing and killing dogs for entertainment and served 19 months in prison, was given the honor because he's turned his life around and is helping kids avoid his mistakes, Caraway said. "In the eyes of many people, he's a hero," he said.
Rest assured that my dog, as a native Dallasite, is unamused.
mainly because I'm at work and she's home alone and probably bored, but still
posted by Ufez Jones at 01:05 PM on February 08, 2011
I am certainly willing to allow Vick to have an opportunity for redemption.
But this is not an acceptable part of the program.
Plus, you don't give the key to your city to a player from a divisional rival!
Especially in the name of Irvin and all the other Cowboys who got badly injured playing on the rock quarry that they called a field at Veterans' Stadium.
Maybe if Vick sponsored a team of well cared for, highly trained search dogs that found startling new forensic evidence in the parking area adjacent to the grassy knoll at Dealey Plaza, then I'd think about it.
posted by beaverboard at 01:09 PM on February 08, 2011
Absurd!
What did he do? Sure he was a bad guy and went to jail. Sure he was always a fantastic athlete. So he gets out of jail is offered a high paying job in football and plays up to his ability. I can give him props for doing what was required to again become a multi millioniare, and performing well on the field , but he is no hero. He turned his life around? You mean he started to be a law abiding citizen.
posted by Atheist at 01:54 PM on February 08, 2011
my dog farts in his general direction
posted by mayerkyl at 02:16 PM on February 08, 2011
He turned his life around?
That's NFLspeak for "He can help us win games."
And a division rival? WTF? Why not give it to Dan Snyder, at least he's helping the Cowboys win games.
posted by cjets at 03:59 PM on February 08, 2011
Michael Vick is a hero to PETA. I've heard pundits say that Michael Vick is the single greatest thing to ever happen to dog fighting. His conviction and fall from grace put dog fighting on the collective conscious of the country, specifically law enforcement.
posted by geekyguy at 04:05 PM on February 08, 2011
Yet another reason to hate PETA.
That's like saying Ottis Toole is a hero because his murder/decapitation of six year old Adam Walsh inspired the formation of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
Also, don't you think the reverse is probably true as well? Vick put dog fighting on the map for scumbags all over the country who never would have thought of it? Publicity cuts both ways.
posted by cjets at 04:24 PM on February 08, 2011
Odd on many levels. A Mayor Pro Tem just hands the keys out without getting a formal sanction?
The guy has hardly done anything relevant to the city of Dallas to warrant this.
He's still a Philadelphia Eagle, maybe this could wait until he's at least not playing a divisional rival.
posted by dviking at 04:49 PM on February 08, 2011
Hopefully that key doesn't open any Dallas area kennels or pet stores.
posted by dyams at 09:05 PM on February 08, 2011
Hopefully, they have since changed the locks.