Michael Vick Will Turn Lincoln Financial Field into Moral Hell
Friday, August 14th, 2009
Unless you have been living in the seclusion of your parents’ basement with basic cable and no internet connection, you have heard about the scandalous dogfighting ring financed — and participated in — by former Atlanta Falcons’ star QB Michael Vick. So I will spare the disgusting details. After serving 18 months in prison, Vick was recently cleared to resume his career in the NFL.
About a week ago, my wife and I were just happening to have a casual conversation about our stances on Michael Vick being allowed to return to the NFL. Her stance was clear — that scumbag should not ever be allowed to play again! (with that stern look on her face that so many women have mastered). My viewpoint was a bit different — hey, he did something horrifically wrong, spent time in prison and essentially will be a prisoner of his own idiotic mistake for the rest of his life…I don’t have a problem with him receiving a second chance. But then yesterday, the unthinkable happened. The team that I have rooted for over 30 years of my life — a team which has cut ties with walking distraction, Terrell Owens and have passed on many talented players because of character issues — had decided to do exactly what I thought should be done with Vick. They gave him a second chance.
My reaction to the signing was not exactly in tune with my argument weeks prior when Vick was still unsigned, and certainly was never thinking he’d ever be a Philadelphia Eagle. Our organization is too prestigious to take on such a public relations disaster, right?. But there I was, hearing the news about one Michael Vick being given a contract to play for my team…in my city…at my stadium. Ironically I had just returned from taking my greyhound — who is named after a certain all-star Phillies 2nd baseman who happens to be heavily involved with his wife in combating animal cruelty — to the local dog park.
So herein lies my absolute moral brain-f**k. I am a passionate pet lover, specifically dogs, and I am just as passionate about the Philadelphia Eagles. So even though I feel Vick deserves to earn his living and clear his damaged image, do I really want him to have the opportunity for redemption with my team? I still don’t know how to answer that. And this is the same dilemma facing many other fans after this unexpected chapter in our beloved franchise unfolds.
But for some it will be completely cut and dry. My wife — not a die-hard, just a passive rooter — stated without blinking “I will never watch them again!” So will other fans do the same? Fans both new and tenured…will they completely jump ship and start rooting for other teams based solely on their feelings about the senseless mistreatment of dogs?
Without question.
I am positive that the Eagles have turned off quite a few backers to the point of total detachment. Then again, the curious dynamic of this whole story is that there will also be fans who are 100 percent behind Vick in his plight to reform his tattered existence. And still, there will be a majority of fans such as myself who don’t know how the hell to feel.
So imagine the atmosphere at Lincoln Financial Field this season. Remember the unrelenting circus atmosphere for the brief period of time our house was burned down by Terrell Owens? Of course you do. But the “Michael Vick Experience” will make the T.O. saga seem like Saturday morning cartoons (whatever happened to them anyway, they used to be kick-ass…so weak nowadays).
So “The Linc” will no doubt be the center of the NFL universe for the media, protesters, animal rights activists…you name it. The Eagles — for better or worse — will get more attention this season than any other, and will also be the main attraction when visiting other venues. But, a word of caution for all protesters. Philadelphia fans are a rare breed indeed.
I don’t think it’s beyond the realm of possibility that, if Vick is performing on the field and making an impact on the scoreboard as well as in the community, some fans may turn their hatred toward the many protesters invading their home. These fans may take the demonstrations as a personal attack on the entire franchise and lash out in defense of Vick.
It’s a possibility, not a probability.
The more likely scenario is Vick being chastised by the Philly faithful. It seems like poetic justice that Vick would land a gig to play in front of one of the most infamously rabid fanbases in the history of sports. Almost like Vick’s purgatory.
So no matter how all of this plays out, one thing is for certain, the fan-friendly; corporately-enhanced Lincoln Financial Field will be more emotionally charged than any given day at old Veterans Stadium (that’s saying something). And I’m still not sure how I feel about all this.
