Disgraced NFL star Michael Vick spoke to 60 Minutes last night in his first interview since he admitted to participating in and bankrolling an illegal dogfighting ring, resulting in a just-completed prison term and a suspension from pro football.
Vick, who was recently reinstated by the NFL and signed a two-year deal with the Philadelphia Eagles, said his piece under tough questioning on 60 Minutes.
While some of his answers definitely sounded rehearsed, and his level of sincerity can never be fully known, the football star seemed at least semi-honest.
Few animal lovers are likely to suddenly forgive Michael Vick based solely on this interview, but at the very least, the athlete was never in explanation mode.
He claimed responsibility, proclaimed his "disgust" and never tried to distance himself from the violence and cruelty by claiming he was just the financier. “I could have put a stop to it,” he said. “I could have shut the whole operation down.”
Are you sold? Check out Vick's 60 Minutes interview below and see ...
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14 Comments
August 17th, 2009 10:17 AM
I have to say this -- no matter what you think of Michael Vick, you have to admit he's not backing away from taking responsibility. Not many of his peers are doing that. There's no doubt he's totally responsible for the crime and cruelty - "just a financier" is a fancy way of saying "I tried to keep my hands clean but still get stinking rich off the dirty deeds". I think all dogfighters are scum but at least Vick knows and admits he's scum.
August 17th, 2009 10:22 AM
Guess we all do crazy things we later regret, and I am willing to forgive him. But the thought of him allowing or participating in the torture and murder of those dogs still lingers painfully in my brain. The court sentence should not have been "jail time" He should have done community service at a homeless dog shelter to care for similar abused dogs, for at least six months. Then and only then could I have found some "heart" to forgive him.
August 17th, 2009 11:04 AM
He had hurt and guilt and cried???? If thats true why so many smiles and half laughs while talking about that? In 6 years of running these so called kennels he felt he couldnt stop it all? A man who TRULY feels disgust does not laugh or smile about what he did. 15 people trying to resesitate(sp?) is not going to help him enough. Well a lot of people may forgive and forget but I will not!!!! Those dead and tortured dogs did not have a voice but I do so Michael Vick and the Philadelphia Eagles can bite me! And thats the nicest way I could have said that
August 17th, 2009 11:08 AM
NOT an EAGLES fan now-with that DISGRACED MURDERER playing on that team!! What are you thinking Eagles? STUPID Eagles!
August 17th, 2009 11:13 AM
Michael V. is a DISGRACE DISGUSTING PATHETIC MURDERER TORTURER DOUCHEBAG! STILL SHOULD BE IN JAIL and GET MUCH MORE PUNISHMENT!! MICHAEL IS A MURDERER!!!!!
August 17th, 2009 11:41 AM
He is still a piece of crap. Of course he will seem sincere. He has to make money and football is what he knows. A person will do an say anyhing to get what they want.
August 17th, 2009 12:11 PM
Is this english or American site?
August 17th, 2009 4:28 PM
James Brown was so professional and extremely impressive in the interview with Michael Vick last night on 60 minutes. He asked tough questions. He pressed on to bring out the truth, not hide the truth. It was the polar opposite of the interview with Soladad O'Brien and Harvard Professor Gates. "Moment of Truth" CNN, where she knowingly allowed him to cover up the truth. It's happened many times before with her, it matters if you're black or white.
I've got to give Michael Vick credit for answering his tough (even embarrassing for him) questions with the sincerity that he did. I think Michael Vick did his time and deserves a second chance in life.
August 17th, 2009 7:38 PM
Vick interview provokes howls of protest.
See:
http://notionscapital.wordpress.com/2009/08/17/michael-vick-signed-to-nfl-amid-howling-controversy/
August 17th, 2009 11:29 PM
I believe there is the dirtiest double standard when it come to situations like this. People are quick to jump up and get their jabs in while they can at the star, for his participation in dog fighting. There are millions of dogs across the states that are killed everyday because their owners dont want them any more, or their not doing great jobs. People can go hunting for fun not even to feed starving children all over the states, but to say "hey i've got a deadly shot". Horse racing, horses were not put on this earth to race, just like the africans that were brought over to our country were not supposed to be slaves, but it seems to me that when ever these rich aristocrats benefit from any of these items, its deemed socially acceptable in societies eyes. You say cock fighting is illegal, and all that happens is they eventually will end up dead, so how does that differ from McDonalds raising millions of their own chickens, just too kill them, im not trying to justify the dog fighting im just saying we should treat every topic with the same standards