I wouldn't so much as buy a shoe lace from Nike for my three children if Nike sponsors this dog killer or supplies Vick with their products.

Why would the Eagles want him??? They must be desperate.

Sam Gustin must have an elastic band measure for morality if he believes Vick should be free to earn a living in pro football after what Vick did.

Reply

Elizabeth Poe... Do your 3 children eat meat? That's animal cruelty then too because someone killed that animal. People hunt deer for sport to kill them. Should you be punished then? He did a crime. Did 20 months in prison for it. Lost all his money. He's now done his time. Let the man do what he does best, football. Best of luck mike!!

Reply

I understand that Mr. Vick "paid his debt to society." However, the message that we are sending to children is not only inappropriate, but inaccurate. When you commit a crime like Michael Vick did, and you're convicted of a felony, you don't get out of prison and make millions of dollars. For our country to allow one man to do this and ignore the real-life stories of other felons who also "paid their debt to society," is ridiculous.

We shouldn't let society and the media tell out kids it's okay to commit felonies. We should tell our children the truth. If you're not Michael Vick, it will haunt you for the rest of your life.

Reply

"Why not?" I hope people boycott John Barker too!
I will not buy ONE ITEM from any company that endorses Vick! This madness has to stop somewhere! It's bad enough that the NFL has allowed him back. When we look the other way and let athletes and celebs get away with this, it only sends the message that such behavior is acceptable. When you, yes YOU, buy products supported by such individuals YOU TOO are saying it's okay to do bad things as well.
Not me! Sorry John!

Reply

Michael Vick is a low-life piece of crap and a despicable human being. At least Nike made the right choice (from a PR standpoint), not to be associated with that fool.

Now Michaeal PHELPS, yeah, he might deserve a second chance for his stupid screw-up (I'm not advocating drug use), but Michael Vick - to hell with him! I bet he beats on women too.

Reply

We live in the United States where anything is possible. I agree that what Vick did was both horrible and cruel. And people break the law, for which they often pay a very high price. Vick did his 20 months in prison, lost millions upon millions, lost endorsements, and suffered a huge career setback. What more do you people want? Let the guy pursue the American Dream. If he fails, he has no one to blame but himself. If he suceeds, then so be it. He will have an uphill battle. But get off your ivory tower, quit judging folks, and let's get on with it...

Reply

vick made a mistake. he got his job back.
i would love a nike contract
however all money gets sent directly to every agency that helps stray dogs and cats !!!!!!!!!!1
michael vick should not see a penny
he also should get onl;yn enough money to live in a rats nest

Reply

Sam Gustin wrote that "Vick, having paid his debt to society, should be free to make a living. "

There seems to be a belief that if someone serves a jail sentence, that all is forgiven. Anyone who believes that, including Gustin, is a fool. If a guy raped a child and serves, say, a 15 year sentence, is he "free" to be a pal to your kids? If a neighbor sneaks into your house and steals your TV or computer and serves a 6 month sentence, is he then "free" to attend picnics in your backyard?

Come on and think a little! A released convict has set things straight ONLY with the government whose laws he broke. Ordinary people and businesses, on the other hand, can embrace or snub any felon as they please.

As for me, Vick is about as low as they come, whether or not he has completed a jail term.

Reply

Regarding this: John Barker, president of BarkerDZP. "Vick is one of the most exciting athletes in all of sports, and America has a short memory. Snoop Dogg is America's endorsement darling, and the list of similar stories is long," says Barker. "Unless they come out with dog-leather shoes, they'll be fine." What an insensitive jerk and overall dumb thing to say.

And regarding this "Vick, having paid his debt to society, should be free to make a living" He may have served the sorry amount of time the law gave him, but he has NOT paid his debt to society or to the animals he tortured and killed. Having said that, I have no problem with him making a living, but I do not want to see any company promoting his name. What he did was not a "mistake", it was totally intentional and horrifying.

Reply

From John Barker: To clarify my point, which a few have understandably found objectionable: I am neither endorsing Michael Vick, nor condoning his treatment of animals. Nor am I defending Nike. And yes, I own a dog and love dogs too. What I am saying, somewhat cynically, is that America--from a marketing point of view--has a short and "convenient" memory. Ice T, who endorsed the murder of police officers in his song "Cop Killer," [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cop_Killer_(song)] has for years now starred as a cop on Law & Order/SVU, one of the most popular dramas on television. Snoop Dog, a former CRIPs gang member who spent 3 years in prison on drug charges and was also tried (unsuccessfully) for murder, and who has been arrested no fewer than 5 times on weapons, drugs, and assault charges, is so popular that he has his own reality show on E! and enjoys endorsement and licensing deals from Chrysler, Wrigleys, and Macy's among dozens more. Michael Jackson, who was twice accused of child molestation and who paid $22 million dollars to quiet his first accuser, recently appeared on the cover of virtually every publication in America in a loving tribute following his death—from drug addition. People speculated that Kate Moss's career was over after cocaine allegations cost her contracts with H&M, Chanel and others. Her "demise" lasted all of 6 or 7 months, which I had predicted in the press at the time. Really, the list could go on ad infinitum. Yes, there are those who will never forgive Michael Vick, and that is unquestionably their right. But when a few months have gone by, and America has once again seen the athleticism for which he is known, and has heard his repentance and contrition, many will indeed come to celebrate him again--at least, that is my prediction. Even Wayne Pacelle, the president and CEO of the Humane Society of the US--who also happens to be a friend of mine--is willing to give Vick a second chance, releasing the following statement: "Michael Vick admits that what he did to dogs was cruel and barbaric, but now that he has served his time, he wants to be part of the solution rather than part of the problem. He has pledged to make a long-term commitment to participate in our community-based outreach programs to steer inner-city youth away from dogfighting. At events with Michael in Atlanta and Chicago, we've seen him deliver a powerful message against animal cruelty." Lastly, it's worthwhile to note that my comment was made after the report came through that Nike did indeed sign Vick, and was in response to that news, which they have since denied. I was not advising Nike to sign him, but was merely offering my view on why they had done so. I hope this clarification makes my comments less objectionable to those who were offended, or who did not pick up on the wryness intended; that said, I believe the point about Vick's marketability to be accurate.

Reply

Michael Vick committed evil acts which he subsequently defended. As a country we cannot endorse those actions by accepting the unrepentant perpetrator back as we have. What he did was evil. He drowned dogs with his own hands for amusement. If you endorse that you can and should go to hell.

Reply