Monday, January 09, 2006
Sports Monday-Marcus Vick: The Black Sheep...
**UPDATE** Um...Wow...Apparently, while I was writing the following post, Marcus Vick was busy making the news for yet another legal transgression...Way to go, pal!
Hey, welcome back...Hopefully you all had a good weekend and are rested and refreshed, ready to take on whatever this back-to-work Monday could throw your way...I hope this because, personally, I'm not: I really didn't want to get out of bed this morning...Maybe you could take on my stuff in addition to your own? Perhaps I could exist vicariously through someone else's energy and "vigor." In exchange, I can offer my opinion on the following sports-related crap for your "beginning of the week" amusement...
----
And so, as some analysts had predicted, the lure of the bright(er) lights and big(ger) money was too much for Vince Young, the quarterback who recently led the University of Texas to a BCS national title, defeating the juggernaut that is the USC Trojans in the Rose Bowl on January 4. Yes, while still bathed in the ever-forgiving light of victory, Young has decided to forego his senior season at Texas and enter the NFL draft where, it's said, he could be a very high first-round pick (if not the first pick overall, once again "upstaging" Reggie Bush and Matt Leinart)...While I have my doubts about Young's potential to succeed at the next level, we're not going to have an in depth discussion about that today...No, today we're heading to the flip side (or "seedy underbelly," if you will) if this type of situation. Today we type on the subject of (former) Virginia Tech quarterback Marcus Vick (who is, of course, the brother of Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick) and the fact that he too has stated that he will enter the NFL draft, even though many analysts have said that he shouldn't even expect to be taken on the first DAY, let alone in the first round...The reason that their situations are so different, you see, is that while Vince Young is turning his back on the University of Texas at (potentially) the point in time when his proverbial "stock" is highest to run TOWARD a fat chunk of change, Marcus Vick is showing his bright yellow streak by running AWAY from having to "face the music" for a string of selfish and stupid actions...
While Marcus Vick decided to follow in his brother's footsteps and play his college ball at Virginia Tech, it turns out that his choice of university was to be his only similarity to his famous sibling. The younger Vick missed his entire sophomore season in 2004, having been suspended from school (let alone from the team) due to legal troubles stemming from his being busted for marijuana possession and speeding, an infraction that also led to his driver's license being revoked. Following those off-the-field transgressions, Marcus Vick was instructed by the Hokies to clean up his act in the sense that, if he committed any more transgressions, on-field or off, he would be dismissed permanently...
It turns out that the university's threat of dismissal was as hollow as Marcus Vick's intention to play things straight would have been: he was able to remain with the team despite having "flipped the bird" to opposing fans and even "sideswiping" an opposing assistant coach during a game against West Virginia earlier in the year. Add to that the fact that the younger Vick was stopped for speeding in the latter part of December (an infraction which was compounded by that whole "suspended license" business) and one wonders who actually has less integrity: Marcus Vick or Virginia Tech. Anyhow, despite his continued delinquency, Marcus Vick was allowed to lead the Hokies against the Louisville Cardinals in the Gator Bowl on January 2...I guess it's true what they say: you play with fire long enough, you're gonna get burned and it was at the aforementioned Gator Bowl that Vick's cowardice and overblown sense of entitlement scorched the Hokie football program for the final time: following a play late in the first half where Vick was tackled by Louisville's Elvis dumervil, Vick stomped on dumervil's calf in a blatant attempt to injure him...Certainly, prior to the Gator Bowl, it would have been quite easy to brand Marcus Vick as nothing more than a spoiled kid who let his desires and his brother's fame and money get the best of him. Following the dumervil incident, however, we see Marcus Vick's true colors plain as day: the kid is nothing more than a lousy coward.
Certainly, an honorable person would be the first to admit their wrongdoing if they'd committed a transgression in the course of an athletic contest. Unfortunately, we were all shown that the younger Vick is far from honorable...Following the Gator Bowl, Marcus Vick initially denied "stomping" on dumervil's leg, saying that the contact was "accidental" and that he had apologized to the opposing player. Fool me once, shame on you...Fool me twice, shame on me–Ultimately, we were shown that he was (surprise) lying–video of the incident showed that Vick stomped on dumervil's leg in anger and with the intent to injure. Furthermore, we find through media who checked with Louisville athletic personnel that the "apology" which Vick claimed to have offered to dumervil turned out to be nothing more than another desperate piece of fiction...Ultimately, the giant pile of bullshit which the younger Vick had been heaping upon Virginia Tech from the time he arrived until the previous week turned out to be too much even for the University to swallow and, last week, he was dismissed from the team for "an indefinite period of time." No matter though...His brother has money, lawyers and connections. Effectively, Marcus Vick has shown us that one doesn't need "integrity," when one has connections and a "name"...As such, and as I outlined earlier, instead of serving his punishment and making things right and finishing out his time at Virginia Tech, over the weekend the younger Vick announced his intentions to enter the upcoming NFL draft...
Must be nice to have options like that when you're seemingly too stupid and/or selfish to cut it in College...
(Hypothetically speaking directly to Marcus Vick) So let me get this straight: Your brother, regardless of how ineffective he's been over the course of the past two seasons, was a pure phenomenon at Virginia Tech, effectively putting the Hokies back on the map by leading them to the national title game in 2000. Big brother then goes on to the NFL where, in his first few seasons, he dramatically changes the game with his speed and elusiveness, making tons of money and gaining immeasurable fame and notoriety in the process...You then come along, riding the coattails of the family name to get in the door at VA Tech...You're not quite as talented as your brother and you certainly don't have even half of his work ethic, but it's ok because HE'S got the millions and HE'S got the mansion and HE'S got the endorsements and you share his blood so schools are clamoring to hand you a scholarship...Of course, none of this matters to you, you don't want to have to actually work for anything, you just want to party and, eventually, make it to the NFL. So what if you get in trouble here and there: big brother's got your back...He'll get you to the NFL and to your own millions and to your own mansion and, best of all, to your own team of lawyers who will come in and clean up after you every time you do something abjectly selfish and stupid...Newsflash, kid: it ain't that easy...the NFL is going to eat you alive...
Can you say "Maurice Clarett all over again?" I knew you could...I just hope that it isn't the Broncos takin' a chance on this jackass come draft time...
Hey, welcome back...Hopefully you all had a good weekend and are rested and refreshed, ready to take on whatever this back-to-work Monday could throw your way...I hope this because, personally, I'm not: I really didn't want to get out of bed this morning...Maybe you could take on my stuff in addition to your own? Perhaps I could exist vicariously through someone else's energy and "vigor." In exchange, I can offer my opinion on the following sports-related crap for your "beginning of the week" amusement...
----
And so, as some analysts had predicted, the lure of the bright(er) lights and big(ger) money was too much for Vince Young, the quarterback who recently led the University of Texas to a BCS national title, defeating the juggernaut that is the USC Trojans in the Rose Bowl on January 4. Yes, while still bathed in the ever-forgiving light of victory, Young has decided to forego his senior season at Texas and enter the NFL draft where, it's said, he could be a very high first-round pick (if not the first pick overall, once again "upstaging" Reggie Bush and Matt Leinart)...While I have my doubts about Young's potential to succeed at the next level, we're not going to have an in depth discussion about that today...No, today we're heading to the flip side (or "seedy underbelly," if you will) if this type of situation. Today we type on the subject of (former) Virginia Tech quarterback Marcus Vick (who is, of course, the brother of Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick) and the fact that he too has stated that he will enter the NFL draft, even though many analysts have said that he shouldn't even expect to be taken on the first DAY, let alone in the first round...The reason that their situations are so different, you see, is that while Vince Young is turning his back on the University of Texas at (potentially) the point in time when his proverbial "stock" is highest to run TOWARD a fat chunk of change, Marcus Vick is showing his bright yellow streak by running AWAY from having to "face the music" for a string of selfish and stupid actions...
While Marcus Vick decided to follow in his brother's footsteps and play his college ball at Virginia Tech, it turns out that his choice of university was to be his only similarity to his famous sibling. The younger Vick missed his entire sophomore season in 2004, having been suspended from school (let alone from the team) due to legal troubles stemming from his being busted for marijuana possession and speeding, an infraction that also led to his driver's license being revoked. Following those off-the-field transgressions, Marcus Vick was instructed by the Hokies to clean up his act in the sense that, if he committed any more transgressions, on-field or off, he would be dismissed permanently...
It turns out that the university's threat of dismissal was as hollow as Marcus Vick's intention to play things straight would have been: he was able to remain with the team despite having "flipped the bird" to opposing fans and even "sideswiping" an opposing assistant coach during a game against West Virginia earlier in the year. Add to that the fact that the younger Vick was stopped for speeding in the latter part of December (an infraction which was compounded by that whole "suspended license" business) and one wonders who actually has less integrity: Marcus Vick or Virginia Tech. Anyhow, despite his continued delinquency, Marcus Vick was allowed to lead the Hokies against the Louisville Cardinals in the Gator Bowl on January 2...I guess it's true what they say: you play with fire long enough, you're gonna get burned and it was at the aforementioned Gator Bowl that Vick's cowardice and overblown sense of entitlement scorched the Hokie football program for the final time: following a play late in the first half where Vick was tackled by Louisville's Elvis dumervil, Vick stomped on dumervil's calf in a blatant attempt to injure him...Certainly, prior to the Gator Bowl, it would have been quite easy to brand Marcus Vick as nothing more than a spoiled kid who let his desires and his brother's fame and money get the best of him. Following the dumervil incident, however, we see Marcus Vick's true colors plain as day: the kid is nothing more than a lousy coward.
Certainly, an honorable person would be the first to admit their wrongdoing if they'd committed a transgression in the course of an athletic contest. Unfortunately, we were all shown that the younger Vick is far from honorable...Following the Gator Bowl, Marcus Vick initially denied "stomping" on dumervil's leg, saying that the contact was "accidental" and that he had apologized to the opposing player. Fool me once, shame on you...Fool me twice, shame on me–Ultimately, we were shown that he was (surprise) lying–video of the incident showed that Vick stomped on dumervil's leg in anger and with the intent to injure. Furthermore, we find through media who checked with Louisville athletic personnel that the "apology" which Vick claimed to have offered to dumervil turned out to be nothing more than another desperate piece of fiction...Ultimately, the giant pile of bullshit which the younger Vick had been heaping upon Virginia Tech from the time he arrived until the previous week turned out to be too much even for the University to swallow and, last week, he was dismissed from the team for "an indefinite period of time." No matter though...His brother has money, lawyers and connections. Effectively, Marcus Vick has shown us that one doesn't need "integrity," when one has connections and a "name"...As such, and as I outlined earlier, instead of serving his punishment and making things right and finishing out his time at Virginia Tech, over the weekend the younger Vick announced his intentions to enter the upcoming NFL draft...
Must be nice to have options like that when you're seemingly too stupid and/or selfish to cut it in College...
(Hypothetically speaking directly to Marcus Vick) So let me get this straight: Your brother, regardless of how ineffective he's been over the course of the past two seasons, was a pure phenomenon at Virginia Tech, effectively putting the Hokies back on the map by leading them to the national title game in 2000. Big brother then goes on to the NFL where, in his first few seasons, he dramatically changes the game with his speed and elusiveness, making tons of money and gaining immeasurable fame and notoriety in the process...You then come along, riding the coattails of the family name to get in the door at VA Tech...You're not quite as talented as your brother and you certainly don't have even half of his work ethic, but it's ok because HE'S got the millions and HE'S got the mansion and HE'S got the endorsements and you share his blood so schools are clamoring to hand you a scholarship...Of course, none of this matters to you, you don't want to have to actually work for anything, you just want to party and, eventually, make it to the NFL. So what if you get in trouble here and there: big brother's got your back...He'll get you to the NFL and to your own millions and to your own mansion and, best of all, to your own team of lawyers who will come in and clean up after you every time you do something abjectly selfish and stupid...Newsflash, kid: it ain't that easy...the NFL is going to eat you alive...
Can you say "Maurice Clarett all over again?" I knew you could...I just hope that it isn't the Broncos takin' a chance on this jackass come draft time...
Labels: misguided rantings, sports
