Michael Vick
Vick was born in Newport News, VA, to Brenda Vick and Michael Boddie, then
unmarried teenagers of modest finances. His mother worked two jobs,
obtained some public financial assistance, and had help from her parents,
while his father worked long hours in the shipyards as a sandblaster and
spray-painter. They were married when Michael was about five years old but
the children elected to continue to use their "Vick" surname.
The projects
The family grew up living in the "Ridley Circle Homes", a public housing project
in a financially depressed and crime-ridden neighborhood located in the East
End section of the port city, an area known in hip hop culture by the slang
names "Bad News" or "Bad Newz". To many kids, sports was considered the
only way out.
Fish Torture
When Vick was 10 or 11 "I would go fishing even if the fish weren't biting, just
to get out of there" and away from the violence and stress of daily life in the
projects.
Learning his craft
During the early years of his family, his father’s employment required a lot of
travel, but he taught football skills to his two sons at an early age. Michael
Vick was only three years old when his father, nicknamed "Bullet" for his
blinding speed during his own playing days on the gridiron, began teaching
him the fundamentals. He also taught younger brother Marcus. Vick spent a
lot of time at the local Boys and Girls Club. As a 7-year-old throwing three
touchdown passes in a Boys Club league, his apparent football talents led
coaches and his parents to keep a special watch over Vick.
Vick told Sporting News: "Sports kept me off the streets...It kept me from
getting into what was going on, the bad stuff."
High School Mentor
Vick first came to prominence while at Homer L. Ferguson High School. As a
freshman, he impressed many with his athletic ability, throwing for over 400
yards in a game that year. After the school was closed as part of a school
modernization program, Vick and coach Tommy Reamon both moved to
Warwick High School. Under Coach Reamon's tutelage, Vick passed for
4,846 yards with 43 touchdowns during his career. He once ran for six
touchdowns and threw for three touchdowns in a single game. Coach
Reamon, helped Michael with his SAT tests, and helped him choose Virginia
Tech. As he left the housing projects "on the wings of a college football
scholarship," Michael Vick was seen in the community as a success story."
Accomplishments at Virginia Tech
As a freshman at Virginia Tech, Vick led the NCAA in passing efficiency that
year, setting a record for a freshman (180.4), which was also good enough
for the third-highest all-time mark and helped the team to an appearance in
the BCS National Championship Game. Vick was awarded an ESPY Award as
the nation's top college player, and won the first-ever Archie Griffin Award as
college football's most valuable player. He was invited to the 1999 Heisman
Trophy presentation and finished third in the voting, matching the highest
finish ever by a freshman.
A home for Mom
Vick elected to leave Virginia Tech after his redshirt sophomore season to
become a professional football player. Aware that the rest of his family was
still living in their 3 bedroom apartment in the Ridley Circle Homes, Michael
Vick stated that he was going to buy his mother "a home and a car."
NFL Weapon
The Atlanta Falcons drafted Vick with the first overall selection. In his first
year with the Falcons, they went to the NFC Conference Championship. In
2004, Vick became the first player in NFL history to rush for 100 yards and
pass for 250 in a single game. Later that year, Vick signed a 10-year
contract extension with the Falcons; the most lucrative contract in the
history of the NFL. In 2005, Vick was named to his third Pro Bowl after
starting all 15 games played. In his brief career, he ranks first in NFL history
among QB's all-time in rushing yards per game, at 53.5 yards per game. Vick
also holds several NFL quarterback records, including most rushing yards in
one game (173), most 100-yard rushing games (7), and most rushing yards
in a single season.
Downward Spiral
Beginning in April 2007, widespread publicity was drawn by discovery of
unlawful dog fighting activities at a property he owns in rural Virginia. Vick
was accused of financing the operation, directly participating in dog fights
and executions, and personally handling thousands of dollars in related
gambling activities. Vick was suspended from the NFL due to his conviction
of federal felony charges. He entered into a plea agreement on federal
conspiracy charges for funding the operation. In September, a Virginia
grand jury indicted Vick on 8 additional charges of animal cruelty. Vick faces
a sentence of up to 40 years if convicted on the state charges. After his
federal conviction, the Falcons began a civil legal process to attempt to
recoup $20 million of the in bonuses paid to Vick. He also faces the
potential of a lifetime ban from the NFL for gambling.
Editors Note
It should be noted that while Mr. Vick’s actions are reprehensible, unlike
many other famous celebrities, athletes, and politicians who have vigorously
denied any involvement in well-documented illegal or immoral activities,
Michael Vick has admitted guilt and taken full responsibility for his actions.
It is the hoped that this gifted, yet flawed young man, who grew up in the
projects of Newport News, will have the opportunity to redeem himself.
Vick was born in Newport News, VA, to Brenda Vick and Michael Boddie, then
unmarried teenagers of modest finances. His mother worked two jobs,
obtained some public financial assistance, and had help from her parents,
while his father worked long hours in the shipyards as a sandblaster and
spray-painter. They were married when Michael was about five years old but
the children elected to continue to use their "Vick" surname.
The projects
The family grew up living in the "Ridley Circle Homes", a public housing project
in a financially depressed and crime-ridden neighborhood located in the East
End section of the port city, an area known in hip hop culture by the slang
names "Bad News" or "Bad Newz". To many kids, sports was considered the
only way out.
Fish Torture
When Vick was 10 or 11 "I would go fishing even if the fish weren't biting, just
to get out of there" and away from the violence and stress of daily life in the
projects.
Learning his craft
During the early years of his family, his father’s employment required a lot of
travel, but he taught football skills to his two sons at an early age. Michael
Vick was only three years old when his father, nicknamed "Bullet" for his
blinding speed during his own playing days on the gridiron, began teaching
him the fundamentals. He also taught younger brother Marcus. Vick spent a
lot of time at the local Boys and Girls Club. As a 7-year-old throwing three
touchdown passes in a Boys Club league, his apparent football talents led
coaches and his parents to keep a special watch over Vick.
Vick told Sporting News: "Sports kept me off the streets...It kept me from
getting into what was going on, the bad stuff."
High School Mentor
Vick first came to prominence while at Homer L. Ferguson High School. As a
freshman, he impressed many with his athletic ability, throwing for over 400
yards in a game that year. After the school was closed as part of a school
modernization program, Vick and coach Tommy Reamon both moved to
Warwick High School. Under Coach Reamon's tutelage, Vick passed for
4,846 yards with 43 touchdowns during his career. He once ran for six
touchdowns and threw for three touchdowns in a single game. Coach
Reamon, helped Michael with his SAT tests, and helped him choose Virginia
Tech. As he left the housing projects "on the wings of a college football
scholarship," Michael Vick was seen in the community as a success story."
Accomplishments at Virginia Tech
As a freshman at Virginia Tech, Vick led the NCAA in passing efficiency that
year, setting a record for a freshman (180.4), which was also good enough
for the third-highest all-time mark and helped the team to an appearance in
the BCS National Championship Game. Vick was awarded an ESPY Award as
the nation's top college player, and won the first-ever Archie Griffin Award as
college football's most valuable player. He was invited to the 1999 Heisman
Trophy presentation and finished third in the voting, matching the highest
finish ever by a freshman.
A home for Mom
Vick elected to leave Virginia Tech after his redshirt sophomore season to
become a professional football player. Aware that the rest of his family was
still living in their 3 bedroom apartment in the Ridley Circle Homes, Michael
Vick stated that he was going to buy his mother "a home and a car."
NFL Weapon
The Atlanta Falcons drafted Vick with the first overall selection. In his first
year with the Falcons, they went to the NFC Conference Championship. In
2004, Vick became the first player in NFL history to rush for 100 yards and
pass for 250 in a single game. Later that year, Vick signed a 10-year
contract extension with the Falcons; the most lucrative contract in the
history of the NFL. In 2005, Vick was named to his third Pro Bowl after
starting all 15 games played. In his brief career, he ranks first in NFL history
among QB's all-time in rushing yards per game, at 53.5 yards per game. Vick
also holds several NFL quarterback records, including most rushing yards in
one game (173), most 100-yard rushing games (7), and most rushing yards
in a single season.
Downward Spiral
Beginning in April 2007, widespread publicity was drawn by discovery of
unlawful dog fighting activities at a property he owns in rural Virginia. Vick
was accused of financing the operation, directly participating in dog fights
and executions, and personally handling thousands of dollars in related
gambling activities. Vick was suspended from the NFL due to his conviction
of federal felony charges. He entered into a plea agreement on federal
conspiracy charges for funding the operation. In September, a Virginia
grand jury indicted Vick on 8 additional charges of animal cruelty. Vick faces
a sentence of up to 40 years if convicted on the state charges. After his
federal conviction, the Falcons began a civil legal process to attempt to
recoup $20 million of the in bonuses paid to Vick. He also faces the
potential of a lifetime ban from the NFL for gambling.
Editors Note
It should be noted that while Mr. Vick’s actions are reprehensible, unlike
many other famous celebrities, athletes, and politicians who have vigorously
denied any involvement in well-documented illegal or immoral activities,
Michael Vick has admitted guilt and taken full responsibility for his actions.
It is the hoped that this gifted, yet flawed young man, who grew up in the
projects of Newport News, will have the opportunity to redeem himself.
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