AJC > Sports > Columnists > Archives > 2007 > May > 10 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USA classmate a Falcon wishes he could forget
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Jeff Schultz
Flowery Branch — A classmate stood out from day one. He sat by the door, always. He wore sunglasses and a hat indoors, “like a poker player,” a classmate would later say. One day, he walked around the room with a disposable camera in the middle of a poetry reading, taking pictures of startled students. Another day he read his own dark poem, about being rejected by a girl, his anger — and wanting to hurt people.
“I remember when he read his first poem,” Noland Burchette said Thursday. “We all looked at him like, ‘This guy is crazy.’ “
It was the fall semester of 2005 at Virginia Tech, a creative writing/advanced poetry class taught by Nikki Giovanni, a renowned poet, writer and activist. We know how this turns out. The odd student, the 23-year-old who sat by the door in sunglasses and a hat, was Seung-Hui Cho. The troubled youth whose dark poetry alarmed even classmates in a creative writing class went on a shooting rampage last month in Blacksburg, killing 27 students and five faculty members, before committing suicide.
It was Giovanni who first suspected Cho was mentally disturbed, recommended him for counseling and eventually kicked him out of her class. She had 20 other students in the class. One will be wearing a Falcons uniform today.
Burchette was signed as an undrafted free agent and will be in minicamp, trying to make an early impression at defensive end in hopes of winning a job. The assumption is, nothing now can faze him. What happened at Virginia Tech, he said, “is something that I’m going to be connected to the rest of my life. I was in class with a serial killer.”
He counts himself fortunate: He is alive and so are his friends. On the morning of April 16, Burchette was alone, at his parents’ home in Richmond, when the phone rang at 9:30 a.m.
“Did you hear about the shooting?” his mother said.
The TV had been left on in another room but Burchette wasn’t paying attention. He was packing for the drive to Blacksburg two and a half hours away, where he was scheduled to work out the next day for the Indianapolis Colts. After talking to his mother, he went into the other room and saw the news.
He frantically started calling his friends. He estimates he made “20 to 30 phone calls,” mostly to teammates, but couldn’t reach anybody. Naturally, he thought the worst. “These are people you care about and you’ve known for five years in college,” he said.
But Tech was holding spring football practice. His friends were in meetings. It was 30 minutes before he started getting calls returned. “They were saying, ‘Yeah, we just got out of meetings, but there’s ambulances and police everywhere,’ ” he said.
He phoned the Colts to postpone his workout a few days. Then he watched the news. He saw a picture of the shooter and was certain it was Cho. He got a phone call from another former Virginia Tech teammate, Jonathan Lewis, of the Arizona Cardinals, who also was in Giovanni’s class.
“That’s the guy from our class!” Lewis said.
Giovanni was Burchette’s favorite professor. He took at least five classes with her — Poetry, Folktales, Negro Spirituals, etc. But nothing was like the creative writing class. Students were required to write poems and read them in class. Their grades were based on class response.
Cho often turned his work in late, and Burchette suspected it was to avoid reading them. But Cho read two.
“Once he was talking about rich people, how much he despised people who abused wealth, and wealth is power, and all this,” Burchette said. “But that one wasn’t as scary as when he talked about the girl. It was like: ‘I commented on your sexy legs, and you don’t give me a response. So I turn to anger and all I want to think about is killing you,’ or hurting you, something like that. When Ms. Giovanni asked us for our response, nobody said anything. He [Cho] just kind of looked around the room.”
It got stranger when class ended, Burchette said, and somebody approached Cho.
“Somebody said, ‘Hey, if you’re really thinking about hurting somebody, let me know because I’m not coming to class that day,’” he said. “I was walking behind them and I started laughing because I thought they were joking. But he just stopped and looked at us and said, ‘I guess I’ll let you know.’ But he always had those glasses on so you couldn’t see if he was joking.”
After Cho’s poem on being rejected, he disrupted class by taking pictures of others. Giovanni asked him to stop. She approached the head of the English department about his removal.
“If they didn’t kick him out, she was going to resign,” Burchette said. This week is about clearing his mind and playing football. But certain thoughts will never go away. Burchette acknowledges that writing a poem one day could be therapeutic.
“He didn’t care, he just wanted to punish people, with no mercy,” he said, shaking his head. “I have a lot of feelings about it, but it’s still kind of confusing.”
Permalink | Comments (109) | Post your comment | Categories: Falcons / NFL, Jeff Schultz
Comments
By Russ Sniegowski
May 10, 2007 8:16 PM | Link to this
Jeff- I know that this topic is out of context with today’s column, but there was nowhere else to post this (I”m not surprised). You’re far and away the best AJC sports columnist- tough but fair, and not compromised by any of the teams or individuals that you cover. But I’ve got to ask- WHY did it take CNN-SI.com to write the piece on Vick that SOMEBODY on the AJC staff should have written months, if not years ago? You local guys HAD to know, or have access to knowing, everything that Don Banks had in his column today. Are you all that afraid of losing access to the teams that you’re covering? Is the AJC muzzling you? I mean, come on, you, or Bradley or Moore had to know most of what Banks dug up, and had the stones to write. When is enough enough? Vick’s behavior is inexcusable under any circumstances…but the REAL joke is that his play doesn’t come vaguely close to warranting the kid-gloves treatment afforded by the Falcons and the local media; his celebrity and wealth are obscenely out of proportion to his accomplishments.
By Cairo
May 10, 2007 8:59 PM | Link to this
Russ, It sounds like you have a problem with that Vick person because he is a rich dark skinned athlete.
By BullDawg Steve
May 10, 2007 9:21 PM | Link to this
Can’t spell HOKIE CHOKE without C-H-O!!!!
By sven
May 10, 2007 9:29 PM | Link to this
Strange, I didn’t see the first mention of race or wealth in Russ’s post. Seems Cairo is prejudiced against the truth and free speech.
By Jeff Schultz
May 10, 2007 9:30 PM | Link to this
Russ … First, thanks for the comments. Now, let me assure you that nobody has muzzled me (obviously) and I think I can speak for the rest of our staff that nobody has been muzzled. I will say that many of the things in Don Banks story were not particularly surprising and many are things we’ve probably written or alluded to in bits in pieces, but he did a great job pulling it all together. But one thing you need to understand is Don quotes many “unnamed sources” in his story. The AJC has a general policy against that. We do make a few exceptions, and I know we finally made an exception with a story Steve Wyche posted online after the SI.com story. But generally speaking, unnamed sources are something we and other newspapers have gotten away from. It makes it more difficult to report and write a story sometimes. As a columnist I probably have a little more leeway than Wyche or other beat writers would because I write something as my opinion, but also knowing it’s fact, without necessarily attributing anything to a source. I can confirm things a little more on background. In a sense, I can write between the lines more. There’s a definite gray area there and it’s a difficult tight rope to walk. But I thought I would throw that out there for the readers who believe I sometimes just make stuff up. Hope that answers you questions. Jeff
By For Real
May 10, 2007 9:56 PM | Link to this
Way to go Jeff. Russ just doesn’t like Vick and that is his choice but to come down on you for not reporting that an unnamed source said ABCD about Vick is just silly. Lets think about Don’s source. If he or she was such a close friend of Vick and Vick is their meal ticket, why would they say those things ruin it for themselves. They are probably coming out now because Vick has choosen to keep away from them and now they don’t a source of income. Until Don names the sources it is a dead article. Complete heresay.
By Matthew At The SLC
May 10, 2007 10:17 PM | Link to this
Jeff, you forget to mention that using “secret” sources are also a way to protect a writer who’s full of crap, or using sources with obvious axes to grind. Look, if it is proven that Vick is guilty, I just don’t hope he is suspended, I hope he is kicked out of the league permanantly and goes to JAIL. So don’t label me a Vick lover.
But Don Banks has long had a thing for Vick. If y’all have ever read Don Banks’ stuff, you’ll realize that Banks had a good relationship with Mora and liked him (he must never have had to sit through a press conference with Little Spoiled Jimmy, right Jeff?). He’s the only guy out there insisting that Mora was a “great” coach. He blames Vick for Mora’s ouster (like that spoiled brat had nothing to do with getting himself fired). Who wants to bet that the “secret” sources that Banks used were either A: Mora and Knapp, B: Former members of Vick’s posse who Vick cut loose because they were bringing him down, or C: a combination of A and B?
So if that is the case, and if you read Banks’ story, especially about the stuff about Blank and his wife, that has Little Spoiled Jimmy written all over it, then you have to wonder about the validity of Banks’ claims, and the claims of his “secret” sources. Jeff, don’t you wonder even a little bit about Banks and his “secret” sources and wonder if they don’t have axes to grind against Vick? Because that whole column wreaked of SOUR GRAPES.
Once again, if it is proven that Vick is guilty of something this distasteful, I hope to God he goes to jail for the maximum amount. But I do not trust Don Banks or his “secret” sources. Len Pastabelly over at ESPN also has severe doubts about the validity of the claims that Banks’ “secret” sources make. I’m telling you, this was a hit, a hit in written form performed by Banks because of his relationship with Little Spoiled Jimmy. When it’s all said and done, this could be something akin to Dan Rather blindly chasing stories to bring down Bush. Or it could be on the money.
But the story smells. It wreaks of sour grapes and ground axes. Something about that story is just not right, and it begins and ends with “secret” sources.
By Dan
May 10, 2007 10:27 PM | Link to this
For Real
Hate to burst your bubble on how informants work, but they usually turn in a bigger fish to save their own skin (see, e.g. - John Dean/Richard Nixon & the Atlanta drug cop involved in murdering the elderly woman last November who flipped). Not particularly likely that someone who is still on board the gravy train is going to turn on Vick now is it?
Being a Vick fan is your choice, but the idea that anyone who questions Vick’s conduct is jealous of black athletes in general or Vick in particular is laughable after the ever growing list of incidents. Hearsay may not be admissible in court but it does not mean it is not true.
By a monotti
May 10, 2007 11:34 PM | Link to this
Blank says he talked to Vick like he was his child.
Maybe time to take Vick to the woodshed.
If Vick is convicted of illigal dog fighting, gets a jail term, and is suspended by the NFL, will it be ok to say that maybe Vick was a thug all along.
Hope Shockley is getting his reps in.
By Ron in Bangkok
May 10, 2007 11:51 PM | Link to this
First, I don’t see comments about the column. It was a kinna nice way to blend the reality of a tragedy into sports, to humanize those folks behind the facemask we chear from a distance. As someone that has been inside incidents before, this does get inside your head! Nice human interest piece. Second point , concerning the reporting of Vick (as opposed to Vick himself), Jeff made an excellent point that is also relevant to “real life” prosecutions - heresay, rumor, innuendo, etc. are not enough to convict someone or take away their livelihood. The beat writers are correct to remove that from their reporting or FACTS concerning the case. Opinion writers should also be careful not to use their “bully pulpit” to create a problem where none exists for an individual and their career. I don’t know Mickael Vick, never met him, but unless he is proven to have done something wrong he deserves the opportunity to make a living. My understanding is this is a place he doesn’t live, in another state, where he allows someone else to live and make a living, nothing wrong with that.
By Najeh Davenpoop
May 11, 2007 12:16 AM | Link to this
Jeff, I’m not a fan of your writing, but this was a fascinating column. Great piece. As for Don Banks’ SI article, if I’m not mistaken Vick has publicly stated his interest in breeding dogs as far back as 2002, and this was reported again about three weeks ago when the allegations of dog-fighting first came out. I didn’t see anything in the Banks article that hadn’t been reported before, other than the information from the confidential sources. Like Schultz said, Banks’ article basically put together a lot of the information that had been floating around already. Not a whole lot there the AJC hasn’t already covered. If anything, the AJC has focused too much on Vick’s off-field issues at the expense of more important stories on the front page; the suggestion by Russ that the AJC has treated Vick with kid gloves is quite laughable.
By Najeh Davenpoop
May 11, 2007 12:16 AM | Link to this
Oh also, let’s all hold a toast to commemorate the Falcons finally cutting Jason Webster.
By Shady
May 11, 2007 12:50 AM | Link to this
Jeff Schultz!
You have got to be kidding me. The AJC, as well as the rest of what’s left of the print media, have a long history of quoting “unnamed sources”. The only reason I read this commie rag is for local sports and local news. I have not even wasted 50 cents this paper in over 10 years. ILMAO…like the ALC has any journalistic integrity.
By Ron in Bangkok
May 11, 2007 1:19 AM | Link to this
Jeff, a request for a follow-up on your article. Burchette had a scheduled workout with the Colts I believe you mentioned (and other teams as well?). I would like to know if his and other Virginia tech draft candidates workout grades were affected by this incident and the accompanying distraction and potential lack of focus. He wasn’t drafted despite sufficient previous interest by teams to schedule on-site workouts, and post-incident workouts by other candidates could have been affented as well. How did teams look at Virginia tech candidates after this incident, and do you or the teams or the players think their draft status was affected by stress related lack of focus in subsequest workouts. Classes were suspended for enrolled students, but these (in effect) pro football job interviews may have carried on without regard to the lack of focus on football by students there. Was this tragedy an incidental factor in not getting drafted (lower workout grades)? Or, in the case of others, did it lower their draft position due to lack of focus during testing, etc.? I think this is an interesting point to pursue, a mix of the sad realities of life today and how it can affect careers in sports.
By Larry
May 11, 2007 6:18 AM | Link to this
What a stupid, stupid organization!
The Falcons trade away a highly regarded back-up QB while knowing they have an absolutely uneducated, double-digit IQ short, fast guy who repeatedly is in the news for “you name it!” The only thing right now more stupid than the Falcons is anyone who tenders an argument defending this exudate that unceasingly embarrasses himself, our team and our city.
What a stupid, stupid organization.
And Matthew, wasn’t it you, just two years ago, who predicted that Vick would lead the Falcon’s to a Super Bowl victory this past season and would win 3 Super Bowls in his career? Is the the same Matthew?
By Steve
May 11, 2007 6:50 AM | Link to this
If this is all a bad luck then I hope it goes away and Vick is left to prove or disprove himself on the field. I decided to give up my tickets and 12 year seniority after the finger flip incident. Everything else, true or implied just solidifies my decision.
By Georgiaboy
May 11, 2007 7:29 AM | Link to this
Wasn’t it Don Bank’s unnamed sources, who said Arthur Blank ordered McKay to trade up and draft Calvin Johnson? See how reliable that source was.
By Barry
May 11, 2007 7:36 AM | Link to this
Hey Y’all:
Hang in there all you Virginia Tech Hokies. It was rough on all of us about this tragedy. Remember, “oy commeth in the morning.” We cannot fix or dwell on the past too much. we must move on to the the present and the future. In these we stillhave the opportunity to make thing better or worse. Let’s work for the better and the first step is foget the bad past and start a glorious morning and future. And that goes to you too Michael Vick.
Stay Strong!!!
God Blees You All.
SSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!! This is a SECRET from a “GOD FEARING FAlCON FAN”. TELL EVERYBODY!!!!!!!
Ringold Ringold
By YellowJacketBob
May 11, 2007 8:05 AM | Link to this
Thanks for the touching article. It puts sports, and the Vick stuff, in perspective. I’m sure most readers agree, even if Bulldog Steve uses the tragedy for a misguided and sick attempt at humor. I am sure most Bulldogs are as appalled by his comments as I am. I for one am pulling for Burchette to make the team.
By Kristin
May 11, 2007 8:15 AM | Link to this
Interesting article. I do have to say that I am incredibly disturbed by Cho’s face on the homepage linking to this. Thanks, ajc, for continuing to give him exactly what he wanted - fame. Why couldn’t you use a picture of Noland Burchette or something? I guess the message we are sending to disgruntled high school and college students is “Shoot your classmates! You can be famous! You’ll be in the newspaper forever!”
By Go Hokies!
May 11, 2007 8:21 AM | Link to this
Bulldawg Steve, your an A-S-S!
By Shell
May 11, 2007 8:24 AM | Link to this
Without, a defense that can stop the other team from converting a 3rd down and 5 by running the ball, an offensive line that can give a qb any qb more than 2 seconds to pass, and recievers who can catch balls put right in their hands, the falcons will do what they have always done.
By The REAL Tower of Power
May 11, 2007 8:24 AM | Link to this
With all due respect, Mr. Schultz, your answer about your paper’s policy toward the use of “unnamed sources” is a load of crap.
Let me put it this way: do you really think a liberal rag like the AJC would hesitate to use an “unnamed source” if the source’s info was harmful to, say, the Bush Administration?
The bottom line is, the complaints of the Vick-heads notwithstanding, you and the rest of the sports staff at the AJC have done a TERRIBLE job of covering (and commenting on) Vick’s numerous indiscretions.
In fact, several Web sites often refer to the fact that, compared to most “major” daily newspapers around the country, y’all are a bunch of homers.
Why haven’t you written a column criticizing your good friend Arthur Blank, who has enabled Vick by doing everything from pushing him around in a wheelchair to handing him a cap-crippling contract?
One more thing: you imply that Don Banks’ story didn’t break much/any new ground. If that’s the case, then why did the AJC feel the need to respond with its version of the same story?
Please, Mr. Schultz, don’t pee on my back and tell me it’s raining.
By hokie80
May 11, 2007 8:37 AM | Link to this
Wow Bulldog Steve…heck of a comment there. I’m sure the bulldawg nation must be real proud of your using the psychotic killer and the death’s of 32 innocent folks just to talk some smack. Real classy there.
By toggle
May 11, 2007 8:37 AM | Link to this
Go Hokies …
As an alumnus, and faculty member, of the University of Georgia, I couldn’t agree with you more.
And, I apologize for Bulldawg Steve and all the other asses.
By Paul from Milton
May 11, 2007 8:38 AM | Link to this
I am in 100% agreement with the earlier comments of Kristin. While I support the AJC’s right of free speech, I was disturbed by the use of the shooter’s image accompanying your column in both the newspaper and online. I believe it inappropriate to glorify what he did and I also believe that using the picture was a cheap way to draw readers to your column. Or let me put it this way - do you think you would have gotten as many readers if you as used Mr. Burchette’s picture rather than the shooter’s? Shame on you.
By matt
May 11, 2007 8:44 AM | Link to this
I think it’s funny to think how many times Vick has been in the news for making stupid decisions. With everything the guy has taken heat for (flipping off home fans, water bottles with secret compartments, now this, admitting he quit on his team at the end of a game) how can Vick supporters yell racism when the Vick haters criticize him? It’s just mindboggling to me! The guy has been in the leage for how many years 6..7? How many years should he get to prove that he can lead a team and be the face of a franchise? 10? It’s just amazing to me that a guy who makes that many poor decisions and continues to underperform on the field can’t be criticized because his critics will be called “racist!” Being a moron and showing a lack of maturity has nothing to do with being a certain race!
By DbleD25
May 11, 2007 8:47 AM | Link to this
The Falcons have been a stupid organization, thats why they drafted players like Keith Brooking and Patrick Kerney when REAL TALENT was on the board. THe Falcons will get rid of Vick, go back to being 6-10 on a GOOD YEAR and back to the empty Dome and home game blackouts so you retards will still be watching VIck play whereever he is playing and succeeding because he won’t have trash like Brooking, Finneran, and Dunn pulling him down.
Football only concerns fans ON THE FIELD, you people that says VICK’S STUFF embarrasses you probably are broke, on dope, or have stupid a* kids that you neglect, to see what a RICH DUDE has going on in his life. I call that ‘The Emotional Homosexual’, because you are connectin yourself with him on a level higher than being a fan should allow. The Falcons have always sucked, and it has nothing to do with Vick.
By CB
May 11, 2007 8:50 AM | Link to this
Jeff, can you please get somebody at the ajc to take that evil sick person off the ajc homepage. The ajc is doing what that sick murderer wanted you to do which is show those pictures. I know that you don’t pick what pictures are put up, but please get the webmaster to take that sickening picture off the ajc homepage. If people want to look at the pictures they should have to click on a link or something so that people who don’t want to look at the pictures aren’t forced to when it pops up on the homepage.
By DbleD25
May 11, 2007 8:50 AM | Link to this
*The guy has been in the leage for how many years 6..7? How many years should he get to prove that he can lead a team and be the face of a franchise? 10? *
The Falcons Organization hasn’t accomplished anything in 41 years. Does the sufficiently answer your questions. Keep in mind that this wasn’t a good franchise the went bad with Vick, its a HORRIBLE franchise the turned upwards and is kinda respectable with Vick. If you were a Falcons fan you would know that.
By Jim
May 11, 2007 8:59 AM | Link to this
BullDawg Steve - may you burn in hell along side cho for your comment.
By mark
May 11, 2007 9:03 AM | Link to this
Brooking is trash? How many probowls has he made? Finneran is Mike’s favorite receiver! Kerney sucks?!? Dunn sux?!? Do you even watch the games?!? Go back to 6-10 after MV leaves?!? Dude they were 7-9 last year, 8-8 in ‘05, 5-11 in ‘03, and 7-9 in ‘01. They were 11-5 in ‘04 and 9-7 in ‘02, by my calculations that’s a 47-49 record. That sucks!!!
By Dave
May 11, 2007 9:08 AM | Link to this
I know some criticized the media for showing Cho’s pictures and tapes. We all know a picture is worth a thousand words. Prior to viewing the video tape Cho was only known as a silent troubled kid. We got no feel for the rage and hatred. As we see a joke was made about his poem even though it was very troubling. I think from this point forward more people will come forward when they see this type behavior because we got to see a serial killer up close without their mask on. Hopefully just like Roger Goddel the NFL commissioner they will say you can’t go to school here if you behave like Cho.
By Orlando Rivera
May 11, 2007 9:10 AM | Link to this
With all due respect to those who are writing about Vick, stop it ok? Although Russ makes some great points, there is a time and place for that on other blogs. Please give the proper respect to the seriousness of this article. Just because Schultz used the word Falcons it doesn’t always have to be about Vick. I’m sure once he’s gone many of you won’t have anything else to say.
Paul, Kristin, understand that newspapers and columnists have to report whatever is considered a hot button topic in order to attract readers, and as a result they use whatever angle will inspire dialogue. Sad but true, and reading this article about Burchette reminds me of a similar situation in my personal life. I won’t go into too much detail, but I had my oldest brother’s life taken away by a serial killer. What’s worse is that I went to the same church as this man. The saddest part is that all the pictures and the stories in the newspaper were about the killer and not the victims. That’s just the way the media likes to glorify these people. No wonder you see so many threats and commit senseless acts of violence because they know they will get their name in lights and on print.
The reason I bring this up is because we need to be aware of more than just our own lives, but the lives of others. Not trying to get preachy here, just stating the facts.
Ron in Bangkok, good points about how tragedies affect athletes in careers. Definitely worth researching.
By CM
May 11, 2007 9:17 AM | Link to this
Absolutely ridiculous that that murderers picture would be on the front page. What a sick way to promote an article. Shame on the AJC.
By Scott Case
May 11, 2007 9:20 AM | Link to this
Michael Vick is a great person. He’s responsible, articulate, reflective, giving (10,000 dollars that’s a lot) and an all around good guy. Everyone needs to get off his back. Don’t judge him. I am into Russian Beastiality film, stealing office supplies and beating my wife. Nobody judges me. All of you crackers are just racists, which means you think you are a superior race. So basically all white people are Nazis. Thank you
By Jeff Schultz
May 11, 2007 9:23 AM | Link to this
* Matthew and others: I know many believe that some writers have an axe to grind and so they’ll make up sources to support a story. It really doesn’t work that way. I don’t know anybody who makes things up. Choosing one’s sources is crucial, however, to make sure THEY don’t have an axe to grind. But I can speak to Don Banks’ general credibility as a reporter. And, again, nothing that was stated in his article was outrageous. It was all stuff that most of us have generally understood to be true. That doesn’t mean I, or we, wake up in the morning and think, “OK, how can I get Mike Vick today. It just doesn’t work that way.” Ron in Bangkok (really?): Thanks for the comments on the column. Najeh: Thanks. You can go back to hating me now. Ron in Bangkok (No. 2): Can’t believe that would be the case. As for Burchette, he broke his arm in the Peach Bowl (for the second time) and he’s a bit undersized to be an NFL defensive end. Those would be the major reasons he didn’t get drafted. Georgiaboy: You are correct – it was Banks who reported that Blank ordered McKay to trade up to get Calvin. He whiffed on that one. But this is a different situation. We’re not talking about trade/draft speculation. I don’t know who told him that. I always felt the Falcons would use their picks to fill holes, and that’s what they did. * Kristin, Paul from Milton: I didn’t know about the shooter’s picture until I picked up the paper. Not my department. I will say that in the actual paper (print version), Burchette’s picture is on the cover and the shooter’s picture is buried inside on the jump. Don’t know what the thinking was online. Again, not my department. Thanks all Jeff
By Ben
May 11, 2007 9:30 AM | Link to this
I think you’re proving the point Mark. They are 40-39-1 since 2002 when Vick became the starter. In that stretch, Vick is 37-25-1. This means when another qb has starter, they are 3-14 when Vick has not started. Now go compare that to Philly’s record when McNabb doesn’t start. It’s not even close.
By commenter
May 11, 2007 9:30 AM | Link to this
would you people please remove that dumbass’ photo from the main page. i don’t want to see him anymore.
By WhoCares!!
May 11, 2007 9:35 AM | Link to this
I am so sick of hearing the hate towards Vick. I guarantee that most of this would not be said if he was Manning (or someone else that looked like Manning). That man is innocent until proven guilty!!!!! This blog isn’t even about Vick and the hate is so strong that most of the comments is about him. Give it a rest!!!!
And yes, please remove that picture of the sick killer from the homepage. Who in hell thought that was okay anyway?!!!!!
By K
May 11, 2007 9:39 AM | Link to this
PLEASE REMOVE THE PICTURE OF THAT SHOOTER - HE DOES NOT DESERVE THIS “PUBLICITY” … The story is ok but that picture is chilling and one that, those of us close to Va Tech, do not want to see… that “person” took the lives of 32 people - he doesn’t deserve to have his picture posted anywhere
By myconju
May 11, 2007 9:40 AM | Link to this
Am I on the right blog, or is this suppose to be about the Virginia Tech massacre?
By myconju
May 11, 2007 9:46 AM | Link to this
Jeff, you may not know any journalist that will make up “sources” for an article, but the public sure has. We’ve also heard of so called “sources” outing people to journalist in order to make them look bad in public. We’ve also seen newspaper’s spin a story to a specific perspective of their choice. I’ve also seen journalist destroy lives. Now tell me am I wrong?
By barkndawg
May 11, 2007 9:51 AM | Link to this
I doubt Steve is truly a bulldawg, but I wish he’d change his handle. He is an ignorant, embarrassing rectom. To make a comment like that puts you in the same league as that maniac Steve. Notice I leave out the other part of your handle. Whatever else you are, and their numbers are legion, you’re not a dawg anyone I know would admit to being associated with.
By redwood
May 11, 2007 9:52 AM | Link to this
Here’s my take on Vick: he is an athletic freak. I don’t mean that in a demeaning way—it’s just that no one seems to understand his pure talent. I firmly believe no one has built an offense that suits his unique athletic abilities. He has been playing in offenses that are designed for the stereotypical QB. But it doesn’t always work for him, or at least it is not best for him, b/c he is a unique, unbelievably athletic figure. No OC seems to understand that.
At Virginia Tech he got away with just being simply overpowering as an athlete—there were very few around to challenge him. As a pro, there are more real athletes to challenge him, and his pure athletic prowess buys him success less and less of the time.
That said, I am anxious to see if Petrino’s OC builds an offense tailored to Vick’s abilities. One shortcoming MV has is his height—he is only 6’0” (maybe 6’1”?). That’s too short to see and to pass over 6’3”-6’5” or more OL and DL. Therefore, the offense should be designed to take advantage of Michael’s feet—whether he runs or passes. His feet need to get him to predesigned passing lanes so he can see and pass to his receivers. At the same time, those passing lanes s/b potential running lanes if he can’t pass. I really don’t believe there s/b running plays designed for Michael—he should only run when he can’t pass, and that’s why the offense needs to be designed to take advantage of his feet to get him to the right spot on every play.
Michael IS the Atlanta Falcons. W/o him they would be out and out losers. He carries the team on his back, and may not get enough credit for that b/c people don’t understand that he is an athletic freak.
That said, he can improve himself and the Falcons a lot by just making better decisions. His poor off-the-field decision-making will invariably reflect on his on-the-field decision-making; it’s a trained, habitual thing.
I really hope Michael is sincere about wanting to “grow up.” Unfortunately, his track record indicates it’s just words. I’m a “proof is in the pudding” type of guy, so we’ll all see how much MV grows up this season. Hopefully the Falcons offense will be stylized to suit him and help out the growing process.
By Jeff Schultz
May 11, 2007 9:55 AM | Link to this
Following up the comments on Cho’s picture being on the AJC.com cover: I’ve passed your concerns along to the online editors. Myconju: There are bad journalists, just like there are bad doctors, lawyers, plumbers and cheeseburgers. That shouldn’t indict an entire industry, but I understand that the media is a big target. All I can do is vouch for my sources on issues and vouch for reporters I personally know.JS
By Tiffany
May 11, 2007 10:00 AM | Link to this
Ok, this article did not have anything to do w/ Vick or his legal probs. Let’s voice this in the proper forum. This article was about a new Falcon personally experiencing the horror at VA Tech. Let’s be fair and reflect on the terrible things that have happened. As Gore said after 9/11, now is the time that we need each other. This country, and that community, needs to heal, not read about how much people hate Vick or don’t hate Vick. For once, can we comment on the article written, not the person, their morals, or their beliefs. This young man who was just signed by the Falcons deserves our respect and our support for him and our team.
By ndadome
May 11, 2007 10:01 AM | Link to this
Very nice article, Jeff. Sports are important to us because we’re fans, but this incident does snap us back to reality. People who lost relatives in this senseless attack are not thinking much about sports right now. Thank you.
By WhoCares!!
May 11, 2007 10:01 AM | Link to this
Jeff, who can we email to have that pic removed?
By WhoCares!!
May 11, 2007 10:03 AM | Link to this
Thanks Jeff!!
By JBG
May 11, 2007 10:07 AM | Link to this
In response to the third post by Bulldog Steve – Born and raised in Virginia and an avid UGA alumnus, I am particularly appalled by your callous comments. Have you no conscience, nor soul? Do you actually think your comments are humorous? You are low life, redneck scum and I am embarrassed that you choose to associate yourself with Bulldog nation. I sincerely hope you are a rival of Georgia posing as a Bulldog on this blog. UGA and society can do without individuals like you. I actually pity you.
On behalf of all Bulldogs, I apologize to the Hokie Nation for this bloggers insensitive remark. You continue to be in our thoughts and prayers.
I agree, take Cho’s photo off the web page. It is very offensive.
GO HOKIES! GO DAWGS!
By scott
May 11, 2007 10:08 AM | Link to this
Does every blog, irregardless of the subject, always have to come back to M.Vick?
This column was about the experiences of a college kid, a national tradegy, and him trying to deal with it in the midst of earning NFL roster spot.
The last I checked we, the Falcons, are going to need all the help we can get on both lines.
P.S. For those of you whose life revolves around what Michael Vick should or should not do; create your own website and blog so you can sit all day long and rant. So when football season starts we can enjoy the AJC Falcons blog and discuss the TEAM and not fall into the cesspool of racial discussions that always results from the two sides of the Michael Vick discussion.
By Tim
May 11, 2007 10:10 AM | Link to this
Why it there a picture of Cho that leads to the article? If there needs to be a picture put one of Noland Burchette. Why does the media insist in putting Cho in our faces and not the victims? Enough.
By honest_abe
May 11, 2007 10:12 AM | Link to this
not that i enjoy looking at the picture anymore than you do, but last time i checked nobody is forcing you to come on this site. if you don’t want to look at it, stay away from the ajc for a day. it’s really, really not that hard.
unfortunate that nobody picked up on the unstable condition of the killers mental state. seems like he was throwing all kinds of clues out there.
how nice of orlando to set the blog rules.
how nice of poophead to determine what is more newsworthy than a vick story. thing is vick could kill 2 people, blow up a block of buckhead, rape 5 women and poop would still have his head stuck up #7’s crack.. get a life man. i know he’s your hero and it hurts you so. but vick is a national story. maybe you should go whine and cry at espn, cnnsi, foxsports and every other major sports publication that is ALSO talking about vicks failures.
i don’t know why the guy p** me off so much (poop) but maybe its because he just might be the most ignorant SOB i’ve ever met. and no i havent’ met the guy in person but the stuff he writes is sickening. he makes it seem like all this heat vick is catching is purely because he is a black man and white man is trying to hold him down. bah.. moronic
By EW
May 11, 2007 10:21 AM | Link to this
You are correct this is not a blog about Mike Vick, have you noticed lately all the AJC has is a poll about Vick, no blogs…. because in a blog it’s obvious how many people want his criminal worthless butt off the team, what a negative impact he has on the team and just how people really feel about the thug. The guy is a disaster happening step by step, its his destiny to have a longer life in prison that on the football field and the people taking up for this thug are the same ones that fight dogs. Thugs take up for thugs.
By myconju
May 11, 2007 10:58 AM | Link to this
I don’t particularly like to refer to human beings as “thugs”, but EW you are excercising your first amendment right. Freedom of speech and freedom of the press are absolute to the American way. However, at one point, we did have respect for one another. Maybe it is this lack of respect for one another that leads to people like the Virginia Tech shooter, the D.C. sniper and other mass murderers.
Unlike others, I don’t find the photo of Cho offensive. I’m more offended by the person that he was and the deed that he committed. It blows me over every time I read about his heinous poem, his heinous rant, and his heinous deed.
I pray for the families of the Virginia Tech victims. I also pray that it will never happen again.
By K
May 11, 2007 11:12 AM | Link to this
Wow, honest_abe, you may be very “honest” but clearly you are missing a heart… I could just not read the AJC today - but I would much rather p** an insensitive a* like you off…
Thanks Kristin for agreeing about the picture - and to others (JBG, Whocares, etc) who feel the same…
Honest_Abe, I hear Bulldog Steve needs a friends… you two would go great together.
GO HOKIES…
By ISee
May 11, 2007 11:13 AM | Link to this
I see that ignorance is rampant on this blog too!!
By SouthGA
May 11, 2007 11:15 AM | Link to this
First, Bull#*@! Steve, that was just a lack of class you showed and maybe you need some counseling. I am as big a football fan as anyone out there but you should know when to draw the line. Second, AJC please listen to your readers and take down the picture of that ingrate that was allowed to come to this country to obtain an education that many of our own citizens can not obtain.
By TXDAWG
May 11, 2007 11:19 AM | Link to this
Maybe we should check Bulldawg Steve to see if he is mentally ill. Doubtful, he has a brain to check! Come on you idiot! What happened at Va. Tech is about more than football. Anyone who cares about people should embrace Va.Tech or any other university that has went through this…even Ga. Tech. Grow up and get a life Bulldawg Steve!
By dawg
May 11, 2007 11:21 AM | Link to this
Shultz, you have been reduced to moderator of the “Vick Vent”. Welcome to jounalism hell.
By honest_abe
May 11, 2007 11:26 AM | Link to this
ok K. in your ideal world we should get rid of the pictures of all the other notorious killers, infamous rulers etc. after 9/11 those pictures of the terrorists shouldn’ve have been on every major paper. pictures of osama shouldn’t headline cnn or foxnews everytime he releases one of those stupid tirades. saddam’s mug shot should never be seen again. grow up k. we live in a world of free press. i told you i didn’t like looking at the picture either. i feel very sorry for anyone affected by the killings, but for you to come onto this blog and cry about the picture is stupid.
its simple if you dont’ want to look at it, then don’t.
By honest_abe
May 11, 2007 11:29 AM | Link to this
south ga: can not? or choose not to? big difference. i find it funny how you classify him as an ingrate who you allowed into the country. i think i learned in my history book we are all foreigners even your stupid, ignorant redneck arse.
By SouthGA
May 11, 2007 11:39 AM | Link to this
honest abe, I refuse to get into a battle of wits with someone who is unarmed. By the way, I am a brother and nothing close to a redneck. My people were forced to come over here, not vacationing and decided to stay.
By Paul Kelly
May 11, 2007 11:46 AM | Link to this
I have spent many years defending Micheal Vick, because he has always seemed polite, does some nice charity work, etc, etc. As a QB, I, like the rest of Falcons fans, wish he’d get better. But the real point I’m going to try to make here is that we should’ve seen warning signs. When Marcus got thrown off the VT team for stomping some kid, I mean—come on—how can one defend his actions. If Micheal had said something like “What Coach Beamer did ain’t nothing compared to what I’m gonna do to his young a** when I see him.”, the world would’ve applauded. But he didn’t do that, did he? He tacitly defended that knucklehead’s actions.
OK, so that’s exhibit 1. Exhibit 2: flipping off HIS OWN FANS. Totally inexcusable. Mike’s starting to look like a punk around now. Exhibit 3: the “water bottle”. Just completely stupid. No way to defend that. And why people aren’t screaming “cover-up” about that is a complet mystery. But that’s another subject. Now, Exhibit 4: this dog fighting stuff.
This is a country where you are presumed innocent until proven otherwise. I’m all for that. Due process is every man’s right. But an appearance of impropriety is plenty for the NFL to suspend him until this is cleared up. And if he’s indicted and subsequently convicted, not only will he face prison, but he’d likely be permanentl barred from the NFL. Dog-fighting is a horrible thing. This isn’t like getting a DUI, or getting popped with some weed, or even a singular spousal abuse charge—this is really big-time, serious stuff, folks.
In any event, it is very saddening to see such a bright, young, intensely gifted athlete doing his best to throw away his career.
By Stephanie
May 11, 2007 11:48 AM | Link to this
Please people, GET A LIFE!!!! Michael Vick,Cho,you and I all have to answer to a higher power for all of our misdeeds. Let the evidence in a court of law convict Michael Vick if he is to be convicted. I don’t know why anyone would want to do anything in public these days with judgement being so swift, harsh and just plain ugly. Michael is human like the rest of us and he is prone to errors in judgment. We must all remember what would we do in his shoes. Judge ye not least ye be judged. Step back and take a deep breath.
Without Michael Vick the Atlanta Falcons of the past few years would not have had the publicity they have garnered, and we all have to acknowledge this. Michael can only do one thing in the football game. Pass the ball or run the ball. He cannot catch a ball he has thrown or block defenders who get in his way. It takes 11 men on offense and defense to win a game. The Indianapolis Colts finally figured that out this season and won the Super Bowl. One day the Lord will see fit to let the Falcons get out of their own way and win too.
By honest_abe
May 11, 2007 11:53 AM | Link to this
My people were forced to come over here, not vacationing and decided to stay
look i’m not getting into the issue of race because i dont’ think its an argument you can win. but look at what you just said. you’re a visitor just like cho was on this great land, you DECIDED to stay just like he did. nobody forced you to. you’re welcome to go back whenever you please. so stop thinking this land is yours. its not.
that cho kid was pychotic and mentally unstable. it had nothing to do with where he came from. it’s an isolated case. you as a minority should be well aware of all the dangers that come along with generalizations and stereotypes. but you only further cement my earlier notion that you are an ignorant pig. the vatech killing was extremely unfortunate. but in todays world you have to realize bad people do bad things whether they are green, purple, black, white, yellow. the killing had nothing to do with him being a foreigner.
you folks in south ga sometimes make me wonder if you’re still stuck back in the 19th century. from your post i know you still sadly are.
By gdawginkalamazoo
May 11, 2007 11:54 AM | Link to this
Great interesting post Jeff. Must be a weird feeling for Burchette knowing that the killer was sitting in his class.
Obviously people, Steve isn’t a Bulldog. He is posting as a Bulldog to give us a bad name.
Anybody at the Peach Bowl last year knows that VaTech is nothing but a class act. Nice fans. We all feel your pain.
By Orlando Rivera
May 11, 2007 12:00 PM | Link to this
abe if I were you I’d stick to the Hawks blogs, because you obviously don’t understand what’s going on here. This article was not about the killer but the victims and others who were around him. perhaps if you and others would actually understand that NOWHERE in Schultz’s article was the word Vick mentioned. of course you went the typical lemming route and went straight for a vick angle since you had nothing to contribute to what the article was actually about.
By honest_abe
May 11, 2007 12:01 PM | Link to this
oh yes and you never answered my question. you mentioned how so many people in this country can’t get an education and i say huh? CAN’T? OR CHOOSE NOT TO?
By Cafaro is an Idiot.
May 11, 2007 12:10 PM | Link to this
Hey Larry (from 6:18am),
To answer your question about Matt.
“Matthew At The SLC” AKA “BirdDawg” is indeed Matthew Cafaro.
This is the same guy that coined the phrase “Matt Fraud”.
He is just flip flopping on Vick now so he can write his essays.
By pathetic
May 11, 2007 12:13 PM | Link to this
Bulldog Steve: You put the ‘a*’ in ‘class’
By honest_abe
May 11, 2007 12:15 PM | Link to this
ha. first of all i did comment on the victims and expressed my sorrow for their loss.
2nd, i didn’t know we each had our own designated blogs that we had to stay in. last time i checked we can go into whatever blog and talk about whatever we choose to.
i talked about #7 because some cant’ see the light and i will continue to preach until you blind folk see!
i talked about the killer because of “southga’s” insensitive words. how stupid coming from a minority. that killer is one of the most despicable people in the history of mankind. but, color or race should not have a DAMN thing to do with it. do you get it my brother. morons.
By HokieMike
May 11, 2007 12:18 PM | Link to this
Way to make an a* out of yourself GirlDog Steve.
By SouthGA
May 11, 2007 12:20 PM | Link to this
How dare you even call yourself honest, the only honest thing about you is that you are full of hot air. I first of all, don’t have to answer to anything you question me about. I never tried to make this conversation about race, your the one name calling “redneck”. I have a degree because I decided that was what I wanted. But I know people that have been denied the funds to go to college and my point was that he probably was given some type of scholarship to be at that school in the first place because he is foreign. I never said this land was mine and no one from anyplace else was not welcomed here. All of my in-laws are from another country, JERK.
By cp
May 11, 2007 12:57 PM | Link to this
Stephanie said it best it’s nothing I could type to top that. I feel the same way.
By Dirtie Birdie
May 11, 2007 1:17 PM | Link to this
Good column Jeff and interesting posts/commentary by you below as well.
It has to be scary to sit in the room with a psycho and know he has the potential to do this sort of thing. But how do you really know? I can remember many times sitting there in school and we would all joke about certain kids being potential serial killers and school shooters - always thinking the potential was there but never really thinking it was going to happen.
Especially after the Pearl Jam Jeremy song, I remember we used to call those kids Jeremy all the time or after the Higher Learning movie, we would call them Remy. None of those kids ended up being sick mofo bastards like this wacko though. In fact, most of them ended up being very happy adults once they got to experience the joys of freedom in college or making their way and image in the world on their own after college.
This loser was just one seriously mentally ill nut. I guess you just can’t tell - although this chump’s writings revealed to me such a degree of mental illness that it was hard to believe he was in college because it seemed like it was written by a very angry confused 10 year old suffering from an extremely traumatic experience or something. I don’t know.
I don’t know why a college kid had so many confused issues running in his head about cool people, rich people, preppy people - those seem like the confused rants of a high schooler and not a college kid. High school often is a hellhole and emotional torture chamber for everyone - including the coolest jock - so I can understand confused bitterness like that coming from a kid in his writings if he is being tormented in high school (sort of). But college? I just don’t get it.
Who picks on people in college? If you want to be a jock, frat boy, freak with a mohawk, joe blow college kid, a drunk, a pothead, a wannabe poet and philosopher king, a jesus freak, a loner, whatever on a college campus, you can be. In my college experience, you could be whomever, whatever, whenever. In fact, I think most people in college experiment with being a little of all those things until they figure out who they are - it is the great unique experience of college - freedom to do whatever while being sheltered from too much responsibility other than to just graduate and get out in 4 years (or 7).
There were no reason to feel tormented like this wacko did. It will never make sense. I just don’t get it other than this kid was seriously mentally ill.
BUT I even feel guilty calling him mentally ill because that seems like I am giving him an excuse. I think the bottomline was that this psycho was pure evil. Even the most mentally disturbed person will most often choose good, this guy chose the Devil.
By Believe it!!!
May 11, 2007 1:36 PM | Link to this
Paul Kelly,
Thank you for advising us of the seriousness of Dog Fighting. Dog fighting is a very serious crime. It is a felony in some states. It should rank up there behind Murder, Spousal abuse, Child abuse, Child neglect and assault. I agree there are laws on the books that will punish Michael Vick when and if convicted. However, I do not believe in the rush to judgment. I believe that this business will/can be easily investigated and a conclusion can be arrived. But, not in the press. It should be done in a court of law!
That is another of my gripes with the media. The industry tends to set themselves up as lawyer, judge and the jury rendering a verdict. They spin the tale, the public believes it, then when the real trial takes place and the verdict is not what they think it should be, they cry…”cover-up”, “Jury nulification” thereby inciting the public to swallow what they say hook line and sinker.
The media, those that swallow what they say, and the people that are not so gullible should remember these words “I’m starting with the man in the mirrow, I’m asking him to change his ways. No message could have been any clearer. If you want to make the world a better place take a look at yourself and make to change.”
By gdawginkalamazoo
May 11, 2007 1:37 PM | Link to this
Great interesting post Jeff. Must be a weird feeling for Burchette knowing that the killer was sitting in his class.
Obviously people, Steve isn’t a Bulldog. He is posting as a Bulldog to give us a bad name.
Anybody at the Peach Bowl last year knows that VaTech is nothing but a class act. Nice fans. We all feel your pain.
By honest_abe
May 11, 2007 1:42 PM | Link to this
But I know people that have been denied the funds to go to college and my point was that he probably was given some type of scholarship to be at that school in the first place because he is foreign.
probably? you don’t even know so go crawl back into your little hole and stay quiet. your comments are more and more asinine. i dont’ care about the killer and hope he burns in hell. but he has been attending american schools since elementary school. don’t use whatever is convenient for you as a crutch. people are all afforded the same opportunity and for those that choose to seize it and take advantage of it, america is a beautiful place.
nobody paid for my college tuition. i took out student loans. so dont’ giv eme that crap about not being able to have enough money to go to college. its all a bunch of pitiful excuses and BS!
By scott
May 11, 2007 2:05 PM | Link to this
Some of the bloggers really work hard to maintain the image of the ignorant Southerner. People from all over read the blogs of the AJC and I know they get a good laugh calling us “hicks” and stuck in the 1950’s.
By raerae
May 11, 2007 2:12 PM | Link to this
Russ - YOU NEED PRAYER SON - TODAY RIGHT NOW AS A MATTER OF FACT!!! Your heart never went out to the former VT player - you saw an opportunity to ride the back of a respectful young player and you went for it - shame son shame. My heart will forever be somber for all those that were effected by the incident at VT, so let’s cut these guys a little slack - please - they deserve our compassion not our arrogancy. Let there be peace on earth, let it begin with me…
By Eric C.
May 11, 2007 3:01 PM | Link to this
I found your column to be very interesting and insightful. I must say though that the timing is strange and not your typical material Jeff…a dark, serious subject?
Concerning Vick…I was at the playoff game where the Vick-led falcons destroyed the Rams. I’ve attended a lot of football games at different levels…but that may always be the most memorable and entertaining game ever for me personally.
Regardless of whether the Banks column is truthful, I find it very sad to hear about the constant allegations and other issues attributed to Vick. It also makes me angry, and I am at a “cross-roads” as well with the whole organization. As a fan, I demand to see improvement both on and off the field.
By ron
May 11, 2007 3:22 PM | Link to this
I still say the Falcons should have traded Vick to the Raiders for their first round pick and used it to draft CJ. We had a quarterback(2 good ones counting DJ) who could have gotten the ball to him and had a lot of exciting years in Atlanta. That missed opportunity could very well bite the Falcons in the butt!
By CH2
May 11, 2007 4:34 PM | Link to this
Michael, I hope you read this! In life, there is truly something unique about the late 20’s. It seems many folks, both male and female, make some of their worse life’s decision as they approach 30. However, things calm down for the majority of folks at around 30. Michael, may I suggest on this Mother’s Day weekend, that one of the things that helps a man truly settle down and “grow up”, is to marry, and possibly later to have children. Maybe marrying your baby’s momma, or some other young lady would be an option. I’m sure being married would make for more positive press.
By Jimmy
May 11, 2007 5:40 PM | Link to this
My comments really wont be able to be judged until the season, but i’m not so sure on this whole Mike Vick audible thing. Everyone talks about this like it’s going to be great. There is one thing we are forgetting though, this is still Mike Vick making the decisions on which plays to check to!!!!! Does anyone else not see the forrest from the tree’s? If you have a bad decision maker(and i’m talking strictly on the field here), what makes anyone think he’s going to be able check into the right plays?
By Harold Williams
May 11, 2007 5:49 PM | Link to this
Do we still believe in innocent until proven guilty? Or is that in the past, like slavery and racism. I loved the article because it gave me info on the mind of a trulely sick person. It gave me clues to look for, but all I want to know is what does this have to do with Vick or pitbulls?
By Austin Bailey
May 11, 2007 6:12 PM | Link to this
When Roger Goodell met with Vick he was reported to have said Vick is somewhat responsible for his property whether he’s there or not. With that said. Why is Patrick Kerney getting a free pass? Is he not responsible for what goes on in his own home? Does he hang out with rapist? Even if he knew nothing about the rape what kind of friends does he keep? I appluad Goodell for wanting to hold players responsible but i se problems with this get tough policy already. The media can make a circus out of any situation and convict a guy in the court of public opinion. If this is about the NFL’s image then maybe the press should stop beating a dead horse on issues where players haven’t been convicted of any wrong doing. All this negative press iw what brings bad publicity.
By The Dean 21
May 11, 2007 6:14 PM | Link to this
FOR GUYS ONLY! Apparently some GUYS/ FANS hold Mike Vick as the only reason they follow this team. Tell me how could his actions alone (especially off the field) give you the reason not is a fan of this team? If this is indeed so, then there certainly would be NO fans of any professional sports teams. You didn’t hear about tickets being sold when Bobby Cox smacked his wife, not when a woman was raped in Patrick Kearney’s home (while he was present and asleep I might add), not when Chipper was caught cheating, or even when Furcal was a Brave and caught drunk driving. Look at other sports figures who have been arrested, Stephen Jackson, Ron Artest, Ricky Williams, PACMAN Jones, Richard Seigler, Antonio Bryant, Steve Mcnair and half of the Bengal’s team to name a few. Of course the list would be too long to name them all.
My point is that grown men log onto their computers, enters the AJC.COM site, find a Falcons or any blog related about the Falcons to b*** about someone giving them the finger when it was actually done in retaliation, whether it was right or wrong, it’s over. I don’t see anybody giving tickets or selling tickets for the same gesture by Jon Bovi??? It’s called Double Standards. It would be nice if some of the so called grown men would come on this blog and talk about sports and this team, not about personal opinions and b*** about one player like they at sitting in a beauty salon. Grow up and act like a man and support this team or don’t support it, but stop the b*** about one man PLEASE!!!
ALL BLOGS LEADS TO MIKE VICK, what is the problem guys; is he your GOD? If he is so wrong, trust me justice will be served, if not, watch the team or don’t watch them but don’t come on here talking about “you sold you damn tickets.” Who freaking cares? You must still find interest in this team if you take the time to locate a blog about them so PAY UP or SHUT UP!
By The Dean 21
May 11, 2007 6:16 PM | Link to this
FOR GUYS ONLY! Apparently some GUYS/ FANS hold Mike Vick as the only reason they follow this team. Tell me how could his actions alone (especially off the field) give you the reason not is a fan of this team? If this is indeed so, then there certainly would be NO fans of any professional sports teams. You didn’t hear about tickets being sold when Bobby Cox smacked his wife, not when a woman was raped in Patrick Kearney’s home (while he was present and asleep I might add), not when Chipper was caught cheating, or even when Furcal was a Brave and caught drunk driving. Look at other sports figures who have been arrested, Stephen Jackson, Ron Artest, Ricky Williams, PACMAN Jones, Richard Seigler, Antonio Bryant, Steve Mcnair and half of the Bengal’s team to name a few. Of course the list would be too long to name them all.
My point is that grown men log onto their computers, enters the AJC.COM site, find a Falcons or any blog related about the Falcons to b*** about someone giving them the finger when it was actually done in retaliation, whether it was right or wrong, it’s over. I don’t see anybody giving tickets or selling tickets for the same gesture by Jon Bovi??? It’s called Double Standards. It would be nice if some of the so called grown men would come on this blog and talk about sports and this team, not about personal opinions and b*** about one player like they are sitting in some beauty salon. Grow up and act like a man and support this team or don’t support it, but stop the b*** about one man PLEASE!!!
ALL BLOGS LEADS TO MIKE VICK, what is the problem guys; is he your GOD? If he is so wrong, trust me justice will be served, if not, watch the team or don’t watch them but don’t come on here talking about “you sold your damn tickets.” Who freakin cares? You must still find interest in this team if you take the time to locate a blog about them so PAY UP or SHUT UP!
By Harold Williams
May 11, 2007 6:25 PM | Link to this
thank u Austin Bailey. A clear thought in a blog of confusion.
By honest_abe
May 11, 2007 6:36 PM | Link to this
nope not really clear at all austin. let me clarify that kerney situation for you.
the girl that stayed at kerney’s house, invited some other people back to kerney’s house and was then raped. was it kerney’s friend? was kerney involved? was kerney awake?
the answer to all those questions are no.
so stop trying to parallel that situation with mike vick.. there are two completely different stories and besides who gives a damn about kerney. he is a seatle seahawk. i’m pretty sure people wouldn’t be talking about mike vick in atlanta if he was the qb for the 49ers. also, please understand when you are the biggest sports figure in a city, every single action is magnified. i’m not saying thats fair but its reality. take a look at the uproar caused by tom brady wearing a yankees cap. get over it. mike vick even knows he’s made mistakes based on who he’s surrounded himself with. he’s made a promise to change. making all you defenders look real dumb in the process.
By myconju
May 11, 2007 7:26 PM | Link to this
When CBS saw that the comments regarding Barack Obama weren’t healthy they refused to open up articles for comments. AJC should do that also with regard to some issues.
By Austin Bailey
May 11, 2007 7:58 PM | Link to this
honest abe> The point im trying to make is it doesnt matter about Kerney letting some girl invite others back to his place. The point im making is it’s his property so he’s responsible. you totally bounced aorund my point. again the point being if Goodell says Vickis responsible for actions at a home in another state then clearly Kerney should be held responsible for what goes on in his house.
By Austin Bailey
May 11, 2007 8:05 PM | Link to this
another perfect example on how the media and sports caster like Mike Golic for example are trying to create a negative vibe. On ESPn today Golic said Vick has 71 career td passes and 74 interceptions. Thats a lie!!!!how can these people be allowed to have a job and give false information. Don’t you all see what certain people will try to do. You would at least think a guy in his position would get the facts before he spoke to a national audience knowing that he could be called out. I’m tired of this excuse he’s the face of the franchise or a superstar. Two wrongs don’t make it right. Sure Vick is guilty of something nobody is perfect but to report false stats just to try and paint a negative picture is very poor journalism/reporting.
By avtfan
May 11, 2007 8:11 PM | Link to this
BULLDOG STEVE - what a classless a* your are. May the ghost of 32 innocents haunt you forever.
By myconju
May 11, 2007 8:48 PM | Link to this
Austin, we’ve been expressing this view of journalism gone wild all day and evening. When the powers that be have a self righteous attitude about themselves, it’s difficult to make a point. I need to say this most people that are wrong don’t know. The people that are right are introspective.
By Najeh Davenpoop
May 11, 2007 9:22 PM | Link to this
Honest_abe, you are such a f*** idiot it’s unbelievable. I’m not even black. Show me the post where I said Vick is just a black man being victimized by the white man, and I’ll pay you the value of the rest of his contract. I don’t think you are a racist, just a mentally challenged moron who is severely lacking in reading comprehension skills. I just think it’s sad that idiots like you are so willing to want to imprison a man who hasn’t even been charged with a crime, let alone tried or convicted. For the record, I felt the exact same way about the rich white lacrosse players from Duke. Please go buy a toothbrush so you can get the sand out of your vagina.
By myconju
May 11, 2007 9:28 PM | Link to this
Honest Abe, Insider that you are, please place a copy of the police report online.
By myconju
May 11, 2007 9:39 PM | Link to this
Najeh,
no need to disparage women and their physical body parts to make a point. Men tend to be just as impotent, which is why I shy away from your advice. Now, with that said, lets hear from the women. 1) Are we hitting on the right subject. 2) Do you think that Mike Vick is worthless. 3) Is sports going to save the world. 4) Whether we breed them to fight or not, are pit bull terriers all that safe?
By Najeh Davenpoop
May 11, 2007 10:00 PM | Link to this
Myconju, it was a reference to a South Park episode. Sorry if you were offended.
By honest_abe
May 11, 2007 10:26 PM | Link to this
poophead: you don’t have to say something for it to be implied.
I just think it’s sad that idiots like you are so willing to want to imprison a man who hasn’t even been charged with a crime, let alone tried or convicted
oops. and i’m the one that has reading comprehension issues? when did i ever say a damn thing about imprisonment? all i’ve ever said about him is that he’s not the type of responsible person that’s needed to be a face and leader of a franchise.
you consider me to be an idiot and i think the same of you. you continually make up excuses for someone thats making you look like the idiot. that’s ok blind loyalty to a sports hero is to be commended. congrats. i hope you one day get the chance to lick whatever part of #7 you have always dreamed of.
By PMac in Athens
May 11, 2007 11:21 PM | Link to this
ditto any comment opposed to the classless “Bulldawg Steve” comment.
you, sir, are human garbage.
go Hokies, god bless ya. be ready for the ‘Canes this November!
By myconju
May 11, 2007 11:24 PM | Link to this
Najeh, I appreciate the apology, but I think that even you understand the inference of the analogy.
By myconju
May 11, 2007 11:31 PM | Link to this
Honest Abe,
I hope you have called it a night, because you have been commenting all day long without seemingly a break. You seem to be trying to make a point. What is it? Tell us! Ok, but I still enjoy watching Mr. Vick play football. I still enjoy it. I really do. I’m sorry if that disturbs you, but I do.
I also enjoyed watching Kareem Abdul-Jabbar play basketball and Hank Aaron play baseball. Does that make me inferior. What part of them do you think that makes me want to lick.
You sink too low young man. Keep to the point. You don’t like Mike Vick. That’s your choice. I do, that’s mine.
By myconju
May 11, 2007 11:36 PM | Link to this
PMac, you’re part of the solution. It is time to make our Country not only look powerful, but look good.
By Eric C.
May 12, 2007 1:10 AM | Link to this
The Dean 21 Who in the he!! are you to bash the fans!?! I am not an animal rights activist, but I happen to be disgusted with the allegations facing Vick. I am also disgusted with the continued bad publicity being brought to this team I have followed for more than 30 years. Having gone through many downs and few ups that faithful Falcon Fans have gone through…the fans have every right to voice their displeasure at the latest string of events. So go stick a fork in it.
By Ron in Bangkok
May 12, 2007 2:41 AM | Link to this
Jeff, thanks for the answers to my questions and the comments. And, to answer you, yes, I am in Bangkok Thailand, lived in South Asia for 10+ years trying to open educational doors for kids (and their teachers)that may otherwise be throwing bombs one day. I am a Gwinnett Co. native, Bethesda elementary and Berkmar high (when it opened). I am moving back to the USA in August. I always try to follow the local teams on ajc.com (go dawgs!!), and even see a falcons game from time to time when Monday night and Sunday night football is shown here on cable (12 hours ahead). Regarding the vitrolic attacks on Vick (irrelevant to your article of course), I am not generally exposed to the passionate pro’s and con’s that seem to be floating thru the media there, but I do see enough here to form some opinions, if I may share: 1) Last week, down the road, there was another bombing here in Bkk, and many in the south. people, teachers, died. Therefore, I find it is really hard to get aggressively passionate about whether the star football player’s COUSIN was doing something wrong 100 miles or so away. If the cousin broke the law, prosecute him, put him in jail, take away his livelihood, shake your finger in rightous indignation at him. Not his cousin the football player. Focus seems to be skewed over there from my perspective (and yes, I am an animal lover, I’ve had pet dogs, and have even played with elephants, water buffalo, etc. I love them all) 2) I see comments, pro and con, about Vick being Black. How does this affect anything? How would you even know while sitting in the stands at a game, seeing all those red dots in red running around the field. Would it even be an issue if, say, he won the superbowl? One of the most impressive men to me in sports is Henry Arron, not for what he did on the field but for what he did as a human being. Some of the things he did for Robbie Robinson(long time braves employee) and his family(who I knew) when he died, with no publicity at all, proved to me that he was a good man, irregardless of what he did on the baseball field - and that didn’t count the autographed balls he gave away (I had one myself which was lost over here in a move). So, he is black - so what? He is a good man and worthy of respect on that basis. How about give Vick the same chance, judged on the basis on what he does and not his relatives, judged on what he does as a man and not his color. It all seems almost hysterical (as in hysteria, not funny)to me the passions that are focused on this stuff with his cousin. 3) Regards the pic of Cho in the website - trust me, there will be no international bombing plots against the American citzenary of the USA based on which pic is associated with a story on the AJC or any other sports website. That isn’t how they recruit here. My experience here would indicate that the AJC online sports stories about the Atlanta Falcons are not a high priority for international terrorists (now, the EPL is a different story :-) ). Besides, his pic with the guns has already circulated, it is old news. Iraq and local bombings are actually bigger news internationally. Chok Dee
By Najeh Davenpoop
May 12, 2007 2:44 AM | Link to this
Wow. So let met get this straight: according to you, Honest Abe, it’s perfectly reasonable for you to make the completely unsubstantiated assumption that I think #7 is a victim of his race, but it’s completely unreasonable for me to assume that you want to see him go to prison for the crimes for which he has not yet been charged, even though more than half your posts on the Falcons blogs have some sort of negative implication about #7. Funny, because all I’ve ever said is that we should wait for the legal system to find a man guilty of a crime before we call for his employer to suspend or release him from his contract. I’ll keep your idiotic double-standards in mind the next time I mistakenly start reading one of your posts.
I think the entire culture in our country of idolizing athletes and holding them to a higher standard is misguided. But even if I were to hero-worship #7, as you stupidly seem to think, it would be much better than feeling joy in another man’s problems, self-inflicted or not. Oh, did you never say that you enjoyed seeing Vick going through his off-field problems? Sorry, you must have just implied that. My mistake.