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Tuesday, March 20, 2007

The Real Michael Vick

The Michael Vick you read about in the press is not the Michael Vick that teammates, friends and community members know. The media, in its never ending desire to tarnish his image and derail his career, only presents negative occurrences mixed with half truths.

While Mr. Vick is normally not one to hype his community involvement and charitable acts, it is now in his best interest to at least let people know about some of the endeavors in which he has been involved. Unfortunately, although Mr. Vick would clearly prefer to allow his off the field work to remain behind the scenes, the media has forced his hand.

With that in mind, last week Vick launched his most recent effort to help the community.

"Maybe this will offset some of that attention I've been getting, whether positive or negative," Vick said while sitting in a crowded wine-tasting area at The Tasting Room, the restaurant of which he is the main shareholder of three investors. "It's good for people to see that I'm giving back to the community, where people can see me trying to do something that's positive. There's a lot of people speculating about things I do that are not so positive."

This is the type of thing that can exponentially make amends to Vick's image in respect to the community, which took a hit last year when Vick left the field after a loss, and in a fit of frustration thrust his middle fingers randomly in the air. Unfortunately, the media portrayed it as if Vick were intentionally flipping off the fans. Well, now Vick is giving something back.

"Opening this restaurant and an adjoining wine store with business partners Earnest Greer and Frank Jenkins, in an area Vick deemed as "underserved," is part of a plan to establish a better relationship with the local community. Four similar restaurants are planned in different parts of the metro area, as are a handful of more civic enterprises, Vick said."

We read "underserved" to generally mean a low income (and probably high minority) area. For establishing a business venture in such an area, we feel compelled to tip our derbies to Mr. Vick and his associates.

What better way to give back to the community than to establish a high-end restaurant/wine bar and an adjoining wine store in a low income section of town. This is something that the community needs and has clearly been demanding. And Mr. Vick, despite the attempts by the media to ruin him, is the one that came through for the community.

Many other athletes have opened taverns, restaurants and all sorts of businesses in an effort to capitalize on their names and secure revenue streams for after retirement.

Mr. Vick, on the other hand, chooses to create opportunities for lower income communities to partake in gourmet food and wine.

The next time you read the media attempt a character assassination on Mr. Vick remember: He is bringing some wonderful pinot grigios to the hood.

And flipping the bird, bringing secretly compartmented water bottles on planes and herpes can't undo all the good!

10 comments:

Freezer said...

None of which changes the fact that he's not even the best Falcon QB.

nation_of_islam_sportsblog said...

"None of which changes the fact that he's not even the best Falcon QB. "

Sir, we have to disagree. While DJ Shockley has the potential to be an excellent NFL QB, and is extremely athletic; Vick is still the preeminant signal caller on the squad.

The HCIC said...

East Point is a minority... okay, I'll say it... Black area. But is not necessarily poor. It's pretty middle class. Probably more working middle class than professional class, but not exactly poor. LOL, did you think a minority community had to be poor to be underserved? Silly Nation...

nation_of_islam_sportsblog said...

"Probably more working middle class than professional class, but not exactly poor."

Ma'am, thank you for correcting us. But this changes nothing. Vick donating a a restaurant and wine bar to a working class neighborhood is still the type of thing that builds bridges between communities. Now, if he'd only put a Robb and Stuckey furniture store and a Jaguar dealership there, the community would have everything they need.

whocares said...

Wait, who said he was "donating" anything?

He's starting this to turn a profit. There's nothing wrong with that, but opening a restaurant doesnt make you Mother Theresa all of a sudden.

nation_of_islam_sportsblog said...

"Wait, who said he was "donating" anything?"

Ma'am, huh?

He said he is doing this to give back to the community. We just assumed. Are you saying he has opened an upscale restaurant/wine bar in a working class neighborhood with the intention of capitalizing on his name to make a profit?

I dunno, that doesn't jibe with his stated goal of giving back to the community. So, we are just going to assume he this is a charitable endeavor.

whocares said...

Oh, well, I stand corrected then. Since he SAID he was doing this to give back to the community then I guess it must be true.

What better way to give back to the community than to open up a high end restaurant that the majority of the people cant afford to enter!! Great plan Mike.

Or are you suggesting that these places will have cheaper prices so those in the hood can afford it? I didnt see that mentioned. If that is the case, then they are planning on not making a profit and plan that the restaurant will lose money (in the hopes of rejuvenating the area). But why is he a SHAREHOLDER in a company designed to lose money and who are these INVESTORS willing to put money in this? People making charitable donations are generally not referred to as INVESTORS. But maybe that's what they call them in da hood.


What part of this is "giving back to the community"?

nation_of_islam_sportsblog said...

"Since he SAID he was doing this to give back to the community then I guess it must be true."

Sir, THANK YOU! Now, we are on the same page.

"What better way to give back to the community than to open up a high end restaurant"

Not just a restaurant, but a wine store, too!

"What part of this is "giving back to the community"?"

It's all giving back to the community. Imagine the joy it will bring folks to call relatives and friends and say, "I just bought some wine from Michael Vick". It's all about improving moral and helping develope a sense of self worth.

Thanks, MIKE!

whocares said...

Nothing says "giving back to the community" like selling $300 bottles of wine to people using WIC stamps!!!


Work dat gubment Toby!!!

Anonymous said...

whocares

find a dictionary and look up the word "satire"

It'll save you some embarrassment.