The showdown that wasn't

Sunday was supposed to feature an epic showdown in Philadelphia. Donovan McNabb, the longtime quarterback of the Eagles, returned to town with his new team, the division rival Washington Redskins. And he was supposed to be facing Michael Vick, who is probably the most polarizing athlete playing today.

It didn't happen. McNabb was cheered by the crowd early, a sign of respect that some didn't think he would get, and he looked hot early, firing a 31-yard touchdown strike to tight end Chris Cooley to put the Redskins up 14-0. But the rest of the game was underwhelming. McNabb finished with a win for his team, but went 8-for-19 for 125 yards that touchdown to Cooley and an interception. He completed just two passes for 10 yards in the second half... not exactly a convincing show of force.

As for his opponent, Vick, that matchup was short lived. The NFL's offensive player the month of September, Vick was pounded on his way to the goal line in the first quarter and never returned. Kevin Kolb, the man he displaced in week one, had a weak and uneven performance — so far the trademark of Kolb's play — at the Eagles fell 17-12 at home.

I, for one, was disappointed. I was disappointed not to get to see Vick play more than anything, which is something I never thought I'd be saying four years ago. While Vick remains a polarizing figure, I, for one, am proud to see he has gotten his life back on track.

There are some that still wish Vick ill because of his involvement with dog fighting. I can understand the outrage that still exists, but I think it is misplaced. We should, in fact, be celebrating Vick as an example of how the justice system in this country can work.

Vick, despite his class status, wealth, and fame, was convicted of a crime. He was forced to forfeit a lucrative contract and went bankrupt. He served 19 months in jail and spent a further amount of time on probation. Since he's been out, Vick has been an avowed spokesman for the humane society and, by all accounts, has rehabilitated his behavior and approach to life. Now he is rebuilding his career, and doing it in a spectacular way. If that isn't what we hope to see when we send people to prison, I don't know what is. And in a world where celebrities often catch every break imaginable and squander them, it is refreshing to see someone who was punished for his crimes and fought to make amends.

As Christians, we should be celebrating those that work for redemption. Who knows if Vick is a person of faith, but he is an example of the wages of sin and what it takes to get back on the right path. A cornerstone of faith is forgiveness. We receive God's forgiveness even though we could never do anything to deserve it, shouldn't we extend that same courtesy to someone who is working so hard to atone for his misdeeds?

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Burial a courtroom drama with heart

Image
Willie Gary (Jamie Foxx) is a brash trial lawyer who is good at rallying a jury to his cause. Jeremiah O’Keefe (Tommy Lee Jones) is a quiet grandfather who is trying to ensure the business his family built remains viable after he’s gone. These two don’t appear to have much in common on the surface. But when they’re brought together by young lawyer Hal Dockins (Mamoudou Athie) brings them together, a connection is formed over their shared background of working hard to become self-made men. And it turned out that Willie was just who Jerry needed in his corner to win the fight of his life. The new Prime Video film The Burial, which opened in theaters October 6 and started streaming October 13, captures that trial against the Loewen Group that changed the course of their lives. The film is based on the true story and covers the trial, but more importantly captures the relationship between the men. The film plays out like a traditional courtroom drama. Foxx is solid as Willie Gary, while Ju...
Read more

Broncos Draft Targets

Image
  The NFL Draft is just a few days away. On April 25, the Denver Broncos will head into the draft in the midst of something of a rebuild. In the draft, the Broncos have the No. 12 pick in Round 1, then have a Third Round Pick, Fourth Round Pick, three Fifth Round Picks, a Sixth Round Pick, and a Seventh Round Pick. So, what might they be targeting? Let's dive in and look at possible positions. Quarterback : The team clearly needs a long-term quarterback. Jarrett Stidham and Ben DiNucci are there but the team could certainly use someone else. Could they move up for Drake Maye or J.J. McCarthy? Yes, they could. Will the take Bo Nix at 12? It's possible. Or will the Broncos wait until next off-season to make a move? Anything is in play for the Broncos in 2024, but quarterback is surely a need. Tight End: The team brought back Adam Trautman and still has Greg Dulcich, but it's still a need. Dulcich hasn't been able to get on the field and Trautman hasn't been great. Co...
Read more

Favorite Westerns, No. 43

Image
  Do you like a good Western? It's a classic genre in film and this year I've decided to look at some of my favorite Westerns. So, join me each Friday as I count down my favorite Westerns from No. 50 to No. 1. Rooster Cogburn : [ watching Mattie ford the river hanging on the back of her horse] By God. She reminds me of me. True Grit (1969) Starring : John Wayne, Kim Darby, Glen Campbell, Robert Duvall, and Dennis Hopper Director : Henry Hathaway About: This is the third straight week with a film from Wayne. As you might guess, we're not done. As I've mentioned, he sets a standard for the genre. Here, we seen him bring to life an iconic character. This one is based on a novel, and it has endured. He's great as Rooster Cogburn, so good that he got a sequel in the same character. But this is a later film in his career. This is a different, more grizzled Wayne. He's still quite good and this is a film that really has stood the test of time. It's not the only ve...
Read more