MIKE VICK

By: Brandon Lynd

GROWING UP THE VICK WAY• Born Newport News, Virginia, on June 26, 1980• His parents are Brenda Vick and Michael Boddie, the 2nd of their 4 children• His dad was a sandblaster supporting the family in a bad part of their

hometown filled with drugs and gang activity named Ridley Circle Homes• His parents got married when he was five so he decided to keep the Vick

name• Looked to sports to keep himself from getting involved in the streets• Was nicknamed Ookie by all of his friends

FOOTBALL• Played his first football game at 3 years old• Went to Warwick High School which was coached by Tommy Reamon, a

former NFL pro• The football team had a weak offensive line which made Reamon

encourage Vick to use his legs and his speed• Was one of the most scouted players in High School – a left handed QB• Chose to go to Virginia Tech where he had an undefeated freshman

season• NFL teams loved Vick and his skillset which caused him to be the number

1 draft pick in 2001 by the Atlanta Falcons

NFL

• Vick played for the Falcons, Eagles, Jets, and Steelers• His 2nd year in the league, he led the Falcons to the playoffs and he made it

on the Pro Bowl roster• He played for the Falcons until 2007 which was when his crime was

committed• Would return to the NFL in 2010 with the Philadelphia Eagles in which he had

another Pro Bowl season• Would then play for the Jets and Steelers in back up roles

BAD NEWZ KENNELS DOG FIGHTING

Crime Date Victim PunishmentConspiracy of bankrolling a dog-fighting operation

August 2007 Dogs 1 million dollars in restitution and 23 months in prison

- The Bad Newz dog fighting investigation began in April 2007 with a search of property in Surry County, Virginia- Over seventy dogs were seized with most of them being pit bulls- In July 2007, Vick and three other men were indicted on federal offense and

state felony charges - By August 20, all the defendants on the initial federal charges including Vick

had agreed to guilty pleas under plea bargain agreements- August 24th, the NFL indefinitely suspended Vick without pay- December 10 - Vick is sentenced to 23 months in prison for the investigation

and dogfighting charges by Henry E. Hudson

VICK – THE GUILTY PARTY• April 20th Vick's cousin Davon T. Boddie, 26, is arrested for narcotics . He

gave Vick’s property address at 1915 Moonlight Road as his residence.• April 25th - Police land at 1915 Moonlight Road and discovered evidence

of a possible dog fighting operation• May 27 - ESPN identified Vick as one of the "heavyweights" in the dog

fighting world• July 17th - Michael Vick was indicted by a grand jury for "conspiracy to

travel in interstate commerce in aid of unlawful activities and to sponsor a dog in animal fighting venture".

• “People that are involved in this blood sport are on notice.You can throw your life away by being involved in this," John Goodwin

VICK IN THE MEDIA

This is a popular autobiography that was forwarded by legend Tony Dungy.

This is the cover of his TV show Michael Vick Project that followed him through his life after the dog fighting scandal.

EVALUTATION OF THEORY• I BELIEVE THAT THE THEORY THE BEST SUITS MICHAEL VICK WOULD

HAVE TO BE THE BEHAVIORAL THEORY. KNOWING THAT HE GREW UP IN NEWPORT NEWS, THIS GAVE HIM A FOOT IN THE DOOR TO THE CRIME THAT HE HAD COMMITTED. SEEING AS HE GREW UP WITH ALL OF THE DRUGS AND GANG ACTIVITY THAT HAPPENED AROUND THERE, THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE THAT MICHAEL VICK HAS LEARNED AGGRESSIVE TENDENCIES AND TECHNIQUES THAT INTRODOCUED HIM TO THE DOG FIGHTING WORLD. HIS BELIEF WAS CERTAINLY SOCIALLY REWARDING AS HE WAS SEEN AS ONE OF THE “CHAMPIONS” OF THE SPORT. HIS VALUE SYSTEM BROKE THOSE OF NORMAL VALUES. OTHERS WOULD SEE HIS INVOLVEMENT AS VIOLENT AND NOT ACCEPTABLE. HE COULD HAVE OBSERVED HIS FREIDNS GROWING UP ENGAGING IN THIS TYPE OF BEHAVIOR. HIM BEING INVOLVED LED TO OTHERS WANTING TO BE A PART OF IT AS WELL. THIS IS WHY I SEE MICHAEL VICK FALLING IN THE BEHAVIOR THEORY.