Michael Vick divides Eagle fans

[Mr. Television]

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/14/sp.../15philly.html

Vick Divides a Shocked Philadelphia Fan Base

Published: August 14, 2009

Philadelphia — Fans in this sports-obsessed city were divided over the Eagles’ signing of Michael Vick, but they were united in at least one emotion: shock.

“The whole city was full of people running outside to communicate with other people,” said Tim Quigley, 26, who was at a bar in Philadelphia for a bachelor party when he heard the news via text message.

“I was just stunned, floored,” said Ray Didinger, who started covering the Eagles in 1970 and is now a commentator on Comcast’s postgame show, describing his first reaction to the signing. He was in the press box at Lincoln Financial Field when the news broke during the second quarter of Thursday night’s Eagles-Patriots preseason game, and like many reporters was caught off-guard.

“Whatever contact the team had, whatever time he spent here, whatever conversations he had with coaches, they did an amazing job of keeping that secret,” Didinger said.

Whether or not the suddenness of the announcement had anything to do with Philadelphians’ reaction, Vick’s signing had a polarizing effect.

By Friday morning, Web sites had sprung up, one hawking T-shirts showing that “the football community in Philadelphia welcomes Michael Vick with open arms,” as advertised on the “Vick Love” site, and another encouraging fans to “Sack Michael Vick” and boycott the Eagles and the N.F.L.

Phone lines at local sports talk radio stations were jammed with fans who wanted to talk about Vick’s conviction and 19 months of incarceration for organizing a dogfighting ring.

“It’s so emotional because people have such strong feelings toward their pets,” said John Maxymuk, author of three books about the Eagles. He noted that the reaction from callers on talk radio was “very strongly negative.”

Regan Tilton Tighe, 28, was on vacation in Sea Isle City at the Jersey Shore when she heard the news via text message.

“I cried,” said Tilton Tighe, who said she was a lifelong Eagles fan. “Now I have to hate the Eagles. Now I don’t have a team to root for anymore. There’s no possible way I could ever root for them again. It makes me sick.”

Tilton Tighe owns a four-year-old boxer, volunteers for New Jersey Boxer Rescue and bought her dog an “I Hate Michael Vick” T-shirt when he was first charged with dog abuse. She had accompanied her husband, a season-ticket holder, to Eagles home games. He won’t be selling his tickets, she said, but she won’t be going with him anymore.

Kevin Caviston, 33, of Barrington, N.J., another Eagles lifer, has offered via his Facebook page to buy out any season-ticket holders who say they’re giving up on the team because of the Vick signing.

“I’m not condoning what he did,” Caviston said. “It’s a horrible thing, but he served time in federal prison. He lost out on the benefit of having a multimillion dollar contract with the Falcons. He’s in bankruptcy.”

Caviston said he supported giving Vick a “second chance” and disagreed with those who said they would abandon the Eagles. “It’s one player on a football team, so it doesn’t make any sense to stop cheering or rooting for a team because of one guy,” he said.

Animal rights activists scrambled to react to the signing.

Susan Cosby, chief executive of the Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty of Animals, said that her organization has worked closely with the Eagles in the past, but that its executives were as shocked as anyone about the advent of Vick.

“I know that some of our supporters think that we tacitly supported this, but the reality is this took us completely by surprise,” Cosby said, noting that dog fighting is a major problem in Pennsylvania and that hers is one of the few animal welfare groups with officers dedicated to stopping dogfighting.

“Our objective remains the same, which is preventing cruelty to animals,” she added.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals and the Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society also expressed disappointment over Vick’s signing.

But the Humane Society of the United States took a different approach. In May, the organization agreed to work with Vick in urban communities to combat dog fighting, most recently accompanying Vick to the South Side of Chicago where he spoke at a church about his involvement in the practice.

“We didn’t endorse his return to the N.F.L. or vouch for his character with any team,” said Wayne Pacelle, president of the Humane Society. “We said we’ll give him a chance to fulfill his pledge to be part of the solution rather than part of the problem,” he added.

“He served his time and now he wants to pursue his livelihood, and he’s also agreed to do de facto community service by reaching out to at-risk kids,” Pacelle said. “It seems hardly inappropriate that he would be given either opportunity.”

Quigley, a dog owner and self-described “fanatical” Eagles fan, agreed. “The guy served his time and I’m O.K. with it,” he said. “My only concern is they have a pieced-together offensive line and a left-handed quarterback coming in. But I’m very much O.K. with it

[Mr. Television]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200...ff/08/14/vick/

Andrew Perloff > INSIDE THE NFL

Eagles fans torn by Vick signing



PHILADELPHIA -- Marisa Scully's family has had Eagles season tickets since they played at Franklin Field in the 1960s. She's gone to every home game since she moved back to Philadelphia from college six years ago. She also trains pit bulls for a living and owns two. Her lifelong devotion to the Eagles is no match for her disgust at the team signing Michael Vick.

"I truly love the Eagles. I cried last night when I heard the news," Scully said. "The only reason I would ever go to a game again is to hold up a sign against Vick and the team. I can never root for this team again."

Scully was one of about 50 protestors outside the Novacare Center in Philadelphia during Vick's introductory press conference. They were holding posters with photos of mangles pit bulls and slogans that included "Shame on the Eagles" and "Hide your Beagle, here comes an Eagle." While Vick, head coach Andy Reid and Vick mentor Tony Dungy explained why the new Eagle is a different person, animal activists weren't buying it.

"Once you understand what dogfighters of capable of, you could never root for them," Scully said. "Dogfighters know they're torturing those animals. You think just because Michael Vick went to a PETA class he learned anything in prison? Anyone who can do that to an animal can't be capable of real remorse."

Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie is also a dog lover and is fully aware of the risk he's taking. He expects and demands that Vick be active in the community and do anything he can to help animal rights activists.

"This is not a slam dunk," Lurie said. "He's going to have to be absolutely committed to being proactive. If we don't have an extremely proactive player off the field, then this is a terrible decision. It's counterintuitive. It's going to be initially disappointing to some people."

The small amount of protestors on Friday may be encouraging for Eagles officials, but the Vick signing was announced late Thursday night and activists had little time to mobilize. Organizers will use any means they can to get the word out moving forward.

"We plan to use Twitter, Facebook ... any social media we can get a hold of to get people out to the stadium to let them know how people feel," said Patricia Palko of South Philadelphia.

Vick's first practice is on Saturday afternoon and many of the protestors who were there Friday plan to return -- and they're bringing friends.

"I'd be surprised if this thing didn't grow tremendously over the next several weeks," picketer Maryanne Aros said. "Hopefully it will only get worse for the Eagles. They have to understand how we feel. We really care about this team and this feels like a betrayal."

The Vick era is under way in Philly. The community will be watching to see if Vick fulfills the commitment Lurie, Reid and Dungy expect from him, to act socially responsible and try to make up for some of the damage he caused. But for many dog lovers, that just won't matter. Even if they bleed green, they'll never be able to follow a team that signed Vick.

[browneyes106]

“I’m not condoning what he did,” Caviston said. “It’s a horrible thing, but he served time in federal prison. He lost out on the benefit of having a multimillion dollar contract with the Falcons. He’s in bankruptcy.”

Caviston said he supported giving Vick a “second chance” and disagreed with those who said they would abandon the Eagles. “It’s one player on a football team, so it doesn’t make any sense to stop cheering or rooting for a team because of one guy,” he said.

I agree with this guy. I do think it is dumb to stop cheering for a team just because of one person.

[Darren J.]

Can't say I'm surprised here. A second chance is one thing, but when ordinary citizens wouldn't get that chance, it makes it all the more sickening.

[Mr. Television]

Originally Posted by browneyes106

I agree with this guy. I do think it is dumb to stop cheering for a team just because of one person.

Yea and I will say that if Vick did sign with the Cowboys I wouldn't have stopped rooting for them. However, everytime Vick got on the field I would boo him and would not wish him well. If that would make me a bad fan then so be it.

[Darren J.]

For the record, the Eagles and Falcons play on 12/6.

[Mr. Television]

Originally Posted by Darren J.

For the record, the Eagles and Falcons play on 12/6.

Where do they play?

[Darren J.]

Originally Posted by Clint Eastwood Fan

Where do they play?

Atlanta

[catlover79]

Originally Posted by Darren J.

Can't say I'm surprised here. A second chance is one thing, but when ordinary citizens wouldn't get that chance, it makes it all the more sickening.

I totally agree!

[Mr. Television]

Originally Posted by Darren J.

Atlanta

That should be very interesting. I bet it get's a national game.

[catlover79]

Originally Posted by Clint Eastwood Fan

That should be very interesting. I bet it get's a national game.

Now THAT will be something fun to watch.

[Big C]

Originally Posted by Clint Eastwood Fan

Scully was one of about 50 protestors outside the Novacare Center in Philadelphia during Vick's introductory press conference. They were holding posters with photos of mangles pit bulls

Pit bulls have been known to maim, hurt, and even kill people. I'm amazed that a lot of these people seem to treat them as good, gentle creatures.

[Darren J.]

Originally Posted by Big C

Pit bulls have been known to maim, hurt, and even kill people. I'm amazed that a lot of these people seem to treat them as good, gentle creatures.

The breed itself is not the problem. It's the owners that are the problem. Most pit bulls are good dogs. Thing is we only hear about the ones that maim, hurt, and kill.

[browneyes106]

Originally Posted by Darren J.

The breed itself is not the problem. It's the owners that are the problem. Most pit bulls are good dogs. Thing is we only hear about the ones that maim, hurt, and kill.

A few of my friends own pitbulls and Rotweilers and they are good trained dogs and very friendly.

[TVFactFan]

Yeah it's been kind of half and half far as the reaction from the fans. The Headline in front of the Philly Dailly News was

"HIDE YOUR DOGS"

LOLLOL