Loading ...
Vick’s First HSUS “Speech” in Atlanta…
Michael Vick, fresh back to the streets of Atlanta, made his first Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) ”sponsored” speech today in inner city Atlanta. Surprisingly, not too many people showed up because no one knew he was coming… what’s the point of getting him to speaking engagements if no one is allowed in or its not publicized…?
From The Charlotte Observer website:
“Michael Vick returned to the area that once celebratd his brilliant play on the football field, this time for the first of what he vows will be dozens of appearances around the country to urge low-income youths to avoid the tragic trail left by dogfighting.
Few got to hear Saturday’s message, however.
Vick’s visit to a suburban Atlanta community center was largely off limits to the very neighborhood it was supposed to be helping. In an agreement between Vick’s handlers and the HSUS, only 55 people and one media crew were allowed inside. An Associated Press reporter, videographer and photographer were among the media banished from the property by police.
Most people who live in the largely black neighborhood southeast of Atlanta were unaware of Vick’s appearance. Several showed up after the former Falcons quarterback had already left in a black limousine.
“Not too many people knew he was going to be here,” said Stan Sutton, who stopped by the New Life Community Center Center to pick up some clothes and wound up being one of the few invited inside to hear speak. “There would have been a lot more people here than there are now. The whole Eastside would have been here.”"
To read the rest of the article, click here.
For more info about the “team” Vick is working with from HSUS, click here.
My question is…with all the stigma attached to the HSUS/Vick partnership, and all the controversy that’s been associated with this deal, why are his appearances not being more publicized and why isn’t more community participation being invited in by the “team?” What’s the point of doing it if no one is allowed in, or the number of people allowed to attend is so low? How are you ever going to reach into the heart of an inner city youth population with only 55 people listening…?
What do you think? Share your thoughts with me in the Comments section.
What insanity! I totally agree with you. HE should be the one demanding widespread publicity before he appears somewhere, especially in neighborhoods such as the one in Atlanta. That way, the public he needs to reach would be “allowed” to attend and hear what he has to say. One wonders if he’s truly been rehabilitated if the scores of folk who need to hear his message aren’t invited. Crazy.
I think they are trying to avoid a media circus and to make sure Vick stays on task. He was well known for flipping off fans and the media in his playing days.
It wasn’t that the event was not well-attended. It was that it was heavily controlled. From the AJC:
“The organization wanted to maintain a “controlled setting” and to avoid “Vick mania,” -Wayne Pacelle, HSUS President and CEO.
This is not about the media. It’s not about publicity. It’s about reaching one kid, one person prone to dogfighting, at a time.
Time will tell how khontrite he really is…
Khyra’s Mom
It just sounds weird to us. I get the ‘one person at a time’ theory, but then is a speech really the way to go about it?
I agree with Fui and Suey. Yeah 1 kid at a time sounds nice, but is it realistic?? I dont think so… I think they need to bring in as many people as possible to these speaking engagements.
1 kid at at time is not what we need right now Carie. We need a massive overhaul of the dogfighting scene in inner cities, we dont have the time to go 1 kid at a time on this one. This is pointless. And irritating. HSUS was willing to take him on but then wants to avoid the media? WTF??
re: “This is not about the media. It’s not about publicity…” ~ oh, please.
HSUS gets negative publicity every time Vick is mentioned nowadays – but it’s still publicity. D&D/AD&D gamers, remember the initial controversy when the public thought kids were actually casting spells? Yep. That bad publicity drove sales through the ceiling.
Publicity = more product/ideas sold = more $$$ in the coffers. At $100M+ in liquid income assets (2008), HSUS is all over that.
HSUS is not getting, and probably will not get, enough from Vick to make it worth their while to partner with him. Their bizarre stance is alienating most dog lovers who despise Vick unconditionally. Anyone who trusts Vick is a sucker. Remember when he smirked at his arraignment and said he didn’t do it?
Just yesterday, he said he could understand all of the anger directed at him, but only “to a certain extent.” He’s far from contrite and far from a changed man. I hope law enforcement watch him like a hawk so he won’t re-start his criminal enterprise.