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Nike says no dough for dog-killer Vick
By Gina Spadafori
October 1, 2009
Nike says there’s nothing but freebies for Sick Vick. From USA Today:
Nike is not signing a new endorsement deal with former spokesman Michael Vick of the Philadelphia Eagles, spokesman KeJuan Wilkins said on Thursday.
Nike dumped Vick as an endorser and pulled his products from retail stores in 2007 after the ex-Atlanta Falcons quarterback was charged with bankrolling and running a dogfighting ring.
One of Vick’s agents, Mike Principe, announced during the SBJ/SBD Relay Worldwide Sports Sponsorship Symposium here Wednesday that the newly-signed Eagles QB had signed a new deal with the Swoosh. But Nike’s Wilkins said that wasn’t so.
“Nike does not have a contractual relationship with Michael Vick. We have agreed to supply product to Michael Vick as we do a number of athletes who are not under contract with Nike,” the company said in a statement.
Personally, I would be happy if I never had to type the sadistic dirtbag’s name again. But in the meantime, I like The Onion’s take on it (just to make sure you know, The Onion story isn’t “real” — it’s a joke, but sometimes humor is pretty much on the mark) :
Michael Vick’s pregame pep talk Sunday, in which he recounted the events of a brutal 2004 dogfight between his pit bull terrier Zebro and rival pit bull Maniac, failed to inspire his teammates in any way whatsoever, Eagles team sources reported.
Vick, who was playing in his first NFL game since serving an 18-month prison sentence, called the 10-minute story “really motivational,” and reportedly failed to understand why his graphic recounting of how Zebro ripped out Maniac’s larynx caused teammates to stagger out of the player tunnel and onto Lincoln Financial Field with their heads hanging.
“I don’t know what their problem is, because that story pumps me up every time,” Vick said during a postgame press conference. “It’s a classic underdog story: On one side of the dogfighting pit you had Maniac, who was a beast, and on my end you had Zebro, who was pretty good, but not great. Yet we had trained him hard. We strengthened his hind legs by forcing him to constantly jump at a teasing stick; we emotionally tortured him so that he would attack everything in sight; and from the time he was a little puppy, we toughened him up by beating him with a metal baton.”
Hell isn’t hot enough for Michael Vick, and shame on any organization that helps him to launder his reputation.
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That pregame pep talk really shows his remorse huh ? How can anyone doubt his new understanding of what constitutes cruelty to animals. No more Nike for me,just like Pepsi,Lays,Tastykakes etc. Wouldn’t know how he did in the game because football is out here too.
Comment by Leslie K — October 1, 2009 @ 7:49 am
Leslie … the “pep talk” is a joke. Although as my grandfather used to call it, it’s definitely “kidding on the square.” (Humor that points out the truth.)
Comment by Gina Spadafori — October 1, 2009 @ 7:53 am
I hope whatever $ Vick is making playing pro ball is going toward care and maintenance of his dogs that others have taken responsibility for (Dog Town, foster homes). I won’t be purchasing any sponsored products of his nor watching Eagles football. If they make it to Super Bowl won’t be watching that either.
Comment by Deborah Brown — October 1, 2009 @ 8:57 am
Well, Nike is reading/responding to emails on the issue (I just got back a response to mine) so hopefully they hear enough negative and the sadistic dirtbag will be toast in the endorsement dept.
Comment by straybaby — October 1, 2009 @ 9:34 am
I wouldn’t let that dirt bag wear my products even if he payed me. Thanks for the onion link, I’m about to check it out.
Comment by Jason Merrihew — October 1, 2009 @ 10:07 am
Shold that be “pregame prep talk” or a “pregame perp talk”?
Comment by Janeen — October 1, 2009 @ 11:18 am
As someone on twitter just pointed out to me “Isn’t Mr Vick rich enough to buy his own dam sneakers? Product IS endorsement.” Let’s see if I took my brother and drowned him in a pool with electrodes on his genitals, and begged for understanding because he tormented me, would Nike give me sneakers when I got out of jail if I won the Boston Marathon?
Comment by Nancy Freedman-Smith CPDT — October 1, 2009 @ 12:21 pm
I just sent this email to the Media Relations Dept. at Nike:
“Yes, I have a question. Why do you continue to have anything to do with a dog torturer who has shown no remorse for, or even any comprehension of, his horrific, unacceptable and criminal actions. Do you think that what he did to the dogs was ok? Beatings? Electrocution? Did you read the Sports Illustrated article about what was done to the dogs? Does this kind of sadistic behavior fit it with your “extreme” marketing approach?
I will never, ever buy a product from you.”
Comment by Susan Fox — October 1, 2009 @ 1:19 pm
I must agree. If Nike wants Vick sporting their logo, then they are using him as a marketing tool. It’s a stamp of approval. Bye-bye, Nike.
Comment by Susan — October 1, 2009 @ 1:57 pm
What part of “anything” don’t they understand?
What would be wrong with “Yo, Mike, get your shoes from someone else. Or play barefoot. Whatever. Love and kisses, Nike.”?
Instead….
“Response to your email: (Jeff) - 10/01/2009 03:11 PM
Thank you for your email. Nike does not have a contractual relationship with Michael Vick. We have agreed to supply product to Michael Vick as we do a number of athletes who are not under contract with Nike.
Thank you again for your feedback.
Sincerely,
Nike”
——
A distinction that makes no difference. Hope Jeff doesn’t own a dog.
Comment by Susan Fox — October 1, 2009 @ 3:52 pm
No more Nike here….ever.
Comment by mary francis — October 1, 2009 @ 4:42 pm
Nike still supports Vick or they wouldn’t be supplying him with freebies either. What I don’t understand is how everyone forgets that the dogfighting, was not the worst that happened. There were dogs that were hung in a tree, shot, electrocuted, drowned, had their heads beat repeatedly against cement or just plain neglected.
What kind of person does that to any other living thing?
Comment by Joe Smith — October 1, 2009 @ 10:57 pm
A sadistic sociopath without an ounce of empathy for another living creature.
Comment by Susan Fox — October 2, 2009 @ 6:59 am
And he KEEPS making money off of his notoriety:
Vick gets reality show on BET:
http://www.latimes.com/enterta.....5359.story
Comment by The OTHER Pat — October 8, 2009 @ 1:28 pm
For me, it’s not that Vick ran a dog fighting organization. That, he admitted, was a stupid mistake that he served time for. He paid that debt to society. The thing with Vick is the way he stood by while puppies were cruelly killed, if not assiting in the killings himself. Electrocution. Drowning. Smashing heads open. There is no way to pay that sort of debt off other than a lifetime of cruel poverty and brutal humiliation. But maybe he could appear in heartfelt TV ads for the Humane Society? No forget that, it would just be a bad joke. No way should he continue to be a hero to kids.
Comment by easong — November 8, 2009 @ 9:38 pm