VIRGINIA BEACH
The Landstown High School football team got a surprise visitor Monday on the first day of practice: former NFL quarterback Michael Vick.
Landstown coach Tommy Reamon coached Vick at Warwick High School in Newport News.
Vick, who recently ended a 23-month sentence for a dogfighting conviction, didn't discuss his pursuit of a spot with an NFL team, his suspension from the league or his time in jail.
His visit lasted nearly two hours and included participating in passing drills with Landstown's receivers.
"I love working with kids and putting smiles on their faces and being able to help them in whatever capacity that I can," Vick said. "I've been through a lot of experiences in my life and they know it. And for the most part I can help them."
Since his release, Vick has been tutoring Landstown quarterback Larry Joshua. Reamon called Joshua his "next Division I quarterback."
"He's been working real hard this spring and I've told others that this kid will be the real deal," said Reamon, who has coached seven Division I quarterbacks.
Vick also was impressed.
"He's got unbelievable arm strength," said Vick, dressed in a blue windbreaker and shorts. "I just think he needs to learn to control it because that's one of the problems I had when I was young. But he's a smart kid."
Joshua, a 6-foot-1 junior, said Vick has taught him a lot in a short time.
"When coach told me Michael Vick was going to work with me, I was so excited," he said. "He's taught me how to get my arm up, how I need to step when I throw, how to throw the ball in the right spot and worked with me on my footwork.
"He's somebody I can trust since he's been in the league and he's someone who knows coach Reamon."
Reamon, now in his second season at Landstown, has been one of Vick's biggest supporters and visited him in prison. He said he got the idea to invite Vick to practice because it was a chance for his players to hear from a "real-life football player."
"He talked to them about mistakes and doing right," Reamon said. "I talk about it all the time but he represented my message as good as I could even ask for. He helps me sell the message."
Vick showed up when most players were returning from a break. He watched and cheered the players as they went through various running and stretching drills. Then he gathered the team for a 15-minute talk.
Following the talk, Vick and Reamon's son Tommy Jr., a freshman quarterback at Old Dominion, lined up and went through various passing drills with Landstown's receivers. Some were surprised by Vick's delivery since he's been away from the game for awhile.
"He threw a pretty hard ball," said junior Ronald Henderson. "I knew I had to focus on it and keep my eyes on the ball. But it was a great experience and it was really good to see him."
Those drills lasted for nearly 30 minutes before the players broke up for more drills.
Afterward, Vick talked about his message to the team.
"Coach asked me to say a couple of words to them and I told them that they will never be able to relive this again," Vick said. "Football is just a game. It's a game of just going out there and having fun, having camaraderie with your teammates and being accountable to one another. That's what it's all about. That's what makes it the game that it is today."
Larry Rubama, (757) 446-2273, larry.rubama@pilotonline.com
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american ugliness
Reduce sentences for crack addicts.
Lifetime sentences for celebrity dog fighters.
You folks are so shallow.
I don't think Vick deserves to be embraced by society. But I believe that convicted felons have a right to live productive lives, even if that life puts him in the limelight and makes him rich.
Jealousy is ugly, folks.
Fame and fortune come to
Fame and fortune come to those who DESERVE it...Vick is NOT deserving of it...PERIOD!
I AM SICK AND TIRED OF HEARING ABOUT MICHAEL VICK!!!
Why would I want to read about a guy who is as dumb as a post, who is a criminal and got caught torturing animals? And why the h*** would I want him talking to my kids about anything? He is not important!
To all you Michael Vick Supporters:
To all you Michael Vick Supporters: If you would not want Michael Vick around your dog, why in the world would you want him around your kids? Michael Vick has not completely paid his debt; he is on probation and can not vote in the next election. Remember, he lied about his actions from day one. He deserves what he gets. There are consequences after serving a prison term for a felony.
Are you sure about that voting thing?
I mean have you checked with ACORN???????? I mean he might get to vote twice you know.
We are living in a crazy world.
Anyone can see
Vick is only trying to rehabilitate his public image for the sake of getting another NFL team to pick him up=it's all about him. That's the only reason he's become so "civic minded" these days. I doubt that if he had an NFL contract offered to him these kids would have ever met him. Vick is an accomplished liar (isn't that right, Mr. Goodell?) and narcissist who is only interested in as he put's it, "Michael Vick".
Is our society so starved for positive examples, we're turning to the likes of Vick?
So using the logic of some, I would think then it'd be okay to allow other convicted felons to have access to their kids without their prior knowledge or consent isn't it? What if it was someone who wasn't a modern-day gladiator, but some other kind of felon, perhaps a mugger, a rapist or murderer? After they've done their time, shouldn't it be okay to allow them to rebuild their life using public school kids to promote themselves?
All I'm asking is, let the PARENTS have the final say BEFORE it happens
JimmyF
You sure have been active this morning huh. First of all, Vick his not all of a sudden becoming "civic minded." He has held camps, provided charity work and done lots of things for this community and communities around the country well before he was arrested. Second of all, and what you seem to keep harping on is the fact that he is a convicted felon and everyone would feel terrible if it was another type of felon working with their children. No one in their right mind would want a violent offender to be alone with their children, I think everyone would agree with you. But you are missing the point. Vick was with these kids for a short time showing them how to play football, giving them tips, and probably giving them an experience they will remember for the rest of their lives. If you as a parent would actually have a problem with this, then you need to reevaulate I believe, because I am pretty confident not one kid yesterday was complaining. I know what you will say, you should have been informed. Well I've got news for you, you will never be able to know everything that goes on with a high school aged child, even in school.
MV
Well, at least MV has a good PR team, if they reccommended he go to "Mentor" thease high school kids. As some of these commesnts show, people , at least, some people think he is so good and nice, to work with kids. He may be, but remember the saying, 'to treat animals badly,you cannot have a peaceful heart'..................
Real Life Lessons
I've never been a Vick supporter. I've always felt he and his brother were smug and arrogant, and when he flipped off someone during a game and then ran into problems in an airport I decided I didn't care if I ever heard his name again. However, I believe that the best lessons in life can be learned from mistakes and listening to those with personal experience. If his conviction and sentence have made an impact on him and he truly sees where his fame and fortune took over common sense and decency and cost him dearly, then what better person to tell our youth that although the glitz is tempting, its nothing if you sell your soul, that the only way to truly be something is to work hard, do right, give back and never take anything for granted. I think his visit should have been planned differently, but he was never left alone with that team. If he is honestly trying to turn his life around I would think that would make a positive impression.
quarterback you're on your way back
Got God Gang
see all that education is starting to pay off
you're making some wise decisions
suggestion
stay away from the limelight, only let them see you with the children on the field
when you make it back to nfl, well.......there are alot of dog lovers
who play professional sports
quarterback they're goin' kick your tail so keep it between your legs
it's goin' to stay there for awhile
run run run
more later....
" the coach was more interested in boasting about his connection
or looking for a College Coaching Job!
He coached the kids!!!
I rarely comment on any stories on here, but I felt compelled this time. The article does not state that Vick spent hours with them detailing his celebrity status and his prison sentence. It says that he showed the kids how to throw, work on their footwork, and PLAY THE GAME!!! I'm not a proponent of Michael Vick, however, I do believe that he has suffered tremendously (as he will continue to do) for his bad decision making. The fact that he is trying to offer some assistance to young kids and make them better is to be applauded! Another point, for the person who stated they don't want convicted felons near their children, a convicted felon could be serving your kid his next package of McNuggets or delivering a pizza to your front door. People can change! Have you not ever made a bad decision, and had to come back from it? Let the man live his life. He's trying to help the younger generation - and who better to teach than a true NFL quarterback!?!?
No Right to Judge
I agree with you. He received more punishment from the public than the Justice System. I hope he had learned his lesson from this. And I hope he will be allowed to play for a team and shut the haters down. I am not defending him because he's a celebity and his race. I am defending him because he is human, born to make mistakes. We have too many GODS on this websites. But when their children and grandchildren and other relatives faces are posted on this website for breaking the law. We will see who will have the last laugh.
Vick
What gets me, is people thinking Vick did something minor......
If you all ever read about psychos, serial killers, mentally ill people, you would see that they start with animals, by maiming, killing them, they get enjoyment out of it.........that`s what Vick did.......
it is a sick person that does things like that, he did not just bankroll it, or provide a place for it, he was actively involved in the entire thing down to killing the poor animals.......
he is a liar, mentally ill convicted felon........
if he was just an ordinary person, not a star before his downfall......people would be shunning him........he would have a very hard time getting along in life, but no, Vick comes home to a multi million dollar home........give me a break!!
quit praising him because he just knew how to play football.......
I completely agree
I have said from the beginning he should have been treated like an ordinary person. And an ordinary person would have served more time, been fortunate to come back to a home, and would have struggled to find work. We need to stop idolizing these athletes and celebrities and hold them accountable instead of having community celebrate your thug days.
check the facts
I've avoided commenting on anything related to Vick thus far, but I had to step in here. An ordinary person without a prior criminal record would have most likely received far less time in prision. The judge threw the book at Michael Vick. Ask any lawyer or judge and they will tell you that he received a harsh punishment for his crimes. This was not "getting off easy."
I disagree.....
If Vick were an "ordinary" person as you put it, he would have received 12-24 months PROBATION for first offense. No jail time. Some people just wanted to make an "example" of the whole thing. Dog killing and torture is indeed a horrible thing, but there are many other "ordinary"s walking the streets and living in your neighborhood that have done far worse and walked. Fact.
Good Thing
I am a big NFL fan and I have not been a Vick supporter through his problems. I do, however, think this is a good thing - One of the best ways to keep teen age kids out of trouble is someone who has been in trouble telling their story, even more impact that he is an ex NFL player. Since the judge didn't order him to spend his time doing this, it goes along way with me to show he does regret what he's done and is trying to redeem and improve himself. I think he should contact all of the local high schools and come out to a practice at each one - Still not forgiven, but good start. I wish him well.
Huh?
I guess the Virginia Beach Schools System has suspended the requirement for criminal background checks of adult volunteers working with children. Someone should get fired; I'd start with the Football Coach and then the Principal.
The problem is the rules
The problem is the rules have not applied to vick all along