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A comeback story

Three years ago, Michael Vick was sitting in prison, making 12 cents an hour and stuck helplessly behind bars as his life fell apart.

Monday night, he electrified the country with a football performance for the ages. He threw for 333 yards and four touchdowns, while tacking on two touchdowns and 80 yards rushing for good measure. His six-touchdown total tied an NFL single-game record, and he invented the 300-50-4-2 club.

Michael Vick may have been one of the most hated figures in sports, but it is difficult to ignore a comeback like that - especially because Vick seems to have a penchant for dramatic turnarounds.

Vick grew up in the projects of Newport News, Va., in an area where crime and poverty were the status quo. His mother worked two jobs and his father spent long days in the shipyard to make ends meet. Statistically speaking, the odds were good that he'd end up in jail - his little brother did.

But Vick seemed to find a way out. He was ridiculously fast and could throw a tight spiral - a combination that netted him a full ride to Virginia Tech. Vick left Tech after two years as the Falcons' first pick in the NFL draft. He may have had the bad sense to become a Hokie, but the man could play football. He quickly became the best rushing quarterback in the game and rose to NFL stardom.

Vick had escaped his past but could not let it go. He stayed close with his childhood friends and spent $30,000 a month paying their expenses, buying their houses, cars and boats. In a way, he displayed a kind of loyalty that might be admired given different circumstances. If his story ended there, this column could have been a celebration of a guy who stayed true to his roots.

Everyone knows, however, that the story keeps going. Vick spent money on more than just friends and family. He funded an illegal dog-fighting ring, forcing pitbulls to spar until their bloody deaths. When Vick's operation was busted, "Bad Newz" became more than just the name of his kennel.

The "friends" he had stuck by betrayed him, ratting him out to law enforcement. Vick's claims of repentance seemed hollow, particularly after he was caught using marijuana during his trial. He was sentenced to 23 months in prison.

His fans left, his team released him, and his sponsors ran as quickly as he once did. Sports Illustrated estimated that Vick's annual income in 2006 was $25.4 million. By 2008, he was declaring for bankruptcy.

Vick got caught dog fighting in a country where people treat pets like family members. Not surprisingly, people were outraged - Vick squandered millions of dollars on stupidity. Vick's 23-month sentence was harsh compared to the typical probationary period most people receive when convicted of dog-fighting. He was careless, selfish and criminal, though, so jail was understandable.

But once he completed his time in jail, people were still outraged. He had paid his debt to society, but apparently not to Roger Goodell. Vick was reinstated to the NFL only after serving a suspension, and fans heavily protested his return.

I understand the backlash against Vick, but not the extent of it. So many NFL players put other humans in jeopardy by drunk driving, but they are rarely as vilified for charges of driving under the influence. Ray Lewis was linked to another man's murder, but that didn't stop EA Sports from sticking him on the cover of Madden NFL 2005. Killing pitbulls is bad, but at least Vick was not killing people.

Furthermore, I would pull for any ex-convict to turn his life around. Why should Vick be any different? Society wins if bad guys become good, but that is an infrequent occurrence. The BBC reported that 60 percent of released American prisoners return to prison. If Vick has found a way to become part of the minority that can stay out, why would I pull against him?

The law grants prisoners second chances, and NFL fans should do the same. Still, Vick needs to capitalize on his second chance. The dazzling performances may be back. I'm sure the endorsement deals and sponsors will be back. But Michael Vick is not back just yet. A good season and a great game will not solve his problems - the solution will be changing his life outside the game.

Please, Vick, no more killing animals. No more flipping fans the bird. No more calling yourself Ron Mexico and getting hit with lawsuits for lying about herpes - seriously, don't do that again. And please no more dependence on the friends that brought you down.

I may not like Vick as a person, but I can't stay away from a comeback story, and Vick's has the chance to be a good one. He grew up with nothing and then had everything, only to have nothing again. Now he seems to be on the brink of having everything once more.

I just hope he keeps it this time.

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