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Michael Vick back with Nike, celebs tweet their opposition
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Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick was a Nike spokesperson at the beginning of his career, but the company dropped him in 2007 after he was accused of abusing, torturing, and executing dogs as part of his illegal dogfighting ring. On Friday, Nike announced that they had re-signed Vick as a spokesman. "Michael acknowledges his past mistakes," Nike reps told CNN. "We do not condone those actions, but we support the positive changes he has made to better himself off the field."Nike, who also gave disgraced golfer Tiger Woods a brand spanking new endorsement deal, publicly denied working with Vick in 2009, but have since added him back to the roster.
As can be expected, many football fans (and Nike customers) weren't pleased with the news -- including some high-profile celebrities. "Big Bang Theory" star and Humane Society supporter Kaley Cuoco simply wrote, "Dear Nike, I'm disappointed."
Sophia Bush, entering her ninth season on "One Tree Hill," had a few choice words as well. "NIKE just signed Michael Vick!?" she tweeted. "Done. Over. Lost customer. NEVER wearing Nike again. #AnimalAbuseIsUnforgivable. The propensity to be cruel and ruthless toward a defenseless animal is sick, twisted, & unforgivable. #NOTaRoleModel."
Jenna Dewan, who will star in this fall's "The Playboy Club" on NBC, re-tweeted Bush's sentiments, adding, "Yes, I do believe in forgiveness, but that does not mean I need to support him as an inspirational figure."
It's been a good week for Vick. At Sunday's 2011 BET Awards show, he was named Athlete of the Year in a category sponsored by Subway. Facebook groups cropped up immediately, including "Boycott Subway for Supporting Michael Vick" and "NO WAY Subway."
When a company chooses a spokesperson or endorses talent, that company is essentially saying that the talent represents the values of their brand. Do you think Nike made a mistake in supporting Vick? Sound off in the comments below.
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Get over it. He screwed up and deserves a second chance. Look at Ben Roethlisberger, he ***** up every season but people forgive and forget.
To me -it just seems like a reward for staying out of trouble. He is no role model or should he ever be. There are plenty of people who do nothing wrong in their lives and can be more inspirational to people. But as a notable athlete he gets a "second chance". Once you do something unforgivable -sorry, you lose your chance to cash in on your notriety. NIKE you have got this wrong -it doesn't matter how much time Vick kept clean -his hands will always be dirty!
Is this where our future is heading? Are these the morals we need to teach our children? Abuse and misuse animals and get rewarded for it? God gave us animals for companionship and not to abuse! C'mon Nike I believe you being one of the biggest manufacturers in the world - should know better! Hope your sales DROP!!!!!!
I think its unforgiveable! It was cruel and heartless! I personally think he should be hanged by his nuts! All Nike is doing is supporting his actions! And its ignorant to say "get over it", because if it were your pets you would be pissed. Shame on them both & the people that agree with them!
That's it for me. No more Nike purchases. Will trash what I have and send it back to Nike Headquarters.
You can hate Michael Vick, but him getting caught was the best thing that could ever happen to the fight against dog fighting. Honestly I had no idea that there was this other world until his arrest. Thugs will think twice now that they have seen what he lost. He paid dearly (jail time, millions of dollars) - others have done in my opinion worse and have had their hands slapped. I'm not condoning his actions at all. However, he paid the penalty that he was sentenced to and now appears to be a better person. He has done spots on animal cruelty and shared his story with kids on what not to do. So I'm fine with Nike re-signing him. And I also get if you will never forgive him. He did some extremely bad things. But as many have said before, athletes should not be considered roll models, just like Charles Barkley said.
I don't even know who these people are, but I know who Mike Vick is and I like how he plays football. Get over it people, Mike Vick is an icon.
Bottom line is we have not the power to put the man in Heaven or Hell. God is the final judge for everyone young and old, and as people on this earth we don't have the right to judge a man by his past deeds. We all have done dirt, and if you had done this wouldn't you have wanted another chance? Answer honestly
Come on people. It was just a dog! I'm not saying I condone his actions but....we're talking about a dog! Not a human being. Geto over it!
Wow. Cannot believe there are ppl on here saying get over it and that it was just a dog. If you could care less about animals than that is your loss - but consider this and tell me whether you think he should be a role model:
In a study of families where child abuse was reported, 88% of the abusers also hurt animals. In 1/3 of these homes, the children were abusive to animals. Children who abuse animals are more likely to commit violent acts against humans later in life. Almost every serial killer in recent times has confessed that they started out by torturing and killing animals.