America's Most Wanted

Never mind the fact that Michael Dwayne Vick has failed to live up to the expectations that accompany the highest paid contract in NFL history to date.

Never mind the fact that in seven seasons in the League he's yet to ever complete more than 60 percent of his passes, throw for more than 20 touchdowns or have a passer rating higher than a B- by even the most generous of collegiate grading standards.

Never mind the fact that in a single off season he's been a part of two potentially image devastating scandals that have been sandwiched around a horrific shooting at his Alma mater.

Despite all of that, Michael Vick is still the brightest, most entertaining, creative, explosive, intriguing player in the National Football League.

Just as another prolific young star found out the hard way, it's not easy being a well-known and generously paid African-American professional Global Icon. However, just as that other well-known and generously paid African-American professional Global Icon quickly figured out; the cure for such a perplexing position is winning and doing what he does best-- ENTERTAINING THE PAYING FANS!

In a recent interview with a Washington radio station, (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18783681/) Clinton Portis said "I don't know if he was fighting dogs or not, but it's his property, it's his dog," Portis told WAVY-TV. "If that's what he wants to do, do it. I think people should mind their business."

Now although I don't support animal cruelty in anyway, I do agree with the premise of what the former University of Miami running back is proposing. Essentially, it's not my place or any fan's place to judge what the outstanding community activist, Vick, does in his spare time. However, if the media feels the need to publicize his off-season ventures, there should be an equal platform for the charity work that the VICK Foundation did during the past year, or the amazing amounts of money that he doled out for the families of the Virginia Tech massacre, or the work Vick does with the Boys & Girls Club of the greater metropolitan Atlanta community, or the dozens and dozens of other great things that Vick does in his spare time.

As Lucky 7 embarks on his Golden Season in the National Football League it can be more than expected of him to elevate his level of play and prove all of his critics, doubters, naysayers, conspirators and antagonists wrong by showing why he was the number one draft pick in the 2001 Draft, the recipient of the highest paying contract to-the-date in the NFL on December 23, 2004, and the most sought after figure in the league of shoulder pads and helmets. Although Vick isn't perfect, I feel more than confident acknowledging that none of us are either.

Nonetheless with so much controversy surrounding the made-for-silver screen talent, it will truly be a colossal endeavor that the fleet-footed southpaw prepares to undertake.