Michael Vick decided to get a head start on prison life by surrendering to U.S. Marshals on Monday, three weeks before he was to be sentenced for a federal dogfighting conspiracy charge. Vick, who pleaded guilty in August after three co-defendants pleaded guilty and agreed to cooperate with authorities, decided to begin serving his sentence well before Judge Henry Hudson decides how long that sentence will actually be on December 10.
I understand the "rip off the Band-Aid fast" approach to life; It's going to hurt, but the sooner you start something dreadful, the sooner you can get it over with and move on with your life.
Yet I'm also a fan of delaying the horrible inevitable for as long as possible.
Prison is prison. It isn't a spa treatment at a five-star hotel.
It's not like foregoing your senior year of college and declaring early for the NFL draft. You're not getting a head start on a life infused with multi-million dollar contracts and endorsements, scantily clad women, VIP status, parties with the stars and lines like "Alfred, I think I'll drive the Lamborghini today."
Despite what Elvis led us to believe, jail ... does not rock.
No, starting prison early means one gets a head start on orange jumpsuits and bunking with guys named Bubba and "Finger-Licking Sal."
And those communal showers ... not so hot.
Why did Vick voluntarily sign up for the prison life, albeit an inevitable, early?
The general theory is starting prison early is a way for Vick to show the judge he's owning up to his mistakes and that he genuinely feels remorse and therefore may be rewarded with a lighter prison sentence.
Yet, according to Ronald Bacigal, a University of Richmond law professor specializing in criminal law and criminal procedure, there's not a real direct benefit to the move. "I don't think there's any benefit except getting (the sentence) started," Bacigal said. "I would think he's purely thinking about timing as far as when he can get back to his football."
What's most shocking about Vick's move is that he's voluntarily heading to jail a few days before Thanksgiving. A holiday which could have been his last time to be surrounded by family, friends, and food that doesn't taste like cardboard for a long time.
Then again, had Michael Vick stuck around for Thanksgiving this year, when his family gathered around the table, bowed heads to reflect on the gifts they've been blessed with ... what would Michael Vick have said?
Hmmmm:
"Dear Lord, I'm thankful to be an NFL quarterback, playing the sport I've loved since childhood ... Oh. Wait. I'm suspended from the NFL ... indefinitely ... Well, I'm thankful for my $130 million contract with the Atlanta Falcons ... Although I am suspended ... indefinitely ... without pay ... and I might have to repay the Falcons nearly $20 million in signing bonuses ... and I'm being sued for more than $4 million by banks claiming I defaulted on loans ... Nonetheless, I'm thankful for my ride-or-die friends, who have my back no matter what ... like the ones who turned on me in court ... Damn. This turkey's getting cold ... well, I'm thankful for the fact my ball handling skills will ensure I don't fumble the soap in prison. Amen. Let's eat."
1. It doesn't matter whether he starts his now or later, whatever the sentenced that handed down to him, should leave a lasting impression on his life. When we break the law, there are consequences that need to be paid. I commend him for choosing to go in early, because in early could really mean an early release. I really hope that he learns something from this life experience, because when this scene plays out, he need to be the one who got something out of all of this, and when he have kids, he can teach to them what he learned from this life experience.
William R. Hunt Jr. at 11:32AM on Nov 20th 2007