Though I can't say they are well staged PR events. Maybe the one in Chicago then the Humane Society whose mission statement is to protect animals is guilty too but here is a good example of what I'm talking about.
Vick speaks with Atlanta-area kids about dangerous dogs
DECATUR, Ga. -- Michael Vick returned to the area that once celebrated his brilliant play on the football field, this time for the first of what he hopes will be dozens of appearances around the country to urge low-income youths to avoid the tragic trail left by dogfighting.
Few got to hear Saturday's message, however.
Vick's visit to a suburban Atlanta community center was largely off limits to the very neighborhood it was supposed to be helping. In an agreement between Vick's handlers and the Humane Society of the United States, only 55 people and one media crew were allowed inside. An Associated Press reporter, videographer and photographer were among the media banished from the property by police.
Most people who live in the largely black neighborhood southeast of Atlanta were unaware of Vick's appearance. Several showed up after the former Falcons quarterback had already left in a black limousine.
"Not too many people knew he was going to be here," said Stan Sutton, who stopped by the New Life Community Center to pick up some clothes and wound up being one of the few invited inside to hear Vick speak. "There would have been a lot more people here than there are now. The whole Eastside would have been here."
Wayne Pacelle, president of the Humane Society, said the group wants to be open and reach as many people as possible with its anti-dogfighting message. But the tightly controlled appearance comes as Vick is trying to rehabilitate his image and ease his path back to the NFL.
"We all realize that he's in a special circumstance," Pacelle said. "We don't want this to be a flash in the pan. We are committed to transparency over the long run and having Michael involved in many community-based events to speak about the issue. I don't want to put words in his mouth, but he wants the opportunity in a controlled setting to make his first statement on the issue. But I'm sure he's going to be speaking out more based on what he had to say today."
<snip>
"He said he did wrong," 17-year-old Stanley Jones said. "Now he's trying to come up with a smarter way to help the whole community, for young people like us, to make a change."
Jones said he appreciated having Vick in an area plagued by drugs and violence.
"You usually don't see that in the 'hood. You don't see someone from the NFL," the teenager said, holding up a pamphlet that was given out by the Humane Society: Dogfighting Hurts.
But Vick's words had more of an impact.
"The thing I got out of it was your past ain't your potential," said Antonio Frazier, a 24-year-old pit bull owner. "Everyone is entitled to redemption. ... Now he wants to stand up and pay for what he's done. He wants to give back to the community."
A leashed dog was taken into the building shortly after Vick arrived, but Pacelle said the animal was kept in a separate room while the quarterback spoke and only brought out for a demonstration after he left. Vick is barred from being around dogs as part of his probation.
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/story/12040067/rssI also read reports to what you're referring to and they specifically says it isn't clear whether he was asked, invited, or refused but will meet with local community leaders. However it is a bit unfair he isn't at one event but has made several appearances that aren't publicized as some PR stunts. The article I mentioned in this post clearly isn't some well-staged event if the kids were surprised to see him but I don't expect to convince you otherwise. I was just responding to what a poster suggested he should be doing something that he is already active in.
Printer-friendly format
Email this thread to a friend
Bookmark this thread
(1000+ posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
