Sunday night on “60 Minutes, James Brown — one of the best sports journalists out there — will handle the first interview with new Philadelphia Eagle Michael Vick. CBS scored the Vick interview, his first since he admitted two years ago to running a dog fighting ring — a crime that landed him in federal prison for 18 months and got him suspended from the NFL.
Here are a couple of excerpts from the show:
Brown » “And the operation, Michael, that you pleaded guilty to bankrolling, to being a part of, engaged in barbarous treatment of the animals — beating them, shooting them, electrocuting them, drowning them — horrific things, Michael. What about the dogs? What about the dogs?”
Vick » “It’s wrong, man … I feel, you know, some tremendous hurt behind what happened. And, you know, I should have took the initiative to stop it all … I didn’t — I didn’t step up. I wasn’t a leader.”
Brown » “So for the cynics who will say: ‘You know what? I don’t know. Michael Vick might be more concerned about the fact that his career was hurt than dogs were hurt.'”
Vick » “I mean, football don’t even matter.”
Vick appeared at his news conference on Friday flanked by Eagles coach Andy Reid, team owner Jeffrey Lurie and mentor Tony Dungy. It was a striking picture that was seen nationally and now the national debate over whether or not Vick should be back in the NFL is over.
Vick seems remorseful and eager to get on and follow the right path. However, he’ll not only face tough scrutiny from the Eagles ownership and coaches.
The Philly fans and media are among the toughest critics in sports. And the reviews early are mixed.
Listening to sports talk radio in Philly — WIP 610 AM and ESPN 950 AM — it was very clear that there was a strong contingent of the fans were against the signing.
Angleo Cataldi and the Morning Team, the top show on WIP, used every possible dog joke you could imagine. But once the jokes were over, the callers were upset the Eagles would add Vick to their roster and was all about the character issue.
Cataldi » “I am a talk show host and I am speechless, this might be the worst move in the history of sports. It is certainly the worst move ever made in Philadelphia sports.”
Though not all the reaction was total gloom and doom.
Legendary Eagles voice Merrill Reese » “This is the most controversial deal ever made in my 30 years of covering sports in Philadelphia. The move could make life rough on Donovan McNabb, because the first time he has a bad game fans will want to see Vick in the game. I do think that the controversy will subside before the season is over. That said, it will take a long time before this city warms up to Vick.”
The ratings for “60 Minutes” should be off the charts. I know it will be in the Delaware Valley.
Jim Williams is a seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer, director and writer. Check out his blog, Watch this! on washingtonexaminer.com.
