Vick against Miami Weekend!

Watch a Virginia Tech football game this season. Just one. And tell me the impressions you get about Marcus Vick.

Marcus Vick was convicted in May 2004 for "contributing to the delinquency of a minor." More than one really - 3 counts for each of the 14 and 15 year old girls he was drinking with at a party. I should state at this point that Virginia Tech did not do anything at this point. Then he gets stopped by police for speeding and was found with marijuana in his possession. Virginia Tech, at this point, suspended him for a year.

So watch one game of Virginia Tech football - and see the praise that everyone heaps upon this guy. See if you get any sense that this kid is trouble, or troubled... I bet $100 that you don't.

Every VT game should be renamed the Vick Accolade show. They talk about Michael Vick and Marcus Vick, how they are similar, how they are different, how they dress, and on and on... Any opportunity is taken to talk about how great the Vick's are.

I am watching the Virginia Tech/ Miami game right now (by the way - the new orange-sleeved jerseys for VT? Rach put it best when she said "It looks like they are wearing floaties.") VT is #3 and Miami is #5. The announcers have touted Vick all night. Up until this point Miami has dominated the game. In the first half Miami was controlling the ball because "they have to keep the dangerous Vick on the sidelines." And when Vick is on offense, he can do no wrong. I saw him throw a ball out of bounds and I swear the commentators complimented Vick on his accuracy. He throws an interception and the announcers make the excuse that it is only his 9th game (completely disregarding the fact that it's his 9th game because he was suspended all last year). In the first half he had one completion out of ten attempts for six yards, and two turnovers. That's about as bad of a first half anyone could have. But oh, you wait. The "unflappable Marcus Vick" will certainly save the day. I have heard that he doesn't get rattled, and he is unflappable a number of times this evening...he just fumbled early in the third quarter. How unflappable.

And these games are also usede to constantly relive and discuss Michael Vick and his accoplishments, and utter greatness. I wonder if anyone's told them that he has about a 50% completion percentage in the NFL... that's not good.

Now I am not saying that Marcus is a bad player, all I am asking is why do people GUSH over him like he is this fantastic player and person. Raphael Palmerio will be forever known as a steroid user - but Marcus Vick - convicted of drug possession and gettin' it on with 14 year olds - is now a swell guy (by the way, I have the same exact problem with Kobe Bryant). And the great Marcus Vick just fumbled in his own end zone to give Miami another touchdown. That's 4 turnovers by him but on the bright side, I bet the announcers will tell me how he led Miami on a great scoring drive.

The announcers just said he wanted to see the "real Marcus Vick." Well fire him up a doobie, and bring in the pre-teens and the booze! That's the real Marcus Vick, isn't it? Maybe not, but it's part of it - and it is completely IGNORED. Maybe I am a but biased because of my dislike for Virginia Tech in general, but I don't think I am the only one who is sick of the constant praise of this kid (who just fumbled again, by the way) with no mention at all that he was suspended. Just that he didn't play last year.

And just while I am thinking about it - what the hell is "Beamer Ball?" The only explanation I get is "trying to score using offense, defense and special teams." Now I am not a college football coach, but I would imagine that all coaches try to create ways to score in all 3 phases. I seriously doubt Frank Beamer invented this concept, yet somehow he gets this weird credit for it. And how arrogant are his facial expressions? No matter what is called on him he seems shocked - SHOCKED that it happened... noooo not Beamer Ball.

Mr. Unflappable just threw another interception. 13:00 left in the last quarter. Oh my goodness! He completed a pass! The announcers are gushing again. "Look at that release." Yep - he's thrown 2 interceptions, fumbled 4 times (1 for a Miami touchdown) and completed maybe 5 passes all night. But tell me more about his perfect, beautiful, quick release...

Tech will lose badly. They will lose their #3 ranking. They won't go to the National Championship. But don't worry, announcers... not Marcus Vick can "come back" after a tough loss, and just continue to build on his legend.

I'm sure I'll hear all about it.

And just for good measure, we are told that the Falcons (whose QB is Michael Vick) play Miami tomorrow. Well, hell. It's just a Vick vs. Miami weekend.

Woo hoo.