Gwyneth Shaw Photo
Score! Wendell Jeter of Gibbs street snagged a Vick autograph outside Hillhouse.
Pacelle and Vick at Cross.
The NFL’s hottest quarterback made an admission to a throng of screaming fans inside Wilbur Cross High School Tuesday: He’s a haunted man.
Michael Vick quieted an auditorium full of cheering students to tell them about living with the legacy of having run a vicious dogfighting ring that derailed his career.
“It still haunts me to this day, all the wrong things that I did to those dogs,” Vick told the now-silent students. “All I want to do now is help more animals than I hurt.”
The Philadelphia Eagles star visited both Cross and Hillhouse in New Haven as part of a redemption tour. Accompanying him was New Haven native (and former Green Party aldermanic candidate) Wayne Pacelle, the CEO of the Humane Society of the United States.
Vick talked to the kids about what he did to the pit bulls that he bred and trained to fight, then cast off.
Vick told the students that growing up in Newport News, Va., he didn’t know that dogfighting was wrong. He said he ignored advice to stop as he grew into an adult — and became the top pick in the NFL draft. He described how he felt like he was carrying around a dark secret when he was playing for the Atlanta Falcons and flying back to Virginia every weekend to fight his dogs.
One day, when it was time to get rid of some of the dogs, Vick said, he suddenly wondered whether God would judge him for what he had done.
Four days later, he was indicted on federal charges.
“That was my conscience,” Vick said.
Vick pleaded guilty and served nearly two years in federal prison. The NFL suspended him, and the Falcons cut him.
As he prepared to leave jail, Vick said he was looking for a way to atone. He approached the Humane Society about doing outreach. CEO Pacelle said he was skeptical going into their first meeting, but said he was immediately taken by Vick’s penitence.
Pacelle now travels the country with Vick, visiting schools and spreading the message that animal cruelty — from dogfighting to factory farms — is wrong.
Tuesday was Vick’s day off from football, so he woke up early, got on the train and headed for New Haven.
Cops escort Vick from Hillhouse.
Vick told students at Cross and Hillhouse that they should stay away from all forms of violence, and avail themselves of the opportunity to get an education.
“You gotta hold yourself accountable. You gotta be responsible,” Vick said. “Don’t let your environment shape and mold you.”
Vick, whose sincerity has been questioned since he joined forces with the Humane Society, especially now that he’s back in the sports spotlight, came across as genuinely contrite. He called his actions “pointless” and said he was “embarrassed” and “ashamed” at what he’d done.
He added that God is using him to raise awareness of the issue; many states and the federal government have tightened their laws involving dogfighting in the wake of the notoriety surrounding his case.
“If you fight dogs, you’ll get a prison sentence,” he said.
These days, Vick said, what he really wants is to be able to get the dog his young daughter is begging for — something that he’s currently forbidden to do.
Tuesday’s appearances elicited infectious enthusiasm from the students — plenty of cries of “I love you, Michael!” but, surprisingly, no shouts of encouragement for the New York Giants, who lost to the Eagles Sunday night. After both speeches, kids raced to get close to Vick. When he casually referred to one female student as “baby,” there were whoops and howls from the audience.
Will the anti-cruelty message sink in?
“Kids are ready to listen to this guy,” Pacelle said. “I think he has a great message, and I’m just grateful for his participation.”
Vick said he works hard to calm down the school crowds so that his words resonate.
“It’s great to have the opportunity, but the most important thing is bearing down on the message,” he said. “I try to make sure they understand the reason that I’m here.”
Cross junior Vernasia Miller said Vick’s speech made her think. She’s considering starting a Humane Society club at the school, one of the ideas offered during the presentation.
Miller said that some kids think dogfighting is glamorous because of Vick’s association with it, but that his talk hopefully dispelled those thoughts.
“It really made me say we really should stand up and do more things for animals,” Miller said.
Vick said he understands that some people can never forgive him, but that he’ll keep trying to prove that he understands the magnitude of his crimes and wants to make a difference.
“I’m very thankful, and I’m going to take advantage of the opportunity,” he said.
Shutterbugs mobbed Vick’s car outside Cross.