The Man Who Has Been Through It All

Michael Vick signed a six-year, $100 millioncontract on
Monday to remain with the Eagles for possibly the rest of
his playing days. Despite his checkered past this second
chance is well deserved for the former Atlanta Falcon.

Say what you want, but today we witnessed something extraordinary – a man getting a second chance.

Michael Vick has always been one of my favorite players. He was absolutely electrifying at Virginia Tech, and that sheer athleticism made him a crowd favorite in Atlanta early in his career.

But then he got mixed up with the wrong crowd.

Still a young pup (oops, too soon?), Vick started making headlines for more off-the-field issues than the ones on the field. From his days as Ron Mexico – his alias name after he infected a woman with herpes – to the marijuana bust and dog fighting, Vick was losing his charm and heading down the wrong path in a hurry.

Something must have happened in jail, though. He came out a changed man – he grew up.

Now, he just signed a six-year, $100 million contract, and I, for one, could not be happier for him. While most young people continue down the path of destruction, he recognized where he was headed and changed his life back around. He worked hard to become the athlete that he once was, and now is reaping the rewards.

And kudos to the Eagles and their staff. They all deserve a round of applause for even giving Vick a chance. There were dozens of teams that would have loved to have Vick's athletic ability on the field, but shied away from him because of his checkered past.

Not the Eagles.

They met the problem head-on, realizing everyone deserves a second chance. They laid down the ground rules for Vick, and basically told him that if he didn't follow those rules, he'd be out of a job. And Vick knew this was his last chance.

We're starting to see a similar development in the case of former Ohio St. quaterback Terrelle Pryor and the Oakland Raiders. Oakland took Pryor in the supplemental draft, costing them a third-round pick next year. But the question is, can they keep him out of trouble and on the field? If I were Mr. Pryor, I'd be constantly texting and talking to Vick – a man who has been through it all.

And while some of you might not agree with me, let me be the first to say it: Welcome back to the top, Mike. We missed you. Now just stay on the right path and you'll do great.

After all, everybody deserves a second chance, right?

Caddie Smack

Caddie Steve Williams might want to keep his lips sealed
for a while, after taking credit for Adam Scott's victory at
the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational last weekend.

We all know golfers appear to be rich, pretentious snobs. Maybe it's the fact that they don't interact with fans as much as – say – a baseball player diving into the stands for a foul ball. Perhaps it's the isolation of the game – being alone in the fairway with only your caddie within shouting distance.

But as arrogant as golfers are, nothing compares to an arrogant caddie.

Last week, Steve Williams – former right-hand man to Tiger Woods – was on the bag when Adam Scott won the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational. Instead of being a normal caddie and giving all the kudos to Scott for playing well, Williams decided that he was the reason Scott won, saying, "It was the best win I've ever had."

The best win he's ever had?

Now I'm no Tiger Woods – or Adam Scott for that matter – but I do know it takes a little more than some friendly advice to win a tournament. I'm not putting down the caddie profession, but that's what they're there for – advice.

When I first started playing golf, my dad would give me all kinds of advice. Yet, I could rarely shoot below 110 over 18 holes. I'm not sure whether it was bad advice or just my terrible coordination and athletic ability, but according to Williams, I should have been the best golfer in the world.

The point is, Scott had to use the clubs and make the shots. Anyone can give advice, but great men know how to take that advice and use it to their advantage.

Sure, Williams' quote probably had something to do with being fired by Woods. It also could be that Williams was just so glad to be back on top that he let his mouth shoot off a little. But unless you picked up a club and physically put the ball in the hole, there's no need to downgrade Scott's achievements.

My guess is that sometime this week Scott will remind Williams of his place, maybe during a friendly round between co-workers. If Williams plays well, they might even make a movie out of it and call it "Caddyshack."

Or you might run into Williams at the unemployment line in Georgia. Either way, Carl Spackler would be proud.

Here We Go Again...

Kobe Bryant may be trading in his Lakers
jersey for an overseas one if the players and
owners of the NBA don't start talking soon.

Just when you thought everything was returning to normal, it appears were in for another long stretch of court dates and litigation – and I could care less.

It took four months to sort out the situation in the NFL – with the players eventually succumbing to the owners' wishes – and now it appears we're in for a second round.

According to NBA players and owners, both sides haven't even addressed each other about the pending lockout. The games biggest stars like Kobe Bryant are looking at possibly signing overseas contracts to guarantee that they play.

This isn't the first time the NBA has been in this situation. Just a few years ago, there was a lockout that did heavy damage to the league's reputation. Now they're threatening to go through it again? Please.

I honestly have never been a huge NBA fan. Over the years it has turned into a playground version of a dunking contest as athletes get bigger and stronger – but that's another subject for another time.

While Dirk and the Mavericks brought back some of the magic by beating the Three-Headed Monster in Miami, should the NBA follow the NFL's footsteps, it will almost surely kill the sport. There's only so much patience the fans have for guys in suits after the NFL and the most recent lockout

And I'm afraid that patience is about to wear thin.