By Jared Barchus
BET will air "The Michael Vick Project" in 2010
First it was Terrell Owens, and then Chad Ochocinco; now Michael Vick will be the next NFL player to star in his own reality show.
Michael Vick, the controversial Philadelphia Eagles quarterback, announced several weeks ago that BET will launch a new reality television show that will chronicle the ex-convict’s return to the NFL. The show, which is set to air in early 2010, will feature Vick in a documentary-style series that will focus on his reemergence into the public spotlight after serving an 18-month prison sentence.
Vick told the LA Times, “I just want people to really get to know me as an individual. What I want to do is change the perception of me. I am a human being. I’ve made some mistakes in the past, and I wish it had never happened. But it’s not about how you fall, but about how you pick yourself up.”
After a stellar college career at Virginia Tech, Vick was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons as the number one overall pick in the 2001 NFL Draft. He was the first African-American Quarterback to be selected as the first overall pick and went on to become the highest paid player in the NFL. He led the Falcons to two playoff appearances in six seasons before being released by the team in August 2007. Vick was convicted for his involvement in a dog-fighting scandal from his home in Virginia and sentenced to 18-months in prison in December 2007.
Once known as the most electrifying man in professional football, Michael Vick has been doing a lot to repair his tarnished public image. Since he was released from prison this past summer, Vick has made numerous public appearances in schools across the country with the hope of serving as a positive role model for his young fans. He signed a two-year contract with the Philadelphia Eagles and currently sits behind fellow African-American quarterback Donovan McNabb.
When asked about the new reality show, Vick responded, “I want to show [kids] that things are going to happen, that they’re not going to get through life without dealing with some kind of adversity. I want to show that if they have a fall from grace, this is how they can turn it around. We want this to be a story of hope.”
Although Vick’s intentions are positive, he still receives criticism from PETA – People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. One of their representatives recently stated, “People who abuse animals don’t deserve to be rewarded. They shouldn’t be given multimillion-dollar contracts . . . or given the privilege of being a role model.”
Despite skepticism from PETA, “The Michael Vick Project” will air in eight parts early next year and is said to be in a “serious and somber tone, as it focuses on his personal struggles since his release.”
The Michael Vick Project will feature the NFL star on and off the field, as he reemerges into the public spotlight and rebuilds his relationship with his fiancée, Kijafa, and his children. “What happened to Michael is endemic of what is happening to young Black men today. Michael could be anyone’s brother, father, uncle or son. It is our hope that this project will give viewers a glimpse of how he is rebuilding his life and moving forward as a human being and not just another sports figure,” commented Loretha Jones, the President of BET’s Original programming
The series may do little to alter the negative perception some hold against Michael Vick, but it demonstrates that someone is willing to give him a second chance.
