MISQUOTED OR JUST MISSING SOMETHING?

It is not unusual that a public figure will be misquoted. Often the reason is that the actual quote just doesn't sell newspapers. It seldom goes much deeper than that.

In yesterday's USA Today's sports pages the headline read "Vick wants a dog 'because my kids ask me everyday'."

I truly believe when one has served their time in prison - and whether or not I agree with the term prescribed - they should be allowed to rejoin society - with certain reservations. If it's a child pornographer - or a pedophyl - follow up restrictions are obviously needed.

Vick served 18 months in prison after being convicted of running a dogfighting ring. As part of his punishment a federal judge also sentenced him to three years probation ending in May, 2012.

One of the terms was that he could not own dogs during that time. One assumes that on May 2, 2012 he will suddenly have an epiphany that will cure him of his desire to make arrangements for dogs to fight until one of them dies. My one regret is that I don't know how to get in touch with that judge to determine on what date I also will have an epiphany in my life.

Of course, there are those who insist that after people do bad things they cannot be redeemed.

Obviously neither Elliot Spitzer nor Uncle Newt subscribe to that theory - and are doing quite well - thank you.

But, their gainful employment - supposedly without restrictions - is part of the reason we have forgiven Michael Vick. We are a country of 'second'chances". How else could Rush have lasted this long?

One also suspects the folks in Phlly forgave Vick entirely somewhere around the 5th NFL win he engineered this year. We all know how those residing in The City of Brotherly Love are more inclined to forgive much sooner than folks residing elsewhere.

Despite this, nobody dressed in a bright red Santa suit plans to show up at Lincoln Financial Field this year - just in case the fans spirit of brotherly love may not extend to fictional characters.

But, apparently Michael Vick still doesn't understand why he is being embraced in a town that has failed to demostrate real charitable behavior since discovering their damned bell was cracked.

Michael is quoted as saying, "I really mean what I say. I don't have a problem. I'm not a psychopath. I'm not crazy. I'm a human being."

He continues, "What happened in my past and what I did in the culture I grew up in doesn't shape and mold me as the person I am now. I said it before that I wish I can own a dog, and I'll continue to say it. I'm not allowed to, but I'm just saying I wish I could, because my kids ask me every day. It's more so for them than for me."

I beg to disagree. There's a reason W.C. Fields got the @#$% out of Philadelphia when he did. It's a town of nutsos - who like any other NFL city - want desperately to have a winning team. And, if successful Sunday, when you wake up Monday, Mike, you may find 101 Dalmatians sitting outside your front door.

Mike, whether you are or are not crazy or a psychopath has never entered into their thinking.
If Jeffrey Dahmer could pass and rush better than you, they'd sign him.

They are singularly focused on winning as much as you are apparently singularly focused on losing - as a Dad.

Did you ever think of explaining to your kids - and I don't have a clue how old or how many they are - just exactly what you did? They say pictures are like 10,000 words. Maybe you could sit the kids down in the game room and lay the lurid pictures from the trial out on the floor around them.

Perhaps they would then fully understand just what it was you did to dogs that caused you to cool your heels in prison for 18 months and not be allowed to have a dog for three years.

Where did they think you were during that time - serving your country over in Iraq?

If it truly bothers you that much for your kids to keep asking you for something you legally can't provide them - then for God's sake - try telling them the truth.

My vitriol is not part of the dog lovers fixation - protests - and picket signs. I do believe that what you were doing with those dogs was ingrained in your culture. My only concern is that you apparently never took the time to step back and examine whether what you were doing was wrong in today's culture.

You may have cured your killing of animals fixation but I'm not sure you've made much progress in assessing what it truly takes to be a responsibile father.

Assuming you were not misquoted, you've got many tasks in front of you that are much more important than whether or not you beat the NY Giants and the three point spread this Sunday.

Man up, Michael.