http://www.thestar.com/News/article/250487

Supporters and critics face off as NFL star Vick pleads guilty
Aug 28, 2007 04:30 AM
Tim Harper
WASHINGTON BUREAU

RICHMOND. Va.-Inside the courtroom, the penultimate chapter in an American passion play unfolded.

But on East Main St. in the Virginia capital, the Michael Vick drama brought out a strange brew of puppies, prayer and the power of sports celebrity in this country.

Some wore the Atlanta Falcons No. 7 jersey of the disgraced quarterback, a church group sang hymns and shouted that Michael had found Jesus, and when Vick strode into the courthouse they squealed as if a rock star had arrived and shouted "Keep your head up, Mike.''

Further down the block, behind the same yellow police barrier, but separated from his supporters, protesters held pit bull puppies, hoisted signs condemning animal cruelty and booed lustily when he alighted from his Range Rover.

Vick, the onetime quarterback who could always spot a tiny hole in the defence downfield, looked straight ahead and acknowledged neither those praying for him or damning him.

This story has become much larger than a quarterback and cruelty to dogs, and has dominated talk radio and cable news in this country all summer long.

Vick formally pleaded guilty to dogfighting charges and will be sentenced Dec. 10 by U.S. District Judge Henry Hudson.

Federal guidelines stipulate a 12- to 18-month sentence, but Hudson is not required to follow them and could jail Vick for up to five years.

In fact the judge, a dog owner himself, warned Vick he was taking his chances and would have to live with whatever decision he makes.

Later, Vick, 27, apologized, admitted he had to grow up and said he had found Jesus.

"I want to apologize for all the things I have done and have allowed to happen,'' he said in a statement at a Richmond hotel.

"I am ashamed and totally disappointed in myself to say the least.''

He said dog fighting was "a terrible thing and I do reject it.''

This case has pulled back the curtain on the sordid underground practice of dogfighting in the U.S., but his supporters believe he has been demonized well beyond the crime committed.

It took no great powers of observation to see that, yesterday morning, those shouting support were almost universally black, those shouting him down were overwhelmingly white.

Vilma Liverman, wearing a Vick jersey and holding a sign which read "Free Michael Vick,'' drove almost two hours from Chesapeake, Va., to support the suspended quarterback with her 14-year-old daughter, Fikera Winfield, who idolizes him.

"What about the rapists and murders and the child molesters out there?'' she asked.

"The child molesters get out of jail in six months, but here they've taken away Michael's career.

"They're trying to tell us that dogs are better than human beings.''

In fact God, according to a number of supporters, wants to forgive Vick.

A busload of church supporters from Norfolk, Va., arrived toting signs which read, "In Trouble? Try Jesus,'' and "Michael Says, Give Your Life to Christ.''

Then they broke into song, serenading the street with "God Today Is Mine.''

On the other side, protesters depended on the power of the puppy.

Jeff Little, a dog breeder, drove almost 100 kilometres with two six-week old pit bulls.

"Whether it was Michael Vick or you, this is a wrong and there is no excuse for this,'' he said.

Sid Snyder' seven month-old part pit bull, Belle, was walked in front of the courthouse with a sign around her neck.

"I am sweet and affectionate," Belle claimed, as she jumped up to lick well-wishers.

"Belle is a sweet dog,'' Snyder said. "This is the type of dog that would have been put down at the Bad Newz Kennel.''

In his written plea agreement last Friday, Vick admitted to providing most of the money for the fight training and gambling operation on his property in Surry County, Va.

His agreement also made it clear he was at least present when six to eight dogs were killed after fighting poorly.

"As they say, the best disinfectant is sunshine,'' said Richmond resident Chris Martin of to People For the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). "It's like the Mafia. This has been happening underground.''

But on morning radio here, callers jammed the lines supporting Vick.

One female postal worker told the station she was looking for a bootleg version of his football jersey.

"And I'm going to wear it until the day I die,'' she said.