Michael Vick should be paid for wine labels
November 14, 2008 by Paula Duffy
There is no way to write an article about Michael Vick and please readers. Those who will never forgive him 
don’t want him to have a life outside of prison or in the world of professional sports.
His fans who never wanted to see him incarcerated don’t take kindly to the suggestion that he might never return to the NFL.
In light of this situation, I offer two separate pieces of news that came to my attention:
Vick’s bankruptcy lawyer is trying to convince a judge and a multitude of creditors that he can earn enough after he is out of jail to repay a portion of his debts to each of those that have been left holding the bag.
Thus a document filed by his lawyer makes it seem that it is inevitable his client will be reinstated by the NFL.
The second piece of news is that many of the dogs that were rescued from Vick’s home in Virginia are alive and still healing from their experiences. That is according to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, in Utah. Those dogs have become a symbol to animal rights groups who are using images of the animals to raise money. A wine company has created a brand of wine called “Vicktory” and the rescued pooches are the face, literally, of the wine collection.
I see how this collection would be an item of interest and earn money for the winemaker and the charities but it would assist Vick as well. I am waiting for his debtors to squawk to the bankruptcy judge and Vick’s lawyer that his client should be getting a cut of the wine sales.
Even though there is no picture of Mike Vick on the wine bottle, the clever use of his name in the brand name of the wine while attached to images of the dogs makes it plain that Vick is being used to sell the product.
If that’s true, despite his criminal record, he is entitled to lend his name for profit to companies that market goods and services. That means he should be paid.
And if he’s paid, his creditors will be able to recoup a small amount of what is owed to him.
I have not taken a position on all this and have tried not to be light hearted about it all. I’m just putting two news items together and wondering how it will all play out.
Life will continue to be difficult and complicated for Vick after he is released from prison. Maybe that is the way it’s supposed to be.
Tired of the same old sports page? Then check out Paula Duffy’s insightful (and often humorous) take on the sports day at her Examiner.com page! The popular co-host for Sports Journey Radio is also a contributor to the Huffington Post and founder of the sports learning site Incidental Contact. In her spare time, Duffy practices law in Los Angeles. But don’t hold that against her.
[...] • Doggone it: Should Michael Vick get paid for helping to sell all that wine? Did they use his “fremented grapes stolen from the mess hall” recipe? [Sports Climax] [...]
Are you kidding me! Pay that low life loser. maybe I’ll go out and break a few laws and get paid for it too.
Hate to say it but this actually makes sense. I mean if someone is profiting from his name then he should get paid. Interesting twist to this. It’s not like he is a mass murderer like a Gacey or Bundy trying to profit.
I love animals and have rescued a few. If this is raising money for those animals he harmed, tough luck for him.
I researched this and what I believe I found is that wine co. is only giving 10% of the money to the animals. Sounds like the wine co. are the ones capitalizing the most. Maybe Vick should sue the wine co. for another 25% and donate that along with the wine co. 10% to really help out the animals giving them a total of 35% of the proceeds.
I wanted Vick back until Matt Ryan came along. Good luck to MV but he probably doesn’t give a shit about wine labels right now.
[...] Another fellow blogger added an interesting post on Michael Vick should be paid for wine labels | Sports ClimaxHere’s a small excerptEven though there is no picture of Michael Vick on the wine bottle, the clever use of his name in the brand name of the wine while attached to images of the dogs makes it plain that Vick is being used to sell the product. [...]
I have been looking for a bottle (or 2, 3 or 4 bottles) of the ‘dog wine’ to display. If Michael Vick was going to receive any profit from it, I sure as hell wouldn’t buy it! I am only buying it to help the dogs he torchered. Michael should never be allowed to play football, for profit, the rest of his life. He got off way too easy.
[...] the displeasure of some of our fans and readers, Sports Climax took the stand that Vick should be compensated by the wine company who used his name as a marketing ploy to sell their [...]
[...] Stories: Vick Should Be Compensated For Wine Bottles Vick Makes Plea Deal Vick Released From Federal Custody Share and [...]