The $100 Million Man

If you haven't heard Michael Vick just signed a deal for a reported $100 million for six years of play with the Philadelphia Eagles. $40 million is guaranteed. He will be with the Eagles through the 2016 season. What does this mean? Well besides the fact he's already made more money than most of us even dream of in a lifetime, he stands to have more money than a small nation. But my question is, why now?
 In this economy most of us, can't barely get arrested, let alone get a job, but job security? That's gone the way of the landline phone. It barely exists. People are making ends meet doing anything the can and now people hear that Michael Vick probably will never have to work again after 2016.
 The Eagles are going to use Michael Vick as a franchise player. The franchise player means essentially that Michael Vick will serve as the face and the prototype for what all other Eagles' players should be. This is remarkable considering that not so long ago Michael Vick was one of the most vilified sports figures in recent memory for his association with dog-fighting. But now he's rebounded in a big way.
 The only problem with this story is that it doesn't happen like this in everyday life. Once you have a criminal record, it sours the rest of your life. It patterns how people see and associate with you before they can get to know you and no matter how hard you try, this stigma will follow everything you do, especially getting honest work.
 I give Michael Vick a ton of credit for owning up to his past and confronting the various parties who doubted his character. But I still feel uneasy talking about this kind of money for anyone who works for an average a year when there are teachers, coaches, mentors, and other figures who influence our everyday lives and don't get merely as much as they deserve.
 I just hope that in a few years we won't be talking about the $100 million man who blew his second chance.
Michael Vick $100 Million