"Before" the Verdict

Hard to reserve judgement when

co-defendants are pleading guilty, but in fact I am still trying. Innocent first!

I agree with Mr. White of the Atlanta NAACP, it IS a crime to lambaste Michael Vick before he's had a chance to be heard.

Am I just holding out hope for some shred of innocence because I think he's such a handsome football star? Oh yeah. He's a dream on the field. A lighter style than almost any other QB I've seen, as if there are strings from above twisting him away from defenders.

Where will that appreciation go?

Should we be ashamed to have been (still want to be) fans?

I won't throw out my Michael Vick VHS tapes just yet. (Yes, I do have several.) For now, there is still a little bit of US Democracy hope, for me and whoever else was taken enough by Michael Vick in the sweet birdsong of his career.

The appreciation of Bill Walsh was overflowing in San Francisco. A chance for the sports world to remind us what can be accomplished by those who ARE able to keep their balance on that high pedestal.

One more Chance for Michael Vick

Michael Vick, of the bounding speed
and terrible personal reputation, may
have at LEAST one more chance on the
football field this fall.

Why?

Because the Falcons drafted Joey Harrington. Yes, I think he is one of the good guys, but Harrington is a NON rushing quarterback who throws just as many interceptions as Vick.

Harrington is certainly not Plan A for the Atlanta coaching staff, but I wouldn't be surprised if they send him in for some reps as a Running Back this offseason. Pick up some moves, Joey!

Faithful... for a Day

The best thing about last month's 49er Family Day at San Francisco's Monster Park was getting to run the 40 yard dash "against" my 8 year old son. They timed us and everything. I wonder, at what age will he actually be faster than me? I still let him win 99 percent of the time, and waiting in line at the 40 yard dash I worried that I was "spoiling" him. That I'm not giving him enough experience with reality. I stopped my wondering after I saw every single parent do exactly the same thing with their own kids.

SO, I guess we are NOT a Great Santini generation.

My only beef with the 49er event was how they advertised tours of the actual locker rooms, then when we got to the park we were told they had been "sold out." I didn't even know we needed a reservation! Better info next time, I hope, to avoid disappointment.

Oh well, I guess 49er fans are supposed to be used to disappointment -- as evidenced by the big selling t-shirts of the day:

"49er FAITHFUL."

...I guess you gotta be.