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Vick seems to be everywhere
Posted: Tuesday June 27, 2000 05:49 PM
The surest bet in college football this fall is that Michael Vick will suffer from a sophomore slump. We are six weeks from the start of fall practice and there is no way -- no way -- that Vick can meet the expectations that await him. It is an alluring thought, the idea that Vick will pick up from his sleight-of-feet performance in the Sugar Bowl and improve from there. Anyone who doubted Vick before his championship-game performance against Florida State became sold that night in the Superdome. But Vick Fever is reaching epidemic proportions. Blue Ribbon, the well-known college basketball publication that has ventured into covering a real sport, already has anointed Vick as its offensive player of the year. It doesn't take a flight of imagination to believe Vick will actually win that award. When the Colorado Rockies spent a draft choice on Vick, who hasn't played baseball since eighth grade, it became clear that things are getting out of hand. At this point, it's impossible to believe that Vick will finish this season without disappointing someone. Maybe, just maybe ... NASHVILLE, July 15 -- Al Gore, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, announced today that his short list of vice-presidential candidates includes Virginia Tech quarterback Michael Vick. "He can shore up our support in a key southern swing state," Gore said. "I admire his ability to go in one direction, then suddenly turn and go in the other direction." ... NEW YORK, Aug. 31 -- The New York Mets, seeking to improve their offense for the September pennant drive, traded staff ace Al Leiter to the Colorado Rockies for the rights to Virginia Tech quarterback Michael Vick. "We couldn't find anyone out there who lights up a scoreboard faster than this kid," Mets general manager Steve Phillips said. "To make the deal work, we had to agree to let him play football on Saturdays. It's worth it." ... SYDNEY, Sept. 20 -- Fresh from an 18-hour flight, Michael Vick arrived in time to serve as anchor on the U.S. men's 4x100 freestyle relay in Olympic swimming competition. U.S. coaches are concerned that Vick will have difficulty moving forward in a straight line, a skill he has never shown on the football field. ... BLACKSBURG, Va., Oct. 28 -- Virginia Tech quarterback Michael Vick announced he would forego his last two years of college football eligibility in order to pursue a motion picture career. Sources in Hollywood and London say his first role will be as the title character in the cinematic version of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. "He's a little old," one casting agent said, "but who in the world could play a better game of quidditch?" ... REDMOND, Wash., Dec. 5 -- Microsoft chairman Bill Gates announced a wide-ranging settlement of antitrust issues with the U.S. Justice Department today. Sources indicate Microsoft consultant Michael Vick convinced the Court of Appeals to accept the settlement by demonstrating his ability to run and pass equally well. "At Virginia Tech, we hoped to quash all competition," Vick said, "but as good as I became, there's always someone out there who can beat you. We found that out in Miami this year." ... NEW YORK, Dec. 9 -- Michael Vick became the first college football player in history to win both the Heisman and Outland Trophies this year, given to the sport's most outstanding player and most outstanding lineman, respectively. "We always believed that Michael's ability to make people miss was as valuable as 100 pancake blocks," Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer said. "I guess these awards prove it." ... WASHINGTON, D.C., Jan. 10 -- President Clinton today presided over a historic peace agreement signed by Israel and the Palestinian Authority on the South Lawn of the White House. One week after Michael Vick led Virginia Tech to the national championship with a 41-14 defeat of Nebraska in the Orange Bowl, the Hokies quarterback received praise for his work as special envoy in making the agreement possible. "I've never seen someone move so fast through so many difficult areas," Israeli prime minister Ehud Barak said. ... LINCOLN, Neb., Jan. 11 -- "Tell me about it," Nebraska defensive coordinator Craig Bohl said. (Editor's note: One of the above items is based on speculation and shouldn't be taken as fact. Specifically, there is some question as to whether Ehud Barak will still be prime minister next January. We stand by the remaining items.) Ivan Maisel is a Sports Illustrated senior writer who covers college football and is a frequent contributor to CNNSI.com.
The opinions expressed here are solely those of the writer.
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