Michael Vick, Kurt Warner, and “Sportsmanship”

Like most of the football world, I stand in awe of what Michael Vick did last night to the Washington Redskins, mercilessly torching their secondary and slashing through the line, putting up Tecmo Bowl numbers: 6 touchdowns on more than 400 yards combined rushing and passing, with no interceptions, no fumbles, and only 8 of 28 passes falling to the ground. And as a guy with Vick on his fantasy team, I kneel in honor of the 54.1 points he delivered. And like most of the football world, I stand in long term appreciation of the career of Kurt Warner, his contribution to the Rams, the city, and to the game in general. However, Vick’s glory and redemptive story stand in direct contrast to the legacy of Warner and his decision to retire, thanks to a story published this morning by Peter King, nominating Warner as the Sportsman of the Year. “I don’t think about one more game defining me,” he said. “I’m thinking about the 50 years with my family after t...