Life has been anything but easy for Michael Vick lately.
Once on top of the world, the then-star quarterback of the Atlanta Falcons and the NFL’s highest paid player fell into the shadow of disgrace after a police raid in April of 2007 discovered he was operating a dogfighting ring in his home. He pleaded guilty in August 2007, and was meted 23 months of federal prison time on top of an indefinite suspension by the NFL beginning November 2007.
Several years and court appearances later, Vick is about to return to football at last and is getting ready for the next season. It is his hope that he will be able to spark some kind of improvement in the Philadelphia Eagles, his new team, over the duration of his one-year contract.
And change he must bring – the Eagles have not landed, but have skidded, crashed and burned their way recently through a tough 9-win season that fans and pundits would never have foreseen had Vick been part of the lineup. There are many people who believe that the Eagles would not have had to endure that kind of hardship had someone of Vick’s caliber been around.
So now he’s with the Eagles. And questions abound: Does Vick still have that same levels of fitness and skill that he had before the scandal? Will his recent absence from the NFL affect his game? Will fans still back the Eagles given everything that has happened since?
And, most importantly: can the Philadelphia Eagles improve on their 9-win season from last year, now that Michael Vick is on board to support Donovan McNabb and the crew?
This is not the first time high-profile athletes have been in the news for all the wrong reasons. Remember Kobe Bryant? Or how about Rasheed Wallace and the ‘Portland Jail-Blazers?’ Then there’s the whole doping controversy that only recently surrounded major league baseball and some of its biggest names.
There are always reasons why a player can’t function the way he used to following a long absence. A lack of fitness is one. Lost practice time is another. Then there’s the factor of being ‘left behind,’ as your contemporaries all start stepping up and raising their game. If Michael Vick is to have any hope of making it big again, he has to beat down those demons and push himself back up to the top of the league. Most certainly, he has the talent to be able to do it. He also has a lot to prove, and with that chip on his shoulder, he has the fuel to prove it.
All this looks good on paper. The question that remains is how it will all play out. If the Eagles improve on their last season with the help of Vick, then the shamed quarterback may have found redemption. Anything more – the playoffs, the Superbowl, possibly even an NFL championship, would be reaching.
But reach he ought to, for there are no other ways. Anything else, and the shadow of the dogfighting ring may continue to haunt him, his career, and his future indefinitely. Already the Eagles are 0-2, with Vick expected to be out for the next game, and fans are expressing their distrust towards the signing.
Imagine pursuing your passion of becoming a sportscaster, getting a prestigious gig with ESPN and traveling to watch some of the biggest sporting events in the country.
Erin Andrews had that dream, but it quickly turned into a nightmare when videos of the commentator — somehow filmed by a peeping Tom at some of her hotel rooms — surfaced last year and went mainstream this week, with stills even being put on the front page of the New York Post.
Andrews is obviously upset, but evidence indicates that the videos may have been created by one of her own colleagues at ESPN, as the tapes depict a naked Andrews at multiple hotels parading around her room getting ready for gigs. Some say that only someone who had the same schedule or knowledge of her itinerary could have accomplished such a feat.
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If there’s one thing the Los Angeles Clippers will never be accused of, it’s being contenders for the NBA Finals. Most Angelenos probably even forget that they have another basketball team when the Lakers bring home so many championship trophies.
But locals and national fans may soon take notice of L.A.’s other team. See, the Clippers are in serious talks to get the Detroit Pistons’ Allen Iverson into their ranks to join first-round draft pick Blake Griffin, who handed the some Lakers a defeat in a recent summer league game.
What do you think will happen: Iverson in a Clippers jersey? Traded to another team? Staying put in Detroit? Well, sign up with Predicto.com to get the answer to this and other pop culture, entertainment and sports questions, as well as the chance to vote and win prizes. You can also become a fan of Predicto on Facebook!
LeBron James joined the Cleveland Cavaliers to much fanfare in 2003, and was hailed as the greatest “straight out of high school” recruit the NBA had seen in a while. What’s currently out of sight, however, is James getting schooled by an underclassman.
It happens to the greatest basketball players, but stories say that Nike reps snatched the tapes of present videographers and may be causing a blackout online. No videos of the incident are on YouTube and those who did post them claim they were taken down within minutes of being posted.
Who do you agree with? And will Nike’s alleged blocking of the video prevent their poster boy’s humiliation? And does LeBron really have anything to be ashamed of? Find out what happens here by visiting Predicto.com and signing up to vote in polls just like this on the latest happenings in sports, entertainment and pop culture. You can also “fan” us on Facebook!
Albert Pujols has 30 home runs this season. The only other St. Louis Cardinal to have such an impressive streak of hits prior to an All-Star game was Mark McGwire, though his 37-homer run in 1998 has an asterisk attached.
Pujols now has several months left to catch up with McGwire, who went on to have 70 home runs in that year’s derby with Sammy Sosa.
Find out if Pujols will score bragging rights this season or if he strikes out by visiting Predicto.com. Sign up to vote in surveys about the hottest topics in sports, pop culture and entertainment, and don’t forget to become a Predicto fan on Facebook!
The basketball world was buzzing this week over the NBA Draft, and Predicto TV got to meet five of the hottest young players in the game. We were invited to the NBA Store on Fifth Avenue and dialed up some hoops prediction questions for the newest NBA stars. Blake Griffin, the #1 draft pick for the Clippers, isn’t worried about Shaq O’Neal going to Cleveland: “I guess if he’s in the Eastern Conference, I won’t have to play him as much, so that would be nice.” At the #2 pick, the Grizzlies got Hasheem Thabeet, who told us he got advice from Celtics star, Ray Allen. (He told me to) “stay focused and be ready for this. It’s going to be so challenging at first, but you’re just going to have to work at it when you get out there.” Predicto TV also spent some time with Jordan Hill, Brandon Jennings and Tyler Hansbrough. Watch Episode 26 of Predicto TV…where predictions happen!
Shaquille O’Neal a Cleveland Cavalier? If the rumors buzzing around the sports world are true, Shaq could be saying sayonara to the Phoenix Suns and joining LeBron James’ team, which came close to making the NBA Finals this year.
Shaq has plenty of playoffs experience, having earned four championship rings during his time with both the Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat. King James is reportedly excited about the prospect of the 17-year NBA veteran joining the lineup, as stories were circulating about James’ rumored departure from Cleveland.
Which uniform will Shaq wear when the season starts? Stay logged in to Predicto.com to find out the answer to this and other hot topics in sports. Don’t forget to sign up today so that you can vote in Predicto surveys.
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Last year, the Boston Celtics decisively beat the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals. This year, many wonder if they’ll make it past the first round of this year’s playoffs.
What changed? Chalk it up to one player: Kevin Garnett. Last season, he was traded to the team from the Minnesota Timberwolves and became a part of Boston’s mighty “Big Three.” The triumvirate of awesome players–Garnett, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce–helped the Celtics win their first championship in 22 years.
This season, Garnett suffered a debilitating knee injury that kept him out of the latter half of the regular season and threatens to keep him out of the postseason entirely. The Celtics have been struggling without him, and now have to contend with the Chicago Bulls in the first round.
The Bulls have their own awesome player in Derrick Rose, a 19-year old rookie who is gaining buzz as the second coming of a guy whose name rhymes with Bickel Dordan. So far, the Bulls have won Game 1 of the series. The Celtics definitely have a chance to come back, but will they?
The Predicto peeps love to predict the outcome of big sporting events like the NBA Finals. And a good indicator of which team will make it to the championships is if they have home court advantage throughout the playoffs.
The Cleveland Cavaliers happen to be in possession of this important advantage due to having the best record in the NBA. In fact, the team only lost two games at home during the regular season! (The Cavs came close to tying the 1985-86 Boston Celtics’ record of 40-1 but lost their last game by only one point.)
So LeBron James and company must be feeling pretty good about their playoff chances, especially if they can continue their amazing winning streak when playing in Cleveland.
Unfortunately, the PredictoMobile community doesn’t believe they can: 57% predict that the Cavs will NOT win all their home games in the postseason.
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March Madness is about to bleed into April, because this year’s Final Four takes place on April 4th at Detroit’s Ford Field. The Predicto Mobile community was correct in predicting that 2 of the 4 top-seeded teams would make the Final Four (Go Predictoheads!).
So which team has the best chance to go…ALL…THE…WAY?
Here’s the breakdown:
No. 1 UConn Huskies vs. No. 2 Michigan State Spartans
The Huskies were dominant in their journey to the Final Four. But will the fact they are accused of illegal recruiting practices start to hurt them on the court?
In any case, there’s no doubt going to make every effort to win the NCAA championship this time out. Especially since the last time they won, Miley Cyrus was only 12 years old. (Do the math.)
The Spartans upset top-seeded Louisville to make their appearance in the Final Four. But it shouldn’t be too surprising considering that of the four teams, the Spartans have been to the big dance the most often (5 times since 1999).
The Predicto Mobile community likes those odds: 56 % of the Predicto Mobile community say that Michigan State will win this Final Four matchup.
No. 1 UNC Tar Heels vs. No. 3 Villanova Wildcats
The Tar Heels want to win for the sake of its star player Tyler Hansbrough, last year’s NCAA Player of the Year, who made the rare move of staying on at UNC his senior year for the chance to win an NCAA championship.
An additional advantage? The Tar Heels (and if you’re wondering what the heck are “Tar Heels”, go here) are the only team going into the Final Four with players who have competed in the high-profile national semifinals before.
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Life has been anything but easy for Michael Vick lately.
Imagine pursuing your passion of becoming a sportscaster, getting a prestigious gig with ESPN and traveling to watch some of the biggest sporting events in the country.
If there’s one thing the Los Angeles Clippers will never be accused of, it’s being contenders for the NBA Finals. Most Angelenos probably even forget that they have another basketball team when the Lakers bring home so many championship trophies.
LeBron James joined the Cleveland Cavaliers to much fanfare in 2003, and was hailed as the greatest “straight out of high school” recruit the NBA had seen in a while. What’s currently out of sight, however, is James getting schooled by an underclassman.
Albert Pujols has 30 home runs this season. The only other St. Louis Cardinal to have such an impressive streak of hits prior to an All-Star game was Mark McGwire, though his 37-homer run in 1998 has an asterisk attached.
Shaquille O’Neal a Cleveland Cavalier? If the 
What changed? Chalk it up to one player: Kevin Garnett. Last season, he was traded to the team from the Minnesota Timberwolves and became a part of Boston’s mighty “Big Three.” The triumvirate of awesome players–Garnett, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce–helped the Celtics win their first championship in 22 years.
The Cleveland Cavaliers happen to be in possession of this important advantage due to having the best record in the NBA. In fact, the team only lost two games at home during the regular season! (
So which team has the best chance to go…ALL…THE…WAY?
