ESPN reveals Vick hasn't been able to run from debt

FROM THE MORNING CALL

There's a lot you can say about ESPN and not all of it is good.

However, Finetuning has always been a fan of the "Outside the Lines" series, and every three months or so OTL has something that you hope all sports fans see, and not just those who use it as background noise when they're getting ready for their Sunday tailgates and parties.

Last Sunday's show had two very interesting features.

The first exposed the extent of Michael Vick's financial troubles and depicted the Eagles quarterback as more of a victim of bad decisions and bad friends than being a bad guy.

The other provided an update on the life of baseball umpire Jim Joyce, the guy who blew the call on what should been a perfect game by the Tigers' Armando Galarraga.

Joyce, who received death threats after the blown call, said Galarraga's instant forgiveness was instrumental in the healing process, and said he also received many letters of encouragement.

Yet, his life is still not the same and might never be.

Both of these pieces revealed a lot about humanity and relationships, and you realize that what makes the sports stage so compelling is not so much who wins or loses, but the people who play the game.

The Vick segment, of course, was of more interest to fans around here because it shows a guy that may be playing football again, but still has a long way to go to get his life back in order.

OTL revealed so many facts that caught your eye.

Most notably, under a bankruptcy agreement, Vick owes 50 creditors $20 million, including $6.5 million to the Atlanta Falcons and $6 million to his first agent, Andrew Joel.

Vick, you see, was making financial mistakes even before he got in trouble with dog fighting, throwing away money to family and friends and making bad choice after bad choice.

In 2004, Vick signed a 10-year, $130 million contract extension with the Falcons, but is now not only broke, but in the hole.

John Barr, the reporter who did the segment, was based in Atlanta when Vick came into the NFL and clearly knew the key figures in this story.

Vick's former financial planner, Michael Smith, had the best line of the piece when he told Barr: "I used to tell Michael that none of these guys have jobs. 'You know what their job is? There is job is to get money out of you. That's their job.' "

Adding to the bad influences of his entourage was a bad decision to give power of attorney privileges to Mary Wong, a Nebraska business manager who ran afoul of the New York Stock Exchange and federal authorities because of shady dealings.

There were more bad people disguised in nice clothing who were undermining Vick's life.

Few will shed tears for Vick, of course. Even in bankruptcy, the report said he's still got a $300,000 annual budget, which is far more than the average Eagles fan lives on.

And help will be coming in his next contract after his spectacular 2010 season.

But while everyone was focused on his play on the field and talking about Vick's comeback from his legal woes, the OTL piece reminded us that this guy will never get all back that was lost, both in terms of money and adulation.

LOCAL LOVE ON ESPN

Now that the regular season is over and he's not traveling around the country to work college and NFL games in the booth for ESPN and The NFL Network, Matt Millen is getting a lot of air time on the "SportsCenter" set at ESPN headquarters in Bristol, Conn.

Millen appeared on several segments on Wednesday afternoon and when it was time to talk about the Ravens-Steelers game, anchor John Buccigross introduced Millen as being from eastern Pennsylvania.

"When I think Lehigh Valley, I think Matt Millen," said Buccigross, who admitted he's from the western side of the state.
» Weather updates delivered to your mobile phone. Text WEATHER to 52270! Message and data rates apply.

Buccigross later made a reference to Whitehall and basically asked what the eastern Pennsylvania guy thinks of the western Pennsylvania team's chances.

"It's going to come down to the last possession and the Steelers are the team that I would go with," Millen said.

BRICKTOWN BRUSKO

Emmaus High grad Mike Brusko, who has been doing some work for Service Electric's "Sports Scene" show the last few months, has signed on with the Bricktown Brawlers.

That's the Oklahoma City franchise in the Indoor Football League, the same league that features the soon-to-debut Lehigh Valley Steelhawks.

Brusko, a former standout at the University of Maine, might still get more air time on SECTV before leaving for Oklahoma City on Feb. 2

Service Electric, by the way, will be broadcasting the Steelhawks home games from Stabler Arena.

ONE MORE CCHS SALUTE

Central Catholic coach Harold Fairclough and members of the Vikings state championship football team will appear on tonight's "Sports Talk Call-in Show" hosted by Chris Michael on RCN4. The live show runs from 6-7 p.m. Fans can call the show at 610-443-2766 to ask questions or e-mail to rcnsportstalk@rcn.com.

http://www.mcall.com/sports/football/eagles/mc-groller-finetuning-0112-20110112,0,1816463.column?page=2