Vick lends number, not money, to Lynchburg restaurant
Associated Press
In this August file photo, Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick smiles on the sidelines during a preseason game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The poster-sized photograph was taken recently in the backyard of Michael Vick’s Hampton home.
Vick and two of his friends, Lynchburg residents Andre Kendrick and Marcus Revely, smile as they stand side-by-side in front of a lake.
It’s one of just a few Vick keepsakes in the new Lynchburg restaurant co-owned by Kendrick, Vick’s former Virginia Tech teammate, and Revely.
The sports-themed restaurant, named “7” after Vick’s jersey number, is located on Tradewynd Drive in Wyndhurst and is set to open on Friday.
Vick, a former Pro Bowl quarterback and current Philadelphia Eagles reserve who recently served 18 months in prison for running a dogfighting ring, has no financial stake in the establishment, but Kendrick said Vick will provide support by making an appearance in the Hill City sometime in November.
The details of Vick’s visit haven’t been ironed out, but he’s expected to spend some time speaking to Hill City Youth football players and will make an appearance at the restaurant, Kendrick said.
“This is not his establishment,” said Kendrick, who starred at E.C. Glass and played two of his four seasons at Tech with Vick. “All I want to do is bring this guy in for a good cause and talk to the kids.”
The restaurant includes a bar, big-screen televisions for sports viewing and a collection of sports memorabilia, including Kendrick’s game-worn Hokies jersey from the 2000 Sugar Bowl national championship game and a Braylon Edwards-signed Cleve-land Browns jersey.
Kendrick, who is on the board of directors of the Hill City Youth Football and Cheerleading Association and has two sons who play youth football, said one of the side missions of the restaurant is to help give back to the community.
When things get rolling, Kendrick and Revely hope to sponsor Hill City Youth football teams and help finance clinics and summer camps for the kids.
Vick wants to contribute to that cause as well, Kendrick said, but instead of a financial contri-bution, he’d like to lend his name and time.
“Who better to talk to the kids than Mike? If it’s me, I want to talk to somebody who’s lost it all and is on the road to getting it back than somebody that already did it or is still doing it and hasn’t seen any tribulations,” Kendrick said.
Vick, who has had limited playing time for the Eagles since he was reinstated after a two-year NFL suspension, has an arrangement with the president of the Humane Society of the United States to make two public appearances a month to speak out against dogfighting.
Revely said Vick’s upcoming Lynchburg appearance is not part of that arrangement.
Attempts to speak to Vick for this story were unsuccessful.
“This will be a good chance for him to come down and talk to the kids and do some good things,” Revely said. “The best thing about it is it’s not something the (NFL) asked him to do.“
Advertisement
Reader Reactions
Sure JPOP…meet you @ 7!
Amen to that. Stop living in the past, look to the future. Forgive… ez i’d like to buy you a beer…
Here’s a fair trade: Dog Lovers won’t eat at 7 Restaurant (penalty: they know Michael Vick) AND Black people won’t eat at any restaurants owned by white people (penalty: their ancestors were slave owners; often times beating slaves to death not to mention other inhumane treatment for hundreds of years). OR we could pull up our big girl/boy panties and live for today. Never forget the past, but don’t continue to carry the torch of grudge!
We all know it’s not Vick’s restaurant. Maybe the owners should not have been so quick to use his name to promote it.
As far as ALL being equal in God’s eyes.. what’s the point of Heaven and Hell if any horror of a human can get forgiven and get into Heaven. Hmmm What’s the point of Heaven then??? Why even have a Hell.
The feeble minded or real crazy people that cannot control themselves when they do bad things are more likely to be forgiven by God…not those that know right from wrong and choose wrong only to ask for God’s forgivness when they get caught…sorry God is not an idiot.
Vick is not fooling my God! My God is smarter than that man!
I am going to keep this nice and short… because i refuse to argue ignorance… Bottom line, this is not Michael Vicks restuarant, and it is your God giving right to not eat there. And as far as God seperating the smart from the ignorant… Again, you are showing your ignorance by saying that, because again “IF” you are a christain you would know that we are all equal in Gods eyes and there is no speration in heaven. The only seperation is Heaven and Hell… I will pray for you!
Fantastic news!!! Guess what folks we get to enjoy Heaven and the hereafter with all the murderers, rapists, thieves, terrorists, gangbangers, torturers and kid touchers that God has forgiven!!
Hallelujah!!!
Gee, that was not in the brochure I got.
Vick is only sorry he can’t keep having fun killing and fighting dogs!!
And as far as him earning a living…he is being paid millions of dollars by the Eagles..he sure does not need the help of some eatery in Lynchburg…trust me. Sorry if my heart does not go out to him.
But that restaurant can rot for all I care. I can choose to NOT eat there.
I hope they seperate out the smart from the idiotic in Heaven or it’s gonna be a long afterlife!
First off all, I agree with jpoppa… To all of you out there that are still judging, you as well will have to answer to God on judgment day! I myself as a animal lover, after watching some of the TV specials and documenteries on the whole Michael Vick story was very upset and my heart was saddened that anyone could do such a thing. I, since then have actually had the pleasure of sitting down and having a conversation with Michael Vick. There is a difference in giving an apology and truelly being “sorry” for what has been done. I saw the hurt and the remorse in him, and please believe me when I say, it’s not just about the money. Not to make lightly of the poor animals that suffered but,there are people that have killed human-beings and have served 90days in the local jail and this man spent 2 years in federal “prision”. Futhermore, no matter what, he is still an American citizen that has the “right” to move on and earn a living to support his family and children!!!
I don’t know how many of you “really” consider yourselves as Christians? Because the GOD I serve, is a forgiving GOD, and has already forgiven him for what he has done!!!!!!!!!!
Here’s the thing. I’m willing to bet any amount of money that neither Cleocat or Sugadogg have made one single phone to ask the owners or to the newspapers one question. They Assume. And we all know what assuming does… They have no earthly idea about the restaurant or Vick or anything that they haven’t learned from sitting on the couch watching tv or the toilet reading the newspaper. If that’s your cause… to bash 2 owners of a restaurant for no reason or rhyme, then so be it. You don’t answer to me or anyone else. But you show your true colors when you start calling names and talking down to someone. So again, thank you. Sorry if i’ve struck a nerve with you. But the majority of people who bash others in this world is to redirect the focus on themselves and the short-comings they have. So if it makes you feel better… hate all you want. I myself, am not a “hater”. So yell till you are blue in the face, hope it helps you sleep at night
Cleo, the best thing we can all do is to ignore JPOP. He has already shown his ignorance without having dragged us into it. What he says makes no sense, his hell & damnation doesn’t even pertain to this story, let alone the fact nothing he says will change our minds. He’s sad and pathetic, and will eventually figure out how embarrasing he is.
I never said it promoted it, I said it sends the message that it’s ok to do these things because people and God will forgive you. So hey kids kill a few animals, rape a few women, rob a few houses, hell do what you want, ‘cause God and the rest of us idiots will forgive you. Hey maybe even get some fool to put your picture up in a restaurant.
And let’s be honest the NFL does not give a crap about him they just want money. And your friends used the whole sordid thing to promote the restaurant. Then they say the media blew it out of proportion. Please they are the ones that sent out the press release!!!
Vick did not make a “mistake”. The difference is he enjoyed hurting and torturing dogs.
You may think that’s ok and all is forgiven by your friends at 7 to make money off of Vick’s name. They can use it to get publicity. And they can now turn and say it’s named after the 7th day to try and fool religous people.
Gee your friends at 7 must think the people of Lynchburg are pretty gullible to fall for that one now!
They will never get my money or support.
Advertisement