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.“
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Well by the turn out I would guess not many supported this dumb idea. On WSET something like 60% said they would not go there. Good!
And if you need more reason just look at this picture of a dog rescued from Vick’s ranch here in VA. But I warn you, it’s not for the weak of stomach or the faint of heart. Although your hearty will break. Even if you don’t give a rats behind about dogs…it’s a hard pic to see.
http://hiphop.popcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/08/vick-dog.jpg
Cleocat - Excellent idea of donating to the animal shelter to show your displeasure. While support of the resturant will benefit the youth league. Maybe something positive can come of the whole sordid affair.
Wonder how long before someone is shot is this fine establishment? Only place you can get a dog burger with a side of bashed dog brains.
Lynchburg Native: What reason does UVA have sour grapes about? That we are not in the news every month for all the wrong reasons?
Boomvang I understand the point you are making however most people that get a DUI are not getting it (typically) on purpose or with malice.
Vick on the other hand wanted to fight dogs, and he got off on torturing them and watching them die. He planned to do it. As soon as he was signed with the Falcons he immediately bought the ranch in VA and set up his Bad Newz kennels. He used football as a means to fund his fetish of dog fighting. It’s not a function of forgiving someone that made a “mistake” this is about supporting someone that knowingly broke the law, tortured and killed dozens of dogs, and if had not been caught would still be enjoying hurting animals.
See that’s the thing with a certain type of criminal…they have a propensity and a proclivity for the crimes they commited. They enjoyed them. And so that to me makes all the difference.
And my family tries as much as possible to support local businesses. But there are plenty I can eat at and have a clear conscience. Maybe I will instead donate a couple hundred dollars to the local shelters here in Lynchburg. That’s probably how much I spend at sports bars in a year.
I understand why a lot of people will not go there.
I also think the 7 name was very ill advised.
However, for me, I will go there since I would much rather support locally owned businesses than franchises. Its an important issue to me.
I agree 100% with Cleocat. They won’t see any of my money.
He’s sorry alright - sorry he lost all his money. I’d love to know how he would have reacted if his community service wasn’t tied to his reinstatment.
Andre, if you’re reading all these negative comments, take them with a grain of salt. It’s probably just sour grapes from UVA fans more than anything else :o)
Hey Cleocat, do you know anyone that has ever driven after drinking too much and risked or harmed other drivers lives (we all do)? Should I think less of you or boycott your business because you know them? If you choose not to go get a meal there after they open, that is fine. I would just hope that you would have a legitamate reason for not doing so.
If you had read the article you would have seen that the youth mentioned in it were Hill City Youth Football and Cheerleading Association kids (of which Mr. Kendrick is on the board of directors). I will go there if for no other reason than to shake Mr. Kendrick’s hand and to thank him for his work with the kids.
You know what Albert that is your right to patronize that place. I only wish that the owners would have chosen to feature some young black athletes
(or any local athletes) that deserve a FIRST chance not some felon from another state that is getting a second chance. Why not put up posters and jerseys of local college and high school kids?? Would have had my support in a heartbeat! Instead they chose to go the “any publicity is good publicity” route and use the recent controversal signing of Vick to the Eagles as a means to get in the papers and promote the place. So I will choose to spend my hard earned money in a place where the owners don’t call criminals their “friends”.
As far as the “youth associated with the place.“..I saw the two owners on tv, they looked like two middle aged guys to me.
If I am not mistaken, the sign behind the bar says “Sky Box”
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