PhotoDude.com

Wed. Oct 23, 2002

Amazing Ascent

Amazing Ascent – Have I mentioned Atlanta has a new rising star lately? Remember the name, Michael Vick. They sure do in Charlotte, home of the team Vick ran over virtually singlehandedly last Sunday.

"Just ask the Carolina Panthers, who spent three futile quarters trying to chase down Atlanta’s now-you-see-him, now-you-don’t quarterback. They must have felt as if they were facing some freakish genetic creation, a guy who can run like Barry Sanders and throw like Dan Marino."

"And to think Vick is in his first season as a starting quarterback, just his second year in the NFL. Imagine how good he’s going to be when he really knows what he’s doing. ’Let’s say he’s 50 percent of what he’s going to be,’ coach Dan Reeves said. ’When he starts keying in on things, gets himself up to 90 percent, he’s going to be incredible. He’s already pretty phenomenal.’ "

What’s the big deal, you ask? "Vick leads the Falcons (3-3) in rushing with 276 yards, even though he missed one game with a shoulder injury. He is averaging 8.9 yards a carry. Vick hasn’t thrown an interception this season. His streak of 139 passes without getting picked, dating to last season, is the longest active string in the league [...] On Sunday, he threw for 178 yards, ran for 91 yards, breaking his own team record for yards rushing by a quarterback, and was credited with 28 yards receiving when he took the lateral from tackle Todd Weiner, who had caught a deflected pass."

By himself, Vick totalled 297 yards on Sunday, while the entire Carolina Panthers offense generated 205 yards. Carolina came into the game as the second ranked defense in the NFL. Hear them now: " ’There’s not many quarterbacks in the league that can outrun an entire defense,’ Carolina linebacker Will Witherspoon said. ’He’s pretty close to a cheetah.’ "

The team owner, Arthur ”Home Depot” Blank is happy as well: "One of my friends in New York sent me an e-mail. He told me he had watched the game and just seen the new version of Superman."

I can only tell you this. I’ve followed the Falcons (that’s different than being a ”fan”) since 1978, and in this quarter of a season, I have laughed more and harder watching the Falcons than I have in the previous 24 seasons combined. When you watch Vick so completely dominate a game, and he’s on your side, all you can do is bust out laughing in delight.

As Steve Hummer says, "And the 44-yard touchdown run in which he seemed a Ferrari among dump trucks. ’You’re hollering, ’Get down, get down, get down—touchdown!’ coach Dan Reeves recounted [...] The best part for the Falcons was that some of their other players wanted to be like Mike. One guy starts showing off and everyone wants to join in. ’It’s contagious,’ said Jefferson. ’We’re a very competitive team.’ [...] Who knew that the trip back to .500 could be so amusing?"

I look forward to many more years of mirth.