Ed Block Courage Award - Now Meaningless

The Ed Block Courage Foundation hasn't unofficially announced that it's annual awards are now a meaningless and should not be taken seriously.

One of the recipients of the 2010 Ed Block Courage Awards is convicted dog-killer Michael Vick, a member of the Philadelphia Eagles.

On their website they state:
Each year, the Ed Block Courage Awards honors those National Football League players who exemplify commitments to the principles of sportsmanship and courage. Recipients are selected by their teammates for team effort, as well as individual performance.

Let's see - Michael Vick is courageous? Nope. Callous? More likely. Arrogant? Irresponsible? Demonic? I would agree to those.

The Ed Block Courage Award recipient symbolizes professionalism, great strength and dedication. He is also a community role model. With this honor, he enters into an association which contrasts his fierce profession by becoming a major component of the Courage House National Support Network for Kids. He becomes an Ambassador of Courage for victims of abuse, violence and neglect.

Moreover, does Michael Vick demonstrate professionalism? Eh. Dedication? To dog killing? Is he a community role model? No way in hell. He becomes an Ambassador of Courage for victims of abuse, violence, and neglect? He gets to represent mutilated and dead animals? Or does this only apply to abusing people?

Usually the award goes to players that have overcome possible career-ending injuries, or players that suddenly fell out of favor only to surge back as a starter and lead their team to success. The player should show integrity and principles of sportsmanship on and off of the field. Previous recipients include Isaac Bruce, Mark Brunell, Corey Ivy, Bruce Smith, Mark Rypien, Duce Staley, Fred Taylor, Zach Thomas, Ozzie Newsome, Trent Green, Marshall Faulk, and Charlie Garner. All distinguished men.

Michael Vick is a dog-killing thug that spent 22 months in prison. He's been doing a lot of community service for children, not because he wants to, but because it's part of his probation. If he fails to fulfill his community service requirements, he will be forced to return to prison for violation of probation. That's not courage. That's not dedication. Those are terms of a sentence. I don't think he should be rewarded for fulfilling the terms of his prison sentence.

And by awarding Michael Vick with the trophy, the Ed Block Courage Foundation has just announced to the world that their award is meaningless.