The Associated Press Sports Editors has ended sessions Wednesday at Hampton University for its Day of Diversity where the topic of conversation was Michael Vick. As expected, the subject of race was discussed in depth.

Among the panelists that had or have had close contact with Vick were Mike Harris [The Washington Times], Jemele Hill [ESPN] and David Teel [Daily Press]. As the discussions went on in the Scripps Howard Auditorium, it became apparent that in the past as well as the present that the media fed off of the fact that a black athletic icon could be capable of committing the acts that Vick had pleaded to.

The fact was stated many times throughout the day that Michael Vick was voted on more than one media platform as the "Most Disliked Athlete," followed by Plaxico Burress. All of the discussion in the room failed to give a legitimate answer to the question: "Would a white athlete receive the same amount of media coverage for the crimes he committed?"

A Skype interview with Pam Laucella [Academic Director, National Sports Journal], shed light on the fact that the media put more emphasis on Black athletes when something goes haywire.

"When something happens," she said, "Black athletes receive animalistic types of metaphors."

Some people believe that coming from a Newport News, nicknamed "Bad News" is a set up for scrutiny and slander at some point. When news broke out about what Michael Vick had done, no one could relate more than ESPN columnist and personality Jemele Hill. She explained that coming from Detroit, dog fighting was something the people on her block did for fun. She also understood that at the end of the day, Vick was in the wrong and his jail sentence was because of more than just killing dogs.

Bringing it back to 2011, where Michael Vick has been with the Philadelphia Eagles for a few years and the bulk of talks of his crimes have died down. Despite the initial doubters and critics in the Philadelphia area, he has lead his team to the NFC championship and even though the 2011-2012 season has had its fair share of ups and down, he has been overall an outstanding citizen and player that any sports organization would be proud to have. He speaks the schools on a consistent basis, plays hard and works closely with The Humane Society of the United States. This helps one to realize that winning is definitely a cure all and that second chances can breed greatness on and off the playing field. Black or white, Michael Vick has made the best of his second chance and has changed for the better.