Michael Vick Apology Notes Worth 10,000+

For some people, an apology from NFL quarterback Michael Vick for his role in fighting dogs was priceless.

But to someone, it's worth about $10,000.

The Humane Society of the United States is auctioning off what they say is a piece of paper with a list of six talking points Michael Vick used while making his public apology for his role in a dogfighting conspiracy at the Omni Hotel in Richmond last week.

As of Thursday morning, the paper had already received 77 bids, and was up to a selling price of $10,100.

On his blog, Humane Society of the United States President and CEO Wayne Pacelle says a Humane Society employee found the scrap of paper when he was collecting a microphone after Vick's press conference. The notes, written on Omni Hotel stationery, were near the podium where Vick had made his statement.

It's not clear who scribbled down the notes, Pacelle said.

The paper lists six points, including "Apologize for what I've done," "Take full responsibility for my actions," and "We all make mistakes. I've made mistakes in judgement."

As of Thursday morning, the paper had already received 77 bids, and was up to a selling price of $10,100.

All proceeds from the sale will go to benefit the Humane Society, Pacelle's blog said.

"Whatever money we raise, we'll devote to rooting out the next Bad Newz Kennels," he wrote. "I can think of no better use." The auction closes Sept. 14.
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Dogfighting Case

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Michael Vick pleaded guilty yesterday for dogfighting charges.

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We Have Been Working On Our New Video Broadcast and Online TV Guide website iTrashTV.com this summer. You can watch and link to Online TV, News, Entertainment News, Music TV, Full Length Movies, Trailers. Link to video websites, share sites web cams and more. This site is open for preview, but is still a work in progress. Watch new and classic movies now, click photo above to enter. Soon we will ad a new navigation button to this page, and will begin posting new stories to Pressroom5 in September.

French Opens Up Battle Between Nadal & Federer

Rafael Nadal has moved closer to a rare French Open hat-trick by overpowering Serbia's Novak Djokovic 7-5 6-4 6-2 to set up a much-anticipated final against arch-rival Roger Federer.

World number two Nadal, trying to become the first man with three successive Roland Garros titles since Bjorn Borg in 1980, wore down sixth seed Djokovic with relentless groundstrokes to extend his 100% record on the Paris clay.

The 20-year-old Djokovic tried his best but was not tough enough and failed to emulate compatriot Ana Ivanovic, who will face Justine Henin in the women's final on Saturday.

In Sunday's men's title match, the 21-year-old Spaniard with the bulging biceps will take on world number one Federer, who lost to Nadal in last year's final and reached this year's with a tight 7-5 7-6 7-6 win over Russia's Nikolay Davydenko.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. Leaves Late Father's Race Team

Dale Earnhardt Jr. will leave the company founded by his late father at the end of the year in a shake-up certain to ignite a bidding war for NASCAR's most popular driver.

He told Dale Earnhardt Inc. on Thursday that he had decided to make the switch to another team when his contract expires, intent on going to a more competitive team.

"At 32 years of age, the same age my father was when he made his final and most important career decision, it's time for me to compete on a consistent basis and contend for championships now," Earnhardt said at a news conference. "I believe I'd have my father's blessing."

Earnhardt had asked for 51 per cent ownership of the team now run by his stepmother Teresa. Negotiations on a contract extension began before the season and have been tense all along. Earnhardt's sister Kelley Earnhardt Elledge had set a deadline to get the deal done by the end of the month.

"We never even got close," Earnhardt said.

He stressed money is not the issue, Earnhardt said he leaves DEI with mixed emotions.

In a statement, Teresa Earnhardt said DEI will thrive following Junior's announcement.

Now, Earnhardt must decide which team is the best fit for him. He said he would like to continue to drive Chevrolets, which will limit his options. It's also likely his primary sponsor, Budweiser, will move with him to the new team.

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Earnhardt Jr.: 'Time for Us to Move On'

2016 Summer Olympics In Chicago?

Chicago's transformation from nonentity on the international Olympic stage a year ago to possible host city of the 2016 Summer Olympics was affirmed by a close U.S. Olympic Committee vote here on Saturday.

The board opted for the enthusiasm and fresh approach of Chicago, which has never hosted an Olympics, over the experienced hand of Los Angeles, attempting to present the Summer Games for a third time in a span of 84 years.

USOC Chairman Peter V. Ueberroth opened the sealed envelope in a meeting room at a downtown hotel shortly after 4 p.m. Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley practically shot out of his chair with the announcement.

He could well be doing that in his own city in 2016. The expected field in the race for the 2016 Games is not especially strong, and recent history suggests that Chicago has the compact, athlete-friendly plan that might appeal to International Olympic Committee officials.

Saturday's decision sends Chicago into an international pool of candidates, possibly including Madrid, Rome, Tokyo, Rio de Janeiro and Prague, Czech Republic. The IOC will announce its choice in October 2009 at Copenhagen.

Chicago entered the competition with modest expectations. Few cities win on their first bid, though Atlanta was a notable exception. Chicago then survived a rigorous vetting process by the USOC, watching as Houston and Philadelphia were eliminated in July and then San Francisco, an early favorite, fell in November when plans for a new stadium were shelved.

Surprisingly, in the international competition, early handicapping seems to favor the city on Lake Michigan, despite its longshot origins.

Working against Chicago is anti-American sentiment world-wide, including from some sectors of the IOC. The unpopular war in Iraq and perceptions of past USOC arrogance add to potential political obstacles.

The international selection race will be lengthy and very different.

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Chicago Moves Closer to Hosting 2016 Olympics

NFL Coaches Make Black History In Superbowl

History was made this past Sunday when two black head coaches in the National Football League led their respective teams to play in the Super Bowl. Tony Dungy, the head coach of the Indianapolis Colts, won the day over Lovie Smith's Chicago Bears.

It was a milestone moment in sports history. David Cornwell, the former director of equal employment in the NFL, said "This was the equivalent of a black man being president." Black coaches have never won "the big one" before, let alone even making it that far.

Tony Dungy was born in Michigan and went to the University of Minnesota. He won a Super Bowl ring when he played with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1978. He also played with the San Francisco 49ers.

He started coaching in the NFL as the defensive backs coach for the Steelers in 1981. Dungy got his big break in 1996, when he was named the head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In 2002, he became the head coach of the Colts.

Dungy's 18-year-old son committed suicide in December 2005. In spite of this overwhelming loss, Dungy continued to lead his team through the last few games of that 2005 season, but the Colts lost in the playoffs.

Michael Vick Busted For Marijuana At Miami Airport

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick reluctantly surrendered a water bottle to security at Miami International Airport that contained a residue "closely associated with marijuana," police said Wednesday.

Vick entered a concourse Wednesday morning at the airport with the 20-ounce water bottle safe.

He eventually handed it over and boarded his flight to Atlanta.

But his initial reluctance to turn over the bottle aroused suspicion among airport security screeners, a police report said.

The bottle was found to have a hidden compartment that contained "a small amount of dark particulate and a pungent aroma closely associated with marijuana," the report said.

The compartment was hidden by the bottle's label, so that it appeared to be a full bottle of water when held upright, police said.