Peterson's parents trying to make a difference
Published: 5/25/2009 6:23 PM
Last Modified: 5/25/2009 6:23 PM
Finally, an angle on the sad, tired Michael Vick story that sheds a little light -- Adrian Peterson is reaching out to the troubled ex-NFL quarterback.
Well, it's not so much Adrian but Adrian's father. Jim Corbett of USA Today has the story:
"Nelson Peterson, 46, served eight years of a 10-year sentence for laundering money in the selling of crack cocaine... Peterson went to jail when Adrian was 12 and was released in October 2006 when his son was in his final season as a star running back at Oklahoma prior to his selection by the Vikings with the seventh overall pick in the 2007 NFL draft.
"The elder Peterson has worked at an Oklahoma car dealership and speaks to kids often about the perils of drugs in schools as his voluntary means of making amends for a regrettable mistake. He can relate to Vick's downward spiral...
"'I'm going to try and go through Adrian to reach out to Michael Vick,' the elder Peterson said. 'I've been there for eight years, for laundering drug proceeds and selling cocaine. There's some important adjustments you have to make in terms of the way you carry yourself and in terms of the friends and people you associate with and used to associate with. He'll have to make changes.'"
Nelson Peterson went on to say: "Vick has paid his debt to society and I think he needs to get out and address to the public that he made a mistake. Face the music. Everybody in society knows what you've done. Step up to the plate, look the camera and the media in the eye and man up. I think the people in the country would be more willing to forgive if Vick does that.
"Why not give him a second chance? There's people out there who have done worse things than fighting and killing dogs, and they've received second chances.
"Vick needs to talk to kids and go to schools like myself. As long as he's learned from his mistakes, as long as he gives back to the community and educates the kids who don't know that fighting dogs is a felony.''
While Peterson's father comes to the defense of Michael Vick, the star running back's mother continues her work with the MOM Squad. That's MOM as in "Mothers On a Mission." As in, mothers of professional athletes/entertainers who go into communities and speak. They were in Alabama last summer, and the Gadsden (Ala.) Times was there...
"The group spoke to students at Litchfield Middle, Gadsden Middle, Striplin Elementary and Etowah High schools and read stories to students at Oscar Adams Elementary. About 21 women participated in the weekend, including actor Will Smith’s mother, Carolyn; Mary Anthony, mother of Carmelo Anthony of the Denver Nuggets; Janice Johnson, mother of Rudi Johnson, who played for Auburn and is now with the Cincinnati Bengals; and Bonita Jackson, mother of Adrian Peterson of the Minnesota Vikings, and three of her sisters...
"Cassandra Edwards, an aunt of Adrian Peterson, told students at Litchfield there are other occupations that students should strive for besides being a famous athlete. She said she was a 'famous nurse.'"
-- Guerin Emig
Written by
Guerin Emig
Sports Writer
