Michael Vick book signings canceled due to violent threats

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick's arrest and federal prison conviction on felony dog fighting charges in 2007 surely force plenty of public vitriol from people who found the NFL player's actions inhumane. Since his inconvenience in 2009, Vick has puke his life and career back together and recently told that story in an autobiography, Finally Free.

Apparently some people don't motive to hear that part of Vick's story, as the quarterback's publishing house was forced to offset several upcoming book signing appearances due to threats of protests and fierceness against Barnes & Noble and an independent bookstore in Northvale, unseasoned Jersey. The appearances were scheduled for Barnes & Noble stores in Exton, Pa., Atlanta and novel Jersey as well as Books & Greetings in Northvale.

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"While we stand by Michael Vick's right to free rescue and the retailers' right to free commerce, we cannot knowingly put anyone in harm's way, and indeed we must announce the cancellation of Mr. Vick's book-signing appearances," Byron Williamson, president of Worthy Publishing, utter in a statement. "We've been assured these threats of violence, which have been reported to the police, are existence taken very seriously by local authorities."

The publisher didn't go into details about the specific threats, just verbal expression that they extended to retailers, their business and Vick and his family.

PhillyMag.com claims that Vick has received an increase in threats lately, perchance tied to the fact that he has acknowledged his family's ownership of a new dog.

Via PhillyMag.com:

The bookstore's Facebook page has been flooded with comments protesting the appearances. The same is true for Vick's sports fan page. In many instances, it goes well beyond protesting. Vick and his family have been menace on a number of occasions.

Some recent examples:

"I would go there to slit your throat knowing how you treat animals."

" entrust your kids don't fall in a pool with a battery."

"I would snap your neck if I met you, your [sic] a piece of trash."

It's comprehendible if people will never get past Vick's transgressions and e'er root against him on the field. But this recent tone has certainly gotten much uglier than that. Vick's public relations firm tried to put a positive spin on the recent acquire of events.

"Michael Vick has millions of fans and has countless letters from teachers thanking him for inspiring students to make positive changes," said Chris Shigas of French/West/Vaughan. "It is disturbing that a few extremists would menace Vick's family and store employees."

Materials taken from USA Today