Michael Vick is Back to Endorsing Products: Signs His First Deal

Michael Vick

Embattled Philadelphia Eagles star Michael Vick has finally signed his first endorsement deal. The player signed a two-year contract with Unequal Technologies, a company that provides the football pads Vick wore throughout the season. Terms of the deal are not disclosed, but both parties are excited.

"We're real excited about it," said Unequal's chief executive officer Rob Vito. "Michael is good people. He paid his dues. President Obama reached out to him. He deserves an opportunity. This is what makes America so great. He's moved forward. He's a whole other person."

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Magic Johnson Professional Profile

MJ Enterprises
MJ Enterprises serves ethnically-diverse, urban communities of Magic Johnson Enterprises makes strategic investments, partnerships and endorsements in ethnically-diverse urban communities. Magic Johnson Enterprises covers all of the business ventures connected to his name and assets: Magic Johnson Movie Theaters and 90 Starbucks locations.

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Magic Johnson Professional Profile

Rivalry with Larry Bird
It started with the game that put the "Madness" in the month of March. Bird's Indiana State vs. Magic's Michigan State Spartans in the 1979 NCAA Championship game. Larry lost. But it was only the beginning for this rivalry that spanned on to the 1984, 1985 and 1987 NBA Finals. "We came along at the right time," says Magic. "That's all I can say. I needed Larry and he needed me. We pushed each other, meant so much to each other and meant so much to the game. It was a fun time."

Magic Johnson Professional Profile

Basketball Career
Magic played a big part in pulling the NBA from near bankruptcy into making huge profits. The Hall-of-Famer is one of the greats. His career by the numbers: One gold medal during the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games; 5 NBA Championship Rings (1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988);
3-Time NBA MVP (1986-1987, 1988-1989, 1989-1990); 12-Time All-Star.

Magic Johnson Professional Profile

USA Olympic Dream Team
The Dream Team dominated in Barcelona, Spain. It was obvious this was OUR sport. Team USA beat its eight opponents by an average of 44 points! No wonder: they had Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan and Larry Bird, the irrepressible Charles Barkley for a little spice, as well as seven more NBA All-Stars: centers David Robinson and Patrick Ewing, power forward Karl Malone, Scottie Pippen, Chris Mullin, Clyde Drexler, and point guard John Stockton. As one story on NBA.com goes: While trying to guard the 6-foot-9 Magic, one foreign player was seen waving to a teammate on the bench with his camera. He was making sure he got a picture of them together.

Magic Johnson Professional Profile

Coaching The Lakers
Magic became the Lakers' coach in March 1994, following his burning desire to coach in the NBA. He took over one of the league's worst teams mid-season. The Lakers went 5-11 under Magic and he quit after the season.

Magic Johnson Professional Profile

Owning The Lakers
Next, in 1994, Magic bought a stake in his team. He still holds title of vice president today, working in various management areas. "This has always been my dream," Johnson said when he inked the deal. Magic paid more than $10 million for part-ownership.

Magic Johnson Professional Profile

The Biographies of Earvin Johnson
In 1992, Magic wrote his autobiography, 'My Life,' one of nearly a dozen biographies to be published on the NBA great. In the tell-all, Magic shared his upbringing by an auto assembly-line worker father and hard-working mother. The book opened with "I grew up in the kind of black family that people today worry is disappearing. Even though there were nine of us - we had what we needed - two great parents, food on the table, and time for the whole family to be together."

Magic Johnson Professional Profile

The Magic Hour TV Show
Johnson premiered 'The Magic Hour' talk show in 1998. The show, which had hopes to replace the Emmy Award-winning The Arsenio Hall Show, was canceled after eight weeks on the air. The Magic Hour might best be remembered for an episode featuring shock jock Howard Stern, who ridiculed the short-lived show.

Magic Johnson Professional Profile

The Magic Johnson Foundation
The MJ Foundation is one of two of Johnson's professional endeavors bearing the "Magic" brand. MJF has awarded more than $1.1 million to community-based organizations that focus on HIV/AIDS education and prevention, and has established four HIV/AIDS clinics.

Magic Johnson Professional Profile

HIV-AIDS Awareness
In 1991, Magic announced he had HIV, which causes AIDS, and his fight to find a cure has never ended. Without a doubt, Magic is one of the premier spokesmen for HIV/AIDS awareness and treatment/cure research. In 2007, Magic founded the "I Stand With Magic" Program and web site. It is a part of a campaign to empower all people to take a stand against HIV/AIDS. The site gives info on HIV/AIDS issues as well as education and awareness materials, and testing and treatment resources.

Magic Johnson Professional Profile

The contract has been defined as "sizable" by the company's executives. Vick wore a vest designed by Unequal when he came back from an injury earlier this season. He also wore shoulder and thigh pads designed by the company.

"The Unequal technology is a part of my game now and I won't play without my Unequal," Vick said in a statement. "Unequal's protective power gives me a whole new level of confidence in my game. It makes me feel invincible."

It appears that Vick is back in the business of making money and selling products again. He is similar to Magic Johnson in that both were able to reinvent themselves in such a way that their biggest news-making experience didn't serve to define them. To this day, most people barely remember that Magic Johnson was diagnosed with HIV nearly 20 years ago, and in a few years, Michael Vick's prison sentence may simply be an afterthought.

Watching Vick reclaim his stake of greatness also serves to inspire millions of formerly incarcerated Americans who deserve a second chance. President Barack Obama was wise to point out that Vick's success serves as an example of what all of us can become if given an opportunity. One can only hope that solid economic opportunities can also be provided for those who can't throw a football down the field.

The product that Vick is pitching is as perfect for him as the city in which he plays. Selling a product that relates to football means that potential customers won't likely care very much about Michael Vick's off-the-field behavior. Also, Philadelphia is the kind of town that would cheer for an ax murderer if he could win football games. The hard-nosed city with loyal fans has been incredibly gracious when it comes to giving Michael Vick another chance to shine.

It'll be interesting to see where things go from here. While it might be a while before Michael Vick reappears on the cover of another PlayStation video game, it's great to see him regain control of his life. Way to go, Mike. I'm proud of you. Please keep up the good work.