The Daily Bulletin Archive

Buffalo State alumnus Kenneth Robinson, lecturer in the Sociology Department, has published his first book, From Vick-Tim to Vick-Tory: The Fall and Rise of Michael Vick (Strategic Book Publishing). Using critical analysis, the book chronicles the odyssey of NFL All-Pro quarterback Michael Vick, who went from a world of opulence to being ostracized by the NFL and society over his involvement in dog fighting. But rather than a recapitulation of the events and story lines that eviscerated Vick, Robinson's work examines social factors that help explain his fall and subsequent rise on and off the field. He offers both historical and theoretical analyses of the broader sports culture of the NFL, which includes the media, corporate sponsors, and the politics of the state, with race and deviance as interceding variables. Robinson's book fills considerable voids in the public discourse and in the literature and provides policy recommendations.

The book has garnered favorable reviews, including this excerpt from Adrienne N. Milner, assistant professor of sociology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham:

“Overall, the strength of this work lies in Robinson’s unique analysis of Michael Vick’s fall and rise. I don’t think I have ever described an academic work as creative, but each section of this book is just that—innovative, original, and inspired. I say this because of the specific comparisons that Robinson utilizes (i.e., dog fighting to bestiality; Vick’s treatment to Roethlisberger’s; the NFL to China), which have never previously been discussed so thoroughly and sophisticatedly, but are undeniable in proving the point that racial discrimination is alive and well in America.”

The foreword to the book was written by Ron Stewart, professor of sociology at Buffalo State. Robinson wishes to extend his thanks and appreciation to all who supported him on this insightful journey.

The book is available on the publisher's, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble websites. The book can also be purchased through the Barnes and Noble at Buffalo State Bookstore.