RICHMOND, Va. — Even though Michael Vick is leaving prison this week, he won’t exactly be a free man. For two months, the suspended NFL star will be largely confined to his Hampton (Va.) home and will wear an electronic monitor that allows federal probation officials to track his movements.
He will be allowed to go to his full-time construction job and likely will be allowed about five hours a week for other court-approved activities, according to Ed Bales, managing director of Federal Prison Consultants, an inmate rehabilitation advocacy group.
Permissible activities for inmates on home confinement typically include things such as medical appointments, religious obligations and meetings with probation officials. No dinners out. No chilling at a friend’s house.
And definitely no bars.
“He’s going to be pretty much read the riot act: ‘If we catch you in one situation like that, it’s back to you know where,’ ” Bales said.
Vick is serving a 23-month sentence for a dogfighting conspiracy and is expected to be released from federal custody July 20. After that, Bales said, Vick will have 72 hours to report to the probation officer to find out what new rules he will have to follow during three years of supervised probation. One restriction tailored specifically for Vick: He can never again own a dog.
• Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Johnson has taken an indefinite leave of absence while he continues treatment for a cancerous tumor on his spine.
• The San Francisco 49ers waived defensive back Jimmy Williams just four months after signing the former Virginia Tech star.
NHL gets support
PHOENIX — The NFL, Major League Baseball and the NBA have lined up in support of the NHL’s court fight to block the sale of the Phoenix Coyotes and move to southern Canada.
The leagues filed statements asking the U.S. Bankruptcy Court to “respect the National Hockey League’s rules and procedures regarding ownership transfer and relocation.”
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman filed a declaration stating he has had control of the franchise since November and that Coyotes owner Jerry Moyes was not authorized to take the team into Chapter 11 bankruptcy on May 5.
A hearing is scheduled for today before Judge Redfield Baum in U.S. Bankruptcy Court on the NHL’s motion to have the case thrown out.
• Philadelphia Flyers center Danny Briere is scheduled to have corrective eye surgery today. He will take a few weeks to recover.
• Boston Bruins high scorers Phil Kessel (shoulder) and David Krejci (hip) face surgeries that could keep them from playing early next season.
Borel could ride Mine That Bird
LOS ANGELES — Mike Smith, who rode Mine That Bird to a second- place finish in Saturday’s Preakness Stakes, won’t ride the gelding winner in the Belmont Stakes on June 6 because of a previous commitment.
That means Calvin Borel, who rode Mine That Bird to a stunning victory in the Kentucky Derby, could get back on him for the Belmont if Rachel Alexandra doesn’t run.
The Associated Press
