'Tis the season that many of us take pause to examine the year behind us and ask ourselves, "Have I been naughty, or nice?"

For those of us who wear footed pajamas, such reflection may be inspired by the anticipation of an upcoming visit from Santa Claus, that jolly arbiter of gift-worthiness.

For others, it comes with a reawakening of the sense of community the holiday season evokes: spreading goodwill, sharing good food, opening our homes and hearts to friends and family, passing well-wishes to perfect strangers.

For still others, it comes on the heels of a federal court ruling.

This holiday season, Michael Vick was ordered to deposit $928,073.04 into an escrow account to be used to pay, as stipulated in his plea agreement, "all costs associated with the care of the dogs involved in that case, including, if necessary, the long-term care and/or the humane euthanasia of some or all of those animals as may be directed by the court."

Why now? Apparently, the feds think the pit bulls rescued from Bad Newz Kennels might not get their legally binding "care" covered if they don't confiscate the necessary cash from Vick now.

A November 28 CNN headline read: Vick To Pay $1 Million for Dogs as Fortune Shrinks.

As fortune shrinks… How can that not make you look back and reflect?

Not long ago, Vick, also known as "Ookie," was a successful, revered quarterback with a long-term big-money contract and lucrative endorsement deals. Today, the feds are earmarking close to $1 million from his account because of a succession of events that indicate his financial situation is deteriorating.

The Atlanta Falcons want $20 million of Vick's bonus money back, and a court has ruled they're entitled. Wachovia Bank alleges he's defaulted on a $1.3 million loan for a wine store. The Royal Bank of Canada has filed suit, seeking payment from Vick on a $2.5 million line of credit. And 1st Source Bank of South Bend, Indiana, filed suit against Vick, seeking $2 million for loans toward a car rental business. Read the details at thesmokinggun.com.

Then there's the pending sale of his Virginia estate -- which would have been a much nicer place to spend Thanksgiving than a cell in the Northern Neck Regional Jail in Warsaw, Virginia, where he is being held for sentencing on the federal conspiracy charges. That sentence will be anywhere from 12-18 months in prison.

Next, in April, comes his trial for the local charges against him: one count of unlawfully torturing and killing dogs and one of promoting dogfights. Each count carries a possible 5-year jail term.

And who knows when, or if, he'll ever play football again, what with that pesky "no gambling" violation.

Of the 49 remaining dogs from the original 60-plus seized from Vick's property, all but one will be placed in either foster homes for observation and acclimation to people and other animals, or sanctuaries for animals deemed too skittish, defensive and potentially aggressive to be homed with humans. One will be euthanized due to extreme aggression toward people.

All of those dogs are better off now. Not true of Ookie.

There is an ongoing debate in this country about whether potential punishment deters crime. I used to think that depended on how much a person had to lose. Ookie blew my theory right out of the water. Perhaps it's closer to true that the more you have to lose, the more you think you can get away with.

I just hope all the little kids and teens who, just last year, looked up to Michael Vick, star quarterback, are still looking today. I hope they're still paying attention. Because it's clear Vick was naughty this year. And now he's paying the price. As are his "colleagues." As is his family. As did his dogs.

There's a lesson here: If only Vick had looked forward. He might not now be looking back, watching as his fortune shrinks.

Woof!