Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you respond to it. So they say. But are they right?
There's undoubtedly enough anecdotal evidence of those who have overcome hardships and tragedies with faith, optimism, and resilience -- and conversely, enough examples of those who squandered advantages, blessings, and favor through pessimism, lack of discipline, and feelings of entitlement -- to suggest yes, "they" are probably right. To some degree or another.
There's a parallel theorem that's back in the news.
Outside of murdering your wife while wearing a new pair of Aris Isotoner Light gloves (size extra-large), your opportunity to rehabilitate a damaged reputation is 10% what you've done in the first place and 90% how you own up to it.
Don't hold me to that exact ratio but if you don't believe there's at least some truth to it, just ask Richard Nixon how effective cover ups are when you've obviously broken the rules -- and got caught. Bill Clinton looked us right in the eyes, wagged a finger in our direction, and declared, "I did not have ..." in his attempt to follow in Nixon's presidential footsteps.
Maybe Roger Clemens never took steroids and was amazingly unaware that others around him, including his colleagues and wife, were doing so. But if he did, his legacy will be tarnished more by his theatrical declarations of innocence than anything he did in an era of baseball when it is estimated that at least two thirds of Major League Baseball was ingesting some kind of performance enhancer.
So who framed Roger Clemens? If he's found guilty ... just ask him!
Agree mostly but would note that some offenses will never be forgiven in the court of public opinion. I guess that's why you made the O.J. glove reference. --ZL
ReplyDeleteWho Framed Roger Clemens?
ReplyDeleteWho Framed Roger Rabbit?
The connection between the two is clearly the isotoner gloves. :O
As a baseball fan, I agree and would have appreciated a humble apology. I think poor Rocket has bumbled his way down a very slippery path. However, I recently heard this comment that I think has an interesting point: Since there's a war going on right now, doesn't Congress have other more pressing issues they should be handling?
ReplyDeleteGood point on whether Congress should be involved in Major League Baseball in light of other pressing issues. Those who think that government should step in often argue for this on the basis of (a) the place of baseball in American culture; and (b) baseball is a big enough business -- and there are many ancillary businesses linked to it (i.e. gambling) -- the American public deserves to know that it is being played fairly.
ReplyDeleteBeing a huge Astros fan, and just a baseball fan in general I wanted to believe him that he didn't do it, and I listened to the senate hearing because I wanted to hear him prove MacNamee wrong.. but when I heard him say that he didn't know what HGH was until a "couple days ago" etc. I knew he was lying- that sealed the deal for me... and it broke my heart that he is so harsh with his lies- I just wonder what he and his HGH using wife have told their kids- how are they explaining lying to Congress or are they lying to their kids as well??
ReplyDeleteHeather -- it's when die-hard fans like you stop believing in him that Roger has really lost the PR battle.
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