A plea to anyone accused of something in the media...
Category Everything Else
With corporate corruption, financial mismanagement, and general criminal activity running rampant in society today, it's not unusual for the media to get ahold of a story. And the knee-jerk reaction of all the accused individuals, either personally or through their lawyers, is to loudly proclaim "I didn't do it, I'm innocent, there's nothing to see here." And to that I say...
Society ain't buying it any more...
We've become far too jaded as a society to believe just about anyone when they protest their innocence now. We're cynical from being lied to repeatedly, from the highest levels of government clear down to our sports heros we've put on pedestals.
Take the latest gambling scandal in the NHL. Potential ties to organized crime. Wayne Gretzky's wife implicated. And what does he do? Hold a press conference proclaiming how confused he is about it all, how he's trying to figure out what's going on himself, and how he's not involved in any of it. And what happens today? News of wiretapped conversations where he's discussing the gambling ring and how to keep his wife from being named. Guess you *lied* to us, Wayne! And if you lied about that, are we to believe that you weren't placing any bets either? And don't tell me you were unaware of her involvement... We already know you know. And I don't think a wife dumps $500K and easily hides it from hubby...
From now on, can people accused of something just issue a simple "no comment"? You look *really* stupid when facts show otherwise...
With corporate corruption, financial mismanagement, and general criminal activity running rampant in society today, it's not unusual for the media to get ahold of a story. And the knee-jerk reaction of all the accused individuals, either personally or through their lawyers, is to loudly proclaim "I didn't do it, I'm innocent, there's nothing to see here." And to that I say...
Society ain't buying it any more...
We've become far too jaded as a society to believe just about anyone when they protest their innocence now. We're cynical from being lied to repeatedly, from the highest levels of government clear down to our sports heros we've put on pedestals.
Take the latest gambling scandal in the NHL. Potential ties to organized crime. Wayne Gretzky's wife implicated. And what does he do? Hold a press conference proclaiming how confused he is about it all, how he's trying to figure out what's going on himself, and how he's not involved in any of it. And what happens today? News of wiretapped conversations where he's discussing the gambling ring and how to keep his wife from being named. Guess you *lied* to us, Wayne! And if you lied about that, are we to believe that you weren't placing any bets either? And don't tell me you were unaware of her involvement... We already know you know. And I don't think a wife dumps $500K and easily hides it from hubby...
From now on, can people accused of something just issue a simple "no comment"? You look *really* stupid when facts show otherwise...
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Comments
I did pick on The Great One for a reason, however. He's the premier icon in sports, and in my opinion the greatest athlete in sports in terms of dominating his game. But he's now doing the Barry Bonds shuffle in terms of this story. He's gone from "I know nothing" to "I didn't bet or do anything wrong". It's a subtle but significant difference. It's like Bonds saying I never "knowingly" took banned substances. In other words, I'm not saying I'm clean, but I'll claim ignorance if facts dictate otherwise.
In this case, I'd have had more respect for Gretz if he had just said "yes, I'm aware of this story... no, I have never participated in this group... Beyond that, I have no further comment until I've had a chance to understand the reports."
Of course, that assumes that he *didn't* participate in this group, which I'm hoping is the case... That would be on par with Lance Armstrong being proven to have failed a doping test...
Posted by Duffbert At 05:01:37 On 10/02/2006 | - Website - |
And what does he do? Hold a press conference proclaiming how confused he is about it all, how he's trying to figure out what's going on himself, and how he's not involved in any of it.
Well, he didn't exactly hold a press conference. Wayne is the head coach of Phoenix. In that role, he takes part in a number of team press conferences. Over the last few days, he's been quoted from several.
You look *really* stupid when facts show otherwise...
Uh, Tom, the facts haven't necessarily come out yet. Just anonymous allegations amid a media frenzy. Of course the allegations can't be completely ignored, but they hardly qualify as *facts.*
I'd like to hear more details of the content of the tape (not just an anonymous interpretation of the content). Also, when exactly was the wiretap? All we have so far are vague allegations of a discussion about the gambling ring sometime within the last month. Right...
There's a number of scenarios in which the phone call(s) could have taken place, and yet still fit Gretzky's quotes. Or not. But that's my point. We can't possibly *know* at this point.
All in all, don't go lumping Wayne Gretzky in with all the other corruption / criminal scandals of recent years just yet. It's a little early in this one to be jumping to any conclusions. Otherwise, when the facts come in...well, you know how the line ends.
Posted by Rod Stauffer At 01:15:15 On 10/02/2006 | - Website - |