I am regularly struck by the number of good people who support ‘their peoples’ wicked games.
Even more interesting are the same people who find a way to hate on others who are part of wicked games that don’t suit their narrative.
What is a wicked game?(!)
It is a game where a person or people lie, cheat and mislead.
If it helps a cause or a fancy, many supporters find a way to rationalize it.
Sport is the easiest example to lay bare my point.
Barry Bonds has never tested positive for performance enhancing drugs (PEDs) and is clearly one of the best baseball players in the sports history. He has hit the most home runs in his career, ever, hit more home runs in a single season (73) than anyone, he has garnered seven MVPs (more than anyone) and has the most walks in history. He is also one of the most hated baseball players ever.
Bonds is _gone_ from public view and scorned. Loved only in his native Bay Area.
On the other hand, Alex Rodriguez, of the Seattle Mariners Texas Rangers and more recently New York Yankees has tested positive multiple times for PEDs, sat out last year as a direct penalty from Major League Baseball and was accepted back by the Yankees and fans this year. He has hit almost 700 home runs and has over 3000 hits.
If you tuned into major league baseball’s pre-game show yesterday you would have seen “A-ROD” as their guest expert. There was Alex, all 6’ 3” and 225 Dominican pounds of him; handsome with green eyes flashing in a $1500 dollar suit.
And then there is Mark McGwire; Big Mac. The fastest player ever to 500 home runs and part of the Bash Brothers with Jose Conseco, the poster boy for doping who authored the tell all book, “Juiced: Wild Times, Rampant ‘Roids, Smash Hits & How Baseball Got Big” written in 2005. McGwire finally admitted PED use in 2010. He is now the batting coach for the LA Dodgers.
WHAT?(!)
Then there is Lance Armstrong, one of the most gifted men or women in the history of sport. His VO2max (cardio vascular output) is one of the highest ever recorded. He is a stage four cancer survivor and won a record seven Tour de Frances.
He is one of the most hated athletes of all time.
At the same time Lance’s teammate for over a decade and admitted cheater, his team general, George Hincapie, is affectionally called “Georgie” is widely loved in cycling, does color commentary and has a thriving online cycling clothing line.
The conundrum persists in other walks of life and is currently on full display.
The use of the amazing sculpture above is meant to convey feelings about abuse of the truth.
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Image: Bronze sculpture of man in Malcesine, eastern shore of Lake Garda, Italy © 2015 Roger Mechan / fotoLibra.
Dr. Kevin Purcell, DC. Dedicated to serving others …