Wow. Smart people can do really stupid things. We don’t actually know what happened yet, but the accusation is that Mike Vrabel, of Patriots football fame, stole liquor at a casino. Whether it happened or not isn’t my point. The point is that he put himself in the POSITION to be even accused of theft! Now, there’s nothing illegal about being in a casino - millions of people go to casinos every year, but there isn’t exactly anyone there earning a Nobel Prize or discovering the next great cure! Mike has a clean and positive reputation, likely well earned. If you’re not an honest well-intentioned person, it’s hard to develop that reputation, not to mention keep it, for so many years. But if you’re a dope, eventually that will come out. Poor social behavior, if someone has it, will show up eventually.
So how to explain Vrabel’s “mis-step”? Can only be one of a few things: 2) it wasn’t actually him, it was his stunt double, 2) his “handlers” dropped the ball and weren’t watching him, or 3) he’s actually a dope who finally got caught doing something stupid. So here’s my point: If you place a high value on reputation (and I hope you do. Just ask Tiger Woods about the value of reputation!), don’t put yourself in a position or a place where bad things can happen. People go to casinos to have fun and try to win money. I, personally, don’t get it. In reality, everyone loses (except the casinos), and people drink and get drunk. That’s some winning formula! VERY few good things happen in casinos, so why go? Vrabel gambled with his reputation and lost. Unless he has a REALLY good explanation as to how he was caught stealing, his reputation will take a good, long hit, and who knows what THAT will cost him. Simple solution: If you’re not AT a casino, you can’t do stupid things at a casino. I hope he has a good, honest explanation.
Dan Scheerer
SmartGeorge
