MIAMI – Then, it turns out, we’ve been fooled all along by the Falcons free safety, frozen by a Super Bowl hypocrisy so great it is worthy of roman numerals.
Robinson was booked Saturday night, not fromthe Good Book from which he quotes, not from the first-person inspirational tome about God and football that he published last year.
The winner of Athletes in Action’s 1999 Bart Starr Award for morals and service to the community allegedly offered $40 for oral sex to an undercover police officer on Biscayne Boulevard.
Robinson was taken in, then released on his own recognizance, which, we can only assume he has known for some time to be less-than completely recognizable as the person he has purported to be.
“You can’t help but learn from a guy who carries himself so well off the field, too,” said defensive backfield mate Ray Buchanan earlier in the week.
Now, with a wife in town, with the world watching, the NFL’s active leader in interceptions has been picked off allegedly cruising for sexual release before the big game. Probably not since Jim Bakker has any public figure taken his own piety in the face like this.
“I know when I say this, it’s going to be [people saying, oh, it’s just another hypocritical Christian,” said Robinson last night after the Falcons’ 34-19 defeat in Super Bowl XXXIII. “I’ll take that. I deserve that.
“However, before God, I fell on my knees and said I’m sorry. And I didn’t do it as quickly as I did here. And that was four, five hours, with tears, asking for mercy, asking for grace.”
It was impossible not to give him credit for taking questions. On advice of his attorney, he ducked only the questions specifically about the charges and otherwise laid his soul before the world. Provided. of course, we can now believe that is his soul.
There was no question, however, Robinson was saying all the right things. “I strongly believe I will be found innocent in this deal, however not righteous in this deal,” Robinson said. “There is no doubt the ramifications are far reaching.
“A good friend of mine said, ‘Confession is good for the soul, but bad for the reputation.’ And it’s so true. Reputation, I can deal with that. But the hurt to my wife means more to me because I truly love her and I love my kids. I’m sorry I had to drag her through that type of deal.
“My wife has been stellar, she really has. You know how your mother loves you unconditionally because she’s your mother? Well, my wife loves me. And that’s not to say she’s not hurt. I don’t want to minimize her pain. For that I tell you Gia, I am deeply sorry for the hurt I caused you.”
If this was a performance, it was better than the one the Falcons put on the field last night. Better than Robinson’s, too. Rod Smith ran right by him on an 80-yard touchdown reception from John Elway in the second quarter.
“I got no sleep, but when it came to playing, it was pretty much therapeutic for me,” the safety said. “I got to do what I do best. I was almost rejoicing that I broke my finger [tackling Terrell Davi]. I told Will White, I’m in a zone right now.”
Then, the game ended, as did the Falcons’ championship dream, as had any illusions Eugene Robinson was the saint his teammates had thought him to be. The apology doesn’t change that, and neither will the forgiveness the Falcons who spoke last night appear willing to give him unconditionally.
The top-of-the-line role model nevertheless turns out to be state-of-the-art in sanctimony. Earlier this week Robinson talked effusively about God and family, even took a shot at the Patriots’ alleged nighttime behavior that helped doom them to a 1997 Super Bowl defeat by his Packers.
He drew Falcons to team bible study and had a role in the recent Christian conversions of Cornelius Bennett and William White.
The President of the United States has done worse than the Falcon safety, or at least, been shown to have done it more often, and the majority of Americans still somehow approve of Bill Clinton’s job performance.
That’s their right, one supposes. So great is our capacity to forgive and forget that we will be surprised if CBS, which talked to Robinson about an analyst job last year, still won’t be interested if he lays low for another year on the field.
This is a crime that deserves no greater punishment than it likely will get – a fine and time in the stocks of America’s town square for Eugene Robinson. But in the meantime, the one who suffers most grievously is Robinson’s wife.
He asked for her forgiveness last night. That’s her call, completely. Either way, ours should concur.
