Sorry Bob

Robert Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots publicly apologized after being charged with two counts of solicitation in connection to a prostitution sting in Florida.  His apology follows this piece.  My position on solicitation with prostitutes is that if the two parties are “consenting adults” the side note of it actually being a business transaction and not a love connection does not bother me in the least.  If, in fact, that is what it was, then no apology necessary.  Which leads me to the “Why” of it all.

Mr. Kraft is a widower.  Perhaps he is lonely.  Perhaps he is what I refer to as a trouser snake.  Either way, what he did does not concern me in the least.  So why the apology to the public?  Is he so worried about the Patriot “fans”?  I can’t imagine that he is or he would not have engaged in this behavior.  Is he worried about his family?  If so, he could have a conversation with them and attempt to explain his actions in private.  My feeling is that the attorneys have sponsored this apology to help sway the court of public opinion.  Which means, it is not an apology at all but rather a manipulation, which I resent.

For me, and I break this down statement by statement:  (P2) I do not hold you to a higher standard because I do not think more of you than I do anyone else.  Sorry if that shatters your ego.  (P3) If you have extraordinary respect for women, should we assume you tipped her very well?  (P4) You would like to use your platform to make a difference – Then use it and stop this lobbying for what you believe will be a judicial “break” because you are the owner of an NFL team.   

Mr. Kraft:  I don’t know you and you don’t know me.  I am not someone who travels in your circle, not a Patriots fan, not a season ticket holder.  I am no one in your world.  So, there is absolutely no need for you to address the public with this apology written for you to say in as heartfelt a manner as you could.  Simply address the people that are actually in your life while you still have them.

The Roaring Ellie

The apology: “In deference to the judicial process, I have remained silent these past several weeks. To correct some of the misinformation surrounding this matter, my attorney made his first public comments on Friday night. I would like to use this opportunity to say something that I have wanted to say for weeks.”

 “I am truly sorry. I know I have hurt and disappointed my family, my close friends, my co-workers, our fans and many others who rightfully hold me to a higher standard.”

“Throughout my life I’ve tried to do the right thing. The last thing I would ever want to do was to disrespect another human being. I have extraordinary respect for women. My morals and my soul were shaped by the most wonderful woman, the love of my life, who I was blessed to have as my partner for 50 years.”

“As I move forward, I hope to use the platform with which I have been blessed to help others and to try to make a difference. I expect to be judged not by my words but by my actions. And through those actions, I hope to regain your confidence and respect.” (Wagner, 2019)

Wagner, Laura, MSN.com, retrieved from the world wide web on March 24, 2019 from https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nfl/everyone-fell-for-robert-krafts-apology/ar-BBV8Zh2?li=BBnb7Kz