Apology Accepted. Now Skip the All-Star Game.

This is a nice piece from today's Dallas Morning News that sums up my feelings about the recent Kenny Rogers apology:

With Super Nanny in reruns, parents can follow the Kenny Rogers mess this summer to get their fill on advice for the kids. The fallout from the Rangers pitcher's outburst last week is full of life lessons: Don't resort to violence, ever. Don't lose control of your emotions. Don't expect to get away with bad behavior.

But, finally, a "do" – do apologize, as Mr. Rogers did Wednesday.

Some say it came too late. Others quibble that he had an ulterior motive. But parents can point to his brief Wednesday news conference as a model apology.

He said, "Against the advice of my legal counsel, and regardless of potential litigation, I feel compelled to come before you and express my deep regret for my actions."

He offered no excuses, saying that he comes to the ballpark every day knowing he needs to keep his emotions in check and admitting, "I failed miserably."

If only politicians could be so frank. Instead, how often do we hear apologies for how actions were "perceived" or for "unintended consequences"? Please.

Rare are the apologies that shoulder all the blame. Let's accept those that do.

Forgiveness does not let Mr. Rogers off the hook, though. There's one more important lesson here: Actions have consequences.

Mr. Rogers should drop the appeal of his 20-game suspension. He should not play in the All-Star Game.

Let young fans see that the best apologies are followed by the acceptance of responsibility.

And another thing:
What is it about Rogers that makes everybody so hands-off about this ordeal? First Rangers management basically left any punishment up to Da Commish. Now that he's still eligible for the All-Star Game, AL manager Terry Francona is saying that it's up to Rogers to decide whether or not he wants to attend the game.

The CBA in MLB has such a stranglehold on ownership's nutsack that everybody is afraid to drop the hammer on Rogers. Only Da Commish levied any kind of punishment, and he had to just to cover MLB's butt. And he knew full well that the punishment would be appealed and that it may even not stick.

I'm just glad children aren't members of MLB's Players Association.