Ignorance is bliss, but bliss is overrated

By Jeff Glauser
The Phanatic Magazine

There are certain truths that we choose to ignore, simply because it’s easier that way. It doesn’t matter how obvious the truths truly are – like accepting the five second rule or the liquor hotness scale as pure myths – we disregard reality in place of peace of mind. Why? Because nobody wants to believe that that last piece of pizza is wasted – or that because we’re wasted, a fugly chick should stand in our way of getting a piece.

It’s just a part of life – the less bad we know, the less misery we have to endure. Because deep down in places you don't talk about at parties, you want to be placated… you need to be placated…

But there comes a time in a writer’s life when he needs to bring the truth to light to the masses, if only because he needs something to write about.

And conveniently enough (for me, at least), this truth philosophy bodes the same for the world of sports. For example, there are many of us who would rather choose to deny that Barry Bonds is now finally, perhaps mercifully, the new home run king. But he is. And will be. Maybe for quite some time.

But that’s just the tip of the such-is-life iceberg.

Today, I will burst the figurative bubbles of those in truth-denial by releasing the first edition of Truths We All Know But Don’t Want to Admit:

Truth #1: The Bonds steroid scandal is completely overblown. He is, “allegedly,” one of hundreds of baseball players who have cheated the sport over the past decade-plus – he just happened to be better at it than everybody else. If you need a scapegoat, try the commissioner, who was aware of the issue for years and let the fire rage out of control.

Truth #2: The Flyers are the best run organization in town. Despite its pitiful showing this past season, the Fly-Guys have shown, year in and year out, that its willing to make the moves necessary to remain competitive. For the remaining franchises, question marks always seem to persist.

Truth #3: Andy Reid and Charlie Manual are both good motivators and player-friendly coaches – and both mediocre game-day coaches. Rarely will a player utter a negative word regarding either, and rarely will their respective teams be questioned for a lack of effort on the field, but when the game is on the line and decisions fall into their hands, rarely will it pay off in the end.

Truth #4: A Billy King/Maurice Cheeks combination will never lead the 76ers to a Finals appearance. There are only so many times that you can be allowed to change the face of a team without signs of success. Regarding Cheeks, as great a player as he was (one of my all-time favs), as formidable of an assistant coach he’s been and as great a guy he is, he’s just not aggressive enough or savvy enough to elevate the level of his players. Recent history dictates that trait is a necessity.

Truth #5: The Phillies, as per contemporary tradition, will fall just short of the playoffs this year - and this time, Pat Gillick is most to blame. Sure, Manual makes for a terrific scapegoat. And he’s certainly made some questionable moves which probably cost them a few games this year. But when push comes to shove, Gillick – a proven winner in his past incarnations as general manager – completely dropped the ball during this past offseason. The list of busts and failures are astounding: Barajas, Eaton, Garcia, Helms, et al. And who’s the least bit surprised at the disaster which is the bullpen?

Truth #6: Mixed Martial Arts has officially supplanted boxing as the fighting sport of choice. And like Hip Hop and reality television, it’s not simply a trend - MMA is here to stay. Not to say that boxing hasn’t helped expedite the swap in preference, what with all the corruption, politics and that criminal thugs like Don King still have a legitimate role.