LEARNING FROM FAILURE 2003'S GREATEST FLOPS MAY PROVIDE LESSON FOR 2004.Byline: Steve Young ``When one door closes, another opens.'' ``Problems are only opportunities in work clothes.'' ``What does not kill us makes us stronger. GREAT sentiments all, but when you're in the midst Adv. 1. in the midst - the middle or central part or point; "in the midst of the forest"; "could he walk out in the midst of his piece?" midmost of some adversity, the only person you want killed is the one who has the gall to dare try to encourage you with some goody-goody rationale. However, these oft-expressed beliefs, obnoxious as we may find them, are true, but only if you take the action to make them so. The year 2003 brought us a great many failures, mistakes and adversity - a great deal of it coming by way of outspoken mouths that would have better been shut. But in each misspeak mis·speak v. mis·spoke , mis·spo·ken , mis·speak·ing, mis·speaks v.tr. To speak or pronounce incorrectly: The lead actor misspoke his lines. v.intr. and misplay mis·play n. Sports & Games A mistaken or unskillful play. tr.v. mis·played, mis·play·ing, mis·plays To make a misplay of. Noun 1. , disappointment and disaster there lies a seed of something better. If only we would plant the seed and take the actions necessary to make it grow in 2004. It's called learning from your mistakes. Of course, some people never learn. And if the offending party chooses not to make hay from their faux pas This page has been divided into the following:
Below are the top failures of 2003, and how we can hope to learn from them in this new year: 2003 adversity: Michael Jackson's album sales plummet due to his ``Father Knows Best'' dangling of his infant son over a balcony the previous year. What he could have learned: Fans don't take to pop divas endangering children. Did he learn? Jackson is arrested on suspicion of child abuse of someone else's son. How we can benefit in 2004: Never let your 10-year-old child accept a sleepover invite from a 45-year-old child who's erased his face. 2003 adversity: ``Gigli,'' starring Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez. What could they have learned: Never make another movie in which they both appear. Did they learn? ``Jersey Girl'' (2004). How we can benefit in 2004: Do not let yourself or your children or your children's children buy a ticket (or even use a free pass) to see ``Jersey Girl.'' 2003 adversity: Rush Limbaugh Rush Hudson Limbaugh III (born January 12, 1951) is an American conservative radio talk show host and political commentator. Born in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, he is a self-described conservative, who discusses politics and current events on his program, loses his ESPN ESPN Entertainment and Sports Programming Network gig after telling viewers that Philadelphia Eagles abbr. National Football Conference Pro Bowl squad - was viewed as a success due only to his skin color. What he could have learned: Before you speak, make sure you know what you're talking about. Did he learn? Limbaugh, who had told his listeners that drug addicts should be thrown in jail, admits he is addicted to painkillers. How we can benefit in 2004: Learn to appreciate music again. 2003 adversity: CBS (Cell Broadcast Service) See cell broadcast. President Les Moonves greenlights ``The Reagans,'' a movie of the week which seemed to denigrate den·i·grate tr.v. den·i·grat·ed, den·i·grat·ing, den·i·grates 1. To attack the character or reputation of; speak ill of; defame. 2. former President Ronald Reagan unfairly. Moonves had to take a financial bath by sending the project over to Showtime. What could he have learned? Never mess with mess with Verb Informal, chiefly US to interfere in, or become involved with, a dangerous person, thing, or situation: he had started messing with drugs a sensitive subject when it's obvious that you're playing with fire; it has no real creative justification and it's just plain asinine to air it. Did he learn? Michael Jackson Noun 1. Michael Jackson - United States singer who began singing with his four brothers and later became a highly successful star during the 1980s (born in 1958) Michael Joe Jackson, Jackson CBS Special. How can we benefit in 2004: Watch HBO Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO) A form of oxygen therapy in which the patient breathes oxygen in a pressurized chamber. Mentioned in: Ozone Therapy . 2003 adversity: Chicago Cub fan Steve Bartman Steven D. Bartman (born 1977) [1] [2] is a resident of the Chicago area, who gained notoriety on the evening of October 14, 2003, for attempting a catch of a foul pop-up in Game 6 of the National League Championship Series between the Chicago Cubs and the interfered with a catchable foul ball, setting up a Florida Marlins' rally that kept the Cubs out of the World Series. What he could have learned: Take lemons and turn them into lemonade. Did he learn? He caught the grief, but not the ball, as another fan latched on and sold it for $106,000. How we can benefit in 2004: If you're going to bring a glove to a game, learn how to use it. You might as well make a few bucks from screwing up an entire city. 2003 adversity: President George W. Bush tells the world that Saddam Hussein Saddam Hussein (born April 28, 1937, Tikrit, Iraq—died Dec. 30, 2006, Baghdad) President of Iraq (1979–2003). He joined the Ba'th Party in 1957. Following participation in a failed attempt to assassinate Iraqi Pres. has weapons of mass destruction Weapons that are capable of a high order of destruction and/or of being used in such a manner as to destroy large numbers of people. Weapons of mass destruction can be high explosives or nuclear, biological, chemical, and radiological weapons, but exclude the means of transporting or capable of firing within 45 minutes. After the invasion, no WMDs ever turned up. What he could have learned: When it comes to matters of war, get the facts straight first. Did he learn? The commander-in-chief, in full fighter-pilot regalia, landed on the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln, and in front of a sign proclaiming ``Mission Accomplished,'' proclaimed an end to major combat operations in Iraq. Since then, more U.S. soldiers have died than before the mission was accomplished. How we can benefit in 2004: Always remember to wait until the end of a war to announce the end of a war. 2003 adversity: To keep power and save face in the Middle East, Saddam Hussein refused to offer documented proof that he no longer had WMDs, even though it seems like he had none. What he could have learned: Don't cut off your nose to spite your face. Did he learn? He lost everything and ended up being captured in a spider hole. How we can benefit in 2004: Remember that if you've got $200 billion socked away, it doesn't hurt much to lose face, keep your freedom, and as an extra special little treat, keep your sons from being killed. 2003 adversity: Gray Davis decides to raise taxes, this time on cars. What he could have learned: Voters aren't thrilled with politicians who do the opposite of what the people want. Did he learn? Davis signs a bill allowing illegal immigrants to get drivers' licenses. How we can benefit in 2004: If you want to keep your job, keep your word to your boss, especially when your bosses are the legal residents of the state you're supposed to be working for. 2003 adversity:Michael Moore wins Oscar for Best Documentary and Writers Guild Award for Best Original Screenplay - with the same film. What he could have learned: Keep quiet and don't bring any more attention than is needed to what is either a huge mistake or a knee-slapping joke on the award-tired public by the film industry. Did he learn? His Oscar acceptance speech became a political diatribe di·a·tribe n. A bitter, abusive denunciation. [Latin diatriba, learned discourse, from Greek diatrib that made one yearn for Sally Field. How we can benefit in 2004: When watching this coming year's Oscars, never stray too far from the mute button. 2003 adversity: Kobe Bryant decided to have a meet-and-greet with a Colorado hotel worker and, among other things, lost millions in endorsements. What he could have learned: When you're in the public eye, don't do anything so egregious that you end up losing all credibility with the same public that buys your sneakers sneakers Noun, pl US, Canad, Austral & NZ canvas shoes with rubber soles sneakers npl (US) → zapatos mpl de lona; zapatillas fpl . Did he learn? As a makeup gift he bought his wife a subtle $4 million ring. How we can benefit in 2004: If you're going out of town on business, keep your business in your pants. 2003 adversity: Bill O'Reilly and Fox sue Al Franken for using Bill's likeness and Fox's ``Fair and Balanced'' slogan on the cover of his book. What he could have learned: Let sleeping dogs lie, especially the ones eating out your insides. Did he learn? He then blasted NPR's Terry Gross for interviewing him unfairly, sending Gross's ``Fresh Air'' ratings through the roof. How we can benefit in 2004: Anyone planning to write a book only needs to add a chapter castigating Bill O'Reilly so that he makes it a talking point, or God willing, forces Fox News to sue you. 2003 adversity: Comedy writer Steve Young goes into huge debt trying to sell his material. What he could have learned: To actually work for a living. Did he learn? Steve offers to sell his family on eBay for $5 million. How we can benefit in 2004: Buy Steve's books and get him out of our hair once and for all. CAPTION(S): 8 photos Photo: (1 -- 8 -- color) no caption (Yearend photos) Photos by The Associated Press |
|
||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion