{"id":85661,"date":"2021-07-26T20:30:18","date_gmt":"2021-07-26T20:30:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sandbox.web.rcn.net\/rcntv\/?p=84820"},"modified":"2023-02-14T20:24:25","modified_gmt":"2023-02-14T20:24:25","slug":"dog-ate-homework","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.astound.com\/atvn\/dog-ate-homework\/","title":{"rendered":"The Dog Ate My Homework"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\t\tThe views expressed in this blog are<\/em> those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of RCN or any other agency, organization, employer or company.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

An excuse explains why you are not responsible for the failure.\u00a0 It is plausible deniability.<\/p>\n

Every teacher has heard the clich\u00e9 excuse from a student, \u201cThe dog ate my homework. ” I wonder if that excuse ever actually worked and whether a gullible educator ever accepted it.\u00a0 I have my doubts.\u00a0 In my many years teaching English, I heard many excuses why students did not read an assignment or finished a paper.<\/p>\n

\u201cI had to care for my sick mother.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMy homework fell into a puddle on the way to school.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMy computer wouldn\u2019t power up.\u201d<\/p>\n

Creativity abounded.\u00a0 Here at RCN, we used to employ a graphics person (who was very good at his craft, by the way). In fact, he now works for ABC in New York.\u00a0 However, he was famous in the office for misspelling words and NEVER, EVER taking the blame for it.\u00a0 This was astounding because there was no other person who could have been responsible for the mistake!\u00a0 He, somehow, blamed the computer or there was a glitch in the rendering (both impossible, by the way).\u00a0 Excuses abounded.<\/p>\n

Just last week, during the British Open, Bryson DeChambeau had a particularly bad round of golf.\u00a0 When asked why, he responded, \u201cWith the driver right now, the driver sucks.\u201d\u00a0 In other words, he took no responsibility for his poor performance.\u00a0 He was swinging perfectly, but the piece of equipment was letting him down.\u00a0 His equipment sponsor, who I am sure pays him millions to endorse their product, was not happy with his reasoning.<\/p>\n

With the Olympics going on for the next few weeks, imagine if this \u201cexcuse\u201d mentality becomes the norm.\u00a0 We could be hearing the following:<\/p>\n

Artistic swimming \u2013 \u201cThe water was too cold.\u201d<\/p>\n

Badminton \u2013 \u201cThe shuttlecock had seen better days.\u201d<\/p>\n

Beach Volleyball \u2013 \u201cThe sand was too hot.\u201d<\/p>\n

Boxing \u2013 \u201cMom, he hit me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Judo \u2013 \u201cI couldn\u2019t concentrate because he was making these awful sounds.\u201d<\/p>\n

Fencing \u2013 \u201cHis epee is longer than mine.\u201d<\/p>\n

Surfing \u2013 \u201cWhatever \u2018rad\u2019 is, I didn\u2019t have it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Baseball – \u201cI did not catch the ball because the laces on my glove were not placed properly.\u201d<\/p>\n

Basketball \u2013 \u201cI missed the shot because the rim was not properly attached.\u201d<\/p>\n

Soccer \u2013 \u201cThe soles of my shoes were coming off.\u201d<\/p>\n

Wrestling \u2013 \u201cEww, he was sweaty.\u201d<\/p>\n

The list could go on and on.\u00a0 But the best excuse I ever read was:<\/p>\n

Zambian tennis player Lighton Ndefwayl was in no mood to be graceful in defeat after losing to compatriot Musumba Bwayla in a local tournament in 1992. \u201cBwayla is a stupid man and a hopeless player. He has a huge nose and is cross-eyed. Girls hate him. He beat me because my jockstrap was too tight and because when he serves, he farts, and that made me lose my concentration, for which I am famous throughout Zambia,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

I am done, not because I want to be, but the ink on my computer ran out.<\/p>\n

ABOVE THE EARS (SOME MUSINGS)<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. One of the early shockers in the Olympics so far has to be the 83-76 Men\u2019s Basketball loss by the USA to France. That snapped a 25-game Olympic winning streak by the Americans dating back to 2004.\u00a0 The real shocker came in the last four and a half minutes when the US team did not make a basket.\u00a0 If the team is to advance, they must beat Iran and the Czech Republic.\u00a0 Neither is a basketball powerhouse.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
      \n
    1. I found the Opening Ceremonies of the Olympics a bit too \u201cartsy\u201d and \u201cclassical\u201d for my taste. It was beautiful and I always enjoy the parade of nations, but, overall, I would have liked a touch of \u201clightness\u201d.\u00a0 Perhaps, in the Covid environment that exists in Japan, this was the best approach.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
        \n
      1. This week the Cleveland MLB<\/a> team announced they will be dropping \u201cIndians\u201d from their name. They will become the Cleveland Guardians.\u00a0 It will be official following the 2021 season.\u00a0 You will have to wait at least another season for the NFL\u2019s Washington Football Team<\/a> to change their name.\u00a0 They claim the new name is on the horizon.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
          \n
        1. The Phillies<\/a> are in second place right now. The first-place Mets<\/a> are vulnerable due to injuries and the Phillies General Manager, Dave Dombrowski, has a history of deal-making.\u00a0 Up next for the Phils should be a starting pitcher, a center fielder, and some bullpen help.\u00a0 I doubt if they can fill all of the holes.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
            \n
          1. Our Blue Mountain League<\/a> baseball television coverage ends this Tuesday LIVE at 6:00pm. The game features the Limeport Bulls and the Egypt Orioles, both battling for the regular season championship.\u00a0 Congratulations to the League for another successful season, their 75th<\/sup>.\u00a0 The playoffs begin this weekend.\u00a0 Join Chris Michael and me for the broadcast.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

             <\/p>\n

             <\/p>\n

             \t\t<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

            The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of RCN or any other agency, organization, employer or company. An excuse explains why you are not responsible for the failure.\u00a0 It is plausible deniability. 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