Robservations – No pity found here for either ?Pac? or Imus

The Germans have a word, ?Schadenfreude,? which when loosely translated means ?taking pleasure from others? misfortune.?

I?m not German, although I have enjoyed the cuisine at Ingrid?s on occasion. So I can?t pronounce that word. But I can identify with it after two recent scandals in the sports world.

I?m truly happy that new league commissioner Roger Goodell dropped the hammer on Adam ?Pacman? Jones this week, suspending him for the entire 2007 season because of his numerous run-ins with the law. I feel no pity for Jones, and I feel none for the Titans. In fact, I?m hoping ?Pac? never dons a Titans uniform again.

There shouldn?t be any room for criminals in the NFL, and by all indications Jones is a criminal. Even if no charges stick, it?s clear Jones ? and the people he chooses to ally himself with ? operate near, on and sometimes across the border of where most law-abiding citizens are asked to reside. I suggested the Titans cut him a year ago, and they kept him on while his arrests piled up.

But it?s a sad reality that there are thugs in this world, and there are thugs in the world of sports. And it?s an even sadder reality that thug-like behavior is becoming more and more prevalent.

It?s also sad that it has become earth-shaking sports news that suspensions have been handed for Jones and Chris Henry, who was arrested four times in just over a year. Aren?t you supposed to stay out of trouble with the police? Should it be a surprise that these people are now in trouble at work after so much trouble with the law?

But there?s nothing sad about what?s happening to Jones now. He had the world given to him on a silver platter, receiving millions of dollars to play a kids? game in front of thousands upon thousands of adoring fans.

And he blew it, because he couldn?t stop hanging around with the pistol-packing ?gangsta? crowd.

I also have trouble feeling sorry for Don Imus, who?s in his own world of trouble for his idiotic remarks about the Rutgers women?s basketball team.

?Nappy-headed ho?s?? What was he thinking?

Of course, while he now has to wallow in the mire of scandal, apologizing to everyone who will give him an audience then watching them throw him under the bus once his apology is delivered.

Again, there?s nothing sad about the Imus case. And I feel no pity, because he had what might be the easiest job in the world. He talked into a microphone, about whatever he wanted to talk about, and millions of listeners hung on his every syllable.

And he blew it, because apparently he forgot to install a speedbump between his brain and his mouth, and forgot that this is the 21st century, where what you say can get you in as much trouble as what you do.

So don?t pity these two for the trouble they?ve brought on themselves. If you want to feel sorry for somebody, feel sorry for the Duke lacrosse players who?ve had the last year of their lives taken away because of trumped-up charges which were finally dismissed.

Because they, unlike Don Imus or ?Pacman? Jones, didn?t bring their trouble on themselves. They went to a party, and their whole lives unraveled because of it. And that is truly sad.