What If...?

Let's be honest, one instance can change the public's perception of someone and start a chain of events that sends that person off the deep end. I realize we could play this game and blow the "butterfly effect" out of the water, but for some people this is quite valid. Unfortunately, the end result of the "What if" game always ends one way: it doesn't matter, because the "if" never happened. But can we imagine what the future would have held for Michael Jackson, Bill Clinton, and Mike Tyson without each of their tragic flaws? Moreover, can we ever separate a person's job performance/responsibility from their personal issues?

I recently attended a showing of This Is It, the movie containing behind-the-scenes footage of Michael Jackson's tour that never was, terminated because of his untimely death. I thoroughly enjoyed the movie and was reminded of the reason Michael became the sensation he was--his music, dance, and overall entertainment value. The guy was uber-talented and it's hard to imagine another performer in my lifetime with the talent to reach his echelon. But can we ever have a conversation about Michael or properly assess his place in history without mentioning the allegations of kid-touching? Neglecting to mention the allegations turn them into the 800-pound gorilla in the room no one wants to acknowledge. No hard evidence exists and Michael was acquitted on all criminal charges, but his out-of-court settlements with other children and his overall creepy demeanor in the last ten years only build suspicion. The guy certainly didn't make it easy to think he wasn't touching kids, with the amusement park, fascination with Peter Pan, pajamas in public, and the like. Or maybe he was just a weird dude that wanted to live the childhood he never had vicariously through other children whom he found so innocent and joyful. So what if the allegations never existed? How big would Michael be? It's scary to think of a talent that great with a legacy so clean. But we'll never know, and in Michael's case I think it's impossible to separate his personal issues from his music.

Moving over to politics, Bill Clinton's presidency and overall legacy will be forever tainted because of his relationship with Monica Lewinsky. "Slick Willy" was the benefactor of the youth movement in the 90's as he mobilized generation X'ers who vaulted him into office. Take Lewinsky out of the picture and what would Bill be remembered for? The country experienced substantial economic growth, low unemployment levels through job creation, and lowered trade barriers with our North American couterparts. Of course no president is flawless and he still would be remembered for letting Osama bin Laden escape and encouraging every American to own a house (see 2008-2009...whoops). But in the word-association game, Bill Clinton will always be coupled with Monica Lewinsky, probably more so than he would be with Hillary Clinton. So what if Monica never interned at the White House? Would Bill have found another Monica? Maybe a Bonnie, Victoria, or some other whore? Or would have he avoided perjury, impeachment, and a life-long reputation? It doesn't really matter, because the affair seems to have actually made Bill more popular, and hasn't stopped him from selling books and pushing his political agenda via the Clinton machine. As with Michael Jackson, Bill's personal issues are impossible to separate from his job responsibility.

Lastly, Mike Tyson wouldn't be Mike Tyson without the Evander Holyfield ear-chewing incident. Iron Mike was the toughest, meanest SOB in the sport up until 1990 when he was knocked out by Buster Douglas in Tokyo, Japan. Perhaps he lost because he wasn't as good as the hype, perhaps he underestimated Douglas, but regardless, this wasn't the turning point of his career. On November 9, 1996, Evander Holyfield cleaned Tyson's clock, winning by TKO in the 11th round. Seven months later in the highly-anticipated rematch, Tyson snapped in the 3rd round and was disqualified for biting both of Holyfield's ears in one of the most bizarre moments in sports history. What made Tyson snap? Did he go off the deep end during his prison stint just a few years prior? Was he always psycho, evidenced by the convicted rape of Desiree Washington that put him in prison? Tyson was always a bit scary, which is why he was so successful early in his career, but the Holyfield incident put his insanity right in everyone's faces. Four years later, Tyson commented that he'd "eat Lennox Lewis' children," and he even KO'd Andrew Golota in 2000 despite being high as a kite. The answer to the "What if" question about Tyson appears to be likewise irrelevant because he would have found another way to make news. I don't think the ear-chewing incident made him realize that he was insane and everyone knew it...some people are just wired differently, and Iron Mike is one of those people. Because of this, Mike's career would have spiraled downward somehow and history wouldn't be too much different. Again, can you separate Tyson the boxer from the ear-chewing incident and his impending nutcase status? Nope.

So, boys and girls, what have we learned today? Three cases is hardly a reasonable sample of the population, but unfortunately you can't separate someone's person issues from their job responsibility. And you certainly can't separate those issues from a historical legacy, either. The baggage, for better or worse, becomes engrained in that person and ultimately works in conjunction with everything else to define that person.