It is really eye opening to see news stories about people you know. Only then can we fully realize how much the news manipulates our views and distorts facts to push stories.
The first thing that hit me in Rod's case were the pictures of him. In all of the news stories you'll see him at best with a tired kind of beat down look about him or these very shady and shifty looking pictures painting him as someone who would be booked on murder charges. Could you imagine if they included a picture such as the one below where he looks like a happy go lucky guy that ought to be out fishing? Though I'm sure if he's found innocent they will.
Then we move on to calling Rod a 'backgammon wiz', 'a renowned backgammon player', and so on and so forth. I'm not sure what picture they're trying to paint with these strokes? First, they're obviously false statements. Ignoring that, do they put that in print because they think making him out as some type of gambler will be worse for his image?
As I've said before, I have no idea if Rod is innocent or guilty. I don't know any more than what is published in the press. I did hang out with Rod a few times at backgammon tournaments and I am still sour how he was booted from the USBGF regardless of what the outcome of his trial is. Can you imagine being this guy though, all this happening, and you being innocent? I think I'd lose my shit. I wonder if he is found not guilty and does eventually reappear at backgammon tournaments how his return will be received. Is there any chance that tournaments would bar him from attending?
Stick