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The Eternal Prison of Revenge
Colpevole.
The next bizarre chapter of the Amanda Knox and Raffaele Sollecito saga begins with the two former lovers being found guilty/colpevole by a Florentine appeals court. When the verdict came down yesterday, it had to be utterly surreal and downright depressing (mentally, emotionally and even physically) for Knox and Sollecito.
The two most important questions at this juncture: how and why?
How could there be a guilty verdict if there wasn’t any new, groundbreaking evidence to definitively prove that Knox and her former boyfriend committed murder against Meredith Kercher or that they were even at the scene that treacherous night? For a moment, contemplate the places you’ve walked through and sat down just today in the past ten minutes. Could you retrace your steps exactly as you took them and then clean literally every single spec and trace of your presence?
If it seems impossible, it’s because it is, unless you’re a villain from The Blacklist. And even then…
And, if Knox and Sollecito did pull off that impossible feat for themselves, why did they leave their partner-in-crime Rudy Guede with his DNA everywhere? If so, why didn’t Guede ever mention such a betrayal? It’s usually quite difficult to disclose something that didn’t really happen, which is why nothing like this was ever divulged.
Having followed the case closely, as well as having read Knox’s book that details her painful and exhaustive account, this case is not 100% clear-cut. That’s been well established. There were a few questionable reactions by Knox, but none of which was ever attached with hard evidence that would lead to her to be deemed guilty. To proclaim her guilt based on wild conjecture requires one hell of a story.
Why has this specific case extended far beyond a standard legal trial for murder? Sadly, ulterior motives seem to be part of the never-ending argument being formed by the prosecutor and his wild and disturbed imagination, the Italian police originally involved, the Italian public and the Italian legal system as a whole. A legitimate hypothesis is that they all feel forever embarrassed by how the world saw them investigate and conduct themselves throughout this highly publicized, divisive and scrutinized trial.
There is justice to be had, but it seems like one side is eternally clouded by bitter revenge.
One more thought to reflect on is whether or not the Kercher family owes (now or in the future) Knox and Sollecito an apology? Why is this question being asked? Think about what has been determined by hard evidence: Rudy Guede was at the crime scene with his DNA everywhere (including the walls, floor, bed comforter, the bathroom and Meredith’s body). He was a known criminal who had previously broken into other buildings. He then fled on a train out of the country the very next morning after the murder took place.
With the evidence lacking against Knox and Sollecito, and while being completely sympathetic to the Kercher family wanting to know every detail and to receive every bit of justice for their daughter and sister (100% understandable), it seems like what they have relentlessly put two innocent kids through in a suspect (at best) legal system multiple times should be at least mentioned.
Knowing that the above statement was a very sensitive and controversial proposition to bring up, it still seems like a legitimate point to make. Would the Kercher family feel the same way about their persistence of assumed guilt for Knox if their daughter was in Amanda’s shoes and Meredith was subjected to the same scrutiny and fantastical stories by the prosecutor, Knox family and local media?
Rudy Guede, who was proven guilty with overwhelming evidence and a confession, is locked up behind bars.
And yet, this is all just another crazy chapter in a surreal story that ceases to have a real ending.
The New 5-Second Rule
There have been recent reports that the MLS brass is strongly considering flipping the American soccer fan’s world upside down by switching the MLS schedule to sync with the European leagues: From March-November to August-May. While on the surface it may seem like the natural progression to make, think about how much you really like cold weather. Let me clarify: how much do you like sitting in cold weather for 2-2 1/2 hours during the American Winter season?
The reception to this proposition is likely to be more than just chilly (yes, that just happened).
Snow coupled with bone-chillingly cold winds will sweep into several of the MLS stadiums (Seattle, Portland, Vancouver, Colorado, Salt Lake City, Kansas City, Chicago, Columbus, Montreal, D.C., Philadelphia, New York/New Jersey, Boston/Foxborough, Toronto) during what will be critical matches early on, where 3 points, impressive performances and late game heroics will be needed. Will this weather be conducive to coach’s and player’s expectations on the field for a significant and vital portion of the season?
Oh, and let’s not forget the fans. MLS, though growing, is still not Europe and will not automatically sell-out games, especially in frigidly cold weather. It’s also important to note that the Winter season in North America is more intense than the Winter season in much of Europe. Granted, Europe takes a month long break, ranging from part of December-part of January. Still, the first few months of the new year in North America is always cold.
At this point, there appears to be too many risky variables involved. While it would be cool to play games on the same schedule as the best leagues in the world, reality must also be considered. Currently, Summer in America mostly consists of soccer and baseball. That’s a good situation for MLS.
If there should be any changes to MLS, the top priority should be to bring back the Shootout: 5 seconds to score on a breakaway from 35 yards out. However, the starting spot should be moved to 25 yards out from goal to allow for slightly more time for the attacking player to be creative.
Bottom line: the shootout was always exciting!
With all the world class talent in Europe, could you imagine if those leagues adopted this measure? If you remember how exhilarating it was to watch MLS players participate in this overtime thrill ride, just think about Messi, Ronaldo, Robben, Özil, Van Persie, Iniesta, Rooney and Torres using their best tricks at pace on Neuer, Casillas and Buffon in a must-score/must-save situation!?
Now that would bring heat and electricity to “the beautiful game” in even the coldest weather.
“It was incredibly painful”
The headline was Amanda Knox’s reaction to Diane Sawyer of ABC News regarding the decision, made about a month ago, by the Supreme Court of Italy to annul her acquittal from back in 2011.
Today, Amanda Knox’s book and memoir, “Waiting to Be Heard,” will be released in bookstores. It will detail her four year struggle involving the discovery of the gruesome death of her British roommate, Meredith Kercher, and the subsequent charges of murder against herself and then-boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito. This entry will not rehash the details of the trial or of the case, but instead contemplate how false and factually baseless accusations led to four years, or 1,400 days, of two people’s lives to be locked up and never given back.
Ever.
College lasts a duration of four years for most individuals, unless an advanced degree is being obtained. Reflect back upon the first moments you can recall of your freshman year in college. Young, anxious and naive. The partying, er studying, was about to commence. Now, fast forward in a blurry flash to the moment you are walking across a stage to receive your diploma. Between those two singular points, contrast the person you were going into the college experience to the person leaving. For most everybody, there are at least a few striking differences. Our looks probably changed, as did our perspectives to some degree. And all throughout, we had unprecedented freedom.
We could breathe.
It can be nearly impossible to imagine a world without freedom until it’s not there. Devastatingly, this was the new found reality for American Amanda Knox and her Italian boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito. They were locked up in an Italian prison for four years. It’s a surreal amount of time, especially if you stop and think about it in terms of days, hours or minutes. Truly mind-numbing.
Focusing on Amanda, in four years, here are some of the things she missed:
A presidential election/first three years of a new term in office
Not knowing what an iPad is
Four Super Bowls/Washington Huskies football seasons
now on to more serious things…
A financial meltdown comparable to The Great Depression
College
Celebrating birthdays for members of her family and friends
Celebrating her own birthday with family and friends
Sleeping in a safe, comfortable bed
Being able to walk outside if the sun was shining
Going out with friends
Attending concerts
Only feeling anxiety from tests
Being a carefree twenty-something
Dating
Having the only crime against her being she was having too much fun before entering the “real world”
Smiling
Being happy
Not being perceived globally as a heartless murderer
Amanda Knox’s first on-camera interview with Diane Sawyer airs tonight on ABC at 10:00 p.m. Here are a few snippets from that interview released last night by ABC News.
Below are two photos of Amanda Knox. The first is from 2007 and the second is from 2013 during her television interview. It’s still difficult to comprehend how she had to change and grow up from being twenty years old to becoming a young adult while behind bars for a crime she didn’t commit, all while constantly asking herself a seemingly unanswerable question, “why is this happening to me?”
New York Daily News, 2007
Ida Mae Astute, ABC, 2013
In Italy, we all witnessed a judicial system that operated by the mantra, “guilty until proven innocent.”
The Italian Supreme Court had their time in front of the media. Now, five and a half years later, it’s Amanda’s turn.
The Chants Will Be Either “Vittoria!” or “Sieg!”
This afternoon, German footballing giants Bayern Munich travel to the city of Turin in northern Italy for the second leg of the quarterfinal match-up versus Juventus F.C. Holding a 2-nil lead, Bayern Munich needs to maintain a clean sheet to remove any stress in order advance to their third UEFA Champions League Semifinals in the past four years. However, Juventus are the hosts and they surely will have a surprise dish or two prepared for their guests tonight.
Beyond Manuel Neuer and his four guards preventing entry from the enemy by raising their drawbridge to protect their defensive castle, the optimum number on Bayern Munich’s mind is one.
The crack that would break “The Old Lady’s” back would almost undoubtedly be a solitary, and heavily valued, away goal from the high-powered offensive attack of “The Bavarians.” Their arsenal includes Arjen Robben, Franck Ribéry, Thomas Müller, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Mario Mandžukić. And don’t forget about Philipp Lahm streaking down the right flank from his defensive post every once in a while…
After securing the Bundesliga Title last weekend (earliest for any team in league history), the new motto for FC Hollywood likely contains three powerfully definitive words.
Kickoff is 2:45 p.m. EST
Jimmy's Daily Planet 