Oh Boy, Auger

I wasn't there. Neither were you. In fact, only two people know the truth.

Alex Burrows has accused Stephane Auger of a very serious offense - of intentionally affecting the outcome of an NHL game because of some personal resentment that he harboured for the feisty Canucks' forward. Burrows claims Auger told him he was going to "get him back" prior to last night's tilt between the Canucks and Predators because Burrows embarassed him last month in Nashville. The accusation provides a very plausible explanation for what can only be described as a phantom call when Burrows was assessed an interference penalty late in the third period.

Now Stephane Auger has a very important decision to make. He can choose to tell the truth, or he can choose to lie. I don't know what he said to Burrows, but he does.

It's not often that an adult has such an opportunity with the spotlight focussed so brightly. Mark McGwire had the opportunity a few years ago when he was called before Congress to provide testimony on steroid use in baseball. Our logical suspicions were confirmed yesterday when he explained that he didn't tell the truth because he feared the impact it would have on those closest to him. It's understandable, but it's still not the truth.

Earlier this year, soccer star Thierry Henry had a chance to tell the truth and also chose not to. Henry's hand ball led to the winning goal for France in a winner-take-all qualification match against Ireland, and France advanced to the World Cup as a result. Henry was not directly questioned at the time, but he could have very easily called the foul on himself. He chose not to, however, because we live in an era of "if you're not cheating, you're not trying" and while Thierry is generally regarded as one of the most honest players in the game, he didn't do the right thing.

Auger now has that opportunity. All he has to do is tell the truth, whatever it may be.

Sure, it's easy for me to sit here and type these words; I'm not in Auger's shoes, or those of McGwire or Henry for that matter. There is plenty of motivation in each of these cases for the person in question to act in a manner that benefits himself, his family and his organization. It's easy to argue in any of these situations that more harm that good could come from simply telling the truth. Plenty of other players made millions of dollars using steroids, but will never be questioned like McGwire because they didn't hit enough homeruns. Diego Maradona's "hand of God" won Argentina a World Cup, so maybe Henry's palm will become a celebrated story for generations if France wins this summer's global event.

There's plenty of justification for doing the wrong thing. Often it's financial, sometimes it's to save face. As the old saying goes, "everybody has their price". So what's it worth to look in the mirror every morning a see someone with a dirty conscience?

If Auger did what Burrows alleges, I'll never respect the act. But if he admits to having done it, I'll have a lot more respect for the man.