#NEVER KEVIN(S)

As I witness the debacle of Kevin McCarthy losing the bid for Speaker of the House for the sixth time over the past two days, I can't help but recall the movie, Tin Cup. Another Kevin (Costner) stars in this film as Roy McAvoy, a fledgling golfer who ends up miraculously qualifying for the U.S. Open. Ron Shelton directed this movie over twenty six years ago, and I think it's one of the best golf movies of our time (how many are there?). Roy approaches the 72nd hole of the tournament and contemplates if he should lay up or go for it. Roy's stubborness lands him in the water 11 times, and he has one last ball left before he will be disqualified. Every one of us remembers what happens. On his twelfth and final shot, the ball goes into the hole! The crowd goes wild! Resounding Cheers. Roy says, "I hit it again because that shot was a defining moment, and when a defining moment comes along, you define the moment...or the moment defines you. Maybe everyone has a little Roy in them? We don't always choose to play it safe. As Costner's character was shanking every shot, Kevin McCarthy seems to be doing exactly the same thing. His inflexibility, over confidence, entitlement, and sheer negligence is contributing to his self destruction. McCarthy has taken the ultimate risk and has reaped no reward. He is intensely disliked and he refuses to walk away. If McCarthy had done his due diligence and met with every Republican PRIOR to this vote, he possibly could've obtained the necessary 218 votes. He would've known what to negotiate and how to go about it. He had months to prepare for this moment but he dropped the ball. He has gambled and lost. Roy McAvoy was more afraid of walking away than losing. McCarthy seems to be more afraid of losing and WON'T walk away. If it comes down to the need for immortality-don't worry! We will always remember this moment in history-just as we will always remember what happenened on the 72nd hole of Tin Cup. Costner sinks the shot and McCarthy sunk himself. While neither Kevin achieved their original goal, we cheered for Costner at the end of Tin Cup. He showed gumption, a sense of humor, and most importantly, he accepted his loss. McCarthy, however, fails to hear the people and continues to ignore the results. Cheech, Roy McAvoy's caddy, says to Roy: "Man, you'd bury yourself alive just to prove you could handle the shovel." I leave you with this thought from the movie: "Golf and Sex are the only things you don't have to be good at to enjoy." Until we meet again-PEACE OUT, ONE B.