By Cate Plys
The Apology: “In the past, there was consensual biting. On this particular evening, I did not realize until her testimony that she felt she was harmed. For that I am sorry….I’m sorry if she felt she was harmed.”
“As I said to you on the phone yesterday, I believe that the cheer was not racially motivated….In a way, I suppose I wish our investigation would have turned up racial motives. Then it would be easier to give you the apology you are looking for and get on with the healing process we all want.” –faxed letter, March 14
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Why It’s Sorry: Mamula used the magic word “if” to avoid admitting that he did anything. But Mamula didn’t write this apology or even say it out loud. It was a statement issued by the Eagles public-relations department and read to Happaney over the phone by someone at a Philadelphia radio station. The Eagles didn’t send her a copy of the statement.
The Person: John Paul II, pope
The Offense: Biting Evander Holyfield’s left ear during a June championship bout, then biting a one-inch chunk out of Holyfield’s right ear
