I was sitting in the ESPN Sportszone, abandoning my Triple Double Burger, when I saw news coverage of Jeremy Roenick's rant. I don't think there's any need to consider the context, because as a savvy sports fan, I already understand the context.

Look, I understand that it's a business. We live in a salary-cap era for all sports (and while baseball doesn't have a salary cap, a $200 million payroll just doesn't buy what it used to) and I'm sophisticated enough to understand that, under those rules, players are let go. Players are traded for business reasons. Players are locked out for business reasons. Fine. Handle the business side, and when you're ready to play again, call me.

But to listen to Roenick spout off against those who blame the players, it really is your fault, as a participant of the game. When you get defensive about criticism, it really does strike as being spoiled.

And it's common to all walks of life, and it's one of reality's great gut-checks: Criticism is coming your way, and how you handle it helps define your character.