"You either die a hero, or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain." - Harvey Dent's famous quote from a scene in the Batman movie The Dark Knight.
The same could be said for the legacy of Eddie McGuire after his self-destructive comments in yesterday's press conference in response to Collingwood's 'Do Better Report' that found the club guilty of "systematic racism".
Instead of apologising, the Magpies president opened his speech by saying: "This is an historic and proud day for the Collingwood Football Club."
Eddie and his PR team had months to plan every last word that came out of his month... and that was his opening line?
It summarised the tone of McGuire's exhaustive 50-minute presser, which tried to paint a narrative that the club had done nothing wrong and was trying to use the claims to better itself.
Not once did McGuire admit to racism at the club during his reign, deflecting all allegations and spinning the story to try and make Collingwood look progressive.
It now begs the question - how will Eddie McGuire be remembered in 30 years?
As he steps down from his post as Collingwood president at the end of 2021 after 23 years in the role, McGuire will in many ways be remembered as a saviour for the black and white - now arguably the biggest, most powerful sporting club in the country.
McGuire took over a club that was on its knees - finishing dead last in his first season to claim their second ever wooden spoon with just 32,000 members.
Fast forward four years and Collingwood has played in two grand finals and has over 40,445 members. Seven years later the club won its first premiership since 1990 and became the powerhouse of the AFL, boasting the best sports performance centre in the competition.
With a multitude of media commitments, McGuire should at some stage in the years proceeding that elusive flag have stepped down. Job done.
Because that's when the controversies starting bopping up. Eddie's track record with racial scandals and other sensitive topics are not great, to say the least.
In 2013, McGuire defended a 13-year old Collingwood fan who had racially vilified Swans champion Adam Goodes at a game by calling him an "ape". McGuire said the Pies had a zero-tolerance policy towards racism but that the young girl was unaware she was being racist.
Later that year Eddie himself made on on-air reference to Adam Goodes as "King Kong".
In 2016, McGuire, James Brayshaw and Danny Frawley made jokes about downing Caroline Wilson during the Big Freeze at the 'G event, with McGuire saying: "I'll put in 10 grand straight away, and if she stays under (the water), 50, even if I have to hold her head under."
In 2017, McGuire was accused of making an anti-Semitic joke on Millionaire Hot Seat, telling a contestant with Scottish and Jewish parents that "it would have been hard getting pocket money from them".
McGuire's most recent goof was in 2019, when he hen he mocked double amputee Cynthia Banham when she conducted the coin toss at Friday night's AFL match between the Sydney Swans and Adelaide Crows. "I think we should introduce a $5,000 fine to anybody who's tossing the coin and can't do it properly," the Collingwood president said while commentating on Fox Footy.
The list goes on and yesterday's comments only add fire to the fuel of Australia's international reputation of being racist. Yes, Eddie and Collingwood have done many good things for Indigenous groups, charities and other less fortunate communities.
But yesterday McGuire had the opportunity to write so many of his wrongs and admit on record that he and the club could have done some things better during his time in the big chair and that he was genuinely sorry. And at least spoken with a more sincere, remorseful tone.
It could have forged an authentic fight against racism and set a pathway for all other Australian communities to follow. If a club as big as Collingwood and a public figure as brash as Eddie McGuire could admit to ignorant views and racism, the impact could have been profound.
And McGuire could have been remembered as a leader who made some mistakes along the way but learnt from them and pioneered a new way for Australians to think and behave.
Instead, the light that Héritier Lumumba shined on Collingwood only grew brighter and while the club has good intentions moving forward and will address the issues from the 'Do Better Report', McGuire could have done a lot better yesterday.
And the biggest figure at Collingwood this century and one of the most powerful figures in the Australian media simply had to.
Calls for McGuire to step down prematurely are valid but won't restore his pride or change anything.
Eddie was in damage control mode yesterday over his reputation and his legacy at Collingwood at large. But he may have blemished it once and for all.
