I've been vocal before about my disdain for the phrase "it is what it is," mostly because it means absolutely nothing, and it's rarely an improvement over not saying anything at all. Still, though, I was amused to see it figure prominently in today's the Clemens/McNamee hearings (from Jayson Stark's running blog):
Rep. Tom Davis grilled McNamee about the infamous taped phone conversation, in which Clemens asked him to "tell the truth."I'll comment more on the full hearings once I watch more highlights; my understanding thus far has come entirely from the Stark blog. I am glad, though, that a nanny has been introduced into the proceedings. And that there was a gratuitous "lynching" reference, mitigated only in that it was a retort to Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-Mass), and that it was clearly not racial since everyone testifying was white."Why didn't you just tell Mr. Clemens ... `Roger, I did tell the truth?' " Davis asked.
McNamee: "Because ... I realized I was being taped. ... But if you listen to it and know my jargon, I did say that. I said, `It is what it is' ... meaning, `I did tell the truth.' "
And that we know now that Debbie Clemens DID use HGH, which should forever disqualify her from the swimsuit issue. And that Andy Pettitte's snitch jacket has the potential to tear the '08 Yankees locker room apart. So I'd say it was a good day.
UPDATE: Did you know there's a band called It Is What It Is? They call themselves "IIWII." Personally, I preferred Was (Not Was.)
Posted by Stephen Silver at February 13, 2008 04:09 PM