"It's understood."

-- It's understood that all ballplayers are selfish, self centered jerks.

-- It's understood that fathers know best.

-- It's understood that Time magazine is still an important, relevant disseminator of information in this country.

-- It's understood that the saying "like father, like son" is based in truth.

-- It's understood that the nation's ivory towers are somehow immune from greed, malice, and indifference to suffering.

-- It's understood that "children are strong, resilient, and tougher than you think."

-- It's understood that Peter Angelos of the Orioles, Ted Lerner of the Capitals, Charles Dolan of the Knicks, and Charles Wang of the Islanders must know what they're doing, since they own the team.

-- It's understood that "guilty means guilty."

-- It's understood that money can buy happiness.

-- It's understood that P.T. Barnum's oft cited maxim, "You'll never go broke underestimating the intelligence of the American people" is out of date.

---------------------------------------------

-- Really, we don't understand.