Schmuck-o-Meter Reading: 463 SPs

It’s been a few days since we spoke about R. Allen Stanford, the guy who’s trying to steal Bernie Madoff’s schmuck-o’-the-year title. Since then Stanford has been found in Virginia ( where he was very courteous to the FBI ), caused bank runs in Antigua , and been said to have conducted a $9 billion ponzi scheme . Most importantly, he has pissed off every cricketer in the world (Stanford was a heavy investor), clearly underestimating the wrath of men who wear white trousers and carry wooden bats around for the fun of it. (See Netherland , a book popular in Madoff’s chattering class, for more cricket scene-setting.) And what does this mean for our reluctant anti-hero, Mr. Madoff? Mainly that he’s more and more of a hero. Without Madoff, you see, the SEC wouldn’t have been as vigilant about tracking Stanford down. Madoff embarrassed the SEC, as was perfectly encapsulated during Gary Ackerman’s epic scold in Congress . As every 5 th grade dweeb—guilty as charged—knows, embarrassment, and ... (link)