Usually when a famous person apologizes, it's crap. Someone like Roger Clemens is going on and on about how he didn't take growth hormones or steroids. He's doing 60 Minutes tonight. Yet, when he finally is caught, he'll think he can apologize, and it will all be behind him. Similar to Pete Rose, the lying brings a whole host of other problems.

When stars apologize, it always sounds insincere. Or reads like some PR firm typed it up.

For once, I heard an apology that I liked. One that I believed.

The woman in Texas that wrote an essay, claiming her 6-year-old daughter did -- so she could win tickets and airfare to see Hannah Montana. She claimed the girl's father died in Iraq.

This woman said she got caught up in helping her daughter "realize her dream of seeing Hanna Montana...and instead I brought so much negative attention to my family. Please accept my heartfelt apology and please do not punish my child for my mistake."

Well, what wins me over, is her adding, "...I just wanted to help my daughter write a compelling story. There is no more compelling story than the struggle and sacrifices of our military and their families."

Perfect. On the Today Show, it was well said. But, how about doing this. Since you don't want your daughter to pay the price...realize, that some other child DID pay the price. They didn't win the contest, when they wrote a real essay about their life, that wasn't as dramatic (or sad).

So why not take the value of the prize; the ticket price, airplane, everything. It'll probably be around five grand. And, donate that amount to some fund that helps military families that have lost someone in Iraq.

If you don't have the money, pay $100 a month.

This is putting your money where your apology is.