Roger Clemens and steroids allegations. Larry Craig and his Minneapolis men's room rendezvous. R. Kelly and child pornography.

It doesn't matter whether or not the charges are true. It doesn't matter the degree to which the charges are true. What matters are the charges, and the resulting stain on the reputation, the skunk stink that won't wash off. Regardless of staunch and heartfelt denials, fruitless investigations or clearance by jury, all future references for the rest of their lives and beyond will include the words "suspected" and "accused." Combine this public lynching with personal betrayal, say, catching your heretofore faithful and loving spouse in flagrante delicto.

Welcome to Apple's new reality.

It is impossible to calculate the long-term damage the monumental f-ups of Friday's iPhone 3G inauguration — the inability of AT&T and Apple's systems to sync up to upgrade and activate current customers, of turning original iPhones into iSlabs when installing iPhone 2.0, of iTunes playing hooky when millions tried to sync their new iPhones 3G — will have on Apple. In a day, the most spotless and sterling reputation in high-tech, years in expert caressing and molding, gone like a rainbow at sunset.

Apple's own hype machine raised impossible expectations. Jobs & Co. may have been blinded by their own klieg lights. Hubris and comeuppance are going to be favorite topics of deconstruction columnists, analysts and bloggers in the coming weeks. Like me. Lots more after the Continue jump.