Former New Zealand star cricket player Lou Vincent threw dozens of matches. Threw ’em like confetti. When charged with the crime, he pleaded guilty. He apparently tried no weaselly moves to save his career. Though he has struggled with depression and heart problems, he did not blame his physical or mental health for his match-fixing shenanigans. His apology is a model a whole lot of American athletes could emulate.

Here’s the full text of his statement, delivered the day the verdict banning him from the sport was handed down. It’s long, but worth reading in full.

My name is Lou Vincent and I am a cheat.

I have abused my position as a professional sportsman on a number of occasions by choosing to accept money in fixing.

I have lived with this dark secret for so many years, but months ago I reached the point where I decided I had to come forward and tell the truth.

It’s a truth that has rightly caused uproar and controversy in New Zealand and around the world. I have shamed my country, I have shamed my sport, I have shamed those close to me. And for that, I am not proud.

I lost faith in myself, in the game, I abused the game I loved. I had to put things right.

Speaking out, exposing the truth, laying bare the things I have done wrong, is the only way I could find to begin to put things right.

The time has come for me now to face them like a man and accept the consequences – whatever they may be.

I could not live with my wrongdoings any longer and after meeting my future wife Susie, after learning what unconditional love really is, I felt strong enough to tell her what I’d done and she has helped me take the painful steps in telling my parents, my wider family and then the authorities.

I am proud of the ones I love, especially my immediate family and friends. Their strength, support and forgiveness has enabled me to address some of the deepest, most uncomfortable issues one can face.

I can finally look my children in the eyes and tell them that honesty is the best policy – even if it feels like the hardest thing to do at times.

I now believe in myself as a person again and I don’t wake up every morning hating myself.

Today is the day I offer my deepest, deepest apologies to the public and the cricketing world, to the loyal fans, to the dedicated coaches, staff, players past and present.

I apologise to and thank the ACSU for the help and support that is out there for all players, that has helped me a great deal, Chris Morris and his legal team and all the associations that have handled the sensitive situation with professionalism and respect.

The people who know me know I’m vulnerable, but they also know that I am not stupid. And I know what is right and what is wrong.

I do suffer from depression – that is absolutely no excuse for all I’ve done wrong.

I used to think mistakes were made by bad people, but now I even know that good people can make the worst of mistakes.

My actions I will regret for the rest of my life.

For sport to prosper, it is up to players to police the game, because they are the ones that will ultimately lose out and allow themselves to be used as pawns to make money.

No one should ever be put in a position and no one should ever allow themselves to forget what sport is about and let money rule their decisions.

The decisions I made were wrong. Players must be better than that; above reproach, for the fans, for the sport.

For the first time in a very long time I feel positive about my future, I am finally becoming the man I want to be. I have to face up to my wrongs and make them right.

I have kept my head down for too long now and it’s time to man up to my mistakes and today, I can stand with a better conscience because I know I am doing the right thing.

It is entirely my fault and I’ll never be able to stand in front of a game again, it’s entirely my fault that I will not be able to apply my skills in a positive way to help future cricketers, but it is entirely possible that I can use this moment to convince others not to be tempted by wrongdoing.

To do the right thing for themselves, for family and friends and for the sport they love.

I accept my punishment.

Acknowledges wrongdoing. Does not blame others. Does not excuse self. Does not use the passive voice. Does not claim extenuating circumstances. Shows he understands the consequences of his actions. You really can’t ask for better.

A friend in the UK who follows cricket forwarded this to us (back in July, to be honest, but come on, like you pay attention to CRICKET) said that possibly Vincent could have been motivated to try to look noble so he’d be hired as a commentator at some point. But nowadays simply saying “Mistakes were made; I regret the situation; it’s part of the culture but I should have stopped it” is considered a viable apology. Vincent went much further than he had to. And there have been enough horrid athlete apologies since July that this site needed a palate-cleanser — a reminder that athletes can screw up and then NOT behave like doubling-down douchebags.

Vincent apparently named names (come on, I saw Eight Men Out, I know you need more than one guy to throw a game) to the International Cricket Commission, but he doesn’t try to pull attention away from his own wrongdoing by naming names in his apology.

Not gonna lie. Kinda have a thing for David Strathairn.

Vincent told the UK Telegraph that while he regretted the lifetime ban, he knows it’s fair. He added that he felt “liberated” talking about what he’d done, and was looking forward to beginning a new life. “It’s going to take a while to get there but every morning now I wake up and don’t hate myself,” he said. “I love my life, I love the world, it’s small steps.”