Stories like this make me happy because I’m sports agnostic…
Penn State honored deceased football coach Joe Paterno during its game against Temple Saturday. The weekend marked the 50th anniversary of Paterno’s first game as Penn State’s head coach in 1966.
It was the school’s first positive public mention of its former coach since it fired him in 2011 over assistant coach Jerry Sandusky’s sexcapades with young boys.
Paterno died months later.
At a private event Friday, a video about Paterno’s career, narrated by his son, Jay, said of father’s career and legacy, “No one, no one, can take that away.”
That’s true.
Forty-six years is a substantial legacy, but where do we draw the line between legacy and character?
There’s little doubt Paterno knew of the abuse for the entirety of its existence.
The FBI conducted over 400 interviews and amassed over three million documents on the subject. Their final assessment; not only did Paterno know, he was an active participant in keeping it covered up.
Court documents showed Paterno virtually ignoring a complaint by a 14-year-old boy who had been abused by Sandusky, in 1976, saying, “I don’t want to hear about any of that kind of stuff, I have a football season to worry about.”
There were countless incidents, boys and victims between then and when Sandusky was finally arrested.
Paterno had but one defense; being a mandatory reporter, he legally had to say something if he had any knowledge or suspicions.
So he reported it to University officials exactly once.
Officials that apparently chose to look the other way.
In Paterno’s warped reality, he’d done his job.
Other games last weekend saw continuing reports of ancillary national anthem antics.
Fists in the air, kneeling, not standing – as all the while San Francisco QB Colin Kaepernick continued to come under fire.
The Bleacher Report’s Mike Freeman said, “I don’t want him anywhere near my team” and one front office executive allegedly said. “He’s a traitor.”
This is rich…
Pittsburg Steelers QB Ben Rapistberger weighed in saying, “When it comes to the National Anthem and the flag, I think it stands for something different.
“You know, like you said, family, brothers, my grandfather served in the Navy—people that have served this country—men and women who’ve lost their lives…to me that’s the National Anthem we stand and support because they give us the freedom to play this game. We are so, so lucky to play a game that we love…and that’s because we have the freedom that soldiers have given us.”
Thank you, Ben, and God Bless ‘merica!
In March of 2010, Roethlisberger was accused of raping a 20-year-old-college student. Yet, he still has a huge fan base. From his perspective, there’s nothing wrong with a little rapey activity, but by God, you’d better stand up for the flag!
Darren Sharper, a five-time Pro Bowl safety, is serving an 18-year prison sentence for drugging and raping women.
Plural – women.
None the less, Sharper was nominated for the 2017 Pro Football Hall of Fame. If awarded, maybe he can get a day pass and Ben can set him up with a date.
Professional and college sports clearly have some problems.
Chief among them are discerning the difference between not standing for the national anthem and rape – domestic abuse versus garden variety felonies.
But back to Paterno’s defense of having reported the issue once so he’d done his job. Sometimes, if you have a soul, simply reporting something once may not be enough.
How does one turn a deaf ear to the lifetime of damage this abuse has done to its victims in favor of a winning record?
People generally know the right thing to do; the hard part is doing it.
Like almost everything in life, doing only what’s required is rarely enough.
Once again Paul, great topic and I think a fair analysis.
What is really difficult is for those few of us that really liked Joe Paterno, to have almost given him godlike status, is to find out decades later that he made a critical mistake pretty early on relative to the length of his tenure. What he did was indefensible as you correctly pointed out. It just really is painful.
As usual, thank you, kind sir…
Paterno is a scumbag. So are all the other Penn State coaches that knew about the abuse and didn’t say anything. The fans that continue to cheer him can rot in hell with him.
The entire culture of football is beyond f&$ked up. You have Paterno ignoring the rape of children, Saban ignoring (and stepping over) a player having a seizure, players raping women, beating women, etc. Instead of being shunned, these guys are celebrated….all because of a stupid game.
I could not agree more. I don’t understand the rabid, win at any cost, fan mentality. If it was their son, brother, friend who was a victim…makes me wonder if they’d feel the same. But maybe, coming from a position of ZERO interest in sports, I just see it different. I see lives damaged for life. That’s no comparison to your “record” or career wins.
Who knew you could be in the running for a Hall of Fame position….from prison?
Forgot to add, has Posnanski said anything since all these new revelations about Paterno came out? Or is it all still rainbows and unicorns in Joe’s world?
Let us not forget, Posnanski had to guard the sale of a book S&S had paid for. Money before ethics and all that crap…
Allen Barra of the Atlantic tore Pos a new one in his review. Give it a read, it’s well worth your time. If I had Barra’s writing skills I’d throw mine away.
http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2012/08/paterno-a-relentless-failed-defense-of-penn-states-disgraced-coach/261376/
Here’s a portion of another great review:
Mr. Posnanski set out to write this book, with Paterno’s cooperation, in 2011, before the Sandusky scandal broke. He had the worst literary timing since Aldous Huxley’s. Huxley had the misfortune to die the day President John F. Kennedy was killed in Dallas.
I’d actually argue that Posnanski had great timing…if he had any balls. The scandal came out before the book was published.
Bad timing would have been if the scandal came out a week after you published a hagiography of Paterno.
I’m pretty sure it’s all rainbows and unicorns according to Joe. It is amazing to me that he hasn’t just stopped publishing of his extremely ill advised book and just apologize to everyone.
Harry, there are still some out there from before the recall. You can read all the facts, right here, in an unopened first edition for only $526.00!!
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0098TVTX6/ref=mp_s_a_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1474413065&sr=8-9&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=joe+posnanski+paterno
Joe Paterno and Penn State were Pennsylvania’s god. Penn State once told the legislature they did not answer to the Commonwealth.
My BIL was a Walter Camp Little All-American at Lehigh University, class of 66. His picture was on the cover of the NYT Sunday sports page intercepting a Penn State pass. Engle, coach before Paterno, was known by the small school players as coaching dirty. Joe kept the system going with cheap shots and playing Little Sisters of the Poor.
Then there is Tony Bill. Penn State savior as QB. Paterno’s annointed star. Tony would drink a six-pack in the shower after practice every day. When the alcohol got the better of him Paterno was no where to be found. When his athletic ability was no longer useful he wasn’t worth JoPa’s time.
Remaining rutted in the past does nothing for the future
by Lauren Davis Penn State Student Newspaper opinion piece
Penn State needs a reality check.
This is not 2011. We need to move on.
Penn State announced on Thursday afternoon that the 50th anniversary of Joe Paterno’s first game as Penn State’s head football coach will be commemorated on Sept. 17 when Penn State plays Temple.
That game is the stripe out and is also set to celebrate THON and Community Heroes Day and Faculty & Staff Day.
Paterno has not been a member of this university’s staff since 2011. He is no longer a community hero. Paterno was a remarkable part of this university for numerous years, and for that we have the right to be thankful. For those who attended Penn State while he was here, he has every right to remain a legend. He was a hero, and no one wants to see their hero fall.
But in light of these past years — even these past few weeks — this is in no way the right time or manner to “commemorate” him, if he even deserves to be so.
Currently, the undergraduate students at Penn State do not know what it is like to see the “legendary” coach jog onto the field with our boys in blue and white. We do not have the opportunity to bump into him in Pattee Library and exchange a few kind words.
Currently, the only associations these classes of students have with Paterno is reading and hearing his name tied with Jerry Sandusky’s and lawsuits or coming from the mouths of Penn State alumni who can’t accept that their time here is no longer.
This is our Penn State. It is a Penn State without Joe Paterno. It is a Penn State that is still trying to rebuild, make amends and propel forward.
Those of us here now are beyond ready to move on.
Taking the focus off of the Temple game and away from THON, away from the kids and away from current faculty and staff leaves a bad taste in the mouth. Ignoring the proximity of children and Paterno, how can there be a justification about having to share their recognition with a former coach?
For an administration that says it has made progress in moving past everything that came to light in 2011, as much as they might want to put a public relations band-aid on everything and move forward, this seems an odd way of going about it, from any angle.
Penn State is then, now and forever — that isn’t forgotten. This is a university, a family, for more than one age. However, it is bigger than one person, than one incident. Let us not be ignorant of the past, but even more so let us not be insensitive to the future.
We are Penn State.
Of course the pitchforks and torches were ready for her. Peter King of Sports Illustrated, featured the NYT’s column and gave kudos to Ms Davis for her article.
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/17/sports/ncaafootball/why-is-penn-state-celebrating-joe-paterno.html?smid=tw-share
To the hard core fan, nothing matters but the dynasty. Not people, crime, children, morals, character or the law. Only one thing matters; THE W
To cover up raping kids you might as well be raping them yourself. Screw that guy
Agreed. He’s dead now; that’s pretty screwed.
I’m surprised Sandusky is alive. Figured someone would claim him as a prize on the inside.
Oh, much like a bowl of M&Ms, I imagine Sandusky’s been generously passed around inside.
Havi ng worked in the athletic department in a major university s we knew many of
these things going on. Bear Bryant was the biggest violator of college athletic
rules an regulations but was never taken down because of his high esteem
in the college athletic world.
It has always been and continues to be about money. The ncaa would never
take down bear because of his national reputation…much the same as they
did paterno.
Having worked in the aau and college athletics…it was an continues to be
a collusion of payoffs/favors and money for the major programs to get the
best athletes.
MU and KU in my time were no exception.
Will it end? No way. Its about money…money…money. And nothing will
change.
See Kentucky an Memphis and Connecticut and the rest of the top schools
including texas/Houston/ok state/Oklahoma etc …….its driven by rankings
and money and nothing will change.
I gotta go with Phaedrus on this. Dead on the money.
Nice work again Paul.
Thank you, kind sir.
fyi: Clinton’s slight slide in polls has ended. My calculations based on
my assessment is that she will be significantly up by the time of first
debate (4-5 points) nationally which really means nothing but will be
getting a further lock on those 292 electoral votes she needs to win.
She is prepared for the debate and it will be interesting to
see how dumpster can find enough policy information to take up
4.5 hours.
Also, an October surprise is coming…..his taxes. The dems probably
already have them so it’s just a matter of time til they are leaked
or Obama uses his fully legal executive order to make dumpsters taxes
public. He has the legal right to do that.
Should be fun….get your popcorn boys….you old guys will have to stay
up past 9pm towatch the whole debate.
And chuck…need any skittles? and will you be watching the debates with pepe?
hahahhaha! get it?
270 electoral votes needed to win, not 292.
Can’t see how taxes would hurt trump… unless he’s funding ISIS or something. Truth is he’s ripped on p.o.w.’s, women, Hispanics, African-Americans… you name it. The uneducated for him aren’t going to see the significance of him fudging his charitable contributions to pay off his debts, or whatever it will show.
Jayhawk….taxes being made public will show who he is….
sorrydude…..he paid no taxes and now that he has admitted
using foundation for personal expenses that’s not only
illegal but shows he’s taking money in for charity to pay off
his business expenses for other companies.
I understand that 270 is needed to win…but Hillary is
at least 80% assure of winning 292 electoral votes……..
so she’s the winner…..the states left to decide give her more
than the amount needed to win…..my comment reads “the
292 needed to win”……right now Harley is still holding off
on his final prediction as he is in his other publications
til the fuzziness becomes a little most clearer.
But right now Jayhawk….dumpsters taxes are already
being looked at…..it’s a done deal…expect the October
surprise if needed to show dumpster lies again.
thanks for the comments…look forward to discussing this
fun and roller coaster election further.
Go Jayhawk basketball….should be starting soon!
How dare you correct the ALWAYS right Harley the Magnificent! A plague will most surely fall on your family!!
Most of what will show in the charitable department is donations in kind, or donations from other sources that appear as his personal funds but aren’t…
In the scheme of things, the Clintons took office with a net worth less than $1million. Today, it’s approaching $200million. You think they got there on honest tax returns, huge charitable donations and being good stewards of that first $800K?
Hardly.
It’s hard to be that dirty and point out who’s dirty. Or more dirty.
no mr. wislon …..just wait.
there’s gold in them taxes……your friends at the
irs already sent them to the Clinton campaign office.
They’re probably drinking champagne just waiting
to make them public.
hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!
Hillary released all her taxes….go look at ’em.
Good write, Paul.
I too think JP is scum for knowingly let the evil that men do go unchecked.
Wrong is, as wrong does, and what Joe did was wrong.
Thank you once again, Lib.
BILL COSBY, JOE P,OJ SIMPSON…HEARNE’S RIGHT, WHO CAN WE BUILD A STATUE FOR ANYMORE….THERE ARE NO SECRETS…
Reason a younger Kerouac stopped fawning over (especially) childhood heroes sports & other venues: clay feet come in every shade the human hue, métier; disappointment too.
A police officer is no more made honest by the badge, than a priest the collar… ditto the President, a family member & woman/man, any – no less so football coaches.
Jeremiah 2:28 ‘Where then are the gods you made for yourselves?’ Reside not the gridiron nor sideline adjacent, attestation.
I agree with very little of what you write K-man but very well said this time.
I’ll try harder next time; getting soft in my old age…
You’re just becoming a little ray of sunshine farting rainbows and unicorns, Stomp!
We’re past due for lunch…
It turns my stomach, makes my blood boil, that he just turned his back. His family still needs a realty check. If his family has an ounce of caring, they would meet with this people that he ignored. I try to understand how he just ignored it. It makes no sense to me. Only thing is maybe it happened to him when he was a child, I don’t know. Still not an excuse for ignoring what was going on, if it happened to him.
PATERNO: WIN WIN WIN
old story…sad but true….maybe some of the victims will hang a
body of his in effigy.
All good points. Thanks for your comment.
I couldn’t agree more with this piece Mr. Wilson.
Yet another example of a different set of rules for the haves vs. the have-nots. Those monsters only got away with it for so long because Sandusky chose impoverished boys who were vulnerable and had no voice.
I don’t necessarily agree with protesting the national anthem but I understand it. The song represents something entirely different to those of us who have been fortunate than it does to those who have been denied the same opportunities we had.
Even if I don’t agree with the method, I certainly respect Kaepernick’s willingness to stand up for those without a voice.
Thanks again, KCM. Your views are always greatly appreciated, whether you agree or disagree. You always provide valuable comments.
I’ll buy you a cup of coffee some time…