I Come Not to Praise Joe Paterno, But to Bury Him

Thanks to the handy paraphrasing from William Shakespeare.
This is going to be a controversial blog. It's something I must deviate from my new schedule of Tuesday/ Thursday blog notes to bring up the now old report that legendary Penn State football coach, Joe Paterno has died after a two month struggle with lung cancer. Now, I know that lung cancer is a rough way to pass and I wouldn't wish it on my worse enemy. That being said, perhaps there is a merciful God that wished to spare Joe Pa of the damning allegations that are sure to come out from the massive cover-up of children being sexually abused, alledgedly, by his former defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky. The surface things that have been made aware of since late October aren't flattering to Paterno. He heard something went on, he went to the school president Graham Spanier, then went about and enjoyed the perks of being the man in charge. No follow up though Sandusky still enjoyed emeritus status at Penn State.

It was said that maybe Mike McQueary, who caught Sandusky raping a child in the shower did not give Paterno the full details of what he witnessed..if that's the case he lied to the grand jury but that is another matter. For a person who spent the majority of their life instilling values and accountability into young men and along the way becoming. arguably, the most powerful person in all of sports; to have not taken the concerns beyond the school president was reprehensible. When he still sees Sandusky roaming the offices of Beaver Stadium as if he owned the place and not at least ask "What the hell, Graham?" shows an alarming lack of care.

according to ABCnews.com he didn't know how to handle the accusations: http://abcnews.go.com/US/joe-paterno-admits-handle-sex-allegation/story?id=15362562#.Txxrd29SQbI at the very best perhaps at 84 when he says he never heard of men raping men, he was out of touch with people he should be leading and of course at the worst he was lying. Either way, the man should have been gone well before this time.

For anyone who may say "should we let one lapse of judgment, no matter how grave, mark the man" I bring up Orenthal James Simpson. O.J. as most of us know him by, did you know that twice he broke the single game rushing record? Do you remember he was the first running back to rush for over 2000 yards? Do you know that he was the elite player in the NFL? Do we remember he was very charitable in his NFL career? He was on his way to becoming a good football commentator and was pitching cars for Hertz.  He developed a nice comic touch and was instrumental in making the "Naked Gun" movies the franchise they were. Every bit as important as Priscilla Presley and George Kennedy...OR, do you remember a white bronco chase and "If it doesn't fit you must acquit". Sadly, Joe Paterno will be remembered as an enabler. What's even more sad about it is that he knew he should have been what he preached.