... it's a sad day for so many reasons when I feel obligated to start these comments with the following disclaimer: I still believe that I can be a Penn State fan and a supporter of Joe Paterno and not have such beliefs be "read" by others as if I support pedophilia. So before all who are so quick to judge in this scenario conclude otherwise, I abhor pedophilia.
I support the criminal process. I support the organizations that work to provide healing to the victims. And I support Joe Paterno as a human (who admittedly made mistakes in how this was handled -- but who also brought much to the campus and to the lives of so many), and the Penn State program as a football program that, although powerful, represented something greater than the typical programs.
I don't support the sanctions. I think there is a Bobby-Ewing-in-the-shower-on-Dallas ridiculousness to the "let's pretend those games weren't won" rewriting of the record books (and I am fully aware that referencing "shower" in these thoughts is not done lightly, as that is the place where one of the crimes was witnessed). I think that a program that was so focused on eradicating the often oxymoronic nature of "student athlete" to lose scholarships creates more victims of a different kind. I think the toppling of statues was an unbelievably overwrought measure and that statue toppling in general should be left for the Saddam Husseins of the world, and should not be a Happy Valley activity.
I think that the powers that be at the NCAA did one thing right in that they are putting their fine money where his mouth was and that they are creating an endowment with the full $60 million to be used for programs that fight child abuse. May that be the long term legacy of this scandal and of Jerry's crimes.
In conclusion, I am loyal. So I am looking forward to the first game of the 2012 season in 36 days.
And I am patient. So I am eagerly anticipating bowl season 2016.
And I am sad. But with criminal prosecution underway and civil lawsuits to follow and increased awareness of "the monsters in our midst" as the byproduct of all of this coverage, I know that "this too shall pass".
And I am ... a Penn State fan.
INTERPRETING THE FREEH REPORT:
http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2012/07/the-case-against-joe-paterno-weak-to-non-existent-on-the-current-record.php?fb_action_ids=500049450010099&fb_source=timeline_og&action_object_map=%7B%22500049450010099%22%3A10151133358359414%7D&action_type_map=%7B%22500049450010099%22%3A%22og.likes%22%7D&action_ref_map=[]ess
AN INTERESTING PERSPECTIVE:
http://www.johnziegler.com/editorials_details.asp?editorial=221
LET NOT THE VICTIMS BE FORGOTTEN:
http://rainn.org/
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