Maureen Dowd: Parterno Sacked Off his Pedistal

[Stuart G]

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/22/opinion/sunday/dowd-paterno-sacked-off-his-pedestal.html?_r=1&hp

Maureen Dowd
New York Times
7/22/12

Is it right to pull down Joe Paterno’s statue, as though he were Saddam Hussein?

Since the scorching Freeh report came out, plenty of people have weighed in on the best thing to do with that triumphant seven-foot statue of the late coach, symbolizing nearly half a century of pride in Penn State football.

Should it be torn down? Melted down? Moved away from Beaver Stadium? Turned to look the other way, as Paterno did? Left as a reminder that coaches and athletes can be tin idols? ....

(further down in story)...

"But Freeh learned the sulfurous truth: that it was Paterno who persuaded Graham Spanier, who was the university president, Gary Schultz, a vice president, and Tim Curley, the athletic director, not to report Sandusky to state authorities. Eager to protect the brand and their cash cow, they decided to rationalize. Euphemistically, they said they wanted to do the “humane” thing; so they warned Sandusky to stop bringing children onto campus. As far as the noble coach was concerned, Sandusky could simply switch the venue of his child rapes. "

[Siwsan]

1. I agree it needed to be removed, but would they have done it if he hadn't died?

I have my doubts.

[CanonRay]

2. I think the cash cow just quit giving milk.

[Stargazer09]

3. "Turned to look the other way."

That was almost as good as this idea: "If I were the Decider, I’d leave it up. But I’d put up another darkly alluring statue behind Paterno, whispering in his ear: Mephistopheles."

The guy may have had some good traits, but they were overpowered by this greed, pride, and absolutely disregard for Sandusky's many victims.

I want to see that school lose their football program for a MINIMUM of 14 years. They kept their resident predator in business for at least that long, so they deserve to lose their more-important-than-children football program for a matching amount of time.

I'd be even happier if they lost the ability to play NCAA football permanently. After all, the victims aren't ever going to be able to regain their lost childhoods.