What Now?
by Keith Platt on Jan 26, 2012 5:39 PM EST
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So, now that Joe has been laid to rest and honored by those who loved him, the question begs, what do we do now? Sure, life goes on but what are the lessons to take from such an amazing man and such an impactful life?
I believe that the answer to the above is found as much in the last three or so months of Joe's life as in the previous 84-plus. As time has gone on, I have found myself raging at the BoT, the media and others for scapegoating Paterno. I have found myself so badly wanting justice for a kind, noble and honorable man. I wanted someone, anyone, to stand up and fight for this man and if that had to be me, then so be it. Since his firing, I have been determined to out argue and shout down those who sought to sully his name and what he spent a lifetime building. I had attempted to quell my sadness with bitterness and contempt.
Yet, as I sit here and reflect on the events of the past week and, especially, what I saw today and what I've read of his last few days, I am embarrassed for myself. Joe never once wanted things to be about him. He always wanted the focus to be on the University and the Penn State family. Its why he turned down numerous offers from NFL and other NCAA teams, who offered way more money. Its why he would only do the Burger King commercial if they would donate his take to the University. Its why his name adorns a library and not athletic facilities. It is why, despite the despicable actions of the media and BoT, he never expressed bitterness and resentment toward anyone. To his last breath, his focus was on the victims, the university and his family. Joe was not perfect and was not a Saint, but he is one of the greatest men that this nation has ever produced and I will honor him as such. Joe cared so much about the well being of others and that is evidenced by the numerous testimonies of those who played for, coached with, lived near, ran into or just admired him from afar. Quite simply, I am a better man because I got to watch, admire and learn from the example of Joseph Vincent Paterno for the past 30 years.
So, again the question is, what now? Now, we move on. Now, a new generation of Penn State football begins, under the direction of another Brown man, who by all accounts is a good, decent man. Coach O'Brien said it best when he said that he cannot be another Joe Paterno. But, I believe, based on his actions so far, that being Coach O'Brien is a pretty good thing to be too. I wish Coach O'Brien the very best and I will be rooting for the Patriots next week (as much as it pains me) because BOB is now family.
As for me, I no longer hold any bitterness or resentment toward the media or BoT. If Joe didn't hold any, then I have no right to either. Don't get me wrong, this episode has exposed the need for changes to be made in how these matters are reported by the media, handled by the BoT and, more importantly, the authorities charged with public safety, not just in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania but all across America. It has also shown a light on the evil of child abuse and, hopefully, has inspired a new generation of Americans to work toward its eradication. Most of all, for me, I will strive, for the rest of my life, to try and be a positive influence on everyone I come into contact with, no matter their rank or station in life. I will do so because that is what Joe did and he succeeded honorably in doing so. If I can have the 1/100th of the positive impact on others that Joe did, I will consider my life a great success. And with that, in as strong a voice and sense of conviction as I can muster, I say WE ARE...
Thank You Coach
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Let there be peace on Earth
and let it begin with me.
by dontcallmescooter on Jan 26, 2012 5:59 PM EST reply actions 3 recs
Screw that !
Heads need to roll, beginning with the governer and the BoT. As Phil Knight said, “Who is the real Penn State trustee?” – certainly not the gang of 32.
Were it in my power to issue a general pardon to all those who erred or willfully engineered this Greek tragedy, I would withold it, for the cost has been too great to bear.
And if I cannot roll the heads of the media, I’ll be satisfied to see them publically crawl on their bellies and eat crow.
Just my 2 cents.
That's how I feel too.
I’m angry, I’m bitter and I want heads to roll.
Run.
by Bob Sacamano on Jan 27, 2012 11:22 AM EST up reply actions
Well said
though it sometimes takes every ounce of my willpower not to argue with people about this, especially when I KNOW they don’t have certain facts right.
Yes, O’Brien is part of the family now. No, I cannot ever root for the New England Patriots. I’m still rather narrow-minded in some areas.
I've been downhearted baby, I've been downhearted baby, ever since the day we met . . .
I Understand
about hating the Pats. After the Super Bowl, I’ll go back to hating them.
just root for the Patriots offense
and hope they lose 77-73
by The JuggerNitt on Jan 27, 2012 6:04 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
As I sit here with a message in my inbox from Tony Sococca from Deadspin
I thought about what argument I could make to him to refute his claim about “the stories about Sandusky being allowed to bring kids around Penn State, even onto the practice field, long after that night in 2002” (the email conversation initiated by me, pointing out the inaccuracies in his article claiming McQ told Paterno he saw rape).
I was going to create a very articulate counter-argument about everything that happened, and then I read this.
You’re right. Why am I picking fights with people when Paterno himself wasn’t? I think it’s time to let go, and let people continue to make themselves feel secure in the “justice of the world” if it helps them sleep at night.
As I mentioned a bit earlier on twitter, I’ve been thinking about exactly what it is I felt during these past two months. What I’ve been feeling is pity. I feel pity for all these people who are quick to judge another person regardless of the facts.
Therefore, my answer to Mr. Sococca will be simple: I hope he doesn’t have to deal with anything remotely close to what Paterno did, and I hope none of his loved ones have to endure what those victims, and I, had to endure.
by misdreavus79 on Jan 26, 2012 10:33 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
I have tried to let go, to stop being angry but I cant.
I have drawn my line in the sand. Some friendships will never be the same after the debates and conversations I had with them. Some aquaintences I have written off for good. I have always worn my heart on my sleeve but “this” has hit me so hard that I will not waiver in my convictions. I will not back down and although most of what I say will not change the minds of others, I will continue to fight the good fight.
I have a slightly different take.
This, to me, isn’t so much about Paterno as it is about injustice. If the BoT acted this way about anyone I’d still be just as outraged. I likely wouldn’t know about it, sure, because the media wouldn’t have made such a big deal if it wasn’t such a big name, but to to fire anyone in such a way without so much as hearing their side of things, to me, is just flat out wrong. My rage as it applies to this situation would be about 1/10 the intensity if they at least showed the man the respect that he deserved, even if they still came to the conclusion that he couldn’t be the head coach anymore due to the media firestorm and/or perceived moral failures. Unfortunately they had their egos bruised by Paterno’s press release, and instead of doing the right thing, they did the easy and petty thing in the face of media pressure.
by The JuggerNitt on Jan 27, 2012 6:09 AM EST reply actions 5 recs
Looked to me like a power struggle..
… and egos were bruised (although that could not have been Joe’s intent).
All they had to do was accept his resignation, move on as they have done, and that would have been the end of it.
BUT NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO !
They need to pay with their seats on the board.
Well said - a very well reasoned and thought out piece.
If we all adopt that sort of mindset, we can spare ourselves years of strife and infighting over picayune details and unite as a fan and alumni base to live out Paterno’s ideals and show that the Sandusky issues were anomalisitc to the long history of scholarship, philanthropy and service that Penn State has and should be known for.
This will be my last response to you, Mr. M1EK
so any future attempt on your part to engage me in an argument will be fruitless on your part and will, no doubt, show you to be the troll I believe you to be.
That said, you bringing up my “loathsome comment,” I believe is akin to Lindsey Lohan telling someone to take it easy with the cocaine. You have absolutely no credibility in such a retort and EVERYONE on this board knows it.
To your point, apparently you allegedly made it through graduation at Penn State without being able to read. Or, you just opted not to read the post. For, if you had, you surely would have read “Yet, as I sit here and reflect on the events of the past week and, especially, what I saw today and what I’ve read of his last few days, I am embarrassed for myself.” This sentence can be found at the very top of paragraph number 2 under the jump. Clearly, I am expressing that, during the past few weeks, I have behaved in a manner unbecoming the man I was trying to defend and honor and that such conduct embarrasses me.
This is obviously meant as a blanket statement. For you not to get it, again, tells me that: (1) You do not possess the ability to read and/or comprehend the english language, (2) You simply opted not to read the post and/or (3) you are engaged in a sad attempt to show me as a hypocrite, when I’ve clearly stated, for the world to see (via the internets-plural on purpose), that I am embarrassed by things that I’ve written while trying to defend JVP.
As for you, M1EK, I don’t know you and I don’t wish to know you. But, from your internet postings, I have been able to ascertain that you are a sad, horrible little man with nothing better to do than go on internet sites and attempt to start fights. I have no idea what motivates you to do so and, quite frankly, I really don’t care. I further have no idea why the moderators continue to allow you to verbally assault individuals who dare to express an opinion that might dare to be different than one you hold. But, I notice that when someone does disagree with you, you tend to attack that person, but not their idea. Further, when someone confronts you with a fact that might upset your pre-arranged worldview, you claim that that person is not being civil. Again, such behavior is sad and pathetic on your part and makes me wonder if you’ll ever emerge from the couch in your mom’s basement…er, I mean “Lair.” But, hopefully, one day, you’ll meet a girl who is also into dungeons and dragons and going to comiccons and you’ll join the rest of society.
Again, I say that this will be my last response to M1EK. Any attempt by him to draw me into a ridiculous back and forth will show him to be the troll we all know him to be. If that does occur, I would implore the moderators to ban him and leave this site to those who do not gleefully dance on the grave and memory of a good and decent man.
Thank You
by Keith Platt on Jan 27, 2012 2:34 PM EST up reply actions 3 recs
I expect action from this:
might I suggest that you dine this evening on the business end of a Glock 9mm. Short of that, I’m sure the hateful scum at ESPN.com would welcome you with open arms. Either way, STFU and leave us to greive as a community which you are NOT a part of.
What I expect out of a guy who expects us to believe he’s actually sorry is an actual apology for what he actually said, to the guy he said it to.
This thing you wrote above is borderline threatening and incredibly offensive. It has no place here – and for you to lecture me on civility when you haven’t explicitly disavowed this statement is ludicrous.
Instead of apologizing for something which any decent human being would find unbecoming, you turn around and attack me.
Joe Paterno would be so proud of you right now.
I'm going to violate what I said above this once
and respond.
First: That’s not a threat, its an invitation to kill yourself. Any reasonable reading would render that to be so. Its akin to telling someone to “go play in traffic.”
Second: Saying that I embarrassed myself is, I think, more impactful than apologizing. I’m saying not only do I regret what I wrote, but I humiliated myself by doing so.
Third: Your record of incivility to other posters is a matter of record. You’ve gone through great lengths to attack, personally, aurabass as well as others with whom you disagree.
Fourth: As I put in my original post, I’m acknowledging my shortcomings and pledging to be a better person.
That said, for far too long, I have had to read your attacks on aurabass, et. al. and I’m sick of it. All these people have come here to grieve and share thoughts and all you do is berate them with your nonsense.
Again, you are an awful, awful person and that has been demonstrated here for at least the past two months. With that, I’m done with you. Any further response by you is a waste of time and, again, shows you to be the troll we all know you to be.
Good Day to You, Sir
This
Taking a lesson from Joe.
This week I saw a few players tweet a quote from JoePa in regards to responding to people sending hateful messages.
"Don’t get into a pissing contest with a skunk"-JVP
Yesterday I saw a retweet from PennState Proud (I said this in the memorial post but it seems more appropriate here). "From the outside looking in you can’t understand it, from the inside looking out, you can’t explain it".
by Jeannine Pinaula on Jan 27, 2012 9:39 AM EST
When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, 'I used everything you gave me'.
Erma Bombeck
by ComfortHePuHuTh on Jan 27, 2012 10:30 AM EST reply actions 1 recs
The JVP quote has many iterations
my personal favorite is:
“Don’t get in a mud fight with a pig. You both get dirty, and the pig enjoys it.”
Humanum est pati.
by Smee on Jan 27, 2012 12:01 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
Nice post
I did my best to fight for Joe’s legacy, certainly making an ass out of myself with several emotional outbursts aimed at the media and the misinformed. After yesterday, it’s pretty obvious that JoePa’s legacy is secure with the people that knew his true nature.
Some people hate their lives and need to spew out the venom to make themselves feel better. I don’t understand it, but I guess some people are so lonely they need to pick fights in the comments section to fill the void of a satisfying human connection. Just ignore them and be glad you got to experience things they will never understand.
What now?
First off, I have to stop crying. I just can’t stop, And it seems to be getting worse. I can’t believe this is real. First, used as a scapegoat and fired. Ten weeks later; dead. I just can’t fathom this.
You’re right. Joe would not have wanted any of this. He would say move on. I’ll try to keep the religion to a minimum here, but we are supposed to forgive and forget. Forgive, and ye will be forgive. Forgive not, and ye will not be forgiven. Perhaps, subconciously, when this all broke, Joe knew he was already on short time and stopped worrying about what was going on in this world, but the world to come, and he figured he better not leave filled with bitterness and hate.
To me, what I would love to see would be for the BoT to have one shining moment of leadership, class, and humility, and admit they completely and totally blew it by firing Joe. Issue a release saying that, “Based upon the results of our internal investigation, we have found Joseph Vincent Paterno not only fullfilled his legal obligations, but all his moral obligations as well. Effective immediately, the official record will show Coach Paterno retired at the end of the 2011 season, and all mention of his employment with The Pennsylvania State University will reflect this fact.”
As far as the people who hate Joe, they are just like people who hate blacks, Jews, homosexuals, hispanics, arabs, etc. They hate for no logical reason. And people who hate for no reason cannot be reasoned with. So you just ignore them and walk away.
by Ab4PSU on Jan 27, 2012 11:54 AM EST reply actions 2 recs
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