Paterno’s Legacy
And so it goes that Joe Paterno’s long football career will be remembered for allowing a pedophile to stay on his staff and continue to prey on young children. This is without a doubt the most sickening sports story I have ever drawn about. Paterno’s presence, statues, memorials, heck, I say records even should be completely torn down and banned from the Penn State Campus. The fact that he knew and yet chose to cover it up makes him as guilty in abuse as was Jerry Sandusky. Had Paterno lived, my hope is that he would have been sent to prison right next to Sandusky for his heinous crime.
Years ago, I read a book about the University of Texas Longhorns called “Meat on the Hoof”. I remember reading about head coach Darryl Royal eating a hamburger while standing above a player who had just had his ACL blown out during practice. His indifference to the young player he had recruited and whose career was now over, sickened me. But it is nothing compared to the sins of an indifferent Joe Paterno to defenseless children being abused.
Chicago Tribune sports editor extraordinaire, Mike Kellams, came up with today’s concept. I thought the idea was brilliant so I rendered it as best I could.. I rarely, if ever, use someone else’s concept for my sports stuff (I can count on one hand the number of times I did it during my 27 years at the Rocky Mountain News.) but this one was just perfect. I’m just sick I actually had to draw it.
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Drew,
I have followed political and editorial cartoonists for the last 6o years when from age 10 my Grandfather taught me the value of humor and wit. I live in Denver and have really enjoyed your point of view and your artistic talent. I shiver in reading the accompanying note and matching it to your graphic. I agree with you in every respect on this horrible set of events. Thank you for being honest to your own feelings and convictions.
Best cartoon of the year so far, Drew. There is, of course, no way to keep this from never happening again, and abuse will take place again somewhere – but the lesson that every institution should take from this is to be more vigilant and never allow for the cover-up to happen.
If Paterno and Company had come clean and/or cooperated from the start, then this scandal would have literally been history with the original guilty party only to blame. But as it stands now, it’s a blemish on one of the gold standards of college sports that will take decades to recover from.
Let us begin scorching the earth of Joe Paterno and company and erase them from history.
Dont forget that Paterno manueuvered and got his Retirement benefits Strengthened just before the revelation of this pervert scandal!!!! Despicable man.
I hope that 10 or 20 years from now, people will be able to have respect for Paterno for his positive contributions to college football, coaching, and sports in general, alongside the memory of his terrible mistakes. No matter how horrible it is, no one deserves to be remembered for the worst thing they ever did, especially when they did so many good things as well.
We should take Paterno’s life as a cautionary tale, that even the greatest men can be tempted by power to go against their morals. The traces of Paterno’s life should not be erased, because the story of his life should not be erased, but preserved, so that future generations may learn from it.
Jerry Sandusky was a university retiree and thus, not on Paterno’s staff. But hey, facts are stubborn things.
Undeniably consider that that you said. Your favourite reason appeared to be on the net the simplest thing to have in mind of. I say to you, I definitely get irked even as other people consider issues that they just don’t know about. You controlled to hit the nail upon the highest and also defined out the whole thing with no need side-effects , other folks could take a signal. Will likely be back to get more. Thank you
Good Morning from Omaha,
facts- when did sandusky retire? was it before 1998? did not some of the offensive behavior take place in the PSU shower room?
the e mail trail leads up the nitney tree to the top.
from wiki:In 1998 Sandusky came under investigation by the campus police, following a claim by a mother that her son had been molested by him in the showers in Penn State.[20] The president of Penn State, Graham Spanier, and Paterno among several Penn State officials followed the investigation closely.[20]
Sandusky officially retired shortly after this investigation, and was awarded “both an unusual compensation package and a special designation of ’emeritus’ rank that carried special privileges, including access to the university’s recreational facilities.”[20] Furthermore, Spanier approved a lump-sum payment to Sandusky of $168,000.[20]
while he may not have been on Paterno’s “official” staff. he had access to everything PSU. Paterno allegedly put off an investigation because he did not want to take away from someones weekend.
the crime is horrible- the coverup just made it worse and brought down many a “good” man.
Strive for excellence, nothing but your best.
Gene
@ silence dogood:
1 Child, 2 Children, 3 Children, 4 Children, 5 Children , tell me when to stop. Paterno has some knowledge, Paterno is told directly, Paterno makes suggestions about how to proceed to Penn State officials, Paterno denies any knowledge, tell me when to stop. Paterno’s character was horribily flawed and shameful. In this case nothing else matters.
Drew,
Wonderful cartoon. As a big Buffs fan who saw CU go through the rape scandal, I do sympathize with Penn State fans who are one of the biggest losers in this case. I hope this wakes up colleges, their alumni, and their fans in how our continued idolization of college football teams can lead to scandals like this.
Really intelligent comments from everyone, for the most part. Thanks, to everyone for thoughtful insight. Especially the comment regarding not erasing Paterno and his deeds, but to let it be out there to learn from. He, and all who respected him, must understand that sweeping it under the carpet was just as culpable as Sandusky.