At first I was unsure if I really wanted to wade into this tragic
story mainly because of how disgusted I am with the subject; however
psychologists have often said that talking about something unsettling is the
vehicle which provides a catharsis. I’m
not sure if it’s really a catharsis I seek since the only emotion I have about
Jerry Sandusky is the all-encompassing satisfaction that I would feel from tossing
him into a pit with death row convicts high on bath salts. Here’s hoping the experts are right but more
importantly here’s to hoping that his victims who desperately need some solace,
can in some way find it.
Jerry Sandusky was found guilty Friday night on 45 of 48
counts related to the sexual abuse of boys.
The verdict encapsulated what began with Sandusky’s arrest in November
of last year which prompted the school to fire the iconic head football coach, Joe
Paterno, stating that he exhibited a lack of leadership after fielding a report
from assistant coach Mike McQuery who witnessed Sandusky in the Penn State
locker room shower in 2001 raping a boy.
Yes, in 2001.
Now ask yourself this question, if you or someone close to
you suspected a colleague - a subordinate – of systematically abusing children
and the very least you did was to simply report it to your boss, would you be
alright with that especially if nothing materialized afterward? To those who’ve defended Paterno tooth and
nail to the end, did it ever occur to you that Paterno could have asked for Sandusky to step down as
his assistant? He never even demanded an
answer from Sandusky, which we know of or even a plea that he receive counseling. Paterno, himself a father and grandfather
could have gone to the police with these allegations, as difficult as it would
be considering Sandusky was a personal friend besides colleague. But he chose not to. Why?
Some have argued that Paterno didn’t have autonomy over
personnel changes. That’s very possible but you can bet that he damn well had a
significant say in it but chose to look the other way. Deniability is so much simpler than the truth
and it keeps one’s collegiate football program immune from bad publicity and
flush financially. According to the Business of College Sports, the Penn State
I remember when students of Penn State held a rally in
support of Joe Paterno, when his integrity came into question when the scandal
became public. Paterno, like so many in
positions of authority at Penn State, hid behind either ignorance or in
Parterno’s case, administrative process – as he did inform his superiors at
Penn regarding the allegations involving his assistant coach Sandusky – and
left it at that. Case closed. He was one of many enablers. His career and honor, which was sterling prior to this display of human depravity, came crumbling to an unfortunate end. The moral here, just because you've done good in the past for many, it doesn't inoculate you from making the right decision when it matters most - no matter what the costs (financially) may be. Inexcusable and to the students, where's the rally to support these victims?
To me the greatest of those enablers was Jerry Sandusky’s
wife Dottie, who sat by his side the entire trial and when she was called to
testify told prosecutors that she never heard anything going on in their
basement, as it was one of the places where Sandusky’s accusers said he was
raped by the “Tickle Monster”, Sandusky’s self-given nickname. I guess when you’re living a life or
veritable luxury, you tend to hear what you want, see what you want and
literally believe what you want, as long as it doesn’t interfere with your
lifestyle. I guess she didn’t hear
anything when her adopted son Matt, who at the very end of the trial admitted
that he too was abused by his father.
To the enablers, Joe Paterno, passed away not too soon after
he lost his job as head coach from Cancer, has to answer to a higher authority. University President Grant Spanier was forced
to step down and two Penn State administrators, Athletic Director Tim Curley
and now retired vice-president Gary Schultz are facing criminal charges for
failing to report suspected child abuse and perjury. Both are fighting the allegations and
awaiting trial. Of course they are.
Even NBC slithered its way into this story by once again
adhering to its sterling journalistic standards, curiously edited the Bob Costas
interview of Jerry Sandusky, removing this particular sound bite. The original
audio had Sandusky saying
“I didn't go around seeking out every young person for sexual needs that I've helped," Sandusky told Costas in footage that never made the November airing.
Not every, just some.
Shame on you NBC and you really wonder why both MSNBC and NBC are losing
viewers by the droves. You can’t blame
it all on Fox. Take some damn responsibility.
Arthur Aidala, a former prosecutor turned criminal defense
attorney said it best the other night when he said that Sandusky, “Stole the
souls of these boys. Leaving them with
years of trying to regain what was taken from them.” Sadly, those 10 boys who are now men, will
most likely never have what we would consider a normal life, how could
they? The only respite these victims can
have is that the evil that embodied Jerry Sandusky will never see the light of
day again.
I have a feeling Matthew Sandusky asked himself that more than a few times.
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