Actually, it sounds very consistent with the sort of strategies that got him this far--have you seen Gladwell's piece on the matter in the New Yorker?His statement, both the radio bit and in court, is predictably bizarre and delusional. He takes no responsibility, admits no guilt, apologizes to no one but his wife and his family.
When monsters roam free, we assume that people in positions of authority ought to be able to catch them if only they did their jobs. But that might be wishful thinking. A pedophile, van Dam’s story of Mr. Clay reminds us, is someone adept not just at preying on children but at confusing, deceiving, and charming the adults responsible for those children—which is something to keep in mind in the case of the scandal at Penn State and the conviction, earlier this year, of the former assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky on child-molestation charges.
His sentence may appear lenient but the judge gave Sandusky concurrent sentences so that if any counts were to be overturned on appeal, Sandusky's jail time would not be reduced. There's no purpose to giving him a longer sentence than what he has.The sentence seems light - a recent child-sex predator in Alabama got 600 years, for example. Yes, he is not eligible for parole until he is 98...but he should never, ever be eligible for parole. He should be sentenced to 600 years without parole and should only leave the maximum security prison he spends his last years in feet first.
His statement, both the radio bit and in court, is predictably bizarre and delusional. He takes no responsibility, admits no guilt, apologizes to no one but his wife and his family.
Sandusky deserves to spend his remaining time on earth in the worst hell-hole humanity could offer. Instead, he'll spend his time in a cell with a TV, watching college football on Saturdays.
He will not have a cellmate and will be subject to heightened supervision and an escort when not in his cell. He will get an hour of individual exercise five days a week and three showers a week.
He will eat meals in his cell. Prison services such as counseling, religion, medications and treatment programming will also occur in his cell.
All visits will be non-contact, meaning no touching is allowed. He may have a TV, radio and other property, according to the Corrections Department, if he is deemed to be in "compliant adjustment."
It's about time Spanier was called to account. Charging only Curley and Schultz, while leaving Spanier and Paterno out, looked like scapegoating the mid-level flunkies while leaving the real authority figures untouched.Former PSU President Graham Spanier has been charged with perjury.
http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/8579116/graham-spanier-charged-jerry-sandusky-case
He'll be the hardest to convict, but the charge was somewhat inevitable after some of the previous disclosures in this case.
The prison is only 27 miles from where Sandusky grew up in Washington, Pa.Sandusky to serve time at Greene State Prison, where most of the PA state death row inmates are housed.
So you're saying the State of PA is saving on the inevitable "transporting the corpse" costs with this assignment?The prison is only 27 miles from where Sandusky grew up in Washington, Pa.
Penn State's ex-president and two former top school administrators were ordered Tuesday to stand trial on charges accusing them of a cover-up in the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse scandal, a court ruling that promises to prolong the media attention and court battles casting a shadow over the university.
Prosecutors showed enough evidence during a two-day preliminary hearing to warrant a trial for ex-President Graham Spanier, former vice president Gary Schultz and ex-athletic director Tim Curley, District Judge William Wenner concluded.
Wenner called it "a tragic day for Penn State University.''
Did ARod opt out his contract last night, again?sfip said:Ideally I wish the Commonwealth vs. NCAA thread could have been bumped instead of rehashing this one. The lawsuit is the reason this is being considered.
Interesting timing for this story to get released while the public's focus for the NCAA was on the national championship game.
http://bigstory.ap.org/article/2fcc70b19b6a484bb122bb9d4724e844/jerry-sanduskys-son-jeffrey-charged-child-sexual-abuseDepressing. Probably another case of the abused becoming the abuser. I hope help can be provided for the child for both his own sake and so the cycle doesn't repeat.
He hasn't accused his father of molesting him. Even standing by him during his trial. Of course that doesn't mean it didn't happen. The elder Sandusky won't get the benefit of the doubt.This story makes me sad. If guilty, he is 100% responsible for his actions, BUT to be fair, if he was abused by his Father, he had the deck heavily stacked against him.
According to his mom, he is not guilty. But neither was her husband. I don't know that I would trust her opinion on this one.He hasn't accused his father of molesting him. Even standing by him during his trial. Of course that doesn't mean it didn't happen. The elder Sandusky won't get the benefit of the doubt.
I wonder what her role was. Was she an enabler or a dupe?According to his mom, he is not guilty. But neither was her husband. I don't know that I would trust her opinion on this one.
I wonder what her role was. Was she an enabler or a dupe?
Can she be both? From personal experience, I can tell you that MANY people close to the abuser, will themselves to Know Nothing, and thus not have to confront the monster in their midst. As someone who lived thru what these kids have lived thru, it is a freaking nightmare, made a million times worse, by the adults that do NOT come to your rescue. In many ways, I have more rage for those people, than the abuser.
Whenever this topic comes up, I always try to identify as someone who has experienced this, because I KNOW there are others reading this, who are aware, or just becoming aware, that this happened to you. Just wanted to say you are not alone, and you are not at fault.
'
Thank you Edoug, for all of us .cheekydave, sorry it happened to you (and all the other victims).
That's not what the NCAA said after the Paterno family dropped their lawsuit yesterday.The ncaa really, really doesn't want to go to trial. That's why they want to restore sanctions yet have PSU say they have that authority.
EDIT: Emphasis added.“The Paterno family characterized this case as a ‘search for the truth,’” said Donald Remy, NCAA chief legal officer. “Its decision today, after years of investigation and discovery, to abandon its lawsuit rather than subject those facts to courtroom examination is telling. We believe that the powerful record developed during discovery overwhelmingly confirmed what the NCAA has believed all along: the NCAA acted reasonably in adopting the conclusions of an eight-month investigation by Louis Freeh.”
Remy noted the timing of today’s decision by the Paterno family to voluntarily abandon its lawsuit was only hours before the NCAA was due to file a roughly 100-page summary judgment brief detailing the results of years of exhaustive discovery regarding plaintiffs’ claims. He added the decision “represents a total victory for the NCAA.”
“It is disappointing that so much time, effort, and financial resources have been wasted on efforts by the Paterno family in this litigation,” said Remy. “We must not lose sight of the fact that the real victims are the dozens of innocent children abused by Jerry Sandusky. ”
Not only did the NCAA spike the football, they did a post touchdown celebration Terrell Owens would be in awe of.That's not what the NCAA said after the Paterno family dropped their lawsuit yesterday.
EDIT: Emphasis added.
There's no question that Canderson is right about the NCAA with respect to their heavy-handed and often factually-challenged approach to enforcement. They are a corrupt organization and I cannot imagine they would welcome any sort of digging into how the sausage gets made in their world.That's not what the NCAA said after the Paterno family dropped their lawsuit yesterday.
EDIT: Emphasis added.
I doubt that the Paterno household admits that JoePa was an enabling monster, you know cognitive dissonance and all. They are probably blaming lack of resources or inability to get a fair trial or NCAA corruption or what not.Can't imagine what it was like in the Paterno household when they realized during discovery that Joe was actually an enabling monster.
You obviously don't know many attorneys.Yeah, the reaction of the Paterno family isn't the most interesting to think about.
What do you suppose was the reaction of their attorney(s) when the Paterno Family finally agreed that pursuing this suit would never result in a victory and that the best course of action would be to quietly drop it on the Friday before a long holiday weekend?
I first thought Jim Carrey-as-Ace-Ventura or Jeterian fist pumping, but now I'm leaning toward a long sigh, exhale, falling backward into a chair, and a very soft "thank god those idiots are no longer going to be in my office regularly" prayer.
Still plenty of apologists/cultists on social media and elsewhere. I can only hope that this news whittles their number down some.What a piece of shit Paterno turned out to be. I hope that's all anyone remembers him as.
"Winning isn't everything. It's the only thing."What a piece of shit Paterno turned out to be. I hope that's all anyone remembers him as.
Okay, I'll try, because this is a reasoned post. Even though Sandusky was Joe's key coach for many years, they never liked each other much, which makes Joe's inability to blow the whistle even more baffling. Sandusky mocked Paterno to his defensive players, as far back as the late 1970s. And Joe never trusted Jerry.Still plenty of apologists/cultists on social media and elsewhere. I can only hope that this news whittles their number down some.
His defenders point to his excellence as a coach and his involvement with the school and the community. I'd like to ask them: "How many young men molded as a coach, how many charity dinners shown up at, compensate for looking the other way, several times, while your right-hand man tore up a little kid's ass with his cock? Where do you place those numbers? Does your answer change if it's your 9-year-old? Does your answer change if it would have been you at that age?"
I'd like to hear those answers.
My whole family grew up around state college. Sandusky at one point lived across the street from my Aunt and Uncle. My Aunt was good friends with Dotty up until the scandal. Dotty was in complete denial according to her.. claimed that she never knew anything. I don't remember ever meeting him but I do remember going to an Alabama/PSU game when I was young and I wonder if he got us all tickets.Okay, I'll try, because this is a reasoned post. Even though Sandusky was Joe's key coach for many years, they never liked each other much, which makes Joe's inability to blow the whistle even more baffling. Sandusky mocked Paterno to his defensive players, as far back as the late 1970s. And Joe never trusted Jerry.
Joe did help hundreds of players over the years and they often came back in their middle years to thank him. But most would also say he was a hard guy to play for because of the high-pitched screaming Joe did during practice sessions, often calling out players by name. He was easier to know after the players got older. Their loyalty to him during the scandal is understandable.
I know several players who raised children in Happy Valley and knew Sandusky. The revelations sent chills up their spines.
My own experience with Joe was as a sports writer in the 1970s. I remember him mostly for the man he was in those years, terribly smart in areas he cared about, very protective of his program and his players. It was a challenge to ask him questions because he was so sharp. But now, six years after the scandal became public, it is pretty obvious that Joe ruined his legacy by turning his head away from the rumors about Sandusky that began circulating in the 1980s. Joe will be remembered more for what he failed to do off the field than what he ever did as a coach. It's a good lesson for all of us. One immoral decision can change our legacies.
I didn't see anything wrong with your language! We're all beyond shock at the horrors Sandusky committed, even the apologists agree to this. And This latest Sara Ganim piece kind of ends the discussion for Paterno's defenders. It's all over.I used shocking language deliberately, to convey a sense of what it might have been like for the victims.
I appreciate that the posters above me are trying to look at this objectively.
I don't see how one can have any defense of Paterno at all.
Just replying to one aspect of this, Lars. Believe me, in the 1970s, players who got into trouble downtown were detained only long enough until a coach could come down and pick them up. The cops would call Joe and he would send someone downtown to clean things up. We all looked the other way, but usually the offenses were alcohol-related, like the time a very famous player jumped up onto the Shandygaff Saloon sign and brought it to the ground.My whole family grew up around state college. Sandusky at one point lived across the street from my Aunt and Uncle. My Aunt was good friends with Dotty up until the scandal. Dotty was in complete denial according to her.. claimed that she never knew anything. I don't remember ever meeting him but I do remember going to an Alabama/PSU game when I was young and I wonder if he got us all tickets.
Sandusky at one point was as popular and revered as Paterno. He was lifted off the field I recall on one of those championship teams. PSU had a lot of very good defensive players back in the day and Sandusky was often seen as the 1A to Paterno.
Perhaps I'm an apologist for Paterno (and it's hard to separate my family from PSU since so many cousins went there, my uncle started the dept of transportation there, myself and my dad went there so I'm aware of my bias).. but (as far as I know) in every instance where a player stepped out of line he was suspended ... not matter how big the player or game. Maybe there are lots of instances that I/we are unaware of, but I recall many times where players were suspended for any minor infraction. So to me Paterno turning a blind eye doesn't match what he seemed to do in every other instance.
Coupled with that... Sandusky was a master manipulator. His whole life was built around hiding his depravity and crimes. He set up a foundation wholly around his predatory nature. I mean, a foundation that is intended to help kids? He set things up so that he could always have kids around. He was also far more involved with politicians and such because of his charity. Part of me wonders how much influence Sandusky pulled when the DA refused to charge him the first time. I also wonder how much was covered up by the local cops in State College. I also wonder if the DA for Centre county disappearing in 2005 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ray_Gricar) was in any way related.
Paterno didn't seem to care about that stuff or his influence outside of PSU (at least to my young eyes at the time, terrynever may know different). He cared about football and the PSU library. He did report Jerry.. the Penn State administration and probably government/police failed at least equally...which is why at least three men are going to jail other than Sandusky. In my mind the thing that people have ignored is the endowment... those three guys seemed to be more worried about the money coming into Penn State rather than the kids that were being abused.
With that said if the reports are true that there are other incidents that Paterno didn't report... then it's all wrong and it was all a facade.
You think this story ends the defenses of Paterno? I think you'll find it barely moves the barometer if at all. When the evidence rises to being equivalent to that which would have conclusively led to an indictment, I think it would mean something. Maybe something like evidence that Paterno conclusively knew what Sandusky was doing and conspired to conceal his actions. This isn't that. Any new information she might present is no less ambiguous than what we've heard before. In the discussion where McQueary claimed Paterno said this wasn't the first time he heard of this - What incident was Paterno referring to? I think we're going to be hard-pressed to ever learn more beyond the morally suspect but legally defensible actions of Paterno. He's not really the story anyway.I didn't see anything wrong with your language! We're all beyond shock at the horrors Sandusky committed, even the apologists agree to this. And This latest Sara Ganim piece kind of ends the discussion for Paterno's defenders. It's all over.
The fact that a Penn State communications graduate has driven this story since 2011 makes me proud. There is irony in this, especially since Joe could never understand how reporters who graduated from Penn State could ever write anything critical of the school. His loyalty to the school blinded him, even in the 1970s, and the way he always protected his players and the program created the moral abyss into which his decision-making skills vanished by, say, 1990.