Sunday, January 22, 2012
The Loss of Joe Paterno
Twice I have wept at the death of a person not related to me. Roberto Clemente. And Joe Paterno. I wrote here earlier that JoePa was nothing more than a sacrificial lamb. The university's board of trustees killed him when they fired him. This Penn State crisis is worthy of a Shakespeare tragedy. Comments, please?
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1 comments:
I want to say first, Dan, that I too shed a tear at his death. But, I think it was because I viewed it as a tragic end to a short-term series of sad events he was sucked into. I agree Joe Paterno was a victim of a crisis beyond his control. He was a great coach with simple needs and honorable ambitions. But, to say the university killed him when they fired him might be harsh. The university handled his firing poorly--I often wonder what the thinking process is in such stupidity at the higher ed level. In reading the Washington Post interview, it was clear that he was befuddled and discouraged by the whole series of events. It's well documented that he lived and breathed coaching, and was worried he wouldn't have a life without it. To have that ripped away could easily produce a discouraged state that can translate into physical deterioration as well. Clearly, his legacy is a positive one with a sad ending. He was a great coach, a great man who did a lot for many, but had some blind spots, as we all do. His legacy might be slightly damaged, but it will not be erased.
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