Let No Act Bring Us Shame

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That's the Penn State motto.

As my kids might ask:

How'd that work out for you?

And far be it from me to try and kick dirt on Joe Paterno as he rests in eternal peace, but be fair and know that I kicked dirt at him when the scandal first broke.

What gets to me is that people are still defending him!

Give me a break.

All right, he might have cut his buddy and coach a break in 1998 when he first found out, but again in '01?

That was when he made a conscious decision that his reputation and legacy was worth more than those kids.

Kids! Who were in the hands of pure evil!

Again, how'd that decision work out for you?

Joe let Jerry keep his key to the school.

Joe let Jerry keep his seat in the suite for the big games. Joe even let Jerry bring kids in there with him. Joe knew Jerry was abusing those kids.

Sandusky was the dirty, filthy uncle who had them by the short hairs and they decided...made a conscious decision...to let him keep doing what he was doing because they didn't want to face the embarrassment of it getting out there and ruining their images.

You know what is even sadder to me?

That people still want to jump up and defend the leaders of that program...and I'm sorry, but Joe was one of the leaders.

Joe signed the papers. Joe sent the emails. Joe not only DID NOT ACT in the face of evil, what is more shameful is that JOE DID ACT.

Joe let it go.

Make no mistake. Joe had to work at it to let it go.

And Joe seemed like a helluva' guy. The sweaters, the wins, the grandfatherly walk, the man, the myth, the legend.

Problem being that he turned out to be a lot more myth and a lot less legend.

And how do you get to such a spot?

It wasn't a mistake, people. Joe considered it. Joe thought about it long and hard, and Joe took the low road because Joe was thinking about Joe.

How's that for not kicking dirt at Joe's legend?

I didn't do it.

Joe did.

Now take the statue down and throw it into the nearest river.

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