Posted on 01/26/2012 9:26:20 PM PST by WPaCon
“Whatever the details of the investigation are, this much is clear to me: There was a villain in this tragedy. It lies in the investigation, not in Joe Paterno’s response to it,” Knight said, prompting a prolonged standing ovation from the crowd in the Bryce Jordan Center on the Penn State campus.
Despite Paterno’s actions, “he was excoriated by the media and fired over the telephone by his university. Yet in all his subsequent appearances in the press, on TV, interacting with students, conversing with hospital personnel, giving interviews, he never complained, he never lashed out. Every word, every bit of body language conveyed a single message: We are Penn State.
“So I do not follow conventional wisdom. Joe is my hero. Every day for 12 of the last 12 years [since the death of Bowerman]. But it does lead me to this question: Who is the real trustee at Penn State University?”
Knight wrapped up his comments by recalling his reaction to the news that Paterno had died.
“In periods of stress and grief, you say things that surprise you. When I came back from Mass on Sunday ... [and learned that Paterno had died], the first words out of my mouth, way out of sequence and typically self-centered, through the tears, I asked, “Who is going to be my hero now?’ It's a question everyone in this arena should ask and I do not have an answer for you, but I can tell you this much, that old hero set a standard that will live forever. Thank you.”
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
Don't ask me why I was able to access this one though. I have no idea.
ping
It’s sad that Paterno is dead.
It’s sad that Paterno’s legacy is ruined.
But he stood by and did nothing. He knew the facts and allowed the perp to be on the PSU sidelines.
Phil Knight is simply not a credible judge of character. He’s contributed to the ultra-leftist Ron Wyden, DemonRAT of Oregon.
Mr Knight spoke the truth. I just saw the replay of the service on BTN.
Nike is also on most pro-life boycott lists. I don’t have any of their stuff because of that.
I’m considering writing a letter to Nike explaining that as a Penn State fan, I appreciate Knight’s sentiments, but I will not buy his products because of where he donates to. I’ll say that since he has shown himself to be a man of conviction today and Catholic (since he mentioned going to Mass in his speech), maybe he will consider donating his funds elsewhere, perhaps to Thon (which is a Penn State affiliated charity that raised $9.5 million for pediatric cancer last year.)
Part of me wonders if he did this speech as a business move. Probably not, but who knows?
100% agree. Joe did nothing..which is as worse as someone becoming a victim in front of your eyes and you just try to ignore the crime. Ah well, rest in peace anyways Joe.
That's exactly right. He's not THE villain. He was just the villain's enabler. He knew, accepted, watched, was aware, and tacitly approved of the serial rape of God only knows how many children over decades. No, he wasn't the perpetrator, but he was guilty of accessory to child rape. May he burn in everlasting Hell. PISS ON HIS GRAVE. All of you pukes that are glorifying this sick bastard's actions are just as sick as he was.
Did you really just type that?
I never knew he watched the serial rape of children.
Guess what....you don’t get to judge Paterno....only God gets to do that.
a good man who made big mistakes, but judgment is way above my pay grade...RIP JoePa
BTW....snipers are not looking for you to ask God to bless them. He is however their enabler.....
Perhaps Mr. Paterno didn’t do ENOUGH, but you can’t say he did nothing. He admitted as much in his last interview.
I really don’t understand all this bitterness toward Mr. Paterno. The man has gone to God. Whatever his mistakes, the Lord will judge him now. We should stay out if it.
How would you like to go through life doing good, then make one mistake and have people vilify you for that one mistake?
By the way, the allegations against Mr. Sandusky have yet to be proven in a court of law. When did the law change whereby we assume someone is guilty until proven innocent?
He, and others, knew without a doubt that Sandusky was molesting children in Penn State athletic facilities. He took it seriously enough to remove Sandusky as his successor. However, Paterno, and the other power elites, didn’t even bother to take away Sandusky’s keys to the buildings. We cannot know what their exact thoughts were, but their guilt is heavy.
Paterno did his job but decency sometimes demands that you do a little bit more than just your job.
That one mistake was a doozy.
It got many young boys buggered and it is sickening.
I have no bitterness toward Paterno, I feel sorry for his pathetic ending.
He made poor decisions that ruined his legacy.
It really comes down to vanity for Paterno and the PSU affected. Truth is that he wasn’t capable at his age to deal with this problem. He should have retired years ago. Anybody who thinks he was a true coach in those last years in deluded.
Honestly, being a huge sports fan and a fan of Eastern Football, it was just a sad ending.
What is worse is people do not realize that Joe would not have access too what those investigations turned up as they involved minors.
Sandusky from a time line I saw seemed to be all over the Athletic Department. That made it the AD and campus security responsibility. The investigations were highly flawed and Joe was not a sworn LEO.
When the offenses began and were reported he was a 67 year old coach. When he was fired he was an 85 year old coach dieing of cancer. IOW The perfect Penn State Administration Scapegoat.
Days and days of this on the news. Top story. Paterno did nothing with what he knew. Death does not make him any better than someone who just looked the other way while boys were being molested. The scenes with the flowers and candles around his statue were ridiculous. Just goes to show what a football program at a college means versus all else.
Do people really believe this?
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