There are so many ways to look at this very very ugly situation that I don't know where to begin. Play or don't play? I could go either way. 

Is there a core issue? Pedophilia is not it, we're already decided about that. There are lots of issues. I personally don't like football at all anyway but that means nothing except that I must be an effete twit or worse. Amnesty for those who knew and didn't say, or punishment? Again, maybe, case by case. 

Maybe the central issue is the abuse of power. The same ballpark as the Occupy movt. Too much power concentrated in too few hands with ability and incentive to cover their exposed asses is where I think we ought to focus. In this case the cover was blown. Thank god. Excessive power alway leads to disaster. I really believe that this is so. Can we steer the Penn State disaster to that general surmise? I don't know, but I try.  Help.

I think there are a lot of problems with college athletics, especially in the Division I cash cows of men's football and basketball.  I think that all the people in charge, and all the people who knew about what was going on and turned a blind eye, should be punished as quickly and strongly and publicly as possible. 

I don't, however, think that the season should be cancelled.  What does that accomplish?  It's an easy out.  I agree with Buzz Bissinger in one of the links you gave, Linda.  He summed up pretty eloquently what my thoughts are, so I am going to be lazy and just paste in what he said:



"Some might perceive cancellation as an act of nobility. But most would see it for what it would be — a desperate and unfair act of damage control by the university to show an outraged public that every step is being taken to do the right thing no matter how draconian.


"The current Penn State football players did not create what happened; they should not be penalized."

"The board of trustees has for now taken the appropriate measures. Paterno was fired Wednesday night. So was president Graham Spanier. But the operative phrase here is “for now.” If the board does not actively and relentlessly force change of the football culture at Penn State, then nothing will be different once the frenzy has died down. That would be the worst disgrace of all."

I hate to see the players punished for things that were out of their control.  Taking their season away seems to me to reinforce the idea that football isn't there for the athletes; it's there for the coaches and backers and moneyed interests.  Fine the school so it can't profit from the season in any way.  Take all the games off of television.  Those punishments seem to attempt to tame the monster college football has become.  But don't punish the players for the sins of people who were not focusing on their best interests.

Unfortunately and to my absolute disgust, college sports (and sports of all kinds actually) are like a religion in this country. The participants are shielded from the laws of the
"common people" because they are thought of as gods. The money they bring in is astronomical, while our inner cities are crumbling and millions remain homeless.. It is interesting
that this scandal has broken at the same time as the "Occupy Wall Street" movement. As Mario Savio so succinctly put it: "We are part of the big machine".

With so much money behind Sandusky I doubt if he will get more than a slap on the hand ---although he is not guilty until proven so in a court of law....we must wait and see what
his scum-bag Defense Attorney has up his sleeve......and if it weren't all a big "set-up" ---and eyewitness coach was just jealous of Sandusky's success---- (Defense tactic to be sure will be used).

Makes me want to confront Paterno and ask him how he would feel if it were his son or grandson. A very sad commentary on our culture.