Sandusky Trial

[Palehorse]

But that the same as the other 'victim' testimony, an emotional plea lacking in hard physical evidence.

The other thing I didn't mention, but IIRC Sandusky's attorney may have touched on it, is money.  There's going to be some big bucks handed out to anyone claiming to be a victim here, another instance of the 'lawsuit lottery', and no small motivation for being, or becoming, one of the 'victims'...and that's not to disparage any real victims should they exist.

The kid has no dog in the hunt, as it were. He's legally adopted and entitled to whatever the hyenas don't get anyway. (And ol' Jerry's umbrella policy probably ain't big enough to cover the ramifications of his down low life-style).

[Locutus]

Looks like some people who don't want Paterno's statue around anymore in light of the Freeh report are threatening to take matters into their own hands. 

[Locutus]

BTW, for anyone who hasn't read the whole Freeh report, but would like to, you can find it here:

Link to report

[Locutus]

Anyone have any thoughts about the hubris of the Paterno family in stating that they're hiring their own team to do an investigation of the events?

[Anne]

I can understand it, you never want to think of your husband or father doing what the report says he did.

[Locutus]

I can understand it, you never want to think of your husband or father doing what the report says he did.

I think it exemplifies the same kind of hubris and "personal entitlement" attitude that allowed a monster to prey on children unhindered for so many years. 

[The Troll]

I think it exemplifies the same kind of hubris and "personal entitlement" attitude that allowed a monster to prey on children unhindered for so many years.

   I don't think that they should take football away from Penn State.  What about the football players, the students.  I think they should take the profit from football from Penn State and use it for something good.   Why hurt the many for the sins of a few.   

[Henry Hawk]

Anyone have any thoughts about the hubris of the Paterno family in stating that they're hiring their own team to do an investigation of the events?

Unless they can come up with some evidence that Joe was oblivious to what was going on....I think it is just a sad situation.  Joe was a legend, but it appears that he used some very, very bad judgement, and is going to have to live (and die) with it.  Penn St needs to do make some serious changes around there, and fight through this.  Winning is the best way to move on.

[Palehorse]

BTW, for anyone who hasn't read the whole Freeh report, but would like to, you can find it here:

Link to report

Joe Paterno was, from all appearances, coasting through the rest of his tenure as Penn State's Coach. He likely knew that Sandusky was poring little boys and didn't want to risk his tenure and retirement in order to expose it. He was waiting on someone else to do so. (Wrongfully)

The rest of them knew damned good and well what Sandusky was doing, and as the report states they enabled his deviant behavior by doing basically nothing except worrying about how the scandal would negatively impact Penn State and their respective positions.

Paterno is dead, so why not let him rest in peace? The university has already stated they would honor his contract. (Although in light of the situation that could actually be an attempt to shut up the Paterno Family and let the issue die with him).

The hubris being displayed by the Paterno family, as well as Penn State leadership, is likely an attempt to "make this go away". Unless the rest of these jackwagons are held accountable for their enabling of Sandusky's behaviors, and lethargic approach toward their duty and responsibilities under the law, that is exactly what is going to happen. 

MLB ousted Pete Rose over some gambling habits for life. Shouldn't all involved in the rape and abuse of little boys be subjected to worse?

[followsthewolf]

I couldn't give a rat's ass if Paterno won every single football game he coached -- that does not justify his incredibly cold-hearted, crass, bullshit way he bought his "out" over the sexual abuse of those children. Even if it were only ONE child, the deal would NEVER have been justified.

He proposed it. Let his legacy live with that.

Every trace of Paterno should be erased from Penn State, with the exception of an enormous plaque, apologizing for the travesty committed on and off the campus by a trusted employee and the appalling, sickening cover-up that has followed.

[Locutus]

I couldn't give a rat's ass if Paterno won every single football game he coached -- that does not justify his incredibly cold-hearted, crass, bullshit way he bought his "out" over the sexual abuse of those children. Even if it were only ONE child, the deal would NEVER have been justified.

He proposed it. Let his legacy live with that.

Every trace of Paterno should be erased from Penn State, with the exception of an enormous plaque, apologizing for the travesty committed on and off the campus by a trusted employee and the appalling, sickening cover-up that has followed.

VERY well said. 

[Henry Hawk]

I couldn't give a rat's ass if Paterno won every single football game he coached -- that does not justify his incredibly cold-hearted, crass, bullshit way he bought his "out" over the sexual abuse of those children. Even if it were only ONE child, the deal would NEVER have been justified.

He proposed it. Let his legacy live with that.

Every trace of Paterno should be erased from Penn State, with the exception of an enormous plaque, apologizing for the travesty committed on and off the campus by a trusted employee and the appalling, sickening cover-up that has followed.

Yeah, that is the bottom line FTW.... How he could close his eyes to such a travesty is beyond any logical thinking person.  It is still a shame, because he had such a loyal following, who trusted him....and he let everyone down, and some small children paid the price for it.

[libby]

I couldn't give a rat's ass if Paterno won every single football game he coached -- that does not justify his incredibly cold-hearted, crass, bullshit way he bought his "out" over the sexual abuse of those children. Even if it were only ONE child, the deal would NEVER have been justified.

He proposed it. Let his legacy live with that.

Every trace of Paterno should be erased from Penn State, with the exception of an enormous plaque, apologizing for the travesty committed on and off the campus by a trusted employee and the appalling, sickening cover-up that has followed.

Very well said, Wolf!

[Y]

Have any of you read the report?

As I've stated previously on this subject, regardless of Sandusky's actual innocence or guilt, the trial, and now this report, are a farce, and I don't think any of you would want the wheels of 'justice' to grind towards yourselves in that manner.

Let me explain the Grand Jury workings to you.  The prosecutor uses a Grand Jury when s/he doesn't have the evidence to charge the defendant straight out, so s/he attempts to present a case that the folks serving on the Grand Jury should vote for an indictment.

As I pointed out before, there was no concrete evidence of any victims of sexual abuse.  The LEO's investigating the complaints found no evidence and the prosecutor brought no charges.  From there, no one had any legal obligations to do anything.  Now I think the school was foolish in not taking precautionary measures and moving Sandusky on down the road just to prevent any possible liability issues, but I understand with no evidence and no charges they decided not to put an end to Sandusky's career.

I've stated that the trial verdict was a verdict based on emotion and not on hard evidence.  The report takes that misguided verdict and leaps to all sorts of unfounded conclusions.  That report is nothing but GIGO - garbage in, garbage out.

The report, the trial, and everything else isn't about justice, it's about scapegoating - and not even about scapegoating the right parties.  The parties that need to be looked at are the LEO's and the prosecutor involved in the original investigation.  They either had it right and there was no evidence of sexual abuse, or they conspired to avoid sullying the school's name and athletic program.

If they had it right, then this entire fiasco is a travesty of our judicial system - regardless of Sandusky's actual guilt or innocence of any sexual abuse.  If we're to pride ourselves on our adherence to the rule of law, then we have to make it work regardless of how much a monster the public thinks the defendant is.

[Henry Hawk]

Y, as you know I respect you, but I think you are getting to philosophical here.  I think there is MORE than enough evidence to KNOW that Sandusky "crossed the line".  I agree our system is far from perfect, and many times it is flat out wrong.  I think OJ is a great example of how our system failed.  There was MORE than enough evidence to prove his guilt, but our system allowed most of the concrete evidence to not be  used.  THERE WAS 45 charges of sexually abusing young boys! forty five!  And three more have come out today saying THEY were abused back in the late 70's.