SOMETIMES WE'RE NOT GONNA SEE EYE-TO-EYE

SOMETIMES WE'RE NOT GONNA SEE EYE-TO-EYE
Not that there's anything wrong with that.

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

A LEGACY TARNISHED


‘All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing’

A Painful Reflection



The outrage is far reaching.  The accusations are beyond shocking on a number of fronts.

Joe Paterno, a legendary coach who for decades has stood as a symbol of leadership for all things right in collegiate athletics, will see his career come to an end because he stood by and didn't do enough.

After Paterno reported a heinous act against a child up the chain of command, Penn State officials engaged in a cover up so despicable that it may haunt the university for years to come.

The winningest coach in college football history says he will resign at the end of the season.  With a huge home game looming on the Saturday schedule against No. 17 Nebraska, making that call should no longer be in Paterno's hands.  The University Board of Trustees needs to call an audible and tell Paterno, even at age 84, there is a lesson to be learned here.

In 2002, Paterno made the mistake of putting the football program and friendship first.  He should have immediately been concerned about a then 10-year old boy labeled by a Pennsylvania grand jury as "Boy known as Victim 6."  Subsequently, it has come to light that former defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky would be linked with "Boy known as Victim... 4... 5... 6... 7... 8...".

If Paterno is allowed to coach this Saturday, what should be the fate of Mike McQueary, the Nittany Lions' wide receivers coach and recruiting coordinator?  He was the once unnamed graduate assistant who witnessed Sandusky having anal sex with a pre-teen boy at the school's Lasch Football Building in 2002.  McQueary, 28 years old at the time, 6-5, over 230 pounds, didn't rush to the young boy's defense.  When he found a phone, he didn't dial 9-1-1.  He dialed his dad.  The next day, he told Paterno.  Eight years later, McQueary testified in front of a grand jury.  Eight years!

Why so long?  For that answer, the moral and ethical barometer falls squarely on the shoulders of former Athletic Director Tim Curley, former Senior Vice President for Finance and Business Gary Schultz, and current (as of this writing) President Graham Spanier.  Their 'handling' of the matter was banning Sandusky from bringing children to campus.  In other words, not on our campus.  He was still allowed, however, to maintain an office on campus.  The incident was never reported to police.

And why was Sandusky bringing kids to campus?  In 1977 he founded The Second Mile organization.  It started as a group foster home dedicated to assisting troubled boys.  It grew into a charity that helped kids with absent or dysfunctional families.  

Long before McQueary saw the unthinkable, there was trouble with children.  In 1998 it was reported Sandusky was taking showers with boys from the foster home.  The cases were brought to the attention of university police and the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare.  When questioned, Sandusky   admitted he had done wrong.  The cases were never brought to justice.

In 1999 Sandusky retired from Penn State but held emeritus status.  The alleged incidents didn't stop though.

In what should be the celebratory closing to an amazing career, Paterno has been hounded by the news media and surrounded by a student body, many of whom shout his name with unabashed support.

In speaking the other day, Paterno was correct in saying that at this time, all thoughts and prayers should be directed to the victims.  They are the one's that matter and finding ways to prevent something like this from ever happening again should be examined everywhere in which young people are the focus.

When I worked in Washington, DC, I had to cover my first pedophile case.  The year was 1994.  I will never forget it.  A six-year old Maryland boy was taken from his home while he slept at night.  He was eventually dropped off and found wandering around a cemetery, naked and alone.  Somehow, that six-year old kid found the courage to take the witness stand, describe the horrible things done to him and point out his attacker.  By the time he was done testifying, there wasn't a dry eye in the jury, which was made up of grandfathers and grandmothers.

I often wonder how that boy is doing as a young man today.  

I hope as fans cheer on Penn State Saturday, they take the time to wonder how Victim... 4... 5... 6... 7... 8 and so forth are doing.

Thursday, April 7, 2011

THE MASTERS, THE APPLE OF MY EYE



Heaven on Earth
It's day one of the famed Masters tournament and I'm up early - waiting!

Augusta National is America's version of royalty and we can't seem to get enough - only in my humble opinion - we aren't getting enough.  In this respect, the Masters has a lot in common with another pet peeve, Apple.  The makers of things we crave - iPhone, iPad, iMac, iPod.  Marketing geniuses, Apple reigns supreme in creating buzz about its products.  Make it exclusive, give 'em a taste, create an industry.

I'm watching the Golf Channel, which is reporting live from Augusta, but I'm left with lots of chatter and shots from the putting green.  Hey, I'm starving so anything is satisfying.  I had to wait until 10:45 AM to start seeing live coverage, not on television, but on the web!  The TV coverage doesn't begin until 3 PM Eastern!  If you have DirecTV, you then have the opportunity to watch the action unfold on several screens, covering multiple holes.  Sure would have been nice, however, to see Retief Goosen eagle No.1 live!

The demand is certainly there so why make the lovers of this event wait?  Sure, I could have leveraged my assets and bought a ticket, get a hotel room and flown to be there in person, but I figure if it's already a packed house, why not feed the masses?  Having covered a Ryder Cup & U.S. Open at Oakland Hills Country Club, I personally prefer watching golf on television more.  I get more out if that way.  I can follow the action better, not be restricted to a pairing or two, and the bathroom is reserved for my use.  Plus, when I hear "YOU DA MAN" shouted, chances are it's my wife.  Okay, granted, that's an exaggeration.

Ian Poulter tweeting from Augusta
In this technological, social networking age, it's nice to get Twitter updates from the likes of Ian Poulter.  He just tweeted: "In my Masters Thursday outfit just on my way. buzzing"  (10:11 AM).  Here's the accompanying picture he posted.

I suppose I should be thankful for what I get because it wasn't that long ago that Augusta National eased coverage restrictions.  We didn't used to see live action from the front nine at all.  Still, forgive me for wanting wall-to-wall coverage.  There's just something about Augusta that makes a grown man salivate.  My golfing friends admit we'd pay a grand just to play a round there.  When you consider that my wife would gladly fork over the same amount to get a pair of  Christian Louboutin shoes, I don't feel bad at all.

Oh, well, let me go check the leaderboard online.

Thursday, March 31, 2011

TOOTHLESS TIGER

BUILDING A BETTER TIGER?


Over 400 days and counting.

Tiger Woods' winless streak has become a black hole of futility, sucking in more greatness at each tour stop.  Instead of laser accurate iron shots into the green, we're now left with "average".  For all the body of work we've witnessed of this golfing legend, "average" was a label that didn't fit.  It's now become part of his tournament experience.

RICKIE "ORANGE CRUSH" FOWLER
Even at courses he's dominated in the past, Woods now struggles for consistency.  You'd like to believe him when he extols that his game is coming around.  But, the leaderboard don't lie.  Much like Austin Powers, Tiger has lost his "Mojo".  He desperately needs a win to get his swagger back and no better stage to accomplish that than at Augusta National next week.

I know golf has somewhat lost it's luster when my wife pauses at the television and asks, "Oh, my, who is that wearing an orange outfit?"  For the record, it's Rickie Fowler, one of golf's young, free swinging talents.

The PGA doesn't like to admit it, but it's a better golfing world when Tiger Woods is on top of his game.  Tiger in the hunt on a Sunday is TV ratings gold.  Parity is a wonderful thing and there are a number of young talented golfers making an ascent, but a rotating champion structure week after week isn't a ratings bonanza.  Baddeley, Laird, Barnes, Mahan, Johnson - all nice pieces - just not show stopping material yet.  The NBA needs the Lakers & Celtics, MLB the Yankees & Red Sox, the NFL the Patriots & Colts.  Teams with marquee talent or storied pasts.

Though he was not in contention during the final round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational, Woods played host to the largest gallery.  Tiger at your event translates into bigger profits.  Quietly, a number of Tour professionals are rooting for Tiger to exorcise his demons.  For the good of the sport, he needs to start winning again.  Lately, though, it looks like Tiger needs to re-fit his bag with game improvement clubs.  And he's experimenting.  NBC golf analyst Johnnie Miller let the cat out of the bag at Bay Hill by revealing Woods was playing with new irons.  Add that to the lack of confidence he's exhibited in his Scotty Cameron putter, in rotation, out of rotation.

Who is this guy?

Tiger's swing wasn't broke once before when he tinkered with it and came out shooting dart golf.  He was younger then, seemingly untouchable, his world intact.  He's in his 30's now, totally exposed, a divorced father of two, and much like Humpty Dumpty, trying to put the pieces back together again.

It's as if Woods is trying to remake himself.  Determined to prove to the world he's a born again golfer.  What he has to come to terms with is, what's done is done.  He's absorbed all the punches and shots naysayers have thrown his way.  Yes, it was embarrassing and incredibly stupid.  It's now time to stand up and be counted again.  If the golfing public loved Woods before, they'll love him again, perhaps even more so because he's proven to be human.

You can't be all things to all people.  Granted on numerous levels, Tiger has to evolve, but he should also look in the rear view mirror to remember what made him a dominating force on the golf course.  If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Go out and play with all the freedom and confidence
of a champion many times over.


SEARCHING FOR GREATNESS AGAIN

Thursday, February 10, 2011

THE SOUNDS OF SILENCE ... JERRY SLOAN STEPS DOWN



Enough Is Enough


"Hello darkness my old friend, I've to come talk with you again."

Jerry Sloan is old enough to appreciate the finer things in life.  For a man who never backed down from a basketball court challenge in his life, not from Rick Barry, not from Pete Maravich, not from Oscar Robertson, Sloan was smart enough to recognize when it's time to leave with your dignity in tact.  After 23 years of coaching and more than 1,200 wins, Sloan walked away from the Utah Jazz, escaping an avalanche of discontent.

A Hall of Famer, it's ironic that Sloan reached his boiling point while coaching against the Chicago Bulls, the team he earned his hard-nosed reputation with as a backcourt bookend alongside Norm Van Lier.  At halftime of Wednesday's game, Sloan and point guard Deron Williams' rocky relationship reportedly hit the point of no return.  Sloan, upset that Williams ran a different play than he called for from the bench, blew a gasket in the lockeroom.  The old Jerry Sloan would have probably opted to settle the matter with his fists, but this is the kinder, gentler NBA.  The Williams-Sloan relationship has been percolating for quite some time.


    "Fools" said I, "You do not know, Silence like a cancer grows. 
Hear my words that I might teach you, Take my arms that I might reach you."
But my words like silent raindrops fell,
And echoed, In the wells of silence ."


There's no question Williams has got serious game.  He's certainly in the discussion of the top five point guards in the league, but has he earned the status to force a legend like Sloan out the door,  three days after Sloan signed a one-year extension?  Williams becomes a free agent in 2012 and sources indicated he was leaning toward bolting if Sloan wasn't gone.  Seems the Jazz players banded together and decided Sloan didn't know who they were anymore, the familiar chant of  "lost the team" being thrown around better than his "flex" offense was being run.

Despite losing some key components from last year's squad, the Jazz, as of this writing, are 31-23 and second in the Northwest.  When Sloan realized ownership was listening more to the inmates than the warden, it was time to take his last charging call.

Replacing Sloan, for at least the remainder of the season, will be assistant Tyrone Corbin.  I hope Williams is pleased because if memory serves me right, Sloan achieved a measure of success with a little point guard named John Stockton.  Oh, yeah, he's in the Hall of Fame too.


"And the people bowed and prayed, To the neon god they made.
And the sign flashed out its warning, In the words that it was forming.
And the sign said, "The words of the prophets are written on the subway walls
And tenement halls." and whisper'd in the sounds of silence."