Death Penalty for Penn State?

Throwing you a bender because I just thought you should know...

A general outcry that I have read and heard often lately is for the Penn State football program to be issued the "death penalty" by the NCAA.

The statue of Joe Paterno should be removed, the football program ended and even the stadium razed and replaced by a memorial to victims. Based on some of the comments regarding what should happen to Jerry Sandusky, the aforementioned ideas are some of the more calm responses to the current events in Happy Valley.

People are upset, and rightfully so. They want justice for the victims, they want to further punish a man who has passed on. They want the NCAA to act and to put the Penn State football program out of business. All this outrage is perfectly understandable, deserving and justified. Delivering the death penalty to Nittany Lion football is not.

We have seen many programs punished recently for violations of NCAA laws. The reasons and transgressions have varied and ranged all the way to including free tattoos.  In 1987, the NCAA canceled the entire season for SMU based on their multiple violations and slush fund for buying players. So based on the wide variety of scandals and punishments handed out by the NCAA, how can it let Penn State get away with its crime? When you take away a bowl game appearance for inking body parts at no charge, what does child rape warrant?

In essence, there are not any NCAA violations here. There is not a violation on the NCAA books for raping a child or molesting a youngster as it is already assumed that the criminal law and the presence of any sense in a human being would already cover the situation.

Many voices are saying the NCAA can act based on the bylaw of "lack of institutional control." This is most definitely NOT a violation of "lack of institutional control." It is the ultimate application of "complete institutional control" as they (the football powers that be and university executives), were able to "control" the situation for as long as they did.

Thank goodness this is uncharted territory. Would NCAA sanctions really rectify acts so obscene? It just seems people are calling for something, anything, to be done. But isn't this much larger than the NCAA and the capabilities it has to address this situation? Angry people want the program destroyed, but hasn't that already taken place?

The cover-up has now been exposed. The president of a large, prestigious university has been fired. The head football coach was fired and an extremely significant legacy is destroyed. The administrators who allegedly helped and participated in the cover-up are now facing time in jail. Jerry Sandusky is convicted and likely spending his remaining days in prison. The name Penn State is spoken with disgust and the upcoming law suits may result in untold millions being paid out to victims.

Penn State is now in a position to face punishment of historic levels even without the NCAA becoming involved. The concept of NCAA sanctions being administered to punish and deter are trivial in this matter. Prison time, millions of dollars in settlements and a ruined reputation are slightly more severe than being restricted from playing for a conference trophy and not going to the Beef 'O' Bradys Bowl next December.

This university is guilty of having a football culture that can create circumstances that allow these acts to happen. Just as it happens in society daily, it apparently will happen within these programs. But that does not justify the death penalty. If the football program creates followings and feelings within itself that cause members to become so immersed as to rationalize away such acts, then law enforcement needs to step in.

If blind loyalty, coach worshiping, and having boosters heap giant sums of money upon their universities and teams is a reason to shut down a program, then Tallahassee, Columbus, Lincoln, and a few other places may be in trouble too. No, Penn State needs more severe punishment than the NCAA is capable of administering and they have received some of it already. I suspect plenty more is coming.

So is the death penalty for Penn State football the way to make a statement, please the angry crowds, and punish the participants in this scandal? Maybe, but I wouldn't call it justice....and the victims may not either.

All this because I know more about nothing...

The Last # 42?

Throwing you a bender because I just thought you should know...

In 1997, baseball universally retired the number 42 throughout the major and minor leagues in honor of Jackie Robinson. The grandfather clause was implemented allowing current and active personnel wearing 42 to continue to do so until their retirement.

Pedro Martinez, Jose Lima and Mo Vaughn were a few of the final players to wear 42. In fact, Mo Vaughn was the last player to wear that number for three different clubs, the Red Sox, Angels and Mets.

Mariano Rivera of the Yankees is the last active major league player wearing 42 and he is out for the year with an injury. If he returns for next season, the clause will allow him to continue. If Rivera decides to retire instead, is that it for the number 42?

It turns out there is one other active person wearing 42 in professional baseball. Art Silber, owner of the Potomac Nationals (minor league affiliate for the Washington club) is also the first base coach. He is in his 23rd season and has announced he is retiring from coaching.

Silber grew up in Brooklyn and attended Jackie Robinson's first game on April 15, 1947. He used to wait for Robinson on a street corner from 1947 until the mid 50's just so he could walk and talk with the great Dodger. As Brooklyn was a melting pot in the late 40's, Jackie Robinson was an inspiration for many in the borough. With minorities, returning war soldiers, those still recovering from the Depression and those affected by the Holocaust, Robinson became a symbol of excellence and perseverance.

Silber wore the number 42 so he could continue to spread the message and relay the story to all those he contacted. Little Leaguers, new players to the Nationals, and fans were all lucky enough to hear the stories and receive the message from a baseball man who was there at the beginning.

But Silber is a proud man and very aware of baseball history along with being respectful of others. He has stated he would never back into the title of being the last baseball professional to wear 42. So based on Mariano Rivera being hurt and uncertain about playing again, Silber declared he has coached his last game and will hang his 42 uniform up for good.

So out of respect for Rivera, Silber ends an era as the last minor league baseball person wearing the number 42...but he will continue to communicate who Robinson was and what he did.

All this because I know more about nothing...