Post by d4man on Nov 10, 2011 13:30:24 GMT -5
With everything going on with Paterno and PSU, I am reminded with my fascination of a certain mindset that exists in every segment of our society.
Why do people hang on too long to certain things. We see it in professional sports with an old washed out athlete who cannot let go, we see it in corporate America where the CEO becomes old and ineffective but wants to remain at the helm, we see it in politics where 90 year old congressmen stumble up to their podiums and almost make fools of themselves and we see it in coaching.
The question is, what drives this type of behavior? Is it ego? Is it power? Is it for legacy purposes?
Not to knock Paterno because he made a system which still has the #12 team in the country and in this day and age of the powers going mostly to the south and west that says something. With exception to wrestling, over 60% of all top 25 men's collegiate programs whether it is football, basketball or baseball goes to southern and western schools (warmer climate schools). But everyone knows Paterno doesn't recruit much anymore and his coaching duties are vastly diminished compared to 10+ years ago. He could've stepped down years ago with "honor" and could still be the de facto head of PSU football.
Did he crave the attention and godlike status or was it simply the win record? Either way, it is ego.
Buildings are named after him much like a congressman has buildings and highways named after him and the longer one serves in the congress, the more things their names are attached to. Unlike most politicians who serve too long where all the dirt on them comes out years after they die, Paterno has to live with it now. It is his legacy.
Why did Robert Byrd and Ted Kennedy hang on so long. With the example of Kennedy's ego when it comes to Chappaquiddick, not only did he not step down but actually had the nerve to run for president several years later and people still supported him. Why would Hillary Clinton still consider a run for president, why would John Kerry with his millions and numerous houses around the world continue to serve when most of us normal people would hang it up and enjoy our retirements. Even take Sarah Palin who suffers from the same mindset. Most politicians who lose huge national campaigns do become addicted to their new found fame and try to capitalize on it. Many start their own political action committees or become spokespersons or head think tanks. She took it to an entirely new level we have not seen before. Most of normal people would go back to our old job as govenor of Alaska and perhaps run for the Senate some day, she went into hyperdrive.
The riots that broke out on campus at PSU does not help either and will hurt them in the future in regards to recruiting. No one likes the mob which has happened to the "Occupy" movement. Intially Americans agreed with the premise but do not agree with the methods and goals of the organization. Nothing good comes from a mob. The American Revolution was based on the rule of law and logic, the French Revolution was based on the mob which is why over 200,000 French lost their heads to the Guillotine including most of the founders of their revolution. The Board of Trustees of PSU made the right call firing Paterno and that call was based on logic.
Now people are actually talking about the missing DA from Centre County knew about it.
www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/DA-Who-Never-Charged-Sandusky-Has-Been-Missing-Since-2005-133615093.html
Now I don't think he was offed by the University or anything but it adds to the perception.
The bottom line is Paterno could spend the rest of his life in civil court with lawsuit after lawsuit when he could've done the right thing 10 years ago by turning Sandusky in and stepped down as the coach. One is better to err on the side of caution and to have success with honor than to turn a blind eye to things that are absolutely disgusting to "hold on" longer than you should for your own gain.
One cannot find a more clear example of one's fall from grace and all I can think of is what a shame but he also deserves it.
Why do people hang on too long to certain things. We see it in professional sports with an old washed out athlete who cannot let go, we see it in corporate America where the CEO becomes old and ineffective but wants to remain at the helm, we see it in politics where 90 year old congressmen stumble up to their podiums and almost make fools of themselves and we see it in coaching.
The question is, what drives this type of behavior? Is it ego? Is it power? Is it for legacy purposes?
Not to knock Paterno because he made a system which still has the #12 team in the country and in this day and age of the powers going mostly to the south and west that says something. With exception to wrestling, over 60% of all top 25 men's collegiate programs whether it is football, basketball or baseball goes to southern and western schools (warmer climate schools). But everyone knows Paterno doesn't recruit much anymore and his coaching duties are vastly diminished compared to 10+ years ago. He could've stepped down years ago with "honor" and could still be the de facto head of PSU football.
Did he crave the attention and godlike status or was it simply the win record? Either way, it is ego.
Buildings are named after him much like a congressman has buildings and highways named after him and the longer one serves in the congress, the more things their names are attached to. Unlike most politicians who serve too long where all the dirt on them comes out years after they die, Paterno has to live with it now. It is his legacy.
Why did Robert Byrd and Ted Kennedy hang on so long. With the example of Kennedy's ego when it comes to Chappaquiddick, not only did he not step down but actually had the nerve to run for president several years later and people still supported him. Why would Hillary Clinton still consider a run for president, why would John Kerry with his millions and numerous houses around the world continue to serve when most of us normal people would hang it up and enjoy our retirements. Even take Sarah Palin who suffers from the same mindset. Most politicians who lose huge national campaigns do become addicted to their new found fame and try to capitalize on it. Many start their own political action committees or become spokespersons or head think tanks. She took it to an entirely new level we have not seen before. Most of normal people would go back to our old job as govenor of Alaska and perhaps run for the Senate some day, she went into hyperdrive.
The riots that broke out on campus at PSU does not help either and will hurt them in the future in regards to recruiting. No one likes the mob which has happened to the "Occupy" movement. Intially Americans agreed with the premise but do not agree with the methods and goals of the organization. Nothing good comes from a mob. The American Revolution was based on the rule of law and logic, the French Revolution was based on the mob which is why over 200,000 French lost their heads to the Guillotine including most of the founders of their revolution. The Board of Trustees of PSU made the right call firing Paterno and that call was based on logic.
Now people are actually talking about the missing DA from Centre County knew about it.
www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/DA-Who-Never-Charged-Sandusky-Has-Been-Missing-Since-2005-133615093.html
Now I don't think he was offed by the University or anything but it adds to the perception.
The bottom line is Paterno could spend the rest of his life in civil court with lawsuit after lawsuit when he could've done the right thing 10 years ago by turning Sandusky in and stepped down as the coach. One is better to err on the side of caution and to have success with honor than to turn a blind eye to things that are absolutely disgusting to "hold on" longer than you should for your own gain.
One cannot find a more clear example of one's fall from grace and all I can think of is what a shame but he also deserves it.