LEAVING ON A LOW NOTE
Joe Paterno, who passed away today at 85, had, for 60 years, (1950-2010), 46 as Penn State's head football coach, one of the most successful and storied careers of any American public figure. Unfortunately, his career lasted 61 years and his last represents one of the swiftest and steepest career declines ever.
Revered with an almost cult like zeal at Penn State and in college football circles, JoePa, as he was affectionately called, has a life size statue gracing the Penn State campus. He made millions in salaries, bonuses and endorsements, and won every major award possible in his field of endeavor.
In coaching year sixty-one, JoePa was sacked, not by a defensive blitz, but by the Penn State Board of Trustees. Clinging to his job long after health and judgment failed him, he was summarily fired in the wake of the Jerry Sandusky sexual abuse scandal. The nation reacted in horror at revelations that the "win at all cost" mentality that infects college sports, and indeed, our American culture, went so far as to excuse and even enable years of serial youth sexual abuse by a cog in the Penn State winning and money machine.
Paterno's sad and pathetic end reminds me of the Seinfeld episode devoting to the theme of leaving on a high note. In it, the Seinfeld characters all grapple with the dilemma of when to leave life's stage once you got what you wanted; in Jerry's case, telling your best joke. George, as one might expect, kept pushing after achieving his goal, and wound up losing all.
Alas, so did JoePa.
Also published in the Chicago Tribune, January 25, 2012
Revered with an almost cult like zeal at Penn State and in college football circles, JoePa, as he was affectionately called, has a life size statue gracing the Penn State campus. He made millions in salaries, bonuses and endorsements, and won every major award possible in his field of endeavor.
In coaching year sixty-one, JoePa was sacked, not by a defensive blitz, but by the Penn State Board of Trustees. Clinging to his job long after health and judgment failed him, he was summarily fired in the wake of the Jerry Sandusky sexual abuse scandal. The nation reacted in horror at revelations that the "win at all cost" mentality that infects college sports, and indeed, our American culture, went so far as to excuse and even enable years of serial youth sexual abuse by a cog in the Penn State winning and money machine.
Paterno's sad and pathetic end reminds me of the Seinfeld episode devoting to the theme of leaving on a high note. In it, the Seinfeld characters all grapple with the dilemma of when to leave life's stage once you got what you wanted; in Jerry's case, telling your best joke. George, as one might expect, kept pushing after achieving his goal, and wound up losing all.
Alas, so did JoePa.
Also published in the Chicago Tribune, January 25, 2012
posted by Walt Zlotow at 9:56 PM
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