Worshipping the inflated calf
Nov 10, 2011, 8:40 AM | Updated: 8:52 am
Listen to Dave Ross Commentary: Worshipping the inflated calf
When the Board of Trustees fired coach Joe Paterno, I would have expected maybe sadness. Maybe a candlelight vigil — but a riot?
“They were just going crazy climbing poles, knocking over poles, throwing fruit, anything they can get their hands on, beer bottles,” said one report.
>>See photos: Rally turns violent
What were his supporters thinking?
They’re thinking, yes a few kids were molested, yes, one was raped right there in the athletic building and the coach didn’t call the cops — but he’s Joe Paterno! He’s a legend.
We’ve seen this before: This is another institution that was too big to fail, and the people who ran it got arrogant and started forgetting their own fine words.
It was Joe Paterno who said:
“Success without honor is an unseasoned dish; it will satisfy your hunger, but it won’t taste good.”
“Publicity is like poison; it doesn’t hurt unless you swallow it.”
“The minute you think you’ve got it made, disaster is just around the corner.”
He’s right. But how hard it is to live by your own words when it might jeopardize how you earn your living, or WORSE — disappoint a stadium full of worshippers.
It sounds pretty rude, the way Joe Paterno was fired after so many years.
And yet – if only the Catholic church has been that rude with a few clueless bishops. If only the banks had been that rude with a few clueless CEOs.
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