Penn State Scandal

[Black Atom]

Actually, I think it's kind of apt. MJ was a man admired for his music and his philanthropic pursuits, and when he was charged, there were many people who refused to believe that he was guilty and continued to support him. When you look at the psychology of the PSU community, it's almost the same exact thing. There was a level a similar level of denial-- conspiracy theories that he was being persecuted, etc. The anger phase did not develop, but those MJ fans were not centralized (or as young and probably drunk) as they were at PSU.

I think people were skeptical about the MJ accusations for credible reasons though: the claims were unproven, the accusers themselves didn't seem credible etc. I could be wrong, but I don't remember there being a great deal of serious indignation about the accusations, even when people rallied at his trial and stuff.

[SUPERECWFAN1]

The problem is not "football culture" at least not exclusively.

Consider the case of Peter Roebuck, cricketer and cricket reproter who committed suicide while under investigation for sexually assaulting a teenager in South Africa,

According to The Guardian:"You don't need to ignore Roebuck's flaws, nor apologise for them. But you don't have to dwell on them either."

Because being a predatory pedophile who preyed on poor kids from a third world country is just "a flaw" like, say, eating with one's mouth open. (Roebuck had previously plead guilty to similar offenses but had plea-bargained them down to avoid prison time.)

Meanwhile Chris Pearson, a man so loathesome he makes his employer Rupert Murdoch look good by comparison, drivels on about how his "good friend" Robuck "made no attempt to conceal the fact there was sometimes a heavily sublimated erotic element in his feelings towards his proteges" but "While his accuser can say whatever he likes, we'll never know what Roebuck thought was happening. It's simplistic and unjust to assume his suicide was a guilty plea to every charge now being made against him."

Right, Chris, maybe those teenagers wanted Roebuck to fuck them.

How the fuck do you remain "good friends" with a man repeatedly convicted of sexual offenses against minors who talks about his erotic feelings towards the boys he continues to associate with?

So, no, there's nothing unique to American football culture about this.

Just like there's nothing unique about the Hollywood culture that makes excuses for Polanski and continues to employ Victor Salva.

I think its more the "shock" Ian , when a long time friend is revealed as that. Its a stunning shock that someone you thought you knew was doing it. I'm not defending Chris Pearson because we have no idea what he is thinking right now or why he'd try and give that defense he did.

But I remember days back when I read on ESPN that Dick Vermeil was a friend of Jerry Sandusky's . That he wrote the foreword to his book. Vermiel was stunned and claimed the Sandusky he knew wasn't this man. That if it was true , then he had a horrible sickness no one knew. It was the ultimate out of left field for him I suppose.

I'm sure its gonna take awhile for Pearson to really let it sink in his friend he thought he knew...was doing horrible things.

[Thundermonkey]

I think its more the "shock" Ian , when a long time friend is revealed as that. Its a stunning shock that someone you thought you knew was doing it. I'm not defending Chris Pearson because we have no idea what he is thinking right now or why he'd try and give that defense he did.

But I remember days back when I read on ESPN that Dick Vermeil was a friend of Jerry Sandusky's . That he wrote the foreword to his book. Vermiel was stunned and claimed the Sandusky he knew wasn't this man. That if it was true , then he had a horrible sickness no one knew. It was the ultimate out of left field for him I suppose.

I'm sure its gonna take awhile for Pearson to really let it sink in his friend he thought he knew...was doing horrible things.

Kind of like Jericho and Benoit?

[FanboyStranger]

I think people were skeptical about the MJ accusations for credible reasons though: the claims were unproven, the accusers themselves didn't seem credible etc. I could be wrong, but I don't remember there being a great deal of serious indignation about the accusations, even when people rallied at his trial and stuff.

In the case of Paterno, there were (still are, actually) people questioning why he was fired when he fulfilled his legal responsibility to report what McQueary had told him to the administrators. Personally, I think he had a moral obligation that he failed in when he did not report these accusations to the police, but there is some doubt whether what Joe did or did not do constitutes a fireable offense in the minds of some people, especially as more information comes out. Remember: we are not talking about the man accused of the molestation (as in the case of MJ), but the man who may have colluded with a cover-up.

Also, let's face it: despite his brilliant music, by the time of the allegations against him, Jackson was already considered a "freak" and basically a social pariah. Those allegations didn't really come as a shock to many people as the rumors and some civil suits had been around for years. Those that continued to support him-- and in the US at least, that support had been waning-- had to overlook or rationalize the allegations against him, his often bizarre behavior, the acrimonious relationships, etc. His triumph in court did not seem like a vindication of his behavior to most people, but another case of a rich guy getting away with something.

Y'know, now that I think about it, I'm going to pull back on comparing those rioters to MJ fans. Those kids were shocked by news that essentially turned their lives upside down in an afternoon; MJ fans had dealt with years of this kind of stuff before he entered a courthouse.

"Billy Jean" is still one of the few songs that can get me dancing at any moment, though.

[Iangould]

I'm sure its gonna take awhile for Pearson to really let it sink in his friend he thought he knew...was doing horrible things.

Roebuck was convicted of assaulting three boys back in 2000, I'd say 10 years is long enough for it to sink in

[SUPERECWFAN1]

Kind of like Jericho and Benoit?

Pretty much , I can sense the sadness that Jericho had with that. Benoit was what he thought was a good man. But inside he had started to suffer from early dementia and was losing his mind. No one knew.

In the case of Paterno, there were (still are, actually) people questioning why he was fired when he fulfilled his legal responsibility to report what McQueary had told him to the administrators. Personally, I think he had a moral obligation that he failed in when he did not report these accusations to the police, but there is some doubt whether what Joe did or did not do constitutes a fireable offense in the minds of some people, especially as more information comes out. Remember: we are not talking about the man accused of the molestation (as in the case of MJ), but the man who may have colluded with a cover-up.
.

Well as far as ex-players go , so far the only one standing up for Paterno is Franco Harris right now. I wonder if any other ex-players are silently standing by him right now ? Franco has went public with it and even lost an endorsement over that support from what I read.

Roebuck was convicted of assaulting three boys back in 2000, I'd say 10 years is long enough for it to sink in

Ok I never knew this. I just knew the guy killed himself when these sexual allegations came up now.

[FanboyStranger]

Well as far as ex-players go , so far the only one standing up for Paterno is Franco Harris right now. I wonder if any other ex-players are silently standing by him right now ? Franco has went public with it and even lost an endorsement over that support from what I read.

There's been a few, but Harris has been the most outspoken. And public, since he lost his job at a casino. There's probably a wrongful termination suit coming there.

[Royal]

Who knew 20 drunken idiots tipping over a van equaled a riot.

[RolandJP]

Who knew 20 drunken idiots tipping over a van equaled a riot.

Either you are a lawyer or...


But anyways.
ri·ot/ˈrīət/
Noun:
A violent disturbance of the peace by a crowd:


Zombietown must have a far more stringent definition of the word.


http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/nati...e-paterno.html



LOL 20 DRUNKS LOL

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vXHxbCgg3o


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yv87R...eature=related


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ic9g...eature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kaHR9...eature=related

[shades of eternity]

Jello's two cents

[RolandJP]

Jello's two cents

Bill Cosby does not endorse this Jello.

[shades of eternity]

Bill Cosby does not endorse this Jello.

...but there's always room for Jello :P

[FanboyStranger]

For the interest of balance, it should be noted that the media all but ignored the better attended candle light vigil for the victims that took place in lieu of a pep rally the Friday night before the Nebraska game. Riots sell advertising better, I guess.

[DonC]

I saw the vigil reported on in a couple of places. My local news in Cleveland had it on the 11 o'clock news and I think it was on ESPN the next day.

[SUPERECWFAN1]

I also heard on the news about the fund that Penn State set up there. Which was a nice thing to see.