Letters: Joe Paterno and the Penn State scandal

So, Joe Paterno enjoys the all-time college football coaching win record. My question to JoePa: Was it worth it?

Konrad Moore

Bakersfield

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Joe Paterno said, “With the benefit of hindsight, I would have done more.” Joe, with the benefit of hindsight, I would be a gazillionaire.

This is about doing the right thing, the moral thing in the moment. Paterno passed. See no evil, speak no evil. Pass the buck down the road and let someone else deal with it. Joe Paterno is a silent partner to Jerry Sandusky’s horror. There are going to be civil lawsuits and Penn State will suffer the shame for their beloved coach’s lack of moral character and failure to act.

Paul L. Hovsepian

Sierra Madre

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During a heralded career at Penn State, Joe Paterno made countless decisions on the gridiron that were successful. Running a clean program, he was the standard by which college coaches were measured. When faced, however, with perhaps the most important decision of his career, his moral compass deserted him, and he failed miserably. So long, Joe.

Bud Chapman

Northridge

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After reading Bill Plaschke’s column on the devastating scandal that has rocked Penn State and brought down Joe Paterno, one would think he was talking about the end of a vicious regime and a dictator that has reigned for 46 years terrorizing Happy Valley.

The only phony is Plaschke — so smug, so morally righteous, able to gleefully pass judgment on a man who gave his life to Penn State and to his players.

Does Plaschke really need to be reminded this is a complicated story? The whole scandal is shedding light on the darkness of humanity. It’s about an individual who would commit heinous acts such as Jerry Sandusky, (remember him, the man who is actually accused?) and those who would enable him, fooled or not, and now face haunting regrets.

But Plaschke takes the easy road, piling on and inciting mob justice. What a missed opportunity to offer a nuanced opinion that analyzes the contradiction of a good man who did not act and the terrible, heartbreaking consequences (for the victims).

Charles Norton

Long Beach

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To use a football term, Bill Plaschke was guilty of “piling on” when it comes to Joe Paterno. To intimate that he created a culture that encouraged child abuse is over the top, even for Bill. Let the justice system punish the guilty and let Penn State move on with stronger leadership, while not forgetting all the positive aspects of Joe’s 46 years of coaching.

Ken Blake

Brea

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Bill Plaschke’s harsh, unforgiving assessment of Joe Paterno, a man that epitomized what a college coach should be like, was way over the top. Not that the Board of Trustees should not have fired Paterno, but Plaschke makes JoePa as culpable as the child molester. Paterno deserves better. Forty-six years of an unblemished career should count for something.

Tom Turner

Dana Point

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Unlike the media and our own Bill Plaschke, I want to focus on what we know for sure. The positive impact that Joe Paterno has had on thousands of individuals, college football and the country should not be diminished by the sickness of one man. In an interesting turn of perspective, Joe Paterno knows more than ever how much he is loved. Kudos to those students and fans that stand by him.

Ted Bartscherer

Pasadena

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The media needs to understand something. Joe Paterno did not assault anyone. Yes, on hindsight, he should have done more. But who is to know how much he did know? The whole thing may have been too massive for him to properly digest; after all, his entire life and focus is football. He’s 84! What does JoePa know about perversion? Dear media hacks, especially on radio, go after the real bad guy, even if he is less newsworthy.

Dan Jensen

San Clemente

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If the people demonstrating in favor of Joe Paterno ever spoke to a victim of sexual molestation, they would think twice about their actions. The effects of molestation are lifelong for the victims. Because he did not pursue reporting Jerry Sandusky to the police, there are probably many victims suffering in silence. Joe Paterno does not deserve to be idolized.

Marie Pietrasanta

Encino

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The scandal unfolding at Penn State seems to cry out for an NCAA investigation to learn if there has been a “lack of institutional control” in their athletic department.

But alas, apparently the farcical NCAA only considers a university’s athletic department to evince a “lack of institutional control” if they do not wiretap their athletes’ parents’ phone to discover that the parents are associating with an ex-convict “agent” who wants to represent their son.

Howard P. Cohen

North Hills

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In Bill Plaschke’s moral universe, that champion of promiscuity, Magic Johnson is a hero and Joe Paterno is a bum. The world agrees with you, Bill. A confederacy of dunces, indeed.

Jim Easton

Fallbrook

1-2 punch

Because Chris Dufresne is such an addict of mindless, big point totals, could he be switched from covering college football to covering the NBA? Oh, they aren’t playing. Even better.

College football, like its bloated, “empty-calorie” counterpart, the NBA, has redesigned itself to accentuate scoring in order to appeal to those, like Mr. Dufresne, who, rather than focus on strategy, or the finer points of defensive play, get intoxicated by the pingpong interaction of their eyeballs and the electronic scoreboard. Think of the hedge fund wizards and Wall Street’s “big board,” and remember the gloriously gratifying payoff for all of us that was.

No wonder he staged such a hissy-fit over the recent World Series, and baseball in general. Too much thinking involved, apparently.

Michael Jenning

Van Nuys

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I watched No.1 LSU beat No. 2 Alabama, three field goals to two. The winner of this game does not deserve the No. 1 ranking, nor does the loser deserve the No. 3 ranking. But that is what happened in a transparent attempt to ensure a repeat of this abomination at the BCS championship. It is an affront to college football, especially the teams that remain undefeated.

Why doesn’t the NCAA designate a new Division 0 containing only the “chosen ones?” That way they would be sure to permanently keep the others away from the BCS championship.

Edward Albeg

Huntington Beach

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I never would have thought a game pitting the No. 1 and No. 2 college football teams would make me long for the excitement of soccer. The Alabama-LSU game was so boring even my brother-in-law — who is a USC alum — demanded that we switch the TV to the UCLA game; I’m glad I obliged him.

Ken Feldman

Los Angeles

Unsettled

Here is a fan’s offer to the players and owners for the basketball-related income split.

48% players

48% owners

2% retired players fund

1% to stadium workers, (I love the hot dog ladies at Staples Center)

1% back to the fans to reduce those overpriced tickets.

Some advice for both sides of this greed driven negotiation, actions always speak louder than words. Simply put, No Games = No Fans = No Money.

Billy Luffman

Santa Clarita

Magic

Michael Jordan has six NBA title rings. Magic has five, but has saved thousands of lives because of his personal courage and tireless work with, and for, the AIDS community.

Michael could have a million rings: Magic still wins.

Eugene Sison

San Dimas

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Magic Johnson was the consummate team player during his Lakers career doing “magical” things not reflected in the box score. On the court he led his team to championships elevating the performance level of his teammates; off the court he has elevated the lives of others. Through his honesty and courage he has given strength to those with HIV and other serious health issues. Civic minded, he never left the community, providing employment to a generation of youth, starting businesses where few would venture. Magic has my vote as L.A.’s greatest sports figure and citizen.

Paul Shubunka Sr.

Santa Clarita

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Mr. Plaschke, did you forget about the 9/11 terrorist attacks, or does it take hundreds of deaths to outreach your sadness at the announcement by Magic Johnson that he was HIV-positive? The rest of your article pointed up his fine character, and the good he has done since his retirement. I wonder, however, if he could possibly be proud of your comparison of his illness to truly devastating events. As they say in journalism — perspective, perspective, perspective.

Joan Evans

Northridge

RIP Joe

Sadly, Joe Frazier died probably never knowing why Muhammad Ali was so relentless in taunting him. Frazier never deserved any of it. Still, he forgave Ali long after the damage was done. If there was one moment of retribution, it was in the “Thrilla in Manilla,” during a clinch when an exhausted Ali said to Frazier, “They told me you were washed up,” to which Frazier replied: “Well, they told you wrong, pretty boy.”

They did tell Ali wrong — all along. Frazier was a gentleman, not a gorilla, as Ali called him. He always deserved Ali’s respect, and in the end I’m sure he had earned it. May you rest in peace, Joe Frazier, a peace you probably never enjoyed here on earth.

Ron Ovadia

No dice on ice

Another summer of AEG promising Kings fans that this season will be different has once again turned into yet another fall where mediocrity is the norm. Why sports fans believe Phil Anschutz and Tim Leiweke will bring football success here when they have failed miserably on any measurable level to bring a winning hockey franchise here is beyond me.

Drew Janner

Los Angeles

Irvine

New team

Over 10 years ago a team that included Clint Eastwood, Arnold Palmer and Peter Ueberroth used a unique formula to acquire Pebble Beach.

How about a team of Steve Garvey, Orel Hershiser, Peter O’Malley and Peter Ueberroth to acquire the Dodgers?

R. J. Scarnecchia

Laguna Niguel

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