Oh no! Poor Joe! He's got no morals
One of the joys of international business travel is the opportunity to be in proximity to people who're sick. In this case, I contracted viral bronchitis on a flight to Washington, and thus I came to spend an evening at George Washington University Hospital's A&E.
While awaiting triage, the only distraction from the grubby-white walls was the omnipresent TV. And so I couldn't help but notice the news, which focused on the protests and rioting by Penn State students following the dismissal of football coach Joe JoePa
Paterno.
Paterno was sacked over the scandal of Jerry Sandusky's sexual assaults on children in his care; and specifically his role in what was, if not an attempt at coverup, certainly not a wholehearted report to law enforcement.
Coming from a country where universities, and their entrants, are quaintly judged on academic proficiency rather than sporting prowess, I'm bemused by such a violent reaction of support for a sports coach in these circumstances. Anger over kiddie fiddling in the showers? Absolutely! But in favour of a man who failed to report a sexual predator to the police, caring more for institutional reputation than the welfare of children? Nope, not doing it for me.
Admittedly, Paterno did other things for the university, such as endowing a library. But since when did real students visit libraries?