OT: Joe Paterno - Taking Out the Trash!

[Thomas Rogers]

With so many stories about sports stars behaving badly it's so nice to come across a story about a coach that still has high standards for his players:

 

[Rodger Tellefson]

Good for him. Now if Paris Hilton would receive the same treatment.

 

[TomT]

Wish other coaches would follow his lead instead of pampering spoiled players.

 

[Tommy VanNess]

That's awesome. I also agree with TomT.

 

[shawn stonbraker 2]

Joe Pa has never let the chicks rule the roost. That is why he is one of the best and longest tebured college coaches around. He's the reason I'm a huge Penn State fan.

 

[Woppy V]

That is what I like to see!!! Some Grass Roots Coaching. I HATE how there are, and this is only refering to the 'spoiled eggs' and not to the general sporting population, players who feel as if they can get away with anything because their talents and fame.



One extreme case that has me BOILING TO THE MAX is this M. Vick Dog Fighting crap he was running out of one of his homes. I Live 15 minutes from that place, as the crow flys, and ALL 66 dogs that his MV Kennels (michael vick kennels) raised have to be sentenced to death because of the lack of respect for the law and the animals Vick and his family have. I personally can't handle the idea of 66 dogs being raised to kill each other, live a neglected and horrible life, and only to be killed because of the wrong doing of evil people. yep EVIL.



had to vent.

 

[blksn8k]

That is why "WE ARE...PENN STATE" actually means something. Good for Joe Pa.

 

[Mike Wilson]

Can't blame ya' for venting. These sports figures think that they can get away with murder

(at least of a dog or other animal), just because of who they are...



Not right. They need to grow Up!

 

[A K]

As a Penn State alum, all I can say is that, with the exception of some knuckleheads recently causing trouble, this is how Joe has run the program from the start. He created the "Grand Experiment"--recruit and play fellas who go to class, work, and graduate. He's succeeded. Even though other schools have had a little more success over the last forty years, I wouldn't trade his system for anything. You can have pride in your school and team as a winner, or you can have pride in it because it has class and integrity. I prefer the latter. The winning--it's icing on the cake.

 

[yankeegator]

If this happened at...say...Arkansas, for example...SOMEBODY'S Mommy would be crying that their poor little darling was being treated unfairly (SNIFFLE!!) and he was going to have transfer away from the big, bad, meanie Coach (SNIFFLE! SOB! SNIFF!)...



WTG, JoePa!

 

[Kevin Palmer]

The guy is 80 years old, tis is why he is doing the right thing. If you had a 30 year old coach this would never happen.



There is MUCH to be said about life experience and life maturity....

 

[Thomas Rogers]

What Adam said.



Joe Pa has been a class act his whole career. Penn State has some huge shoes to fill when that little man retires.



Frankly, as morbid as it sounds, I would rather hear that Joe slumped over dead with a massive heart-attack after a winning game than have him retire. That's the way legends should go out...



TJR

 

[Bill V]

TJR, no way. That's no way for him to go out. Much better would be for him to go peacefully in his sleep the night after a big win.

 

[Thomas Rogers]

Bill V, Okay, night after a big game, in his sleep...whatever, but not on some beach or hospital bed after retiring....legends deserve to go out in the arena (so to speak).



TJR

 

[Bill V]

OK, yes, we're agreed on that point. But if he goes out on the field, literally, with ambulances and crash carts surrounding him on live TV, that's going to be the image that forever burns in people's memory. And it's clear we're both in agreement that he deserves a better legacy than that. Unfortunately, when famous people happen to have a death that occurs in public, they're remembered more for their death than for their life.

 

[A K]

but if he goes out on the field, literally, with ambulances and crash carts surrounding him on live TV, that's going to be the image that forever burns in people's memory.

That'd be morbidly interesting. My brother is a FF/EMT and his company is often the present, on-call squad for games.

 

[shawn stonbraker 2]

I think the best way Joepa could go would be to win the national title and then just spontanously combust right there at centerfield.



Naw, he's to ornery, he'll still be coaching when he's 200 years old.

 

[Mike Wilson]

TJR and Bill V,



Both points taken. I am not a big sports fan (not gay, either), but from what I have heard

about this man, he deserves to be remembered in a proper way, and be revered for

what he has tried to instill in his players. He deserves a peaceful end, whether it be

after a big win, on a fishing boat with his (family...best friend...grandchild...), or on a

peaceful beach somewhere...(Hopefully not with his grandchild, for the grandchild's sake),

but I hope you get the point. Whatever he considers his most peaceful moment.



And as far as legacy...true. Remember Marilyn Monroe? The song "Candle in the Wind"

by Elton John sums up that point..."



"...All the press had to say, is that Marilyn was found in the nude"...

 

[A K]

I think the best way Joepa could go would be to win the national title and then just spontanously combust right there at centerfield.

[Broken External Image]:



I'd give a lot (I don't know whether I'm pathetic or dedicated) to see this one last time.



It would be strange to not see Joe there. It'd be like when Jerry Sandusky retired. Or when George Paterno passed on and no longer was he the voice of PSU football. The old guard at Penn State must give way, but you always want it to be one more year. There's a lot of class that will be lost, and a huge void to fill.

 

[Mike Wilson]

Bo Schembechler, University of Michigan (U of M), and George Kell (Voice of the Detroit

Tigers) come to mind...Not the same without them.