As someone with more than just a passing interest in this story, I will just ease onto the playing field with some general observations:
ESPN takes the lead in what will become an epic barrage of false accusations, reckless conclusions and unsubstantiated reports with lack of evidence advanced as factual...that break every known ethics protocol in the history of journalism. And then, of course, we had our leaks.
1. The big story has obviously never been about Sandusky. He could have been a well-known figure in any walk of life in the country. Prosecutors had multiple victims and their testimony. You arrest the guy, charge him, have a trial, convict him and send him off to prison where he belongs.
2. This is all about the perjury charges and all that they imply (re: Paterno, Spanier, Curley Schultz).
3. Nobody looks innocent during a perp walk. The AG dog and pony show for the press, complete with blown-up mugshots of Curley and Schultz, on an off weekend at PSU...was, grudgingly, a master stroke.
4. The PSUBOT was influenced/coerced/threatened by Governor Corbett, which resulted in the following:
Joe Paterno was dismissed, Graham Spanier resigned, Curley took administrative leave and Schultz retired. Subsequently, Erickson was appointed president and Joyner became interim AD.
5. Curley and Schultz still face charges and are moving for dismissal. As I understand it, the perjury charges were based on "McQueary's testimony was more believable than theirs." Then McQueary's testimony changed, then Paterno died, then the date changed, then his father couldn't even remember testifying, there was no victim to testify and finally, a jury didn't convict, based on McQueary's testimony. If I understand the Cynthia Baldwin/PSU legal scenario correctly. Curley and Schultz were not represented by counsel during their GJ testimony, even though they thought they were. Baldwin should not have been present at all. And all of this forms a big circle around the Clery Act.
Now, everyone must wait for the outcome of the perjury charges. The AG cannot afford to lose at this stage. Prosecutors hate to lose, so I wouldn't be surprised to see a dismissal of charges. After all, that leaves a cloud of suspicion and the anti-PSU crowd will spin the "They Got Off " portion of their agenda. All the damage has been done and cannot be undone.
6. The #freehopinion. I was going to say "you can't make this sh*t up," but, apparently, you can.
7. #erickson #emmert #ncaa #psubot $60million+ without evidence. I don't need to provide 200-300 pages to make my point.
Sent from my iPad...in a nutshell! Exactly want I have been attempting to say in my disbelieving babble since Nov. when the illegally leaked, intentionally inflammatory Presentment caught ESPN's radar.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I always want to jump into this story, with waving arms and a megaphone, and interject that PSU's role in this Sandusky debacle is so minor...that the real players, The 2nd Mile, CYS, Central Mtn. school officials, etc., could/should/would contribute the truth for those interested. But, that only muddies the waters of this great Penn State tragedy, and is not a care of the masses.
However, I appreciate so much the precise assessment and summary of an unfathomable non-fiction, in my hometown, historical...mess!
I've been wondering about Sherburne as well. He was said to be withholding documents but were they included in the Freeh report.
ReplyDeleteI'd also like to see McQueary charged with something.