Paterno's marred legacy raises age-old sports 'heroes' question

[X Factor 1,112]

Paterno's marred legacy raises age-old sports 'heroes' question

Does Paterno belong in Hall of Fame?

Built into the by-laws of most sports Halls of Fame is something called a "character clause."

It's a loosely-defined metric meant to gauge whether a potential Hall of Famers' off-the-field conduct should prevent an athlete or coach from being honored.

The rules use words like integrity, sportsmanship and community to determine whether a sportsman or woman can be inducted into the prestigious club.

But once that tribute is bestowed and a Hall of Famer made, can it be rescinded and undone?

Do sanctions alter Penn State legacy?

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"The question is 'What do you want your Hall (of Fame) to stand for?' " said Sports Illustrated's Andy Staples, a college football writer.

"Is there a character component to it?"

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Paterno's official record moved from 409 wins to 298, dropping to him to 12th on the NCAA college football coaching list, while also vacating six bowl wins and two conference championships.

The College Football Hall of Fame board has not indicated its thinking on Paterno in the wake of the scandal or the release of the findings.

"We're very aware of all of this," said Steve Hatchell, president and CEO of the National Football Foundation, the Hall's governing body.

"Our group is very methodical," he said, when asked if the group was considering Paterno's removal, adding that board members are expected to meet in early October.

"Everything's taken into consideration."

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

But at the National Football League, voters decide based solely on what happened on the field.

"People asked us during the O.J. Simpson trial, that if he were convicted, would he be kicked out?" said Joe Horrigan, a vice president for communications at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.

"The answer is simple: No."

Players and coaches' behavior outside-the-lines doesn't change what got them inducted, Horrigan explained.

In college, the rules are different.

While football coaches must boast at least a 60% winning percentage and have coached for a minimum of 10 years and 100 games, candidates must also demonstrate a laudable "post-football record as a citizen."

"He must have proven himself worthy as a citizen, carrying the ideals of football forward into his relations with his community and his fellow man with love of his country," according National Football Foundation website.

My link

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

Paterno's marred legacy raises age-old sports 'heroes' question

Does Paterno belong in Hall of Fame?

Built into the by-laws of most sports Halls of Fame is something called a "character clause."

It's a loosely-defined metric meant to gauge whether a potential Hall of Famers' off-the-field conduct should prevent an athlete or coach from being honored.

The rules use words like integrity, sportsmanship and community to determine whether a sportsman or woman can be inducted into the prestigious club.

But once that tribute is bestowed and a Hall of Famer made, can it be rescinded and undone?

Do sanctions alter Penn State legacy?

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"The question is 'What do you want your Hall (of Fame) to stand for?' " said Sports Illustrated's Andy Staples, a college football writer.

"Is there a character component to it?"

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Paterno's official record moved from 409 wins to 298, dropping to him to 12th on the NCAA college football coaching list, while also vacating six bowl wins and two conference championships.

The College Football Hall of Fame board has not indicated its thinking on Paterno in the wake of the scandal or the release of the findings.

"We're very aware of all of this," said Steve Hatchell, president and CEO of the National Football Foundation, the Hall's governing body.

"Our group is very methodical," he said, when asked if the group was considering Paterno's removal, adding that board members are expected to meet in early October.

"Everything's taken into consideration."

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

But at the National Football League, voters decide based solely on what happened on the field.

"People asked us during the O.J. Simpson trial, that if he were convicted, would he be kicked out?" said Joe Horrigan, a vice president for communications at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.

"The answer is simple: No."

Players and coaches' behavior outside-the-lines doesn't change what got them inducted, Horrigan explained.

In college, the rules are different.

While football coaches must boast at least a 60% winning percentage and have coached for a minimum of 10 years and 100 games, candidates must also demonstrate a laudable "post-football record as a citizen."

"He must have proven himself worthy as a citizen, carrying the ideals of football forward into his relations with his community and his fellow man with love of his country," according National Football Foundation website.

My link

The only problem I have with all of this is...Someone did an investigation and accused Joe Pa of a cover up. We all know how many times investigations have turned out to be flawed. I am not saying he is innocent, but I would like to see some hearings and cross examinations before he is tried in the media and his memory is bannisehed to bad thoughts.

I also am not sure it is the NCAA place to administrator justice in this case. They Govern athletics not criminal investigations. I also think all the sanctions do is destroy more lives of innocent people that had nothing to do with this issue.

In closing I think all child molesters should get a bullet, but I want due process done.

[X Factor 1,112]

In closing I think all child molesters should get a bullet, but I want due process done.

[JohnR! 5,495]

1343572176[/url]' post='5566020']

.

In closing I think all child molesters should get a bullet, but I want due process done.

X 10

And Paterno does not belong in the hall of fame, perhaps in the dungeon of the infamous there is a place for him...

[rocks 494]

X 10

And Paterno does not belong in the hall of fame, perhaps in the dungeon of the infamous there is a place for him...

He's still got his name over the library at Penn State. It's disgusting that people still support him.

[X Factor 1,112]

X 10

And Paterno does not belong in the hall of fame, perhaps in the dungeon of the infamous there is a place for him...

Agreed. What do you think about OJ's accomplishment? When families walk up to see OJ Simpson in the Pro Football Hall of Fame the parents can point and say look kids he killed his wife and her friend and now he is in jail for kidnapping and robbery.

[rocks 494]

Agreed. What do you think about OJ's accomplishment? When families walk up to see OJ Simpson in the Pro Football Hall of Fame the parents can point and say look kids he killed his wife and her friend and now he is in jail for kidnapping and robbery.

Michael Vick gets me too, obviously he is a little different than OJ or JoePa, but he's still a horrible man.

[Teddy B 17,252]

The only problem I have with all of this is...Someone did an investigation and accused Joe Pa of a cover up. We all know how many times investigations have turned out to be flawed. I am not saying he is innocent, but I would like to see some hearings and cross examinations before he is tried in the media and his memory is bannisehed to bad thoughts.

I also am not sure it is the NCAA place to administrator justice in this case. They Govern athletics not criminal investigations. I also think all the sanctions do is destroy more lives of innocent people that had nothing to do with this issue.

In closing I think all child molesters should get a bullet, but I want due process done.

Investigation or no investigation, it's completely ridiculous to think for one second that Paterno didn't know about all of this many years ago and failed to stop it. In my opinion, Paterno and Sandusky's wife are just as guilty as Sandusky for allowing this continue. I'd like to see Mr. and Mrs. Sandusky get a dual execution, sitting side by side in matching electric chairs.

[rocks 494]

Investigation or no investigation, it's completely ridiculous to think for one second that Paterno didn't know about all of this many years ago and failed to stop it. In my opinion, Paterno and Sandusky's wife are just as guilty as Sandusky for allowing this continue. I'd like to see Mr. and Mrs. Sandusky get a dual execution, sitting side by side in matching electric chairs.

Do you think there is a chance that Paterno didn't tell his wife? I don't think I can believe she didn't know about it.

[Teddy B 17,252]

Do you think there is a chance that Paterno didn't tell his wife? I don't think I can believe she didn't know about it.

I heard Paterno used to make his wife walk 30 miles in a ditch on the side of the road, in 100 degree heat to get groceries.

[Ban Hammer 13,555]

I heard Paterno used to make his wife walk 30 miles in a ditch on the side of the road, in 100 degree heat to get groceries.

please keep this thread on topic and stop transporting conversations/drama from previous threads into current discussion.

[rocks 494]

please keep this thread on topic and stop transporting conversations/drama from previous threads into current discussion.

He is unable to do this.

[Ban Hammer 13,555]

He is unable to do this.

replies like the above don't help matters.

[rocks 494]

replies like the above don't help matters.

He does this in every thread I post in. He IS unable to do this. Just saying..

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

I think the blanket punishments in this case are terrible. Everyone from the University to the NCAA should have shown more restraint.