Winning Words 11/15/11
“The minute you think you’ve got it made, disaster is just around the corner.” (Joe Paterno) One week JoePa is hailed as the winningest coach in football. The next week he’s fired and Happy Valley isn’t a happy place for him. One’s reputation is a fragile thing. “If only” are two of the saddest words. The positive side of this is that we have a God who allows “do-overs.” Thank God for grace. ;-) Jack

FROM CZB IN COLORADO: Is that a recent quote? I just can't figure out how so many people didn't act appropriately. This was pretty black and white.////FROM JACK: No, it's not a recent quote, but I thought that it was fitting. My experience is that few situations are black and white. The truth is somewhere in the gray.

FROM JO IN MICHIGAN: Isn't that the truth? Wow!////FROM JACK: I just talked with someone about an unexpected disaster that happened yesterday in her family. The positive is that God knows and understands in ways that we cannot.

ROM SHARIN' SHARON: Actually, probably the truth is somewhere in between. One's reputation now-a-days is certainly a fragile thing especially because the media is so pervasive, everywhere, in people's homes, in our doctor's waiting rooms, at the airport's waiting room, etc., and you just never know how much investigation and thoughtfulness and real truth seeking is involved in any of these news reports. I think the purposes aren't so high and pure either.////FROM JACK: We need to be warned that media pictures and words don't tell the whole story.

FROM GOOD DEBT JON: I can't add anything positive here. It's a shame that Paterno will be remembered for "not reporting" a child rape (to police), much like when folks around here talk of Woody Hayes, it's not about his winning record but about punching a player in the 1978 Gator Bowl…. I agree there is a lot of gray area, as you say, but is seems to have a very dark hue…////FROM JACK: As I prepared these WWs, I thought: "This isn't a very positive quote." Now, as I read my commentary, I see that the last line shows that it is, indeed, a positive message. Today's news report says that there is more to the story.

FROM BBC IN ILLINOIS: Interesting. I’m sad about all of this….doubt that Sandusky is as innocent as he purports yet to be convicted by the jury of the media is a crime, especially when one has no opportunity to present a defense. I also wonder why it takes a decade for these things (like Cain harassment allegations) to come out. If folks really want to clear the air and do the “right” thing, why aren’t they acting in a reasonable period of time?////FROM JACK: Attorneys, judges, counsellors (and pastors) know that stories usually have various versions, depending on the one who tells it. In today's desire for "instant" solutions, it's sometimes difficult not to rush to judgment. "Patience is a virtue." There's a reason why God is sometimes referred to as, THE JUDGE."////MORE FROM B: Yes, indeed but people so enjoy sitting in the seat of judgment rather than removing the “speck” from their own vision, right? I remember when my folks left the Missouri Synod congregation and listened to a “born again” pastor for a while. He did a series of sermons on godly relationships/marital harmony/infidelity and said that often both parties are to blame, which I recall thinking odd, knowing none of the complexities involved. I This was around the Clinton scandal or some other public case and he said that often the one accusing has allowed or even led the “fallen” person to stray… hence we should not be so quick to condemn. In Paterno’s case, I think of him as someone of my dad’s generation and imagine that going up the chain of command and reporting to authorities seemed right to him at the time. Not “outing” or further embarrassing/publicly humiliating the alleged perp or his family or the team/sport would have been reasonable in his mind. It seems with the Catholic church scandals as well that often things were reported in an honest and timely manner. It seems a shame to fault that person who took the first, and right step to report ….when others up the chain did not do their respective duty. I just cannot imagine how bad my dad or grandpa or someone that senior in years and life experience would feel with such a public outcry. On the subject of sport, Frank Deford (wrote a column a year ago) that I thought was both funny and insightful – regarding another football scandal. He takes the position that Americans err in holding their athletes and sports to higher standards than their politicians, entertainers and preachers…maybe we should let the “thugs be thugs” and consider them BAD role models!////FROM JACK: Thanks for you insight. You have put two and two together and arrived at what I think is the right answer.

FROM MEDD-O-LANE: For at the moment the only thing that has changed is your and my knowledge of who JoePa really is or was all this time. What we will know in the future is will it change him to what we thought he was?////FROM JACK: Paterno, through the years, has created a legacy. He did the right thing by reporting an indiscretion that he had been made aware of. He may have erred in not taking the next step, but his legacy still stands. We have yet to hear "the rest of the story."

FROM SL IN TEXAS: Beautifully stated!////FROM JACK: I tried to make them be words that we could all relate to.

FROM TAMPA SHIRL: Anyone who has worked with young people knows that you have to be on your best behavior and have to set a good example.////FROM JACK: One of the first lessons a teacher, pastor or (football coach) needs to learn is that you are NOT one of the kids. They are not your peers.

FROM JE IN MICHIGAN: Thank God for Grace…..////FROM JACK: I saw it put in another way: Thank God for God!

FROM PLAIN FOLKS CHESTER: Joe's biggest mistake was in trusting that his superiors would do something about the problem. Hindsight is wonderful. It gives us 20/20 vision of what might have been.////FROM JACK: He did the right thing in the beginning (and that's important), but he failed to follow the advice that he would give to his passers...A good pass must have a good follow through.

FROM ILLINOIS LIZ: I'm casting my vote for more positive messages...////FROM JACK: Did you consider today's WWs to be positive or negative? I thought that my last two sentences showed how a negative could be turned into a positive.

FROM CL IN MICHIGAN: Amen, Amen and Amen////FROM JACK: I take it that you agree. Your 3 Amens reminds me of one of my Sunday School supts who, during the closing worship, asked the children to sing the "Triple Amen."

FROM HAWKEYE GEORGE: Warren Buffet said something like this: It took me 45 years to build this business and it can be ruined in 17 seconds by one dishonest act. True, true.////FROM JACK: It takes less than 17 seconds to push "Send" after you've written the wrong e-mail message. Coaches have a bigger responsibility than putting down the right Xs and Os.

FROM BLAZING OAKS: Unfortunately, it is too late for a PapaJoe "Do-over". Such a sad ending for a distinguished career! As the poet Robie Burns has said, "Oh what a tangled web we weave. when first we practice to deceive!" And people are mad at the whistle-blower??!! Incomprehensible. I hope that poor coach gets a "do-over" someplace where he is appreciated!////FROM JACK: The 'do-over" that counts is the one offered by God. This is not a vindication, but I'm waiting for more of the story to unfold. We are quick to read and believe everything the media chooses to show us.

FROM PRPH IN MINNESOTA: wow, rather ironic words to say the least.... ////FROM JACK: I'm sure he didn't speak them, anticipating the current situation. Since we are "wordy" persons in our profession, it is a reminder to us to be careful of how we speak.////MORE FROM PH: you got that right! i can think of several occasions when i should have said a LOT less!