As many of you know, I get involved with very few causes. This year, I’ve teamed up with the Connecticut Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society for the 2012 MS Golf classic. The event is Monday, May 14th.
Click here to find out more about the event:
Foursomes can play the gorgeous TPC River Highlands for just a $2,000 donation. Individuals can play for $500. It’s all for a great cause. I will be the celebrity emcee for the event and I hope to see you there!!
On today’s podcast:
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I will preface what I am about to write by saying that sexual abuse of minors and particularly children is as heinous a crime as there is. There is more for me to say on that aspect of this story, but this isn’t the place for it.
Over the past 24 hours, sports bloggers and columnists alike have been calling for the head of Joe Paterno. Many of these columns say the same exact things with varying degrees of eloquence. I chose not to write anything over the past 24 hours because I knew, as many did, how this story was likely to play out. With Joe Paterno being put out to pasture.
Now that the dust has somewhat settled, at least with regard to Paterno, and those who needed it have gotten their pound of flesh, I want to lend my thoughts and perspective. I doubt you will see this viewpoint anywhere else. Most people are looking at this along the lines of “Joe Paterno should have…” I’m viewing it a little differently.
Despite how old Joe Paterno is and despite the fact that he comes from the old-school mentality of how to coach college athletes, he’s just like all of us. Joe Paterno was told of a crime. He told his immediate supervisor about the crime that he had been made aware of. Keep in mind, he didn’t witness this crime. After telling his boss about the illegal acts being performed by former defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky, he likely did his best not to think about it. Being a college football coach at one of the most prestigious programs in the country, this probably wasn’t as difficult as it would have been for most of us. This may sound like a rationalization. But short of hearing anything from Paterno himself, that’s all I can do.
There is a much larger issue in all of this. We live in the “ME” generation now, more than ever before. How does it impact me? What does it mean for me? As long as you don’t hurt me, do what you want. Live and let live. How many times have you driven past an accident and gawked at the scene but not stopped to help. Did you call the police? Nope. You just kept going. How about the noisy neighbor next store whose beating up his wife? Did you lend a hand? Did you do anything to stop it? The answer for most of us is “no.” Joe Paterno is just like the rest of us. Most would agree that the harming of children is as reprehensible as anything that could occur. But abuse is abuse. Whether physical or sexual. Whether its perpetrated on a child or on an adult. Helpless is helpless.
Joe Paterno deserves every bit of criticism for not doing more to stop this cycle of alleged sexual abuse at the hands of Jerry Sandusky. As does the person who originally saw Sandusky sodomizing a boy in the locker rooms at Penn State. As does the Athletic Director and as does the School President. However, every single person that has cast a stone at Joe Paterno should look at themselves in the mirror. Ask yourself: “have I done my best to protect someone in an instance where abuse was may have occurred? Could I have done more to help that male or female who suffered some ill-fate at the side of the road?”
Think about that the next time you take a picture of someone getting beat up and post it to YouTube. How many times have you, with the advantage of time having passed, told yourself: “I wish I had done more.”
Alistair Guthrie
Steve Williams finally went too far. I don’t think anybody would disagree with that.
It’s often said in politics that it isn’t the offensive act itself that gets you into trouble, it’s the reaction to the offensive act that will sink you.
Tiger woods former wing-man, while attending an event to honor caddies at the HSBC Champions event in Shanghai, stood up in front of a room of his peers and said the following with regards to his comments following Adam Scott’s victory at the WGC Bridgestone Invitational:
“My aim was to shove it right up that black a——.” (more…)
I heard somebody on Friday or Saturday talking about the NFL being a sort of league where a different piece of drama ensues each week. I’d say 4 or 5 different dramas ensued from what’s been played so far in Week 3. Speaking of three, lets look back at week three and ahead to the next three weeks. (more…)
The line between NFL video games and the actual league itself becomes blurrier and blurrier with each season that passes. Roger Goodell and the powers that be have done so much to aid the offense with the flag-football mentality in terms of hitting the quarterback that scoring is going to continue to soar. (more…)
My memory of 9/11/01…… Driving into Danbury and 800 AM WLAD when the first tower was struck by a plane. I was listening to Imus in the Morning while making the trek from East Haven to the building I would work in for that day. Nothing could prepare me for what I was about to watch unfold on the TV in front of me. I remember getting off the exit on I-84 in Danbury, just a mile or so from the radio station. I remember seeing a woman sitting in the car next to me. She had a look of terror in her eyes as tears rolled down her face. (more…)
As expected, UConn roughed up Fordham 35-3. I had planned to go and watch this game live from the press box at Rentschler Field. However, I had some logistical issues that would have made it a pain in the butt. So, I watched the game online on ESPN 3 from the comfort of my home.
Some observations if I may: (more…)
Congratulations to Webb Simpson for his victory at the Wyndham Championship this weekend. For the 26-year old, it’s his first PGA Tour victory. And when I say it couldn’t happen to a nicer guy, I truly mean it.
So I’ll be the one to fall on my sword and ask the question.
With all the speculation we see around Major League Baseball players who had inflated numbers during the games “Steroid Era”, why don’t we see the same questions asked about Tiger Woods??
There I said it.
Some will look at the title of this column/blog and say that I’m out of my mind.
They can’t beat the Red Sox.
They have no number two starter.
The DH situation is a mess.
Hogwash. If you watch the Yankees play this season. You see the signs of a team poised to win another American League Championship and face-off with the Phillies in the World Series. Let me explain.
The sports-media around the country wants you to know that Tim Tebow can’t possibly succeed as an NFL quarterback. Let me be a little more specific. THE SPORTS MEDIA AROUND THE COUNTRY WANTS YOU TO KNOW THAT TIM TEBOW CAN’T POSSIBLY SUCCEED AS AN NFL QUARTERBACK. (more…)