Unhappy Valley: Joe Paterno’s Family Responds to Penn State Penalties and Sanctions over Sandusky Sexual Abuse Crimes … “defamed the legacy and contributions of a great coach and educator”

UNHAPPY VALLEY FOR AT LEAST A DECADE TO FOLLOW … NCAA PUNISHED PENN STATE PAST, [RESENT AND FUTURE.

The family of Joe Paterno responds to the harsh sanctions handed down today by the NCAA in the wake of the heinous and hideous sexual abuse crimes of former assistant coach Jerry Sandusky. Among the penalties were $60 million sanction, four year ban on bowl games, loss of scholarships and most peculiar, Penn State vacating all wins from 1998 through 2011. What is a little trite about this punishment is the fact that I fail to see how this properly punishes PSU and makes it better in the future. Granted, the vacating of wins makes Paterno no longer the winniest division I coach in NCAA history and slots former Florida St coach as the new #1. What a way to become number one. That being said, the NCAA said it did not want to punish current players with their sanctions. Well, what about former ones? So all players that took part in Nittany Lion football from 1998 to 2011 didn’t exist?

I realize the crimes that Sandusky did were beyond comprehension, but there just seems to be a bit of vindictiveness in the vacating of games. I can understand the $60 million fine and the money to go to groups that deal with abused and exploited children. I can understand the bowl ban and the loss of scholarships. I more than understand the steps to create a compliance policy and an independent group to oversee PSU. However, if one is going to go out on a limb and make accusations against anyone, including JoePa, they best get all the information from all parties. Just because there was blood in the water and some one needed to take the fall, does not mean you bypass the process. The family of Joe Paterno released a statement.

“Sexual abuse is reprehensible, especially when it involves children, and no one starting with Joe Paterno condones or minimizes it. The horrific acts committed by Jerry Sandusky shock the conscience of every decent human being. How Sandusky was able to get away with his crimes for so long has yet to be fully understood, despite the claims and assertions of the Freeh Report.

“The release of the Freeh Report has triggered an avalanche of vitriol, condemnation and posthumous punishment on Joe Paterno. The NCAA has now become the latest party to accept the report as the final word on the Sandusky scandal. The sanctions announced by the NCAA today defame the legacy and contributions of a great coach and educator without any input from our family or those who knew him best.

“That the President, the Athletic Director and the Board of Trustees accepted this unprecedented action by the NCAA without requiring a full due process hearing before the Committee on Infractions is an abdication of their responsibilities and a breach of their fiduciary duties to the University and the 500,000 alumni. Punishing past, present and future students of the University because of Sandusky’s crimes does not serve justice. This is not a fair or thoughtful action; it is a panicked response to the public’s understandable revulsion at what Sandusky did.

“The point of due process is to protect against this sort of reflexive action. Joe Paterno was never interviewed by the University or the Freeh Group. His counsel has not been able to interview key witnesses as they are represented by counsel related to ongoing litigation. We have had no access to the records reviewed by the Freeh group. The NCAA never contacted our family or our legal counsel. And the fact that several parties have pending trials that could produce evidence and testimony relevant to this matter has been totally discounted.

“Unfortunately all of these facts have been ignored by the NCAA, the Freeh Group and the University.”

Rush Limbaugh stated it best as to the double-talk coming from NCAA President Emert. How can you sat that you did not want to punish the player that had nothing to do with this scandal when you take away current scholarships, tell them they cannot play in a bowl and forfeit all of Penn States wins from 1998 to 2011. How is this not punishing those that were not responsible?

But when you vacate all of the victories, and then you tell the existing team that they can’t go to a bowl game for four years, and there’s no championship for you, how are you not punishing the people that didn’t have anything to do with it? The $60 million fine is about what they say the Penn State football program generates every year. They’re gonna take that one year of revenue of $60 million and they’re gonna set up basically a charity for abused kids to deal with those who are and to prevent it from ever happening again.

NCAA Drops the Hammer on Penn State … $60 Million Fine, 4 Year Ban on Bowl Games, Vacate All Wins from 1998-2011 (Paterno No Longer Winniest Coach) … Current & Incoming Players Can Leave PSU and Play Immediately

TheNCAA has dropped the hammer on Penn State University and although it was not the death penalty, it might have well have been and might have been worse.

The penalties were severe and due to the unique nature of the Sandusky sexual abuse crimes and the cover up, the NCAA whacked PSU. The sanctions and penalties from NCAA president Mark Emmert are as follows. It was stated they were meant to be corrective and punitive. The sanctions and penalties affect Penn State in the past, present and future.

1. A $60 million sanction, the equivalent of one years revenue of the PSU football team. The funds are be paid into an endowment for external programs preventing child sexual abuse or assisting victims.
2. Four year football postseason ban.
3.  Penn State must vacate wins dating from 1998 to 2011. The career record of former head football coach Joe Paterno will reflect these vacated records. There goes the winniest college football coach record.
4. Penn State must also reduce 10 initial and 20 total scholarships each year for a four-year period.
5. NCAA reserves the right to impose additional sanctions on involved individuals at the conclusion of any criminal proceedings.

CNN had reported that PSU would see fines in excess of $30 million, I’ll say, how about double that.

Emert went on to say that the NCAA recognizes that student-athletes are not responsible for these events and worked to minimize the impact of its sanctions on current and incoming football student-athletes, … “Any entering or returning student-athlete will be allowed to immediately transfer and compete at another school. Further, any football student-athletes who remain at the university may retain their scholarships, regardless of whether they compete on the team.”

Statement from NCAA president Mark Emmert:

In the Penn State case, the results were perverse and unconscionable,” Emmert said.

“No price the NCAA can levy with repair the damage inflicted by Jerry Sandusky on his victims,” he said, reffering to the former Penn State defensive coordinator convicted of 45 counts of child sex abuse last month.

The NCAA’s announcement followed a day after Penn State removed Joe Paterno’s statue outside Beaver Stadium, a decision that came 10 days after a scathing report by former FBI director Louis J. Freeh found that Paterno, with three other top Penn State administrators, had concealed allegations of child sexual abuse made against Sandusky.

UPDATE I: What I find interesting is that the NCAA enacted some of the sanctions that SM referenced yesterday and that was the monetary fine and providing the funds to a non-profit for abused children. Also we mentioned that an independent individual would be placed in charge to monitor what was going on with PSU going forward. That was part of today’s sanctions where compliance officers and groups were put in place to review what Penn State will be doing from this point going forward.

What exactly could punishment through nontraditional methods mean?I am wondering if there will not only be the typical loss of scholarships and bowl appearance, but also revenue form the football program going to non-profit programs for sexually exploited children? Also, will there be a third-party individual be put in place to oversee practices at the university?

NCAA Will Announce “Unprecedented” Penalties Against both Penn State University Football and the University

CBS News is reporting that the hammer is about to fall on Penn State University, Maybe even a Sledgehammer!

The NCAA is about to announce Monday morning “unprecedented” penalties against both the Penn State football team and PennState University. One individual describes it as, “I’ve never seen anything like it.” The penalties are in response to the hideous Jerry Sandusky sexual abuse convictions and the more recent independent report by former FBI Director Louis Freeh that chronicled repeated efforts by four top Penn State officials, including Joe Paterno, to conceal allegations of serial child sex abuse by Jerry Sandusky over a 14 year period.

CBS News has learned that the NCAA will announce what a high-ranking association source called “unprecedented” penalties against both the Penn State University football team and the school.

“I’ve never seen anything like it,” the source told correspondent Armen Keteyian.

NCAA President Mark Emmert will make the announcement Monday morning at 9 a.m. at the organization’s headquarters in Indianapolis.

Read more

Auburn, AL Shooting Suspect Desmonte Leonard Wanted for Three Capital Murder Arrest Warrants Had Prior Arrest Record

SURPRISE, SURPRISE, SURPRISE … NOT!

22 year old Desmonte Leonard, the shooting suspect sought in the Auburn, Alabama apartment shooting over the weekend that left three people dead and injured others, had prior arrests for gun offenses. Go figure, why are none of us surprised? Auburn police have issued three capital arrest warrants for Desmonte Leonard. Sadly over the weekend during a police press conference, Auburn Police Chief Tommy Dawson confirmed that three Auburn University students were killed during the Saturday night shooting, former Auburn Tiger football players Ed Christian and Ladarious Phillips and Demario Pitts   Leonard and two other men were thought to have fled the scene in a white Chevrolet Caprice, authorities said. Police later found the car abandoned in an adjacent county

Shooting Suspect: Desmonte Leonard

A man sought by authorities in connection with a shooting near Auburn University that left three people dead and injured three others, one critically, has previous arrests for gun offenses, but was never prosecuted, according to media reports Monday.

Desmonte Leonard, 22, of Montgomery, is the subject of a multiagency manhunt that stretched into its second day Monday. Leonard faces three charges of capital murder in the shooting late Saturday at an off-campus Auburn, Alabama, apartment complex, police said.

From The Opelika-Auburn News: Court records show Leonard has a criminal past with guns at the root of the crimes. Is anyone really shocked that this thug punk escalated his violence to include murder? This is what happens when you do not throw these low life’s in prison from the outset.

Leonard’s criminal history is one punctuated with gun violence, according to court records. He was charged with carrying a pistol without a permit and theft in 2008 as well as second-degree assault in 2009 for shooting a 16-year-old in the groin. Montgomery County grand juries did not indict Leonard on the theft and assault charges.

Court records also show two child support claims against Leonard, the most recent on Friday.

Anyone with information concerning Leonard’s whereabouts is asked to contact a command post set up by Auburn police, U.S. Marshals and the FBI in Montgomery at 334-223-5400.

Auburn Police Chief Tommy Dawson Press Conference: Shooting Suspect is Desmonte Leonard of Montgomery, AL (Picture) … Issued Three Warrants of Capital Murder … Confirmed Dead, Edward Christian, Ladarious Phillips & Demario Pitts (VIDEO)

This afternoon Auburn Police Chief Tommy Dawson held a press conference to discuss the tragic shooting deaths that too place last evening in Auburn, Alabama at the University Heights apartment complex on Longleaf Drive. The shooting left three Auburn University students dead, one still battling for his life and other injured.

Shooting Suspect: Pic of Desmonte Leonard released by police

Auburn Police Chief Tommy Dawson have identified 22 year old Desmonte Leonard of Montgomery, AL was the prime suspect in the shooting deaths and three capital murder arrest warrants have been issued for him. The police are also looking for two other persons of interests, who’s names were not released. A manhunt is underway in Montgomery, about 55 miles west of Auburn, for Desmonte Leonard. He is considered to be dangerous. Please contact authorities he you see this individual.

Auburn police identified the alleged gunman in the Saturday night shooting that killed three and wounded three others as DesMonte Leonard of Montgomery. Police said he should be considered armed and extremely dangerous, and active manhunt  is under way.

“I’d like to reach out to Mr. Leonard to turn himself in today,” said police chief Tommy Dawson.

The police confirmed the victim’s names of the Auburn, AL apartment shooting. Among the deceased were 20 year old Edward Christian deceased at scene, 20 year old Ladarious Phillips pronounced deceased at the medical center and Demario Pitts deceased at East Alabama Medical Center hospital. Also wounded but expected to survive is offensive lineman Eric Mack. Xavier Moss was treated and released from East Alabama Medical Center; however, John Robertson was taken to UAB Medical Center and is in critical condition.

Shooting at Auburn, AL Apartment Complex, One Confirmed Dead, 2 Reported Dead, Update I: 3 Dead (Update II: Two Past Auburn Tiger Football Players Reported Among the Dead, Ed Christian & Ladarious Phillips Confirmed Dead) … Suspect at Large Desmonte Leonard & Two POI’s.

There has been a shooting an an Auburn, Alabama apartment complex that houses many University of Auburn students. The shooting occurred at the University Heights apartment complex on Longleaf Drive late Saturday evening about 11pm. According to the Auburn Police Chief Tommy Dawson there were multiple gunshot victims; however, did not comment as to if anyone had been arrested. One person is being confirmed dead, according to WSFA 12 News reporters.

VIDEO

The police chief in the Alabama university city of Auburn said authorities responded during the night to a report of multiple gunshot victims at an apartment complex, but he released no immediate information as Sunday saw the building cordoned in yellow tape.

Auburn police chief Tommy Dawson told the Opelika-Auburn News that police answered the report of multiple shooting victims on Saturday night, but he had no immediate comment on what happened or whether anyone was in custody.

UPDATE I: FOX News this morning is reporting that there were two deaths as a result of the shots fired at the apartment complex when a fight broke out at a pool party. Correction, make that three. They have been speculating as to if any of the victims were present or past Auburn University Tiger football players.

Turquorius Vines, 23, said he was at the pool party Saturday evening at the University Heights apartments with one of his friends. He said he and his friend were approached by two other men who started arguing with them over a woman.

Vines said he punched one of the men, while his friend hit both of the men over the head with a bottle. Either one or both of the two men then started shooting, he said. He said his friend was shot and killed, while two others also were hit by gunfire. Vines said he had never before seen the men who he had been arguing with.

“It’s like I lost a lung,” Vines said of his friend. “I don’t know how I’m going to survive this.”

UPDATE II: This has yet to be confirmed by the Auburn police, but the tweets are flying on Twitter, stating that two former Auburn University football players, Ladarious Phillips and Ed Christian, have been fatally shot and one current player, Eric Mack, is in the hospital.

UPDATE III: WTVM 9 is reporting that Auburn, AL Apartment Complex Shooting Leaves Three people dead and Two Inured.

News Leader 9 has confirmed three people have died in a shooting in Auburn.  The shooting took place at the University Heights apartment complex late Saturday night.

Two additional victims have been seriously injured and have been taken to an area hospital.  We understand police are seeking a shooter.

News Leader 9 spoke with Auburn Police Chief Tommy Dawson who says he is asking for prayers from the Auburn family.

The Lee County Coroner’s Office has confirmed three are dead and two have been injured in a shooting at the apartment complex off Longleaf Drive.

There will be an 11 am central time press conference by Auburn Police Department Chief Dawson. It has been changed to 1 pm central time.

UPDATE IV: Although no confirmation from police, Opelika Auburn News  is reporting also that two former ‘War Eagle’ Auburn football players were killed and a current one is in the hospital.

Former Auburn football players Ed Christian and Ladarious Phillips were killed in an off-campus shooting at an apartment complex early Sunday morning, and current player Eric Mack was shot and is in the hospital but not in danger, according to multiple reports.

AuburnUndercover.com and al.com were first to confirm the news. A source told al.com Mack “will be all right.”

The Auburn police department and Lee County Coroner Bill Harris still have yet to confirm the victims.

UPDATE V: The Auburn Plainsman … Former Auburn football players Ed Christian and Ladarious Phillips have been confirmed dead.

UPDATE VI: Auburn Police Department Chief Dawson Press Conference: Desmonte Leonard of Montgomery, AL is shooting suspect and two other Persons of Interest sought. The police have filed three warrants for Leonard with capital murder.

Police confirm the victims of Auburn University students: 20 year old Edward Christian deceased at scene, 20 year old Ladarious Phillips pronounced deceased at medical center. Demario Pitts deceased at East Alabama Medical Center hospital.

The End of an Era on Rocky Top … Legendary Womans’s NCAA Tennessee Lady Vols Basketball Coach Pat Summit Steps Down

An Icon steps down …

It is the end of an era at the University of Tennessee as Pat Summitt, the winiest NCAA basketball coach steps down. After 38 years, an incredible 1,098 victories and eight NCAA titles, P as the head coach of the Lady Vols, the legendary Pat Summitt will no longer grace the sidelines. What a sad yet expected day at Good Ol’ Rocky Top. It is safe to say that no sport will ever see another coach like Pat Summitt, ever! She was a true original and a pioneer of the game. No one, but no one had the stare and the intensity of Pat Summitt. All I can say is Thank you Pat!

Pat Summitt is stepping aside as Tennessee’s head coach after 38 seasons, the last an emotionally draining farewell tour for the woman who won more games than anyone else in NCAA college basketball history.

“I’ve loved being the head coach at Tennessee for 38 years, but I recognize that the time has come to move into the future and to step into a new role,” the 59-year-old Hall of Famer said in a statement issued Wednesday by the school.

Summitt will discuss the move, including the promotion of longtime assistant Holly Warlick as her replacement, at a Thursday news conference on the court named in her honor the night she won her 1,000th game. Making the decision had been only a matter of time since Summitt revealed Aug. 23 that she had been diagnosed with early onset dementia, Alzheimer’s type.

Pat Summitt dresses up like cheerleader and sings Rocky Top

VIDEO

Let me preface this by saying that I am a long time and huge University of Connecticut Lady Huskies fan; however, there is no coach that I respect more than Pat Summitt. Without Pat and the amazing run of the Lady Vols there would be no woman’s NCAA basketball. The Vols, Louisiana Tech, Old Dominian, Stanford and UCONN made it cool to watch and root for woman’s college basketball. That being said, Pat Summitt was probably the most fiery and demanding coach in the game with all due deference to Geno and Bobby Knight. Pat Summitt expected the best out of her player on and off the court. Comment from UCONN Lady Huskies coach Geno Auriemma:

“Pat’s vision for the game of women’s basketball and her relentless drive pushed the game to a new level and made it possible for the rest of us to accomplish what we did,” Auriemma said. “In her new role, I’m sure she will continue to make significant impacts to the University of Tennessee and to the game of women’s basketball as a whole.

Read more

Former Penn State Nittany Lion Football Coach Joe Paterno Reportedly in Serious Condition Near Death

According to CBS News, former Penn St. football coach Joe Paterno is in serious condition and near death.  The 85 year old Paterno has been battling lung cancer, that was initially diagnosed as treatable, since he was fired by Penn State following the Sandusky/PSU sex scandal.  Paterno has been in the hospital since January 13, 2012 for observation  for minor complications from cancer treatments. Sadly, it is only a matter of time that this NCAA college football coaching icon passes. One has to wonder how much of his spirit to thrive has been ripped from him following the Penn St. sex scandal.

Former Penn State head football coach Joe Paterno, who is battling lung cancer, is near death, The Citizens’ Voice reports.

The paper reports that Paterno’s wife, Sue, asked family and friends to come to the hospital because the former coach wanted to say his final goodbyes.

Paterno family’s spokesman Dan McGinn released a statement saying:

“Over the last few days Joe Paterno has experienced further health complications. His doctors have now characterized his status as serious.  His family will have no comment on the situation and asks that their privacy be respected during this difficult time.”

More from ESPN (VIDEO).

Sadly, the winiest coach in college Division I history and a man who has done many good things for Penn St. and too numerous individuals us about to leave us. The PSU sex scandal will obviously leave a black mark on his legacy; however, do not ever forget the good that Joe Pa has done.

UPDATE I: Some media outlets are reporting that JOE PA has died; however, the Paterno family spokesman says the former Penn State football coach has not passed away. Hey folks, have a heart and get a clue. It is obvious that Joe Paterno does not have much time left, stop throwing dirt on the guys grave before he has actually passed. have some form of class.

Sports Athletes Who Died in 2011 … Harmon Killebrew, Macho Man Randy Savage, Bubba Smith, Al Davis and Joe Fraizer to Name a Few: REST IN PEACE

In Memoriam …

Sadly we lost some real icons in the world of sports this year. Among some who died were MLB Hall of Famer Harmon Killebrew, WWE Pro-wrestling great Randy “Macho Man” Savage, NFL football greats Bubba Smith, Chester McGlockton, Dave Duerison, Ollie Matson and John Macky, PGA golfing legend Seve Ballesteros, Oklahoma State women’s basketball coach Kurt Budke and assistant coach Miranda Serna, NFL icon Al Davis and Boxing great Smokin Joe Frazier.

VIDEO

No death was probably more tragic than the terrible Indy car crash and the death of race car driver Dan Wheldon at the season-ending Las Vegas Indy 300. Weldon was just 33 years of age.

Sadly, boxing great and former heavy weight champion of the world, Smokin’ Joe Frazier passed away at age 67 after to battle with liver cancer.

The NFL lost its Commitment to Excellence … NFL Oakland Raider Owner Al Davis Dies at Age 82 … JUST WIN BABY!!!

More athletes who passed in 2011 can be seen here at Sports Illustrated. What is the most tragic thing after  reviewing the far many athletes who died in 2011 was sadly the amount who died due to suicide.

When Technology Goes Wrong … SkyCam Camera Comes Crashing to Ground During Insight Bowl Between Iowa & Oklahoma

The sky is falling, the sky is falling … nope, it’s SkyCam crashing to the ground, barely missing players …

During last nights Insight Bowl in Tempe, AZ in the 4th quarter, the SkyCam came crashing to the field nearly hitting one of the Iowa players, wide receiver Martin McNutt Jr. SkyCam looked more like Sky Lab crashing to the ground circa 1979.  ESPN apologized for the accident, “We will work with them and bowl officials to determine our future course of action. As always our primary concern will be the safety of fans and those on the field.” I can’t imagine what the post production meeting must have been like following the game.

Announcer says a Soviet Satellite falling out of the sky … glad no one was injured, that is no small piece of eqwuipment

Flying cameras have been providing unique perspectives on everything from golf to college and professional football for more than a decade, becoming so commonplace that fans rarely notice the whizzing remote-controlled devices.

At the Insight Bowl on Friday night, no one could miss the overhead camera when it came crashing down to the field late in the fourth quarter, nearly taking out one of the players.

The ESPN camera narrowly missed Iowa receiver Martin McNutt Jr., who became entangled in the guide wire but wasn’t hurt.

BTW,  the Oklahoma Sooners beat the Iowa Hawkeyes 31-14.