It took a matter of minutes, but the whole country found out who Jerry Sandusky was on November 4. The news was disheartening, troubling, and most of all, sickening. Over the next eight months, the details of Sandusky’s actions would come to light, and the cover-up that took place that cost a legend his place at the top. In this great country, one thing has been certain … people will rally around and fight for the common good, and fight for justice to be served. And that is what has happened with reaction to the monster that raped and tortured innocent children. People spoke up. He needed to be locked away. He needed to get what he deserved. He needed to be sent to a place where he couldn’t hurt anyone, anymore. We were all in agreement. Right?
Not if you live in Happy Valley.
The world of college football is full of delusional fans. It’s part of what makes the game so great. The passion separates it from every other sport out there. From Tuscaloosa to Eugene, fans cram their stadiums full each Saturday to cheer on their team, and will them to victory. Most have a healthy passion. Most can draw the line between the game and reality, between humans and heroes.
Not if you live in Happy Valley
The fans cried out when Joe Paterno’s name was drug through the mud, despite the mounting evidence of his scandalous cover-up. They rioted, they cried, and they asked how the rest of the country could not see all the good he did. They worshiped him even with blood on his hands. They couldn’t see the forest through the trees. Is this normal? Is the football program, or university, bigger than sadistic acts of violence and crime?
Well … not if you live in Oregon.
Oregonians get called a lot of things. In the world of sports, we are almost considered an afterthought. The Blazers have one ring. The Beavers and Ducks, in football, have none. We are known for hiking, the outdoors, fresh beer and fresher fish. Sure, we love our sports, too. There just seems to be a healthier passion for our teams than what we witnessed in Pennsylvania, and for that, we need to be acknowledged. We will cheer when Brandon Roy returns in a Timberwolves’ jersey next year. We will cheer an opposing player when he gets up off the field after an apparent injury. We will see the truth between the lines.
Mike Riley and Oregon State have had their share of troubles. Chip Kelly and Oregon could be headed down the sanction highway. No team, no community goes unscathed. And over the cries of the few, you will hear the ear-shattering sound of silence from the many. Because if–God forbid–something like the Sandusky fiasco ever happened here, you can bet one thing: Oregonians would not let their passion interfere with basic human ethics. We would cry out for justice, no matter the black eye that would come to our university or team. We would demand redemption, not dwell on the past. Towns across the country would, I’m guessing, react the same way. This country, despite its problems, knows where the football field ends and real life starts. Where the line between passion and pathetic is blurred.
Penn State fans can lay their heads down at night, kiss their Joe Paterno bobble heads good night, and drift off to their dream world. It’s their reality that is skewed.
Not if you live anywhere else.
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