College Sports Sexual Abuse Scandals - The Dominos Start To Fall

Following the Penn State-Sandusky scandal, in what is likely the first of many revelations about sexual abuse by coaches (be it college, high school, or even younger), Syracuse assistant basketball coach Bernie Fine is now under investigation for molesting a team ball-boy for more than a dozen years in the mid 1980s.  Talk about giving the position "ball-boy" a whole new meaning...  But on a series note:

As a former youth and high-school athlete (who wasn't good enough to play in college), I can comment firsthand on the fact that the pyramid of power in any sports program (all the way down to the lower levels) is a tenet that is instilled from the first practice.  You never question any coach (let alone any players) above you in the chain of command.  They say with great power comes great responsibility, but in many cases, those with power abuse that responsibility.  This happens in all walks of life (see: politics).  

I foresee an immense increase in sexual abuse allegations towards coaches in the coming weeks/months/years, at all levels of sports.  When that happens, all the people who are vilifying Mike McQueary for not doing more (when it's not yet clear what he did or didn't do to stop the one incident he witnessed), will all have to look upon their own friends and neighbors with suspicion, as this is likely a much more widespread problem than anyone cares to admit.

If this leads to greater funding for support for victims of sexual abuse, or at least greater awareness of the problem, then hopefully generations of future children can be better protected than those who have had to endure such abuses.  It may very well lead to a dramatic decrease in voluntary participation on youth sports as well, which will have a ripple effect throughout high school and college sports for years to come, but if that protects children, that is an easy trade-off to make.

And lastly, if you see something, say something.  First, attempt to stop it from happening, but after that, it doesn't matter to who- say something to everyone you meet.  Make sure enough people know that even if you personally don't think you can make an impact (even though you can), make sure SOMEONE can.  After all,

"All that is necessary for evil to triumph over good is for good men to do nothing."

-Edmund Burke

Asshole of the Year (And A Much Longer Timeframe) - Jerry Sandusky

There is a new leader in the clubhouse... Jerry Sandusky...

By now pretty much everyone who has working ears and a functional brain has heard about the horrors of the sexual abuse scandal at Penn State.  Jerry Sandusky is clearly a vile and disgusting human being.  In fact, given the brief history of my own personal Asshole of the Year awards, he may continue to win said award in perpetuity given the heinous nature of his acts. 

Any of the individual allegations would be enough to land him on this list, but in aggregate, they make even Robert G Burton look good, and that is a very difficult thing to do.  He pretty much nails (pardon the word) every single item on the scumbag list

• Abuses a position of power
• Acts creepy in public showers
• Doesn't have any kids of his own, but is way too friendly with others kids
• STARTS A FOUNDATION TO GET MORE ACCESS TO KIDS!!!!

I'd get into more, but the grand jury testimony speaks for itself... 

The rest of the Penn State staff certainly bears some responsibility as well for failure to act.  In fact, some could argue that any normal homo-erotic butt-slapping that Paterno allowed to go on (or even participated in, not that there's anything wrong with that), let to an inappropriate level of acceptance of shenanigans most clearly displayed by McQueary's non-interference with the anal rape of a 10 year old that he witnessed...  In fact, for that reason he should probably be retroactively nominated as Asshole of the Year for 2002.

But, Jerry Sandusky, in only the first year of my Asshole of the Year Awards, you have already clinched the Asshole of Eternity Award...