Were You As "Icked" Out As I Was?

I was busy watching the Packer game on Monday evening but managed to still be grossed out by Bob Costas' interview with former Penn State coach Jerry Sandusky. Hearing his voice as I watched the news on Tuesday evening sent chills up my spine. He was convinced he was in the right- completely innocent. Which, by law he is until proven guilty. But listening carefully it was very clear this was someone who just doesn't get what's falling down on him and around him. AND that it IS his behavior that has caused it.

It was certainly more than 10-12 years ago, the time frame of some of the accusations, that I knew- and was trained in- the way you should and should not act around and with young people. DO NOT shower alone with them. In fact, don't be alone with them. We in the church and the people in the Boy Scouts were in the midst of serious training for all of us about these issues. NO MATTER WHAT, don't put yourself in a position like that. EVER.

Be the adult! Absolutely, positively, act your age. You do not, repeat DO NOT, do horse play in the shower with a young person. It is extremely unsafe. It is NOT being an adult role model. ACT YOUR AGE.

I find it incredible that Sandusky can, now, all these years later with all the controversy surrounding him, JUSTIFY these behaviors. These are just as out of bounds as what he is charged with. True, they are not illegal, but they are just as outside the realm of what is appropriate. NO QUESTIONS! These are big trouble in and of themselves.

Yet Sandusky easily threw them out as okay behaviors for an adult coach with obviously underage boys. Don't give me any of that crap that you "enjoy young people." Don't let some lawyer convince you that he is just some jock who is just a big kid. The lawyer is, in essence telling us that being a [dumb] jock is an excuse for being stupid, unwise, and involved in inappropriate behavior.

I don't buy it.

Sandusky did more harm than good to his own case. Did his lawyer even know this was going to happen? If so, he may be mal-practicing law. If not, he should get out before he is in the midst of something far more sinister than he realizes.

The look on Bob Costas' face spoke volumes. He could not believe what he was hearing.

Neither could I.

And it will be used against Sandusky. As it should.