It is time for a Blawg post – for no other reason than we haven’t had one for quite some time. The following thoughts are as unfocused as the above title and this stated purpose.
– My take on the Penn State/Joe Paterno/Sandusky situation – Loyalty is a character trait that is highly valued. It can be defined as “steadfastness or faithfulness to a person, institution, custom or idea to which one is tied by duty, pledge or a promise.” One of the things that appears to have bound persons to Coach Paterno was his loyalty to players, coaches and others around him. Unfortunately, his loyalty to Coach Sandusky was greatly misplaced and has done huge damage to both his legacy and to others. A tragedy in literature is defined as a “drama or literary work in which the main character is brought to ruin or suffers extreme sorrow, especially as a consequence of a tragic flaw, moral weakness, or inability to cope with unfavorable circumstances.” What do we call a storywhere the main character is brought to ruin or suffers extreme sorrow as a result of a trait that would otherwise be a strength?
– There does not seem to be any end to the heat wave in the forseeable future. I did, however, spend last Friday night watching a high school football contact camp in Salem, Missouri. If preparations for high school football are starting to get underway, maybe fall is not too far off?
– I was surprised by the various national media writings condemning the booing of New York Yankee Robinson Cano at the recent All Star game in Kansas City. Isn’t Cano a Yankee? I must agree with writer Joe Posnanski’s statement -“Cano is a Yankee, and the day it becomes uncool to boo the Yankees is the day we need to reevaluate what the national pastime is all about.” As long as Mr. Cano wears the same uniform as Chris Chambliss and Goose Gossage, he must expect to be booed.