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NOW official demands Paterno resignation
Published on January 9, 2006 By singrdave In Football
NOW fakes more than orgasms. The National Organization for Women fakes outrage when it comes to "insensitive comments" and football players...

From today's Washington Post:

A leader from the National Organization for Women has asked Joe Paterno to resign over comments the Penn State football coach made about an alleged sexual assault.

Joanne Tosti-Vasey , president of the National Organization for Women in Pennsylvania, said yesterday that she was "appalled" by Paterno's comments last week and that they represent an institutional insensitivity that endangers women.

Paterno's remarks came a day before the Orange Bowl, when a reporter asked about Florida State linebacker A.J. Nicholson , who was accused of sexual assault and sent home before Tuesday's game.

Paterno replied by talking about past suspensions of Penn State players. He then added: "There's some tough -- there's so many people gravitating to these kids. He may not have even known what he was getting into, Nicholson. They knock on the door; somebody may knock on the door; a cute girl knocks on the door. What do you do?

"Geez. I hope -- thank God they don't knock on my door because I'd refer them to a couple of other rooms," Paterno continued. "But that's too bad. You hate to see that. I really do. You like to see a kid end up his football career. He's a heck of a football player, by the way; he's a really good football player. And it's just too bad."


For some inexplicable reason, girls want to sleep with athletes, rock stars, etc. They are called GROUPIES. It's called entrapment. Do we need to bring up Kobe Bryant again? While yeah, Kobe was a philanderer, the girl went to the room seeking sex. And then she turned around and sued him for rape. The charges were eventually dropped, but he settled civilly with the girl to keep her quiet.

Obviously I was not there when Florida State linebacker A.J. Nicholson and this girl allegedly had sex. (If I was, I'd have lots of pictures to sell to the media... I'll take you all out to dinner.) And Ms. Tosti-Vasey may be taking the quote totally out of context, as could the article I cited. But based on the information available, Paterno was simply responding off-the-cuff to a question about sexual assault by football players and he was providing an anecdote from his forty years of football coaching experience. Football players are not paragons of virtue. But I don't think Paterno was saying he panders women to his football players. Is NOW reacting to his blase response to the line of questioning? He didn't take the matter up with sufficient gravitas? His outrage wasn't enough for a person in his position?

Tosti-Vasey issued a news release calling for Paterno to apologize and step down from the post he has held for 40 years. She sent an e-mail to Paterno and the university president the next day, but said yesterday she has not heard back from either.

NOW won't get the time of day from Penn State or Paterno's people. This is a frivolous insult to the greatness of the legendary Joe Paterno.

"

Comments
on Jan 09, 2006
NOW lost all credibility and right to even bring up the question when they gave Bill Clinton a pass.  Paterno was not excusing or condoning the actions of the player.  He was explaining what sometimes happens.  If telling the truth is reason for dismissal, you might as well fire everyone.  This is such a non-story and hypocritical to boot.
on Jan 09, 2006
NOW lost all credibility and right to even bring up the question when they gave Bill Clinton a pass.


NOW strains at a gnat and swallows a camel.

Swallows what?

Yes, a camel.
on Jan 09, 2006

Yes, a camel.

Well, with the mouths on some of them, that is not hard to believe!

on Jan 09, 2006
Dude, Paterno didn't get canned after 5+ losing seasons where we couldn't figure out which end of the field to run towards. He's a walking legend in State College and might not even get fired if he killed someone. Saying that sometimes women come looking to get some action from rising football stars is NOT going to get anyone's feathers ruffled back at Penn State.

Also, it would be one thing if this was his reaction to a confirmed and convicted crime... but it's just alleged, and his response reads as one to a hypothetical situation. If the crime were proven and he had that cavalier attitude, then maybe there was something worth apologizing for... but it's not, so there wasn't.

on Jan 09, 2006

He's a walking legend in State College and might not even get fired if he killed someone.

Sounds like someone is a Penn State fan!

Just remember Woody Hayes.

on Jan 09, 2006
getting typical for SOME ladies to look for a future payday when having sex. I suggest stars of all stripes keep it in their pants.
on Jan 09, 2006
Guy... I'm a PSU alum and grew up in State College Some of my earliest memories involve PSU Football.
on Jan 09, 2006
typical for SOME ladies to look for a future payday when having sex. I suggest stars of all stripes keep it in their pants.

It's ego, mostly. Athletes, rock stars, etc., all feel larger than life and that nothing is going to slow down their hedonistic ways. Especially being on the road so many nights, women literally throwing themselves at them... I can see why these guys would want a piece of that no-strings action?

As for the cost? Well, it cost Kobe a big ol' ring to his wife. And the settlement.
on Jan 09, 2006
I think these remarks were timed deliberately. Joe Pa's supposed to be retiring, and if he does retire this offseason, NOW can claim it as a "victory".
on Jan 09, 2006
This isn't as blatant and over the top as, say, Bobby Knight's "If it's inevitable you may as well lay back and enjoy it," but it's heading there.

If the quote is accurate and complete it was a little insensitive, perhaps even offensive. He apparently made no mention of, gee, maybe the guy is guilty, or "I feel sorry for anyone who is actually raped." Naw, just -- that poor li'l ol' football player, he was a pretty good 'un, too. (I find most of this article distasteful for those same reasons. But don't worry about it, I'm sure I'll soon write one you find distasteful. ) I wouldn't be surprised if Ms. NOW's outrage is real, especially if she's a former victim of rape.

You have to consider, there is a nationwide institutional disregard of athletes who rape . Nobody wants to address it, everyone wants to sweep it under the rug. "Daggum it, we got the big game Friday, we can't lose Bobby! Besides, ya know what this sort of thing is. Li'l girl looking for glory, ya can't be expectin' some handsome young man ta resist that! She got what she wanted and now she has regrets? Let her deal with it!" Yeah, right. And the cycle continues.

The comments by this old man reflect that old attitude. That attitude needs to go -- and if the only way to clear it is to get rid of the old guard who perpetuate it, "Goodbye, Joe! And Take the administration that parrots it with you."

On those grounds, yes the comment is unfortunate and telling. I wonder how many dismissed true victims of rape it really represents.


Yes, a camel.


Sometimes a camel's just a camel.
on Jan 09, 2006

Guy... I'm a PSU alum and grew up in State College Some of my earliest memories involve PSU Football.

That's ok.  You are still A-ok in my book!

on Jan 10, 2006
I think these remarks were timed deliberately. Joe Pa's supposed to be retiring, and if he does retire this offseason, NOW can claim it as a "victory".

Wouldn't that be hilarious if NOW claimed they drove the great Joe Paterno into retirement.
on Jan 11, 2006
Wouldn't that be hilarious if NOW claimed they drove the great Joe Paterno into retirement.


singr,

I will be so bold as to make this prediction. If Joe Pa DOES retire this offseason, NOW will take at least partial credit.