Comments on: Interviews: ‘Remembering Joe Paterno’

By: Lonnie

Lonnie — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 02:57:31 +0000

Tom,

Joe did pretty much what you, me, or anyone else in this situation would do……followed protocol. It is an utter joke how you people keep going after this without knowing the facts. The sanctimonious lynch mob is already starting to back down in that polls indicate (people are actually doing polls on this stuff) that now we are at 42% versus 55% of people who think that Joe should even have been fired. Now what is it that would change people’s opinions on something like this? Short memory? No….facts are coming out along with people not listening to the lynch mob and realizing that Joe couldnt do diddly about Sandusky being on campus with professor emeritus status…only the president and the BOT can take that away. Have we heard that one from any of the major outlets?? No. Why? It would settle the story….cant get ratings that way. If you people actually researched this entire thing like Sally Jenkins of the Post…you might have a different opinion…Again, that doesnt get ratings. You guys all talk about the kids…..if they mattered to you, you would get to the real facts as to where the ball was dropped. But hey, you know as well as I do that the way to get ratings is to get the big name. Here….I will give you some hints and then maybe you will do your job…..Follow the money and look at the names other than Paterno. Do the kids a real service and get the story right. Oh, another clue…..if you really want to be a true and professional journalist and do that research you will also find that this had nothing to do with covering PSU football.

By: Mark

Mark — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 14:49:26 +0000

I watched much of the coverage about Joe’s passing on both networks ( BTN & ESPN ) and was like many others disappointed by the amount of coverage of the scandal and not on Joe’s life. He had a profound affect on thousands, if not millions, of people. His generosity and what he did for those around him is legendary.
Did he make a mistake? Sort of. He did what he was legally supposed to do; could he and should he have done more. Probably. But who among us can say that they should not have done something different in their lives. Not a one of us, and if you say something different, you are only kidding yourself. Life happens people. You do things and your life keeps on moving on whether you want it to or not. That is may have happened to Joe. He meant to follow up on the situtation, but life happened and he simply forgot about it. I know things like that happen to me and I am not in my mid 70′s as Joe was at the time.
The one who should have followed up was Mike McQueary. He is the person who supposedly witnessed the act. In a court of law, Joe could testify to NOTHING, everything that he could say is heresay, which as you should know is not admissable.
I think Joe was just the scapegoat for this whole ordeal and the media ( and the Board of Trustees ) should all be ashamed of themselves. They crucified a great man before all the facts are in, and yes I say are, because thing are still coming out on this whole “scandal”.
Remember this is the USA where you are supposed to be innocent until proven guilty. Obviously, the media has forgotten this fact.
Rest in peace JoePa. You will be missed.
WE ARE……..PENN STATE!!!!!!!!!!!!

By: JoAnn

JoAnn — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 01:51:52 +0000

Wow–glad I missed it.
BTN, it is the media who has profited from this –from putting Joe PAterno’s face on it–wrongly.
Joe PAterno did what h thought he should do. Then, at the end, h told the truth about what happened.
If you want to indict someone, try the PSU Board of Trustees, or the now governor of the Commonwealth of PA who knew about this thre years ago and did NOTHING to stop the real perp-Jerry Sandusky.
RIP JOE-you were the best.

By: Denise Green

Denise Green — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 17:14:15 +0000

If you truly wanted to be balanced, only 15 seconds of a one hour program should have been devoted to the scandal.

By: Ed Pawlak

Ed Pawlak — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 14:35:15 +0000

BTN & ESPN both convicted JoePa before any of the facts are known. We still don’t know what McQueary actually said . Joe said it wasn’t specific but something sexual in nature and he didn’t feel comfortable so he reported it up the chain. While he said he wished he did more wouldn’t anyone feel that way Even aA watchman on the Titanic named Hog or Hoog said he wished he’d have done more.
What about the other folks who knew – the victims mother , the HS coach and principal – none of them flagged it. Reports are that all previous investigattions by the AG lacked evidence to procedure so maybe just maybe 2002 was a similar accusation.
99% of his life was exemplary he made 1 mistake. If Sandusky or Curly & Schultz don’t get convicted will BTN have the integrity to admit your wrong.
Your fumbled the ball on this one.

By: Joe Cardamone

Joe Cardamone — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 14:31:35 +0000

Tom Dienhart: “Any coverage of Paterno’s passing had to discuss and deal with the ending. No doubt, Paterno is an American icon who did many great things. And those great things were disucssed in BTN’s coverage. But to ignore the horriffic end would have been to paint an imbalanced picture.”

Sorry, Tom. Your network painted an imbalanced picture of the man, like it or not. I’m not saying the “horriffic end” should not have been discussed, but you devoted too much time to it. Don’t bother defending it. Simply apologize, do a proper tribute to a great man that just past away, and move on. There are too many good stories to count of the man and his family. If you actually took the time to put together the full story, you would realize how foolish your network looked.

By: Carrie

Carrie — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 13:40:04 +0000

Mr Dienhart & BTN, I think maybe you should look at the situation from people who grew up watching this great man. If this was your father or grandfather or even someone you idolized, who made this mistake, would you love them any less? Did he make a mistake? Yes, but can you honestly say that in your life you never looked back at a situation where you wish you had handled things differently? You are human, and as Bob Marley has been quoted saying “…before you start pointing fingers, make sure your hands are clean.” Should this tribute had touched on the ending, maybe, at the end for a very brief moment, but you should have focused on the 61 years of great things he did and I’m sure that would have taken up more than your hour you allowed for airtime to run this so called “special”. And as media, I thought you were suppose to be neutral? You should be ashamed of yourself. Yes, you can feel the way you do, and no one is saying your opinion is wrong, but on a site where you are suppose to be supporting and honoring a man who did so much for football and for the Big 10 in which you are employeed, keep those feelings to yourself!!!

By: Ed

Ed — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 12:07:42 +0000

Mr, Dienhart,
How can you call this report balanced? Since when did BTN become TMZ sports? Here was a chance to do some good work and promote good will to one of your largest fan bases. BTN consistently takes the time to show Penn State in a negative light. From Classic College Football that goes out of its way to show PSU losses to this incredibly biased “tribute”. Please, Mr Senior writer, look up the word tribute in the dictionary. It includes one’s entire life. If you were really balanced in this tribute, you sanctimonius egotistical blowhard, then in a 60 minute show you would have spent 5 minutes on the scandal, AND your shills, oops i mean announcers wouldnt have spewed such one sided opinions and just have done what they should. Report the event.

By: Linda

Linda — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 02:28:07 +0000

Your program on Joe Paterno last night could not be called a “tribute” or “remembrance.” You played with people’s emotions at a time of grieving to promote your own agenda. Mr. Dienhart, you and your staff can try to rationalize this piece of cheap journalism all you want, but you have alienated viewers. We won’t be watching any longer.

By: David Mooney

David Mooney — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 01:23:16 +0000

I am becoming tired of the commentary of Denardo and Revsine. They have repeatedly convicted the guy. When Joe says , in hindsight he wished he had done more.–these are the same words he said to Capelletti during his Heisman season. Joe always thought one could do or give more. At least one voice has been fair. Thank you Howard.