Penn State pedophilia

[All-American]

McQueery won't be at the game. Threats against him.

[hostile]

I went to the PSU athletic department website to see if I knew someone in the athletic department. The URL takes you automatically to a statement of support for the victims and their families; a condemnation of the alleged acts. It also still lists Joe Paterno as the head football coach and McCreary as an assistant.

[SeattleUte]

Interesting article. This applies to so many things.

I've been saying this. Religion and sports team affiliation are alike about identity. All those angry young men in the Middle East, they are desperate for identity. Really it's about all they have in life. You see a potent and somewhat sad confluence of religion and sports identity on these boards. (I still haven't figured out the ones who let go or purge themselves of the religious identity part, at great personal cost, and still can't let go of the BYU identity part.) Why do LDS parents turn a cold shoulder to apostate children? they close ranks around the cherished identity.

The need for identity fulfillment is so potent that it's an internally generated narcotic. You think I'm exaggerating? Look at what happened at Penn State. How badly we feel when our teams lose. I'm like Funk. I shy away sometimes becuase it's too painful. And this is just a vestage of my youth. I can't say I get a big ego jones about being a Ute in my everyday life.

It's all kind of depressing really. Ultimately, I've found greater fulfillment as an individual and letting go of these pathetic synthetic identities. But it seems that being part of groups, playing by the rules, putting the group above all else, maybe even family, is part of what we've evolved to become and the success of our species. It sucks. Certainly, as a practical matter, it's easier, increases your odds of worldly succes, to belong. You get all kinds of help.

[TripletDaddy]

You disagreed with someone in your very first post when he noted that JoePa's statements made PSU football seem like a religion. You specifically said you did not agree with that.

[SeattleUte]

You disagreed with someone in your very first post when he noted that JoePa's statements made PSU football seem like a religion. You specifically said you did not agree with that.

Let me clarify. He was no different than what you'd see at Michigan, Florida, BYU, USC. They are all religions, but his statement about Penn State was no more like religion than the rest; they all are that way, like religion in the same way, though technically not actually historical religions.

Do a search of SeattleUte and "identity" if you don't believe me.

[SoonerCoug]

The need for identity fulfillment is so potent that it's an internally generated narcotic.

It's tribalism. I tried to overcome my own tribalism and abandon Mormonism, but I couldn't do it. Instinct is too strong. Plus my mom still owns me.

[SeattleUte]

It's tribalism. I tried to overcome my own tribalism and abandon Mormonism, but I couldn't do it. Instinct is too strong. Plus my mom still owns me.

That instinct is also what's called feeling the spirit.

There's an element of misanthrope in every apostate.

[TripletDaddy]

JoePa contacts criminal defense attorney...the same guy that Pres. Bush retained during the Iran Contra hearings.

I wonder what Jacob makes of this latest development.

[SeattleUte]

Look at the massive places of worship we build; sports cathedrals.

[Solon]

Look at the massive places of worship we build; sports cathedrals.

Funny choice of words - Bob Trumpbour's book uses the same metaphor. Bob's at Penn State Altoona.

[ame="http://www.amazon.com/New-Cathedrals-Politics-Construction-Entertainment/dp/0815631324"]Amazon.com: The New Cathedrals: Politics and Media in the History of Stadium Construction (Sports and Entertainment) (9780815631323): Robert C. Trumpbour: Books@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51VTme0mXRL.@@AMEPARAM@@51VTme0mXRL[/ame]

[woot]

I'm surprised no one here has balked at the use of "religion" to describe PSU (or other sports teams). I generally don't like to redefine useful words like religion when there are already more general words, like tribalism, that work. I assumed that some would balk at the implied definition of religion as referring to an organization that breeds mindless support regardless of circumstance.

[myboynoah]

I'm surprised no one here has balked at the use of "religion" to describe PSU (or other sports teams). I generally don't like to redefine useful words like religion when there are already more general words, like tribalism, that work. I assumed that some would balk at the implied definition of religion as referring to an organization that breeds mindless support regardless of circumstance.

I've never seen my support as a sports fan as "mindless . . . regardless of circumstance." I don't view my religious devotion in those terms either.

[SeattleUte]

I've never seen my support as a sports fan as "mindless . . . regardless of circumstance." I don't view my religious devotion in those terms either.

Actually, I wasn't focusing on that aspect of religious devotion. I was focusing on the identity part which really doesn't involve mindless devotion.

[myboynoah]

Actually, I wasn't focusing on that aspect of religious devotion. I was focusing on the identity part which really doesn't involve mindless devotion.

I didn't think you were and agree there are correlations. I also don't believe you are as free of the need for identity fulfillment in this area as you claim. Indeed, I see that identity fulfillment as the muse behind many of your best contributions here and elsewhere.

[jay santos]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45244328.../#.TrxwPENFv8s


What's the deal with the missing DA? Do they think there is foul play here?