You know what’s crazy? I’ll tell you what’s crazy.
JOE PATERNO DEAD AT AGE 85.
Sadness.
Joe Paterno.
Living legend.
America’s Grandpa.
born 1926 – died 2012
Dead at 85.
Sunday January 22nd 2012: ESPN is in Breaking News coverage, going wall to wall.
The interviews and the memories are poignant and lucid and full of history and meaning. Commentators are somber as they try to summarize a life that touched so many souls.
ESPN analysts call him a star larger than life. As the analysts pontificate from their memory and heart, the network cuts to live shots of the bronzed Paterno statue on the campus. It is surrounded by candles and flowers and cards. A mother and father and little girl walk up to the statue and bow their heads in prayer. It is poignant.
Paterno won 2 national championships and more football games than any man in history.
He touched lives beyond the grid iron. He rolled up his pants so as not to get his cuffs muddy. He wore coke bottle glasses that gave him an iconic look. He spoke with a simple honesty that came from his heart.
He wasn’t ready to step down, but he was forced out during the Jerry Sandusky imbroglio.
It’s a sad way to leave. Many say it broke his heart, his spirit, and perhaps his will to live.
Paterno is described as a man who affected untold lives, a man who died in the shadow of controversy.
But Jo Pa should be remembered for the great life he lead, and the lives he touched.
Matt Millen was a Penn State linebacker from 76-79 said this:
“I can’t help but think he died of a broken heart and that bothers me,” Millen says by phone. His impact on me was, a man who took what you had and he didn’t try and break you but he formed you into what you could be. He opened you up to the reality of what you could be, not just in football, but for the rest of your life. He starts you on a path, and I speak for literally hundreds of whom he did the same thing for.”
Millen pauses often on the verge of tears. “The way it ended – and to fall into this whole mess – i know this whole thing has been killing him, and that is the wrong words to say, but it is a sad day and we lost a great man on a lot of levels and it is so sad.”
Mike Ditka says ” this was a man of class. What the university did to him was grossly wrong. he has impacted so many lives. it is tragedy. His whole life was Penn State and coaching which is why he still did it at 85 years old.”
Lous Holtz said; “I made the comment, he would not live six months, he lost his will to live. Penn State was his life. When someone takes away his will to live, it is diminished.”
Brent Musburger said; “I asked him, Joe why won’t you retire? Because of Bear Bryant. He didn’t live long after he left Alabama. And i fear the same thing for myself and it came to pass. I send my condolences to the entire Paterno family. Paterno never complained. We seconded guessed him on a broadcast once. Dick Vermeil said the Penn State’s passing game sucked. And Vermeil felt sorry about that and wrote him a note and the coach wrote him back and said you don’t have to apologize, we did suck that day.”
When asked about dieing with a broken heart, Mussburger said this: “No question. There is no question about that. he went to his grave wondering could I have done more.”
Joe Paterno’s passing makes me think about life’s journey. It is not interminable. It is finite. We have limited time to better ourselves and those around us.
I look at my kids and how they view life. To the youth, life appears to be a long and winding path filled with so much time. But as the years pass, time moves faster. Taking advantage of time is important.
R.I.P. JOE PA.
His passing is reminder to live life with purpose, because to lose sight of that purpose is to waste time and perhaps life.
And that is crazy.