In my book, Building Cultural Intelligence (CQ), I discuss nine megaskills. These megaskills comprise a skill-set that is absolutely essential for employability and success in the global marketplace. One megaskill, “Understanding the Dynamics of Power,” helps us make sense of the tragedy that came to light last week. As is well-known by now, Jerry Sandusky, Joe Paterno’s long-time assistant coach, is accused of sexually molesting at least eight boys over the course of 15 years. Sandusky, whose standing in the community was enhanced by his relationship to Joe Pa (Paterno) and his work as founder of The Second Mile Foundation, was a cult-like figure. Tragically, people at Penn State University (PSU) – people within the football program and upper-level administrators, people who could have exposed Sandusky and put an end to this criminal behavior, chose not to.
The media does not handle this kind of thing well. It focuses almost exclusively on personalities and individuals, when it needs to focus more on the broader issue of power and big-time college athletics. PSU’s football program made a 52 million dollar profit last year. That kind of profit equals power, and often times that power can hold a university hostage. Not surprisingly, PSU offers a popular course entitled, “Joe Paterno, Communications, and the Media.” The instructor, Mike Poorman, is quoted as saying, “Paterno manages the media on his own terms.” My guess is that Joe also managed the Athletic Director, the President, the Board of Trustees, and any and all members of the college community.
Another big-time college president compared college athletics to the front porch of a home; meaning it is the most visible part of an institution. At PSU, the football team was more than the porch; rather, it set the norms governing PSU and decided who, if anyone, gets punished for violating those norms. The result was a community of warped values, misplaced priorities, and distorted perspectives.
Next week, Part Two…
There is something wrong at the very core of the way this country deals with sports. We reward individuals who batter their wives, use drugs, brutalize animals, and molest children by hiding their wrongs, adding to their contracts, and paying them insane amounts of money. Sandusky may be among the worst of the offenders, but the number of felons involved in professional level sports serves as an invitation to the younger set into a life of privilege and permissiveness.
There’s only one other place (besides the state prison) that shelters so many individuals who have done so much wrong. Sadly, according to what I have seen, that place is the Congress of the United States.
I truely feel that PSU was wrong to fire Paterno because of somone else’s negligence and they acted on it before the facts actually came to light but hopefully justice will be served.