Category: Football Author : Daniel McCall Posted: January 28, 2012
Tags : Joe Paterno, Joe Paterno Memorial, michael robinson, Penn State, pro bowl, Seattle Seahawks
Michael Robinson was in Hawaii for the Pro Bowl, but his mind was elsewhere. He had been invited after his impressive performance as a Seattle Seahawks fullback and was in the process of practicing for the big game, but he made the decision to book an 11-hour flight from Hawaii to the mainland to attend a memorial service for former Penn State coach Joe Paterno.
Robinson was once a quarterback for Penn State, having been a large part of the team’s victory in a Big Ten championship back in 2005. When Robinson took the stage at Paterno’s memorial service, he said that the legendary Penn State coach one told him that, one day, he would be in the Pro Bowl as either a running back or a fullback. Sure enough, he is.
“And as God is my witness,” Robinson said at the memorial service, “three hours ago I got off a plane from Hawaii – because I’ve been voted to my first Pro Bowl.”
In the speech, Robinson said that if it weren’t for Paterno he likely would never have been nominated for the Pro Bowl, much less would he be in the NFL. Robinson went on to speak fondly of Paterno’s honesty in his recruitment, promising the up-and-comer that he would receive top-notch education at Penn State, and would compete for the quarterback position.
“Again, Joe Paterno did not lie to me,” Robinson said.
Robinson’s decision to make the long flight to pay tribute to his former coach is certainly admirable, but several players were wondering why Robinson was taking such a long flight out just before the Pro Bowl.
“Some of the game’s biggest stars, when I was down in Hawaii, were asking me, ‘Why are you going on the trip? Why are you going so far? It’s, like. 11 hours in the air,’ ” Robinson said. “My answer? ‘I wouldn’t be any other place in the world right now.’ ”
“Just because he’s not with us, don’t let the dream, don’t let the experiment, don’t let the values go away,” Robinson said as he closed out his speech. “He’s in all of us.”
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer
Jan 28, 2012
Yeah, takes a real man to fly all that way to honor a man who chose to protect his reputation rather than stop children from being raped by his friend and colleague. I hope there is a special hell for Paterno to burn in forever.
Stop honoring a man who was complicit in child rape!
Jan 30, 2012
Dave–it's obvious from your comment that you despise pedophilia, which is admirable. However, you need to study the facts regarding Paterno's involvement in Sandusky's alleged crime. At first Paterno was lambasted for not acting on the info. he was given–some speculated that he actively covered up the crime. However, those who study the facts (what few have been revealed so far) can see that Paterno acted reasonably given what he knew at the time (for instance, he did not know Sandusky was a serial pedophile (allegedly) or that Schultz/Curley would not do their jobs). Of course, in retrospect he should have done more (he acknowledged this). Of course, if we all had the Powers of Retrospect all crimes would be prevented!
Many of the facts have yet to come out–but it seems clear that Paterno was not "complicit in child rape." He reported the crime to the proper authorities (according to the AG), he followed up (though perhaps not as much as he ought to, given what we know now). The prosecution specifically cited him for his participation and he was a willing prosecution witness–so accusing him of trying to "protect his reputation rather than stop children from being raped" is a charge that is obviously without merit.
The bigger message here is not to condemn another person, especially when you don't have all the facts. You say, "I hope there is a special hell for Paterno to burn in forever": this hope reveals not only your ignorance about the person you condemn, but also your maliciousness in general.