1. Joe Paterno had a "just cause" clause in his contract. He was fired without a hearing. Any rookie county judge would throw his dismissal out in a minute.
2. The NCAA is punishing the residents of Pennsylvania. Who gave the NCAA the authority to do that? People who buy tickets, pay tuition, buy Penn State gear or even those who just pay taxes are going to see $45 million taken out of this state. That is absurd! Penn State or even the budget committees in the Legislature are not allowed to monitor this.
3. The NCAA violated its own rules and charter, and completely ignored one of the founding principles of our country. Do they not know the meaning of "due process?" Their action is fascistic, to say the least.
4. Not one NCAA rule was broken. The football program and players were clean. Why punish them?
5. No one looked into the relationship of Louis Freeh's Delaware bank to the The Second Mile. Freeh even introduced Sandusky at a banquet in 2001 - three years after the first allegation made against him. Could it be he wanted a "rush to judgment" so this did not come to light?
6. When a college player beats up his girlfriend, does the NCAA punish the school after he is locked up? NO!
7. The was and is a criminal matter. The major culprit is in jail. Freeh took the position that Paterno was guilty of a coverup, based on the emails of two guys indicted for perjury. That could not stand up in any court.
8. Just suppose a jury acquits [former vice president Gary] Schultz, [athletic director Tim] Curley and former president Graham] Spanier. Does that mean that by association Joe Paterno was also unfairly accused? What then? Do they give the money back? Paterno's victories?
9. Corbett's mistake was not filing this suit immediately.
10. [Graduate assistant Mike] McQueary was fired on network TV by Erickson. Whatever he wins in court is not enough for what Erickson did to him. He stole his life, which is unforgivable.
Bob Shapley
Stu & his bright ideas
A stenciled STOP BAR might be a bright idea, but please explain to me how it may save on paint costs. ("Byko's bright ideas," Stu Bykofsky column, Dec. 31, 2012.)
Last time I checked, a stencil is laid down on the surface you want to leave an impression of something, then you spray over the stencil, using the same amount of paint you would use if there wasn't a stencil.
Now, come to think of it, using a stencil will probably cost more considering the additional labor needed to lay the stencil down, remove the stencil after its painted, hire additional people to clean up all of the mess made removing the stencil, trash bag costs, trash bag hailing . . .
Bright Idea!
Bob Gerngross
Chestnut Hill
Three great ideas and so simple.
I live in town, walk to work, do not own a car. Your ideas would make navigating much easier and less stressful. I actually stopped commuting to my office - a 1.3 -mile distance - via bike because of pedestrians (i.e. people on phones, texting, etc.), not cars.
Anyhow, Philadelphia's charm is that it is a city designed for and best utilized by foot. Keeping it that way, albeit making provisions for those things on four wheels and enforcing all regulations and laws fairly and professionally, will keep it the distinctive and welcoming city it is.
All best wishes for a happy, healthy New Year.
Christopher Jungers
Philadelphia
Re: "Stop targeting guns, owners in safety talks" (Bykofsky column, Dec. 28, 2012).
Wasn't sure about your article until I read it (initial sensitivity led me to reject it immediately) and I agree with your points. Very well put! However, I remain pessimistic that any meaningful progress will be made and we will have to tolerate living in a violent society.
All we can do is vote. Keep pushing your reasonable approach and identify candidates that support such (I am a Republican but will pay more attention to this issue and vote accordingly in the future) and we may have a chance.
Happy New Year!
William D. Kingsbury
Wilmington, N.C.
