Thanks to reader Joe for bringing this little team performance transitivity calculator to my attention.
It could provide endless hours of amusement to people with too much time on their hands, for example, PS4RS. (I’ve been picking on their vacuous mission lately. I should cease and desist. They actually represent a harbinger of hope for those who believe in fairy tales. Oops, there I go again.)
Anyhow, check this out!
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lawrence hamilton says
I’m a loyal PSU fan, alumnus and father of 2 grads and one soon to be one more grad. Without being too harsh on me can you tell me why you think the PS4RS mission is so wrong? I’d like to hear your opinion. If you want to be nasty, save that for someone else, OK?
The Nittany Turkey says
I’m not going to be nasty, and moreover, if some of my rambunctious facetiousness has led you to believe that I am taking cheap shots at the organization, then I apologize to you and to them. However, that doesn’t mean that I think they’re going to accomplish anything much more beneficial than making some of us feel better that “something is being done”.
Anyone who expects to see the NCAA reverse or reduce its sanctions against Penn State is, in my humble but strong opinion, delusional. What’s done is done, and it is not going to be undone, even if evidence emerges that impugns the basis for the sanctions. Why? Because of a legal document called a consent decree. Both sides agreed to the sanctions, and the agreement was legally executed, having been passed through attorneys in both organizations. Any condemnation or criticism of the signatories that doesn’t acknowledge that they were competent and legally empowered to sign the consent decree is mere grousing about “we wuz wronged.” We don’t like it — hell, none of us do — but it is a done deal and it is not going away.
While I don’t think that PS4RS believes they can do anything about getting sanctions rescinded, I do fear that they’re making a lot of people think that they have more power to effect change than they do. Perhaps, they might be able to influence alumni to vote for responsible trustees — but how many trustees are elected by the alumni, and how much power do they wield? The governor’s appointees, the industry representatives, and, of course, those who vote with bottomless wallets (Ira Lupert), will always have the prime committee positions. How do you think PS4RS can change that by influencing the election of three alumni favorites a year?
My only expression of hope involves a broader investigation of the Sandusky affair and the Second Mile. PS4RS is not the right organization to get its hands dirty with the filth of high level Commonwealth politics and skeletons in closets (literally, in the case of Ray Gricar). In my opinion once again, PS4RS is spinning evolutionary wheels with a projected end result that will be a modest increase in transparency of the BoT, whereas a major, revolutionary approach is the only way any the endemic system stench will be eradicated. A little perfume won’t do it.
Alas, unless the Feds were to become involved—and it is ridiculous to think that they will—it is unlikely that anyone will have the balls to blow the whistle on anyone abover the rank of university president. I suspect that the reason for that is that there are some very powerful people involved, people who have big things to hide, and who have the capabilities of putting the quietus on anyone who should happen to point an accusatory finger at them.
This all might sound paranoid, but I welcome your opinions on the PS4RS initiatives, and I am not as stubborn as I seem when someone presents factual, non-emotional evidence toward impugning my positions.
By the way, I do have a couple of relevant predictions.
I believe that the Paterno statue will resurface, and that it will be in a separate Paterno Room in the Penn State All-Sports museum, but that won’t happen for a few years. Furthermore, I believe that if enough evidence comes to light that Paterno was innocent of the cover-up inherent in the basis for the sanctions, I don’t think it will be any skin of the NCAA’s nose to make the overtly magnanimous P.R. gesture of reinstating Paterno’s wins. I think that’s the only mitigation the organization can effect that helps them more than it weakens their disciplinary position, and it could be used to positive political effect. I think it might have to wait for Bobby Bowden to join Joe at that great press conference in the sky, though.
Thanks for your thoughtful comments, Lawrence, and for your response, if you choose to respond.
—TNT