Is This The End of Passionate Jerry?

"I'm a very passionate person in terms of trying to make a difference in the lives of young people."
Jerry Sandusky, former Penn State defensive coordinator, Second Mile Foundation head and accused pedophile.



Passionate is probably a word Mr. Sandusky should have avoided. Of course he should have avoided many things over the last fifteen years or so, but a growing body of evidence is starting to indicate he didn't.

The latest blow to the defense came when the court allowed an un-aired portion of the interview between Sandusky and Bob Costas to be heard by the jury. Why NBC chose to edit the exchange out of the original broadcast is unclear. It shows Costas, who may, or may not be Katy Couric's long lost twin, grilling Sandusky about his involvement with at risk youth.

Sandusky opened himself to the question by saying, among other things his actions with certain youth may have been "misinterpreted." He went on to say, "I worked very hard to connect with them, to make them feel good about themselves. To be something significant in their lives."

Then Costas came with this, according to MSNBC, "But isn't what you're describing the classic MO of many pedophiles? And that is they gain the trust of young people, they don't necessarily abuse every young person. There were hundreds if not thousands of young boys you came in contact with, but there are allegations that at least eight of them were victimized. Many people believe there are more to come. So it is entirely possible that you helped young boy A in some way that was not objectionable while horribly taking advantage of boys B, C, D, and E. Isn't that possible?"

I don't know about anyone else, but if I'm innocent of grotesque charges such of these my personal response would have been something like, "It isn't possible, because I didn't molest, or abuse anyone." End of story.

According to the transcript Jerry Sandusky said this: "Well you might think that. I don't know. In terms--of my relationship with so many young people. I would--I would guess that there are many young people who would come forward. Many more young people would come forward and say that my methods and what I've done for them made a very positive impact on them. And I didn't go around seeking out every young person for sexual needs that I've helped. There are many that I didn't have--hardly had any contact with who I have helped in many, many ways."

NBC news analyst, Wes Oliver is quoted as saying, "A reasonable interpretation of that statement is that he did in fact have sexual contact with these young men he supposedly helped."

You think, Wes?

Sandusky's attorney is all ready trotting out a personality disorder theory to try to explain away the bizarre letters Sandusky wrote to some of the victims over the years. He even hinted that the condition, Histrionic Personality Disorder is the cause behind some of the old coach's behavior. Symptoms include, desperately seeking the approval of others and overly dramatic and inappropriate conduct to get attention.

I'm sorry, but the average lay person is going to consider that argument prima facie bullshit. The, "its all a scam for money," line seems more reasonable by a few degrees than that one.

At this point one has to wonder what is going through the minds of Sandusky's family. He has been married to the same woman since 1966 and has six adopted children. If they truly didn't know anything there must be a gnawing sense of horror and repulsion. You can deny things in your heart and mind only so long before the sheer weight of the evidence causes a complete collapse of everything you've always believed.

Of course it maybe that the sheer horror is so great that everything has just shut down for them. Indeed, in his last days Penn State head coach Joe Paterno appeared more befuddled than anything else. Right up to the end he seemed completely unable to understand the gravity of what was happening to not just Sandusky, but himself and his beloved university.

This is all ugly in the extreme. Defense attorney, Joe Amendola has to be plotting out plans for an appeal all ready. The trial certainly isn't going his client's way and he is bound to know it.

No, for Jerrry Sandusky the writing looks to be on the wall.

Barring some rogue juror, he is done.

6-18-12