Bill James's comments on Sandusky and Paterno

[Elktonnick]

Bill James made one of the most ill considered statements regarding Paterno and the Sandusky case. The Red Sox must publically disassociate themselves from Bill James's statements on this case.

[Emmz]

You sound like you're with the media.

[Elktonnick]

You sound like you're with the media.

 

No. If I were I would write an entire column on why Bill James is totally irresponsible for making the comments he did while in the employ of the Boston Red Sox. If I were in John Henry's shoes I would be livid at James.

[Emmz]

Do you know what he said? He defended Joe Pa as far as I can tell. Not going to pretend I know everything that was said, but it appears he was defending Joe Pa.

[yeszir]

Do you know what he said? He defended Joe Pa as far as I can tell. Not going to pretend I know everything that was said' date=' but it appears he was defending Joe Pa.[/quote']

 

Think that's the problem....

[Elktonnick]

Do you know what he said? He defended Joe Pa as far as I can tell. Not going to pretend I know everything that was said' date=' but it appears he was defending Joe Pa.[/quote']

 

Exactly, He disputed the Freeh report etc. The problem from the Red Sox point of view is why did Bill James insert himself and by association the Boston Red Sox in this mess. James diminishes Paterno's role when the Freeh's report cites documnetary evidence that Paterno convinced others not to report Sandusky to lawful authorites.

[a700hitter]

Get rid of him. He's a glorified statistician.

[BornToRun]

Get rid of him. He's a glorified statistician.

 

He's the father of an entire movement that changed the game. The things that he championed helped this team to win two world championships. The man is a genius and whatever stupid s*** he said or didn't say, I'm glad we have him working for us.

[Youk Of The Nation]

Yeah, but he should still be yelled at, a lot, for A: Making public comments on a national news story that has had such an impact on public opinion, when it has nothing to do with the Red Sox, and B: Using his position as a member of the Red Sox to support a guy who spent a decade covering up child rape.

[VA Sox Fan]

From an article in the Globe:

 

Among James' comments, first on the notion Paterno did not act appropriately when informed of allegations against Sandusky:

 

"It's very hard, in fact I think it's impossible, to explain why Paterno should have been the first to go to police. ... [Paterno] knew less about it than everybody else there.

On the extent of Paterno's power at Penn State:

 

 

 

"[The thought that] everything revolves around [Paterno] is total nonsense. He had very few allies. He was isolated. He was not nearly as powerful as people imagine him to have been."

 

 

On the media's role in the story:

 

“Paterno is one of the very few people who saw Sandusky and saw a coach who wasn’t doing a job anymore, rather than a hero … people who are responsible for it are the media. The media created this smokescreen behind which Sandusky operated, and then they’re trying to blame Paterno.”

[Emmz]

I don't know if James was talking out of his ass or what, but he said he read it as well. He obviously got something out of it that you guys didn't.

[a700hitter]

He's the father of an entire movement that changed the game. The things that he championed helped this team to win two world championships. The man is a genius and whatever stupid s*** he said or didn't say' date=' I'm glad we have him working for us.[/quote']Yeah, I know who he is. I read his stuff before your parents had hair on their genitals. He's made a on of money from being a super nerd fan and numbers cruncher. Everyone is onto his math models now. He hasn't come up with anything new and useful in years. His temperature gauge for hitters is just ridiculous. He embarrassed the organization. Get rid of him and get a lower paid math nerd/ baseball fan.:thumbdown

[Youk Of The Nation]

"It's very hard, in fact I think it's impossible, to explain why Paterno should have been the first to go to police. ...

 

Oh, I don't know, maybe because going to the police is what you do when you suspect someone of sexually assaulting children?

[SCM33]

He's the father of an entire movement that changed the game. The things that he championed helped this team to win two world championships. The man is a genius and whatever stupid s*** he said or didn't say' date=' I'm glad we have him working for us.[/quote']

 

Child rape.

 

Child rape.

 

Child rape.

 

You sure you want to stick by your statement?

 

You know its just a game right? I'm starting to think you consider Josh Beckett and the Redsox life or death, otherwise, you'd never defend Bill James here.......nobody should support anyone who knew anything about it.

 

Child rape.

[BornToRun]

Child rape.

 

Child rape.

 

Child rape.

 

You sure you want to stick by your statement?

 

You know its just a game right? I'm starting to think you consider Josh Beckett and the Redsox life or death, otherwise, you'd never defend Bill James here.......nobody should support anyone who knew anything about it.

 

Child rape.

 

So he said something stupid. He should've kept his mouth shut but people have said/done far worse than this and kept their job.

[Youk Of The Nation]

He shouldn't necessarily be fired, but he should be told by his superiors why there was no reason for him to comment on this, and why he was wrong.

[SCM33]

So he said something stupid. He should've kept his mouth shut but people have said/done far worse than this and kept their job.

 

I honestly don't even know what to say.

 

You have no realistic sense of what happened.

 

To say he "said something stupid" and "people have done worse" is pretty ignorant.

 

James defended a guy, who knew that kids were being raped for decades.

[Elktonnick]

He shouldn't necessarily be fired' date=' but he should be told by his superiors why there was no reason for him to comment on this, and why he was wrong.[/quote']

 

Absolutely correct.

[BornToRun]

He shouldn't necessarily be fired' date=' but he should be told by his superiors why there was no reason for him to comment on this, and why he was wrong.[/quote']

 

Oh no doubt. I'm not saying he wasn't wrong and shouldn't be told to shut up. What he said was stupid and he needs to be made aware of that but he shouldn't be fired.

[BornToRun]

I honestly don't even know what to say.

 

You have no realistic sense of what happened.

 

To say he "said something stupid" and "people have done worse" is pretty ignorant.

 

James defended a guy, who knew that kids were being raped for decades.

 

So we should fire him for a making one stupid comment? No one's disputing that he should've kept his mouth shut but it really isn't a fireable offense.

[Youk Of The Nation]

Also maybe someone could beat him up a little bit. What's Varitek doing nowadays?

[NativeBostonian]

His comments are as out of touch as Joe was. He should be reprimanded for making them.

[Dojji]

I honestly don't even know what to say.

 

You have no realistic sense of what happened.

 

To say he "said something stupid" and "people have done worse" is pretty ignorant.

 

James defended a guy, who knew that kids were being raped for decades.

 

This just in, Bill James likes child rapists.

 

Come on, can you possibly be any more over the top sensationalist about the child rape angle?

 

I mean I'm not even saying you're wrong, but holy crap dude.

 

He probably should be reprimanded, but let me ask this -- what evidence does everyone have that he hasn't been? The Red Sox don't exactly take their employees out to Fenway and flog them on the pitcher's mound.

 

I just think screaming for blood on this one is a bit ridiculous, even if you think as I do that James was absolutely wrong to say what he said. Last time I checked, people in this country were still entitled to their opinion.

[Youk Of The Nation]

The Red Sox don't exactly take their employees out to Fenway and flog them on the pitcher's mound.

 

Too bad. That would have made John Lackey's performance much more entertaining in the end.

[SCM33]

This just in, Bill James likes child rapists.

 

Come on, can you possibly be any more over the top sensationalist about the child rape angle?

 

I mean I'm not even saying you're wrong, but holy crap dude.

 

He probably should be reprimanded, but let me ask this -- what evidence does everyone have that he hasn't been? The Red Sox don't exactly take their employees out to Fenway and flog them on the pitcher's mound.

 

I just think screaming for blood on this one is a bit ridiculous, even if you think as I do that James was absolutely wrong to say what he said. Last time I checked, people in this country were still entitled to their opinion.

 

 

Have you ever actually met a child rapist? If you have, you wouldn't defend it.

 

Nobody should ever defend them, or their friends, or friends of friends of child rapists. They should all be sentenced to death.

 

Why dont you created another Salty thread? We need one.

[Elktonnick]

The Red Sox have now issued a statement disavowing James's comment and asking him not to make any further public statements on the Sandusky matter because of his association with the Boston Red Sox. The Sox have done the right thing.

[BornToRun]

Have you ever actually met a child rapist? If you have, you wouldn't defend it.

 

Nobody should ever defend them, or their friends, or friends of friends of child rapists. They should all be sentenced to death.

 

Why dont you created another Salty thread? We need one.

 

So I'm getting vibes that you're not a big fan of rehabilitation for sex offenders.

 

Correct?

[Youk Of The Nation]

Have you ever actually met a child rapist? If you have, you wouldn't defend it.

 

Nobody should ever defend them, or their friends, or friends of friends of child rapists. They should all be sentenced to death.

 

Why dont you created another Salty thread? We need one.

 

 

I don't agree with this necessarily. It is possible for people not to know what their friends are up to. I had a friend in high school who turned out to be a rapist. I didn't find out until someone finally reported him to the police.

 

The problem is that Joe Paterno wasn't Sandusky's friend, he was his co-worker. The acts took place in an area that was part of their workplace. If someone I worked with molested kids, I might not know it. If someone I worked with molested kids, at my job, during work hours, and it was reported to me and my co-workers, then I would have no excuse not to call the police.

 

We can't condemn people just for knowing a pedophile. We can condemn them for knowing about one.

[SCM33]

So I'm getting vibes that you're not a big fan of rehabilitation for sex offenders.

 

Correct?

 

Correct.

 

The percentage of successful rehab is pretty low in general.....why they let those guys out of prison KNOWING that they are significant threats to re-offend is beyond me.

 

I come off a bit strong with my opinion, but I saw it everyday for 5 years.

[Youk Of The Nation]

So I'm getting vibes that you're not a big fan of rehabilitation for sex offenders.

 

Correct?

 

 

The success percentage of rehabilitation for sex offenders is so small as to be statistically insignificant. The recidivism rate for sex crimes is astronomical, and that is only counting those repeat offenders who are caught. Sex crimes are like DUIs. For every one that a person is caught and convicted of, there are probably dozens that they got away with, because of victims who are too afraid or ashamed to say anything.

 

I am a fan of permanent incarceration for sexual offenders, so we can study them in hopes of learning more about their conditions.