Sports and Mount Rushmore

Mount Rushmore is a shining example of building shrines to leaders that have stood the test of time. It was not hastily built. It was erected a hundred years after the deaths of these great Presidents.


However, in the apparent rush to idolize sports heroes by today's society, we have erected statues to sports stars and coaches. Recently in the news, many people have started to rally around removing Joe Paterno's statue outside of Penn State's stadium. This is because of the apparent coverup of Jerry Sandusky's absolute disgusting actions by Paterno. In my opinion, it should be removed immediately.

This takes me back to the year 1998. I am a huge St. Louis Cardinals fan. During the 1998 Major League Baseball season, Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire were battling for the home run record. It captured the nations attention and many said it saved baseball.

I was completely caught up in this battle of these two sluggers for many reasons. First, McGwire was a Cardinal. Second, Sosa played on the arch rival Chicago Cubs. My friends (some being Cubs fans) and I would call each other after every game. I even remember watching television during the game in which number 60 was hit by McGwire, holding my hours-old daughter in the hospital room.

Outside of Busch Stadium there are many statues of great previous Cardinals. Of course, a few years after McGwire retired from the game, the Cardinals erected a statue celebrating McGwire's feats from that magical season and career. However, that statue does not stand outside of Busch Stadium today because that "magical" season by MacGwire was just like magic: a lie. THAT is the way it should be. We should not celebrate when McGwire admitted using steroids. It is only right and I am proud to say no Cardinal fan complains about that situation.

Many sport teams have questionable sports "heroes" and coaches outside their stadium. Here are a few: Cam Newton, Nick Saban, Steve Spurrier (no offense to the SEC) This is not a discussion of those situations.

However, leaving Paterno's statue is a slap in the face to the now men that Sandusky molested, let alone of Paterno's legacy and what he now represents.

Take the statue down and lets try to heal.....