Sandusky Just Makes It Worse

Last night, Jerry Sandusky did a phone interview with NBC's Bob Costas*** on the news magazine Rock Center with Brian Williams (and if you're confused as to why Bob Costas did the interview instead of Brian Williams or Chris Hansen, don't worry; the show is utterly confused about what it's supposed to be, and they just pass that confusion along to the viewer).

***This link takes you to a news write up of the interview. The language is specific, detailed, and might be disturbing to some people.***

Among the things Sandusky said to Costas (and these are my paraphrasings; you can click on the phone interview link above to read Sandusky's verbatim statements):

-- he doesn't consider himself a pedophile.

-- he doesn't have a sexual attraction to young boys.

-- in retrospect, he should not have showered with young boys in the Penn State locker room.

-- in retrospect, he shouldn't have "horsed around" with young boys in the Penn State locker room.

-- he gave examples of "horsing around" that included touching young boys on their knees and thighs in a non-sexual manner, allowing a boy to slide naked across a flooded shower floor, as well as snapping at the boy with a towel.

-- he never had any discussions with Joe Paterno about his alleged conduct in 2002.

-- okay, one direct quote: "I enjoy young people. I love to be around them."

This morning, when I first read this story, my head immediately started spinning. My first thought was: where is this guy's lawyer and why isn't he shutting his client up? Well, the answer was simple - his lawyer was on with Costas in the same interview. The lawyer, Joe Amendola, went on to say that he felt sure several of the kids involved in these incidents would back off their claims and that he would have no problem leaving his children alone with Sandusky.

Now, I'm no lawyer, and I don't understand the art of legal maneuvering. I get that the media is the predominant voice in this matter, and that Sandusky needed to respond or at least acknowledge the scandal in some way. But honestly, given the amount of public vitriol aimed at Jerry Sandusky right now, does it make sense to have your client go on national television and admit to a) showering naked with underage boys; b) touching underage boys in any way while showering naked with them; or c) saying something as vague as "I enjoy young people"?

Honestly, under what circumstances did Joe Amendola expect the American public to take those statements and say, "Oh, it was all in innocent fun"?

Granted, it's not a confession. Sandusky didn't come out and say, "I did it. I'm guilty." (In fact, when Costas asked him if he was guilty, Sandusky replied, "No, I don't think it's my fault. I've obviously played a part in this." It's not my fault...but I obviously played a part in this??? HUH?)

But given the public perception right now, what Sandusky said will be taken as a confession. I mean, how could it not be?

I work with young people. Take them to camps. On retreats. And when you go camping or do anything for an extended period of time, it becomes necessary to shower. It's part of life. But if you think for one second that I, a grown adult male, am going to go into a community shower with someone else's teenage son, you are flat out insane. Crazy. Utterly bonkers.

Sure, there are some guys out there who come from the "We're all guys here" school of thought who wouldn't think twice about it. Honestly, those guys are idiots.

I've never been comfortable with the community shower. Granted, this goes back to middle school when I was forced to change in the boys locker room and shower after gym, and the other guys used to make fun of me, but it's an aversion that's served me well. Heck, I'm not entirely comfortable with public toilets. There are some things that are private for a reason.

Even in my own home, I go out of the way to keep my children out of the bathroom whenever I'm inside. It's a futile proposition, thus I spend a lot of time scrambling to try and maintain my privacy, but that's my point: I want my privacy, and I want my kids to respect that, as well as develop their own need for personal space.

Sandusky didn't share my sentiments, obviously. And I just can't fathom that.

Things have happened so quickly in this case, and so much of the focus has been on the football related end of things. In fact, one blog I read this morning condemned the fact that the focus has been on Penn State and its attendant crisis instead of on the alleged victims. And if you look at a lot of what's been written, you see it: the obsession with the side stories and the minimization of the big one. There's nothing more injurious than for a victim (or in this case, victims) of a crime to be minimized, to have their story become a lesser focus.

Being molested is a hell all its own. Being forgotten about afterward is even worse; you wonder if things could spiral any further downward.

After Sandusky's interview last night, the answer is yes.