There is a certain thrill to a line of logic that skates along with facts that lead to one unassailable conclusion but then loops through a back swizzle and a camel spin to land in a solution that finds our brains twirling. Ohio State head football coach Jim Tressel has been caught in a cover-up of the antics of his well-tattooed players who traded autographed Ohio State and Big Ten championship trinkets, shirts, and other memorabilia. Then there was the cover-up of his cover-up as he signed documents offering his assurance that he knew of no violations of NCAA rules in his program.  The Tressel antics have the irresistible pull of parody, “Okay, so, Eddie Rife’s tattoo parlor has lots of Ohio State stuff from my players, and my players are boasting some mighty find sleeves, but am I the tattoo parlor’s keeper?â€
Ohio State’s president Gordon Gee is not alone with his Oliver Twist obsequiousness to mighty Mr. Bumble.  Mr. Gee expressed concern that Tressel might have him fired (See “Are you kidding?†March 10, 2011). The commentators are also in sycophantic mode: They want to throw the book at Coach Tressel by having him keep his job. “The biggest tragedy of the whole situation was if he got fired.â€[1] The Barometer did not see that conclusion coming. Their theory goes that the hypocrisy will be difficult for Coach Tressel to handle. Actually, the hypocrisy does not affect the devious mind.  I’ve got a few bank robbers who would like to roam free at remote branches, preferably near the vault. We let Barry Minkow back around securities after his prison sentence for securities fraud – really didn’t work out so well. (See A Set-Back for Redemption, March 31, 2011) Allowing those who violate the rules at this level to keep their jobs defies logic. Worse, inaction sends a signal that results, not values and rules, are all that matter. Society can live with the fact that Coach Tressel will not have to face press questions about his hypocrisy. He needs to go.
[1] William C. Rhode, “The Best Punishment for Tressel? Let Him Stay,†New York Times, April 28, 2011, p. B12.