In his Fox Sports column, Jason Whitlock writes that had Penn State assistant football coach Mike McQueary walked in on Jerry Sandusky raping a child in a YMCA locker room, his response likely would have been different. But since he was at work, his reaction was prompted by a strong desire to keep his job.
People, Americans in particular, are most cowardly when at work. For good reason.
In 2003, Abar Rouse, a young assistant coach at Baylor University, squealed on then-head coach Dave Bliss’ plan to portray murder victim Patrick Dennehy as a drug dealer to cover up “illegal” cash payments to Dennehy. Rouse hasn’t worked as a college coach since. He outed a coach who plotted to disgrace a murdered young person to cover his own rear.
“No snitching” doesn’t just apply to gang members. It’s the accepted and enforced policy in every work environment.
It cracks me up when I hear journalists complain about an institution, corporation, sports franchise or government agency circling the wagons and refusing to break a code of silence. We rip the police for their blue code. Media outlets have a yellow one. We’re hypocrites.
Hell, many of my peers are offended by respectful disagreement.
Last February, I erupted in disgust when my peers who participate in the Pro Football Hall of Fame process failed to induct Willie Roaf. I pointed out some of the flaws in the system and the obvious hypocrisy of the secret voting process.
Read Jason Whitlock's entire column at Fox Sports.