A Controversial, Uplifting, Somber, Portrait of Joe Paterno

JOE PATERNO. Perhaps the most controversial sports figure. Ever.

Let me first point out that Joe Posnanski's style is such that you forget you are reading a biography of the most hated and/or loved person in America, right now. I wanted to read this book, but not to learn more about Joe Paterno; I've read it all; "No Ordinary Joe," "The Lion in Autumn," etc. And to be honest folks, there isn't much new about Joe Paterno, the human, in this book. But, Mr. Posnanski has a way with words to make us realize that Mr. Paterno was a person. He had a mother and a father; his own children, and grandchildren. And then he had his football team, which was his life. Football is ultimately what made Joe tick. If the various biographies written about him didn't drill that point, Mr. Posnanski did, whether he meant to or not.

The book covers the scandal; the last hundred pages or so. Perhaps not as many as some would have hoped. Perhaps too many to others. But, it had to be covered. It's part of Joe's legacy. While in the past the controversy that surrounded Joe Paterno focused on questions such as: is this man for real? Does he really care about his players? Is he real or is he faking? How could he possibly want to do it the right way? Why hasn't he changed those ghastly uniforms? Why hasn't he stopped wearing white socks with Khaki pants yet? Why does he still wear those god-awful glasses? Now, the questions are: what did he know? When did he know it? Why would he have possibly covered for a child molester?

Mr. Posnanski answers some of the former questions, pointing to the simple life in which Joe Paterno had lived, but doesn't, and can't, answer the latter ones. Ultimately, he wrote this biography with the blessing of the late Mr. Paterno and his living family. Ultimately, he could only probe so deeply to answer the questions that all of us--even those of us who had always looked up to Mr. Paterno, such as myself--wanted to know. Why would someone who had been so morally good, and lived that morally good, simple, life, do something so clearly wrong? Why Joe why? And so as I read this book I couldn't help but tear. Not because I feel sorrow for JoePa. But, because I always thought he was good, and now I'm not so sure, and this book didn't really answer that for me.

Why 5-stars? Because this book is extremely well written and I was able to read about all the good times. Still, I realize that as of today, outside of Nittany Nation, Joe isn't going to be remembered for any of that. He's going to be remembered for the last 100 pages of this book. And that makes me incredibly sad. So I wept for Joe. I wept for the victims. And I wept for PSU. Because none of what Jerry Sandusky represents is what any of that place has been about; and those kids lives are ruined--forever. And it all makes me very sad.

So, approach this book with an open mind. Don't expect earth shattering revelations; it's more of the same in regard to Joe's life and his collapse. But, do expect to read an extremely well written biography on someone who may be the most controversial man in US sports history.