A few incoherent thoughts about Joe Posnanski and his Joe Paterno book

[Beyond the Bets]

In October 2007, I covered a Chiefs game at Arrowhead Stadium. I sat in the press box, went to the locker room, interviewed players, wrote a horseshit story, and then spent the rest of the evening kicking charcoal around the parking lot. It was a great day and a dream fulfilled for this longtime Chiefs fan and once-aspiring sports writer.

Here's what I remember about that game, a 27-20 Chiefs victory over the Bengals: Nothing. Seriously, not a thing. I could rattle off the final score of every Chiefs game throughout the Herm Edwards era, and dozens of games since. But that game was a blur, and it's because I hardly watched it.

Instead, I spent much of the game focused on a man two seats to my left, a chunky bald person who was a columnist at the Kansas City Star. That man, of course, was Joe Posnanski.

I idolized Posnanski and had read his columns for nearly a decade, but never had the opportunity to see him at work. Well, this was my chance, and I was determined to learn something from the guy I called "the best in the biz." Posnanski was seated to the left of Jason Whitlock, so it was hard to see him, and Whitlock used AOL at the time ("You've got mail!"), so it was hard to hear him, too. But eventually, I began monitoring him through the reflection in the press box glass and that was good enough.

Throughout the game, I kept asking myself: "What will Joe write his column about?" Whitlock had all but finished his by halftime, but Posnanski hadn't typed a word all game. He kept observing, asking, looking, observing some more.

"Man, Jared Allen is having some kind of day!" I remember him saying.

Tony Gonzalez set the NFL record for touchdown catches by a tight end that day, and I was certain that Posnanski would write about the future Hall-of-Famer's big game. It was an easy column to write. Gonzalez is a great quote, was beloved by Chiefs fans, and again, he had a great game. To be sure, every other columnist would have written about Gonzalez's record-setting day.

But Posnanski, as we all know, is not like every other columnist. Joe doesn't write the obvious. Joe finds the story - the best story - and won't stop thinking and racking his brain until he gets it, even if on a strict deadline.

Here's how I explained Joe's column writing greatness to a friend recently, and it's admittedly a stupid analogy that isn't all that realistic since writers are incapable of holding their breath for hours at a time.

"Assume that every writer covering a game on deadline is having a hold-your-breath contest and must start writing once they stop holding their breath. Some columnists would stop holding their breath 15 or 20 minutes into the game. "Fuck it," they'd surely say. "I already know what I'm writing." Other columnists would come up for air by halftime, unwilling to battle with a deadline and the added stress that comes with it. Almost ALL of them would stop holding their breath by the fourth quarter. They'd choose a column angle and run with it and hope like hell the game doesn't change.

"But Posnanski? He'll hold his breath until the final seconds. He will wait and wait and wait until the perfect moment - THE moment - that moment where the game changes, where the stars align, where he can get something that the others didn't because they all started writing an hour earlier because deadline fear got the best of them."

Yes, Posnanski always held his breath the longest.

Which is why I'm stunned, saddened and shocked that he seemingly came up for air early on the Joe Paterno book. Posnanski, for the first time in his career, does not seem to have much of an interest in the REAL story. He did not attend the Jerry Sandusky trial, or at least I don't think he did, and his book - according to reports - was written prior to the trial's beginning. (It's due out in late August.)

If the Sandusky trial and its aftermath - including the recent CNN revelations - are not included in the book, then Posnanski effectively finished it at halftime.

Until recently, Posnanski was unanimously respected by everyone. Now, he finds himself in the middle of a shitstorm. People don't want to read a cushy story about Joe Pa. They don't want to read about games won and lives inspired and all the father/son stuff that's surely in the book. They want to know the answer to the question, the one everybody's been asking since last November when the Sandusky story broke: "Could Joe Pa have done something to prevent these horrible acts?"

If Joe's book doesn't address that question - and if it doesn't take into account the Sandusky trial and the recent testimony - then the book shouldn't hit the shelves.

That's not just my opinion. It's public opinion. And public opinion is going to turn against Posnanski fast if he releases the book he originally planned, the book that was reportedly finished prior to the Sandusky trial, the book that's expected to touch on the life of Joe Paterno but not the lives of the kids the old coach couldn't be bothered to help.

Don't believe me? Here's a sampling of recent tweets directed at Posnanski over the last few days:

• Shorter @JPosnanski on Penn State emails: No comment -- and buy my book! #weak
  

• @JPosnanski You won't comment that #JoePa is the one who STOPPED #PennState from going to authorities? He PROTECTED a child rapist!!! SHAME!
  

• @JPosnanski way to try and sell a book...good times. Another Joepa apologist, how do you sleep?
  

• @JPosnanski Weren't you the one who blamed the media for calling Paterno a scapegoat? Time to eat some crow, no?
  

• @JPosnanski looks like you made a lot of comments. Dumb ones no less
  

• @JPosnanski ur a Fuckin piece of shit that's what u are. Kids were molested and all u want to Do is profit off it. Burn in hell fuck face
  

• Did you see what @JPosnanski just tweeted? Guy is making $$$ off of kiddy rape.
  

• @JPosnanski What? It is not your place? But buy my book? Chances of paying for your book about Paterno…less than zero.
  

I won't lie: These tweets bother the shit out of me. Joe Posnanski isn't a monster and he isn't writing a book to "strike it rich" and he sure as hell isn't defending the actions of Jerry Sandusky. And yet, because Posnanski has decided to remain silent - or mostly silent - he gets crushed, his words get twisted, and he's become a villain in the eyes of many. People are making assumptions (you could argue I've made a few myself), and most are trying to portray him as something he isn't.

"You're a whore," someone tweeted to him recently.

Posnanski, more than probably any other writer, has made a career out of extending the benefit of the doubt; of seeing the best in people; and of not always expecting (or assuming) the worst.

This book has become Posnanski's worst nightmare. Anyone who thinks it isn't is uninformed or incredibly dumb. I'm guessing, but I bet Joe hasn't slept well in months and probably won't sleep again until his book is released.

Or will it even be released?

That's the question I keep asking myself again and again, as it fascinates me to no end.

"Will Joe publish the book?

"Does he know something that we don't?"

"Did Joe Pa reveal something, anything, that would add context to the situation?"

I don't know the answers to these questions. YOU don't know the answers to these questions. Joe himself might not know the answer to these questions, at least not the first one.

I trust that Joe will do the right thing and I hope you will too.

In the meantime, please stop calling him a "piece of shit," because he isn't one.

[ChiefZilla]

Been a Joe (Pos) fan for a long time. I don't envy his position at all, but it is a little disconcerting to know he didn't attend the trial. Seems like of all the sports writers out there, he should've been the one to attend.

[bart41]

I think Joe already knows what's going to happen with it and is good with it. From his (rare) silence on the issue across all the platforms he communicates through, I think he believes he found a good place with it and isn't concerned with any repercussions.

He, truly, is the #1 guy I'd trust in media to handle this situation. If he finished the book early, there's a reason. He didn't attend the trial for a reason. He is a good guy with a huge heart and will find an appropriate way to deliver on the book.

That being said, I have no idea what that means.

[Beyond the Bets]

Completely agree with everything in your second paragraph.