say it ain't so, 'yo

Shoeless Joe was a phenomenal ball player whose career ended in the Black Sox Scandal. A young boy, seeing him emerge from the courthouse gave us the immortal line, "Say it ain't so, Joe."

Spineless Joe was a phenomenal coach and leader of young men whose career ended in a black, dark sex scandal.

For years, I was a volunteer coach of 10-year-old boys. I can clearly see the face of that youngster emerging shoeless from his shower: WIDE-eyed. Embarrassed. Looking for his mom, his pants, his dignity...

I can see him walking past Joe Pa's office: Head down; shoulders slumped; feet shuffling like HE was the one who made the mistake that cost the game; like HE was the only one on the team to be beaten by a bigger, stronger foe; like HE was the one who let everyone down.

The team was - conveniently - gone, and the young boy left the locker room alone. NO one was there to coach him; NO one to help him up; NO one to tell him he didn't make a mistake.

I can clearly hear that young boy's voice between sobs of pain and self doubt. As he shuffles past the legend's office I can hear that angelic, innocent voice giving us the now, immoral line, "Say it ain't so, Joe."

How could this be so, Joe? How could Jerry Scumbagsky be allowed to carry on all these years - right under your nose with EVERYone, it seems, knowing the drill?

Who didn't love Spineless Joe? Who didn't root for the Lions? How can you not like a place called Happy Valley? No 'mo, Jo!

Say it ain't so...