There is a lot of mixed reactions today regarding this (the latest) sports news store in Central Ohio: Ohio State suspends Jim Trestle two games for NCAA violation.
The news in a nutshell is that coach Jim Trestle was holding key information sent to him via email reporting to him directly and specifically on certain players that were violating NCAA violations. The coach was partly not reporting this information to his superiors or the NCAA because he was trying to protect his players but the situation is also messier. The players were involved with a convicted criminal. The situation is also messy because while coach Trestle had a responsibility to do something (possibly tell a compliance lawyer or the University president or Big Ten commissioner)- which he did not, while in September 2010 Tressel signed a compliance form with both Ohio State University and the NCAA saying that he had no knowledge of any possible violations.
Then all of the questions and "extra scrutiny" on Jim Trestle and the Buckeyes since there was :
- NCAA violations by these six players to begin with, why didn’t Tressel say anything before? Did he lie in Sept?
- These players are missing four games, why is Jim only missing 2? Why is there have such a small penalty placed on him from OSU?
- In light of other recent controversies at OSU, many local sports media personalities and fans are getting sick and tired of hearing about the negative news. They once were proud to be called OSU alum but now they are upset. Are they taking this too far?
- Jim Tressel has been known for being an honest, good religious man. He has taught boys to be men. He is outspoken about his faith and integrity. Although he is still a man who occasional makes a mistake. This is one of them, maybe too big of a mistake? He lost a lot of respect of many...
- Questioning of motives, was Tressel, in protecting his players, looking to win football games? Isn't that what most coaches are looking to do?
Yes, Jim Tressel made a mistake. But if I was in his shoes, I am not sure how I would have handled the information. I am not sure who I would have told. I too was upset in Tressel when I fully understood the situation, but I think that there is a lot of "extra scrutiny" on Tressel that is a little over-the-top, too much. I wonder, if I was in his situation what would I have done? Yeah it is important to be full of integrity and tell someone, like a lawyer about the emails, but I can understand him questioning the source and validity of the emails. I can also understand that he wanted to protect his players and win football games. The one fact that bothers me most, is that Tressel, in essence, lied by signing compliance forms back in September.
The Bible speaks about lying. While I do not think you will find any human being who has never told a lie, it is clear that we should strive not to lie:
John 8:44,45 says that Satan is a liar and the father of lies.
1Peter 3:16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.
Colossians 3:9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices
Ephesians 4:25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body.
Proverbs 26:18,19 Like a madman shooting firebrands or deadly arrows is a man who deceives his neighbor and says,“I was only joking!”
Lying hurts a man's reputation and hurts his faith witness. Jim Tressel has weakend his reputation because of this incident. I think that lie is what really hurts a lot of people the most in this entire mess. He was known for his integrity up until this point. Now both the Christian and secular audiences take notice of this lie. It hurts.
Continue reading on Examiner.com: Lying: hurts a reputation - Columbus Biblical living | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/biblical-living-in-columbus/lying-hurts-a-reputation#ixzz1GGhF6V7G
