To the Editor: It sounds like something silly for an adult to say, but that's exactly what Phil Knight, founder and chairman of Nike, said Thursday during his speech at the memorial for Joe.
I knew when news of JoePa's death hit the airwaves that I had to send out an e-mail, and I thought about it all week. But until I listened to the memorial, I wasn't sure what I was going to say. I'll get back to what Phil Knight had to say, but first I want to talk about what Todd Blackledge said. He talked a lot about teamwork and he said JoePa used to tell him that "the main ingredient of stardom is the team."
Stars aren't good on their own, it takes a team to make them good. This goes along with JoePa's "no names on the jersey" policy. The players were Penn State, not Smith, Brown, or Jones. I thought about what Blackledge said and how it affects me. JoePa was right. I had a successful military career, and it was because I always surrounded myself with a good team. I have fun when I go out or go to gatherings with my friends, not because I am a funny person, but rather because I hang out with a good team. I go to some really good tailgate parties (especially at Beaver Stadium), and it's not because I am a good party organizer or planner, but because I tailgate with a good team.
JoePa knew what he was talking about. People will learn lessons from him long after he is gone. My father died six years ago today, and I am only now realizing the lessons he tried to teach during my life. I am still learning from him, just as millions will be still learning from JoePa. My dad was a Notre Dame fan, but he still followed Penn State. Whenever I got home from a game, he would always ask, "How'd JoePaaaaaaa look running around the sidelines?" or "Did JoePaaaaaaa give the refs a hard time?" He made sure he stretched out JoePa to sound like a whole sentence. I miss my dad, and I will miss JoePa.
Back to Phil Knight. As the only non-Penn Stater to speak at the memorial, he must have thought that since he only had his loyalties to JoePa (and because he once of the richest men in the country) he decided to be the only one to speak out against the board of trustees and their handling of the situation. Was it the right setting to speak his mind? I don't know the answer, but the standing ovation he received showed how the crowd felt about it. He was visibly shaken when he talked about losing his hero.
Most heroes don't plan on being one. That's probably how JoePa felt. But everyone needs a hero and most people have at least one. I have been blessed to have many. My dad, my uncles, Vinnie's dad, Al Santelli, Sean Mace, Brian Mace, Dick Mace, Tom Redd and countless other military veterans who served our country before me and made it easier for me and my friends to serve. All the men and women who serve now. They are my heroes because they volunteer to serve. Do any of them know this? Not until now.
I have other heroes as well. JoePa is one of my sports heroes, mainly because of his loyalty to Penn State. Phil Knight is a wealthy man and could have latched on to any number of coaches or athletes that have ties to Nike, but he picked JoePa. He could not say who was going to replace JoePa as his hero. I think it will be a long time until he can find a replacement.
So, as the Penn State nation regroups (only 84 days until the Blue & White game), we must get on with our lives. But think about the people you work with and the friends you have, and consider how better off you are because you are part of their team. Think about someone you might consider a hero. Let them know now and not when they are gone and it's too late.
WE ARE ...
Steve Adamcik
Alexandria, Va (formerly of Kulpmont)
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