is Winning Blind?

                                  Everyone has heard the saying "Love is blind". On Memorial Day, I found out that winning is blind as well. On that day, Jim Tressel resigned from the Ohio State University. Tressell resigned amidst controversy filled with lies and cover ups. Now some people say that the source of this controversy is Terrelle Pryor. Pryor was caught selling his memorabilia in exchange for discounts on tattoos among many other things. However, what very few people realize is that Tressell was caught in the fires of trouble when he was the head coach at Youngstown State University. Even with all this shady activity, Jim Tressell still has many followers that support him. For a while, I wondered how anyone could support a man with such a bad reputation. Then, after overcoming my bewilderment, I discovered an awful truth that is very disturbing. The state of Ohio is so obsessed and desperate for a championship that we are willing to look the other way as long as a coach or player can bring us a championship. Want proof? I will gladly give it to you. When LeBron James played in Cleveland, he could literally do no wrong. From when the purchasing of his Hummer was in question, to him having multiple kids out of wedlock, all of the responses from avid Cleveland fans were all the same. "Leave him alone. He's a good man". Then, once he took his talents to Miami, he was public enemy number one in Cleveland. This is a classic case of Ohio fans being blinded for no other reason than they want any kind of championship we can get. Now, that blindness is happening again for Jim Tressell. This man withheld information from investigators. He made a fool out of the university and a mockery out of College Football. Yet, due to the magical year of 2002-2003 when they won the National Championship, people still have the guts and audacity to support Tressell like he has done nothing wrong all because he hoisted the crystal trophy on that fateful January night. To further illustrate my point, I have 2 simple words for you. John Cooper. If this filth with Tressell happened with John Cooper, everyone in the Ohio State community would have ostracized him to the high Heavens. Why? It's simply because he did not reach the brass ring that is a National Championship. What we need to do is open our eyes as a state as a whole. When any person in our beloved sports does something wrong, we as a state need to call them out on it and say simply "This is wrong." Apparently, because of our past "Heroes", winning is blind. However, it doesn't have to be.