Theo Fleury and the Penn State Scandal

I always had a soft spot for Theo Fleury when he played. A little guy with a big heart, who played hard and above what should have been his natural ability. As his career waned, earlier than it should have, in part due to long-term and progressively worse behavioral issues fueled by alcoholism, long-term rumors about whether he (along with Sheldon Kennedy) had in fact been sexually abused by former coach (and predator) Graham James as a kid. Such abuse is hard to admit in the tough manly world of professional hockey and that misplaced shame does perhaps as much damage as the abuse itself.

In 2009, Theo’s autobiography, Playing with Fire, was released. In it, he talked about being abused by James, and his life-long struggles to come to terms with what had happened to him. I’ve read the book. It made me angry and it made me cry. Renewed interest in holding James responsible led to his arrest in Canada in October 25. Now sober, Theo has become an advocate for sexual abuse victims and has a new career as a public speaker.

A few days ago, another professional athlete went on Twitter, shortly after the Penn State abuse scandal blew up, and downplayed the actions (or, more accurately, non-action)  of Joe Paterno. “If Paterno had seen it happen with his own eyes he should report it but he didn’t! He received info from someone who say(s) he did! What to do?” Canadian professional quarterback Henry Burris tweeted.

Not good enough, Theo quickly responded (also on Twitter). “ok so they talked covered it up and allowed (Jerry) Sandusky to keep molesting boys. Come on Hank. (You’re) better than that.” Later, he posted on his website about the exchange. “Recently I’ve been going back and forth with Henry Burris on this disgusting Penn State debacle. I have one stand. If an adult has even the slightest suspicion that a child is being abused, it is your duty as an adult to stand up for that child and do something now.”

My guess is what happened to Theo Fleury as a kid is similar in some ways to the Penn victims. People saw. People suspected. People turned their backs and pretended they didn’t. If anyone knows what that does, how that makes a kid think they don’t matter, he does. His “one stand” needs to be our one stand, too.

Karen@in2caps.com