I’m calling “Fail” on this with respect to Paterno. Posnanski does judge Paterno harshly for his neglect to report the crimes committed by Jerry Sandusky. And, unlike some of the other subjects of these books, Paterno is not some passing figure in the world of sports. He was a fixture in college football—for better or for worse—for six decades. That’s a career worth spilling some ink over, including its ignominious end.  Posnanski’s book happened to have a publication date that overlapped with the release of Louis H. Freeh’s investigation, meaning the most damning revelations didn’t have a chance to make it into the first run. I suspect if there’s a paperback edition, the forward in that might pass even more deserved judgment on Paterno.

I guess that’s the point.