Ex-ESPN Pittsburgh radio host and for a time, WCW heel announcer Mark Madden (above) dropped a bombshell on Boston’s WEEI yesterday claiming unnamed reporters were investigating the likelihood former PSU defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky hadn’t merely sexually assaulted minors, but was also pimping them out to “wealthy donors”.  Setting aside for a moment whether this was a responsible thing to utter on the radio, Madden does deserve a rare bit of credit from this corner, as he reminds us via his WXDX website, he was sounding the alarm about Sandusky as far back as 7 months ago.  The following are excerpts from Madden’s “Sandusky : A State Secret”, published April 3 of this year in the Beaver County Times ;

It seems logical to ask: What did Paterno know, and when did he know it? What did Penn State’s administration know, and when did they know it?

Best-case scenario: Charges are never brought, and Sandusky walks away with his reputation permanently scarred. The rumors, the jokes, the sideways glances – they won’t ever stop. Paterno and Penn State do the great escape.

Worst-case scenario: Sandusky is charged. Then it seems reasonable to wonder: Did Penn State not make an issue of Sandusky’s alleged behavior in 1998 in exchange for him walking away from the program at an age premature for most coaches? Did Penn State’s considerable influence help get Sandusky off the hook?

Don’t kid yourself. That could happen. Don’t underestimate the power of Paterno and Penn State in central Pennsylvania when it comes to politicians, the police and the media.

In 1999, Penn State was rid of Sandusky. His rep was unblemished, which allowed him to continue running a charitable foundation that gave him access to underage males. To be a volunteer assistant with a high school football team, thus gaining access to underage males.

If Paterno and Penn State knew, but didn’t act, instead facilitating Sandusky’s untroubled retirement – are Paterno and Penn State responsible for untoward acts since committed by Sandusky?

Why did college football let an accomplished coach like Sandusky walk away at 55? Why did he disappear into relative anonymity?