BOSTON –– The Red Sox are putting the kibosh on Bill James when it comes to Penn State talk.
After reading the Freeh Report –– the 267-page investigation that blamed Penn State coach Joe Paterno, Penn State President Graham Spanier, athletic director Tim Curley and vice president Gary Schultz for failing to prevent Jerry Sandusky's transgressions –– James adamantly defended Paterno's behavior.
"Paterno didn't see anything. Paterno was not the reporting authority. Sandusy did not work for Paterno. Paterno had no supervisory authority over Sandusky. It's extremely difficult to explain why it was Paterno's responsibility to go to the police. He knew less about it than anyone else there."
In the same interview, the renowned statistician also shifted the guilt to the media, insinuating they providing a "smokescreen" that enabled Sandusky –– formerly an assistant coach at Penn State –– to molest children in the school showers.
Since James is a senior advisor for the Red Sox, the comments didn't go over well with management. After Red Sox owner John Henry and general manager Ben Cherington spoke with James on Monday afternoon, the team issued a statement.
"Mr. James was informed that his comments in no way reflect the opinions or positions of the Red Sox," the statement said. "And, because he is perceived as a representative of the Red Sox, he was asked to refrain from any further public comments on this matter."
James has worked in the Red Sox organization since 2002.
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