Bill Dalton: M-m-m-my Sherrone
Moore apparently fell into one of the oldest traps in the world: a wealthy, famous man with a wife and kids somehow becomes “involved” with a younger, beautiful woman who just happens to work for him. What could possibly go wrong?
EDITOR'S NOTE: The views and opinions expressed are those of the writer and not of Ottawa News Network.
No column about sex should start with a disclaimer, but here it is.
I don’t know anything about former University of Michigan football coach Sherrone Moore beyond what I read in the media. He may be a wonderful man. He may be a jerk.
Whatever he is, it’s clear he’s deeply troubled, and everything surrounding his tragic fall from one of the best jobs in college football is a sad story, especially for someone who’s a proud graduate (LSA '72 Rackham '74) and faithful Wolverines fan.
Was a proud graduate, that is. Now, even Michigan State — despite recently being placed on probation by the NCAA — is looking like greener pastures. Are you accepting Maize and Blue refugees, Sparty?
But back to Moore, who apparently fell into one of the oldest traps in the world: a wealthy, famous man with a wife and kids somehow becomes “involved” with a younger, beautiful woman who just happens to work for him.
What could possibly go wrong?
A good football coach probably should have seen it coming, just like a good quarterback should see the safety hanging back in coverage, preparing to jump the route and going the other way for a pick six. Defensive coordinators call it “baiting.”
But Moore probably wasn’t thinking about football when he foolishly stumbled down a dangerous path many married men face at some point in their lives. Which way to run when faced with temptation?
During the course of nearly 55 years of marriage, I’ve faced a few of those crossroads — when I was younger and had a fuller head of hair — and despite loving my wife and my life, I’ll admit such temptations are like turning down that extra slice of pizza. A few extra calories never hurt anyone, right?
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Oh, but history shows over and over that they hurt everyone involved. Most men, and even many women, know it deep down. So why do they keep looking lasciviously at that extra slice?
Is it a flaw in human nature? Is monogamy a game with no two-minute warning that you can’t win? Are you growing tired of the football analogies?
Being faithful in marriage isn’t as easy as many married and divorced folks can probably tell you. But in a marriage, as in football, good blocking and a solid defense can usually keep you out of trouble. Or at least out of court, jail and the unemployment line.
As for Moore, hopefully, he’ll get the help he needs, rehabilitate himself and even return to football someday.
A betrayed Michigan football fan might even go as far as to suggest that the Ohio State Buckeyes offer him a job.
Just keep him away from the cheerleaders.
— Bill Dalton is a former reporter and editor for The Kansas City Star and worked for several Michigan newspapers. He spends summers on the family farm near Fennville. His book “Dalton’s Bend” is available from Amazon.
