Just yesterday a friend of mine was showing me an e-mail a friend of his had forward along. Knowing the way the Internet and e-mail works, I wondered how I hadn’t seen that yet. True, I get many messages a day and I’ll admit I tend to ignore or delete ones simultaneously forwarded to me and a list of others. Yet I was sure I hadn’t seen this one, which was upsetting because it really did make me laugh.

Well, I opened the e-mail about 20 minutes ago and there it was, forwarded to me and about a zillion other people, but no less amusing…

God asks Joe Paterno first: ‘What do you believe?’

Joe thinks long and hard, looks God in the eye, and says, ‘I believe in hard work, and in staying true to family and friends. I believe in giving. I was lucky, but I always tried to do right by my fans.’

God can’t help but see the essential goodness of Paterno, and offers him a seat to his left.

Then God turns to Tom Osborne and says, ‘What do you believe?’ Tom says, ‘I believe passion, discipline, courage and honor are the fundamentals of life. I, too, have been lucky, but win or lose, I’ve always tried to be a true sportsman, both on and off the playing fields.’

God is greatly moved by Tom’s sincere eloquence, and he offers him a seat to his right.

Finally, God turns to Rich Rodriquez: ‘And you, Rich, what do you believe?’

Rich replies, ‘I believe you’re in my seat.’