As media outlets report that Super Bowl entertainer Pete Townshend of The Who was a once-registered sex offender in the U.K., a couple of items come to light:  1.)  Most Americans did not know about Townshend’s sex offender status; 2.)  They are furious that the NFL would hire Townshend for the primo family show of the year. 

The NFL and halftime sponsor Bridgestone, however, are standing behind their man, and support Townshend’s “research” excuse he used when he was caught accessing and paying for online child pornography.  Even so, the NFL and its Super Bowl sponsors have been sent disclosure documentations from our over-seas friends at Child AbuseWatch that leave them in no doubt as to Townshend’s confession of guilt which earned him his sex offender status.  That leaves them in the position of knowingly hiring a sex offender.

Of course, if sponsors decided not to support the NFL’s choice of “entertainment,” the NFL would be forced to drop Townshend from the line-up, a decision that should come as relief to parents everywhere. 

On a side note, a registered sex offender—past or present—cannot land a job even as a groundskeeper at Land Shark Stadium under usual circumstances…it will be interesting to see just how serious stadium officials are about enforcing their own guidelines to help keep kids safe.

Townshend’s worries are also growing, despite any support he may receive today.  Florida has strict laws about the treatment of anyone with a sex offender record and requires such individuals to register when entering the state.

Law enforcement has been notified of Townshend’s arrival in hopes that local officials at the State Department, Homeland Security or Immigration and Customs Enforcement will revoke Townshend’s visa due to his criminal record. 

Even the attorney general has been asked to consider apprehending Townshend at the South Florida airport, or at any time during his stay.  After all, Townshend could potentially be taken into custody to face charges of paying for child pornography in Texas, the state where the child porn website was based when he used his credit card to access the images in 2003.

Regardless, this time of year is marked by cold season.  Perhaps Mr. Townshend will suddenly come down with something that would prevent him from traveling to the U.S. and that could possibly help salvage his reputation, if there is anything left salvaging.

For more information on Pete Townshend’s sex offender status, please read http://www.gopusa.com/commentary/guest/2009/sdr_12101.shtml