Moshe Weinberg
Yossef Romano
Zeev Friedman
David Berger
Yakov Springer
Eliezer Halfin
Yossef Gutfreund
Kehat Shorr
Mark Slavin
Andre Spitzer
Amitzur Shapira
I am totally appalled. No words can even describe it. Has Munich completely forgotten what happened the last time the Olympics were held there?!?
It saddens me that a city which has not cleaned up the mess from the last time the Games were held there is at it again. Some people might say, well this is different and the terror threat would be less at a Winter Games. Bull. The Olympics are the Olympics, winter or summer.
I don't know where these people are coming from, that allowed the Munich bid to advance in the first place. Where is the outrage? Or are people so numbed by now that thinking "ignore it and it will go away" is the norm? I know of at least one IOC member who feels that way. At first it surprised me, but after I started digging into his background, then I could see the hypocrisy involved. In public, he says one thing. In private, another. It's the private conversations he doesn't want the public to know about (and the very ugly comment he made in Prague in 2003 in regards to the Munich families.) And he's still around. And still part of the problem.
Folks, I have said it for years. We have to get real about Munich-past and present. The only way Munich will ever get another Olympics is if they clean up the mess from the past, the IOC gives the families the 30 seconds of silence at the beginning of a Summer Games opening ceremony (not too much to ask, I think), then and ONLY then should another Munich bid (Winter or Summer) move forward.
President Rogge promised years ago that he would do something for the families. He's backtracked, and that was after he went to a memorial service in Germany for the victims. It's totally disgraceful how he has acted. But the IOC has acted the same way, and in that regard, has given tacit approval to his actions (or lack of them.)
We as arbiters of the written word have an obligation to take a moral stand. Some will and most will not. This is a bid that should have never left the gate.
I for one have the cajones to say No Way No How Never.
Will one other person join me in this call? One person-that is all I ask.
Please. For the Munich Eleven-so they did not die in vain.
Thank you.
Monday, October 26, 2009
Friday, October 23, 2009
Friday's Random Thoughts
We haven't had one of these in awhile-enjoy, because on Monday we will be discussing some heavy stuff.
1. Jon and Kate, as one comedian said the other night, throw 'em in that darn balloon.
2. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery-I know because you read me (you know who you are.) I wish I didn't have to keep saying this every so often.
3. Would you believe, there is a restaurant up the street that has Christmas lights on already?!?
4. I was able to do early voting today, if it is offered in your area, please take advantage, and if there is one candidate you especially support, they will appreciate it. I have two political signs in front of my house. A friend of mine is running in District 5 here.
5. The postal workers in the UK have gone on strike for 24 hours today. If you have relatives, and you want to make sure things get delivered for the holiday, think of other alternatives-I am. There's talk it could stretch longer the closer to December. Hello FedEx.
6. I just signed up for Facebook-didn't know how many friends I have that have that are on there.
7. Here we go again with talk about Munich's Winter Olympic bid-don't believe a word you are reading about who the front runner is. It's too early, (we'll be discussing this on Monday, so sit tight.)
8. What is it with airfares this year? $1500 round trip to Manchester UK. Not this year to see the mother-in-law.
9. Damm, what IS it with little kids dying? The laws need to be changed. Our young people are at risk, and the existing laws (i.e. Megan's Law) aren't strong enough.
See you on Monday-be good!
1. Jon and Kate, as one comedian said the other night, throw 'em in that darn balloon.
2. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery-I know because you read me (you know who you are.) I wish I didn't have to keep saying this every so often.
3. Would you believe, there is a restaurant up the street that has Christmas lights on already?!?
4. I was able to do early voting today, if it is offered in your area, please take advantage, and if there is one candidate you especially support, they will appreciate it. I have two political signs in front of my house. A friend of mine is running in District 5 here.
5. The postal workers in the UK have gone on strike for 24 hours today. If you have relatives, and you want to make sure things get delivered for the holiday, think of other alternatives-I am. There's talk it could stretch longer the closer to December. Hello FedEx.
6. I just signed up for Facebook-didn't know how many friends I have that have that are on there.
7. Here we go again with talk about Munich's Winter Olympic bid-don't believe a word you are reading about who the front runner is. It's too early, (we'll be discussing this on Monday, so sit tight.)
8. What is it with airfares this year? $1500 round trip to Manchester UK. Not this year to see the mother-in-law.
9. Damm, what IS it with little kids dying? The laws need to be changed. Our young people are at risk, and the existing laws (i.e. Megan's Law) aren't strong enough.
See you on Monday-be good!
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Wrongful bidding-who's fault is it?
There's a lot of he said/she said in regards to the aftermath of the 2016 vote. A lot of the venom seems to be directed at the USOC. Sure, I will agree they have a part in this but I am not so sure it is all their fault. Blame must be shared here-for the US taking a bid to Copenhagen they had no chance of winning by all accounts. You've heard of wrongful hiring? I am coining a new term-wrongful bidding.
First off I blame Charlie Battle. He was the consultant to Chicago's people. This is the second bid (besides NYC's) that he's sent down the tubes. Sure he had a success with ACOG-but (and this is a huge but), that was in 1996. A lot has changed on the Olympic scene since then. From all accounts, Chicago 2016 management hired him directly, and not upon recomendation of the USOC.
Faulted info that sending the Obama's to Copenhagen would seal the deal. Who exactly told Chicago this? Whomever it was, they need to be fired. Going to war with faulty info is a sure way to lose.
Potential conflicts of interest between members of Chicago 2016 and possible venue sites that were not disclosed to the IOC.
You have to wonder what the other US cities that were competing with Chicago to be the official US bid have to be thinking now. Would the result have been different if it was any other city but them? We'll never know-but I will bet that we would have walked away with a lot more than 18 votes and not knocked out in the first round.
I am not entirely convinced that the USOC is the bad guy here. Sure, they hold some responsibility for the debacle but it is not entirely their fault. I would have to see more evidence than just vague accusations of "they didn't develop relationships with the IOC" or "they are more focused on Vancouver." Yadda Yadda Yadda.
Everybody calm the heck down. Come back when you can be rational and give me a better reason than what has been written out there about why Chicago didn't make it.
Then and only then we can build on the future-which might include a winning Winter or Summer bid.
First off I blame Charlie Battle. He was the consultant to Chicago's people. This is the second bid (besides NYC's) that he's sent down the tubes. Sure he had a success with ACOG-but (and this is a huge but), that was in 1996. A lot has changed on the Olympic scene since then. From all accounts, Chicago 2016 management hired him directly, and not upon recomendation of the USOC.
Faulted info that sending the Obama's to Copenhagen would seal the deal. Who exactly told Chicago this? Whomever it was, they need to be fired. Going to war with faulty info is a sure way to lose.
Potential conflicts of interest between members of Chicago 2016 and possible venue sites that were not disclosed to the IOC.
You have to wonder what the other US cities that were competing with Chicago to be the official US bid have to be thinking now. Would the result have been different if it was any other city but them? We'll never know-but I will bet that we would have walked away with a lot more than 18 votes and not knocked out in the first round.
I am not entirely convinced that the USOC is the bad guy here. Sure, they hold some responsibility for the debacle but it is not entirely their fault. I would have to see more evidence than just vague accusations of "they didn't develop relationships with the IOC" or "they are more focused on Vancouver." Yadda Yadda Yadda.
Everybody calm the heck down. Come back when you can be rational and give me a better reason than what has been written out there about why Chicago didn't make it.
Then and only then we can build on the future-which might include a winning Winter or Summer bid.
Friday, October 2, 2009
Let the blames begin
Wow, none of us saw that coming. The low vote count for Chicago. I knew they would go out in the first round of voting. I just didn't know how bad it would get.
It was clear that the majority of those that voted for Chicago and then Tokyo threw their votes to Rio. Madrid wasn't even close. I just got an email from a friend of mine who said she thought the vote "had more to do with the USOC than Chicago specifically." True the USOC is in crisis. But Chicago has only themselves to blame. Close to 50 percent of citizens against the bid is pretty high numbers. The IOC doesn't like that.
Sure, the USOC has some part in this. But and this is a big but, the eventual blame for the loss rests with Chicago. $100 million spent on the bid-gone forever. Their over-the-top presentation versus Rio's quiet confidence is what I am hearing sealed the deal.
Let this be a lesson to future US bid cities. Get your house in order-before the IOC tells you to.
Otherewise as we saw today, the results will get ugly.
It was clear that the majority of those that voted for Chicago and then Tokyo threw their votes to Rio. Madrid wasn't even close. I just got an email from a friend of mine who said she thought the vote "had more to do with the USOC than Chicago specifically." True the USOC is in crisis. But Chicago has only themselves to blame. Close to 50 percent of citizens against the bid is pretty high numbers. The IOC doesn't like that.
Sure, the USOC has some part in this. But and this is a big but, the eventual blame for the loss rests with Chicago. $100 million spent on the bid-gone forever. Their over-the-top presentation versus Rio's quiet confidence is what I am hearing sealed the deal.
Let this be a lesson to future US bid cities. Get your house in order-before the IOC tells you to.
Otherewise as we saw today, the results will get ugly.
Too painful to watch
I am cringing....some notes on the first 20 minutes of Chicago's presentation.
Could someone tell me what U2 has to do with the city of Chicago? How about a musical act native to the city?
Pat Ryan and Mayor Daley have made major diction gaffes, which in turn has made the presntation quite stiff and unwatchable.
The "Blues" video at the beginning-disjointed.
The second video shown-had a weird ending that caught Pat Ryan by surprise.
Michelle Obama's yellow dress-inappropriate for such a high-stakes presentation. (Some of the men look like they just rolled out of bed-comb your hair, please!)
I've seen enough-good night.
Could someone tell me what U2 has to do with the city of Chicago? How about a musical act native to the city?
Pat Ryan and Mayor Daley have made major diction gaffes, which in turn has made the presntation quite stiff and unwatchable.
The "Blues" video at the beginning-disjointed.
The second video shown-had a weird ending that caught Pat Ryan by surprise.
Michelle Obama's yellow dress-inappropriate for such a high-stakes presentation. (Some of the men look like they just rolled out of bed-comb your hair, please!)
I've seen enough-good night.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
War of the words
Rio versus Madrid.
America's superiority.
Who's out in the first round.
Who isn't.
Someone asked me how can one still be plugged in to what is going on if you aren't there? Simple-my friends are there. I got an email from one of them last night.
We all have our favorites, and I think it is a given that it could go any way. What mistake I think we *all* are making (I am guilty of it as anyone else) is saying who goes out in the first round. I still stand on my prediction of Chicago, it not in the first round, at least by the second. The impression I am gettting is that the appearances of Oprah, Michelle and Barack can be summed up in three words: not too cool.
Of course you will have the droolers who think they can do no wrong and write about it as such. As I wrote before, you will never find a bigger supporter of the President than me. But this is one time he needs to sit put in DC and let the IOC do it's job, without outside interference.
One thing is for sure-the vote will be close. And I think each bid city has one factor that could possibly take votes from them. No one is perfect, BUT it is the severity of therse factors that could determine the vote.
Chicago: crime
Rio: crime
Madrid: Interference by former IOC President Samaranch
Tokyo: Hosted previous Olympics.
Now if you were an IOC voter, who in the above would you vote for? I have a strong message for the folks trying to take down Tokyo, you will be embarassed as hell if they win, and if they don't how close the vote will be for them if it is a two city race that has/had only one vote separating them and whoever the eventual host city is. But I stand on my prediction: Tokyo wins it all.
Then the uppity war of the words will have come to an end-for another two years, until we meet in South Africa.
America's superiority.
Who's out in the first round.
Who isn't.
Someone asked me how can one still be plugged in to what is going on if you aren't there? Simple-my friends are there. I got an email from one of them last night.
We all have our favorites, and I think it is a given that it could go any way. What mistake I think we *all* are making (I am guilty of it as anyone else) is saying who goes out in the first round. I still stand on my prediction of Chicago, it not in the first round, at least by the second. The impression I am gettting is that the appearances of Oprah, Michelle and Barack can be summed up in three words: not too cool.
Of course you will have the droolers who think they can do no wrong and write about it as such. As I wrote before, you will never find a bigger supporter of the President than me. But this is one time he needs to sit put in DC and let the IOC do it's job, without outside interference.
One thing is for sure-the vote will be close. And I think each bid city has one factor that could possibly take votes from them. No one is perfect, BUT it is the severity of therse factors that could determine the vote.
Chicago: crime
Rio: crime
Madrid: Interference by former IOC President Samaranch
Tokyo: Hosted previous Olympics.
Now if you were an IOC voter, who in the above would you vote for? I have a strong message for the folks trying to take down Tokyo, you will be embarassed as hell if they win, and if they don't how close the vote will be for them if it is a two city race that has/had only one vote separating them and whoever the eventual host city is. But I stand on my prediction: Tokyo wins it all.
Then the uppity war of the words will have come to an end-for another two years, until we meet in South Africa.