Less than four weeks to go...if you are going, how are your plans coming along? Have you decided on going to the Colorado Avalanche hockey game? Or the Denver sports arenas tour versus the US Olympic Training Center jaunt? I however will pass up the 6:30 AM runs thru downtown Denver-that's too early! There is something going on most every night after 5PM. We're going to be taken care of-nicely.
I am getting the impression some folks (attendees/bid committees) are getting a bit smug. Not everyone is like this, but I can see where people are playing cards that don't matter ("Obama is from Chicago so it looks like they have an advantage") to erasing memories of past tragedies ("that was in the past" is the impression I am getting.) I can tell you this: some will get to Denver and have the verbal equivalent of cold water thrown in their faces. They will be getting a wake up call (and it won't be from the hotel front desk.)
Getting "long in the tooth" is probably the major mistake most people make. I saw it happen to New York City's bid-and when Mayor Bloomberg had that meltdown in the lobby of the Raffles in Singapore, that just about sealed their fate even before the vote went down.
The closer it gets to crunch time, the more mistakes will be seen. The weird thing is that the folks involved think it doesn't matter or that no one will see them. You never know who will be around or who will hear what. I know of one IOC member who some years ago made a time bomb of a comment that could possibly affect one current bid city's chances. Funny thing is, he's on the attendee list. Oh the irony!
We're in for some surprises-count on it.
Friday, March 6, 2009
Thursday, February 26, 2009
The Jock, The Nerd, The Princess, The Principal
We're hitting the road in several weeks. First stop: Philadelphia. Next up is Denver. Finishing it out in Minneapolis. Guess which stop is going to produce the most fireworks: Denver, by far.
In looking at the attendee list for Sport Accord, it appears to be the most stellar group of people in one place for a long time. I can't even remember at an IOC session the caliber of attendees being this prominent. Everyone from the former NFL commissioner to Ted Turner. Plus the associated characters in between. Some people I haven't seen since Guatemala City, and can't wait to see again. The others? I will file them under the heading of I'm Just Not That Into You. Not too many in the latter, a lot in the former (of which I am most grateful.)
I caught the last few minutes of The Breakfast Club tonight. It's a movie I have seen a zillion times before. I had to laugh becuase there is a line in the film that goes something like "you are going to see us as you think we are" and names some of the above characters. I had to start laughing because I could link a name of someone who will be in Denver to the above characters. The Princess has everyone fawning over her. The Nerd has a heart of gold. The Jock is totally larger than life and has lived a thousand lifetimes. The Principal: I just roll my eyes when he walks by-a total waste of space.
It's going to be one heck of a week in Denver. I am looking forward to it. New city-new ideas.
Don't you forget about it.
In looking at the attendee list for Sport Accord, it appears to be the most stellar group of people in one place for a long time. I can't even remember at an IOC session the caliber of attendees being this prominent. Everyone from the former NFL commissioner to Ted Turner. Plus the associated characters in between. Some people I haven't seen since Guatemala City, and can't wait to see again. The others? I will file them under the heading of I'm Just Not That Into You. Not too many in the latter, a lot in the former (of which I am most grateful.)
I caught the last few minutes of The Breakfast Club tonight. It's a movie I have seen a zillion times before. I had to laugh becuase there is a line in the film that goes something like "you are going to see us as you think we are" and names some of the above characters. I had to start laughing because I could link a name of someone who will be in Denver to the above characters. The Princess has everyone fawning over her. The Nerd has a heart of gold. The Jock is totally larger than life and has lived a thousand lifetimes. The Principal: I just roll my eyes when he walks by-a total waste of space.
It's going to be one heck of a week in Denver. I am looking forward to it. New city-new ideas.
Don't you forget about it.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
That Phelps photo
You know the one.
The one that England's News of the World paper published on it's front pages (both on-line and in it's newsstand copies.)
He's apologised, and made the usual "error in judgement" statement to the public.
But what is really disgusting is that people are so quick to give him a pass on this one.
I am just outraged that some people have said because it was an out-of-competition situation, that it shouldn't be an actionable offense and that WADA should stay out of it as well as the USOC (even though USOC has issued it's own statement on the matter.)
Others have said that because he was at a private party of a girl that he was dating at the time, that folks should mind their own business. It's part of life at college they say; school/beer/parties/pot.
Even more have said that just because he had a bong to his mouth, that doesn't prove he was smoking anything. Wrong, bucko. I remember Cheech and Chong doing all that marijuana-related humor and you can't say that they didn't toke it up from time to time-a lot.
Same thing.
WADA can make cases sometimes years after an alleged violation. They took away someone's medal from Sydney just recently. Ditto for Athens. Some got their chain yanked there too.
The USOC and IOC will have a PR nightmare on their hands if they *don't* get involved. Phelps, like it or not should realise he has a responsibility to set an example just because of the mere fact he is a public figure.
If he doesn't want to set an example fine. But once that 8th gold meadal was awarded, he was in that position-like it or not. And his out-of-the-pool behavior no matter if he is competing or not should be scruitinized, all for the fact that he has been held up as an example of what is right with sporting in America.
My message to the USOC, IOC and WADA is to *get* involved, and if necessary, re-test (even though according to everyone he has never failed a dope test) while in competition. And if necessary, start to yank medals.
Shame on you Michael. I expected better-and so did America.
The one that England's News of the World paper published on it's front pages (both on-line and in it's newsstand copies.)
He's apologised, and made the usual "error in judgement" statement to the public.
But what is really disgusting is that people are so quick to give him a pass on this one.
I am just outraged that some people have said because it was an out-of-competition situation, that it shouldn't be an actionable offense and that WADA should stay out of it as well as the USOC (even though USOC has issued it's own statement on the matter.)
Others have said that because he was at a private party of a girl that he was dating at the time, that folks should mind their own business. It's part of life at college they say; school/beer/parties/pot.
Even more have said that just because he had a bong to his mouth, that doesn't prove he was smoking anything. Wrong, bucko. I remember Cheech and Chong doing all that marijuana-related humor and you can't say that they didn't toke it up from time to time-a lot.
Same thing.
WADA can make cases sometimes years after an alleged violation. They took away someone's medal from Sydney just recently. Ditto for Athens. Some got their chain yanked there too.
The USOC and IOC will have a PR nightmare on their hands if they *don't* get involved. Phelps, like it or not should realise he has a responsibility to set an example just because of the mere fact he is a public figure.
If he doesn't want to set an example fine. But once that 8th gold meadal was awarded, he was in that position-like it or not. And his out-of-the-pool behavior no matter if he is competing or not should be scruitinized, all for the fact that he has been held up as an example of what is right with sporting in America.
My message to the USOC, IOC and WADA is to *get* involved, and if necessary, re-test (even though according to everyone he has never failed a dope test) while in competition. And if necessary, start to yank medals.
Shame on you Michael. I expected better-and so did America.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Not So Fast
Tomorrow marks a monumental day in American history, with Barack Obama being sworn in as the first African-American President of the United States. Along with that comes the inevitable specualtion as to his influence (or lack of it) on Chicago's bid.
I will go out on a limb and say what no other Olympic writer dares to do: the bid is dead as a doornail and any so-called "influence" is just that-perceived. Frankly, Barack has a lot more important things to fix. The economy for one. In the grand scheme of things, the Olympic bid in reality should be low on his list of priorities. Sure, he's from Chicago. It didn't take long for the lemmings to jump on the bandwagon and assume that since he is from that area, he automatically supports the bid.
Barack has said that restoring America's standing in the world is one of his main priorities. It's going to take years to undo the damage of the Bush administration. In fact, his influence could possibly do more harm than good. Chicago needs all the friends it can get. Especially in the media, since they seemed to have done well at one thing: alienating those influential people who can make or break your bid or royally ticking off those folks who are six-degrees-of-separation from the major players that will ultimately make that final decision.
It will be a very interesting time in Copenhagen. Nothing is ever certain in the Olympic world. Assuming you have it in the bag is a dangerous path to walk down. And at the end of that path may be some very rough and tough questioning from those same media members you pissed off earlier in your bid.
Change is coming. Possibly from some of the IOC voting members who think another bid has more to offer-as well as more cooperation from all sectors of the sport world.
A slice of humble pie-please.
I will go out on a limb and say what no other Olympic writer dares to do: the bid is dead as a doornail and any so-called "influence" is just that-perceived. Frankly, Barack has a lot more important things to fix. The economy for one. In the grand scheme of things, the Olympic bid in reality should be low on his list of priorities. Sure, he's from Chicago. It didn't take long for the lemmings to jump on the bandwagon and assume that since he is from that area, he automatically supports the bid.
Barack has said that restoring America's standing in the world is one of his main priorities. It's going to take years to undo the damage of the Bush administration. In fact, his influence could possibly do more harm than good. Chicago needs all the friends it can get. Especially in the media, since they seemed to have done well at one thing: alienating those influential people who can make or break your bid or royally ticking off those folks who are six-degrees-of-separation from the major players that will ultimately make that final decision.
It will be a very interesting time in Copenhagen. Nothing is ever certain in the Olympic world. Assuming you have it in the bag is a dangerous path to walk down. And at the end of that path may be some very rough and tough questioning from those same media members you pissed off earlier in your bid.
Change is coming. Possibly from some of the IOC voting members who think another bid has more to offer-as well as more cooperation from all sectors of the sport world.
A slice of humble pie-please.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Ten Olympic New Year's Resolutions (in no particular order)
1. New IOC President. We need fresh blood and Dr. Rogge just isn't cutting it. He's decided to seek another term. Please don't-we've had enough.
2. People who are-shouldn't. There are some folks who just shouldn't be in the Olympic media business. You know who you are. Do us all a favor and get out-or retire.
3. Stop trashing 1996. There were some of us who worked our butts off for your ungrateful a**. Shut up already!
4. Dump the Youth Olympic Games. Bad idea, bad timing, just bad all around.
5. No to a Munich Winter Olympic bid. People have short memories about what happened last time the Olympics were there.
6. Make good on the promises to make the Olympic Games smaller. That vow was made at the IOC session in Prague in 2003. We're still waiting.
7. Find out how much the IOC has lost in the Bernie Madoff scandal. I am hearing it is close to five million---my gut feeling is that it is much higher.
8. End the Samaranch influence. Can someone teach Juan Antonio how to spell R-E-T-I-R-E-M-E-N-T?
9. Dick Pound for IOC President. Yes, I know what happened the last time he ran, but he's a good guy that the IOC needs to keep around.
10. Get Chicago 2016 to answer some questions. Some really tough questions that they don't like to answer. If you are not hiding anything, why the secrecy?
Happy New Year, and how long is it to Copenhagen? We're preparing and we're so there-and can't wait!
2. People who are-shouldn't. There are some folks who just shouldn't be in the Olympic media business. You know who you are. Do us all a favor and get out-or retire.
3. Stop trashing 1996. There were some of us who worked our butts off for your ungrateful a**. Shut up already!
4. Dump the Youth Olympic Games. Bad idea, bad timing, just bad all around.
5. No to a Munich Winter Olympic bid. People have short memories about what happened last time the Olympics were there.
6. Make good on the promises to make the Olympic Games smaller. That vow was made at the IOC session in Prague in 2003. We're still waiting.
7. Find out how much the IOC has lost in the Bernie Madoff scandal. I am hearing it is close to five million---my gut feeling is that it is much higher.
8. End the Samaranch influence. Can someone teach Juan Antonio how to spell R-E-T-I-R-E-M-E-N-T?
9. Dick Pound for IOC President. Yes, I know what happened the last time he ran, but he's a good guy that the IOC needs to keep around.
10. Get Chicago 2016 to answer some questions. Some really tough questions that they don't like to answer. If you are not hiding anything, why the secrecy?
Happy New Year, and how long is it to Copenhagen? We're preparing and we're so there-and can't wait!
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Marion Jones: at it again
Was anyone watching Good Morning America today? Marion Jones was being interviewed by Robin Roberts about her six-month stint in the slammer for lying to a federal jury about her steriod use.
She made two glaring mistakes: one was saying that "when you are a prominent person and athlete, you trust the people around you that they have your best interests at heart."
Marion: that was mistake number one.
The second one, and I think this was very telling is that during the interview, she NEVER apologised to her teammates who also were forced to give up their gold medals. The IOC thinks if one person is tainted, they all are and the message is turn 'em in.
I would like to think she has learned at least a little something during her time in the joint. She says that she wants to go out and speak to people about the mistakes she's made. But in my opinion, she has to get right with herself, even before she starts to think about lecturing others.
The real victim here isn't Marion, but her teammates who had nothing to do with doping getting caught up in her scandal and them paying the price for something they did not do. A lot of people, including athletes, fans, and those of us who deal with the Olympic movement didn't believe the talk at first. I firmly believed that Marion was clean, and as I wrote earlier, it was her dirtbag ex-husband that I heard plenty about. But Marion? Nah. No way. How could we have got it so wrong?
Marion, you should be ashamed of yourself. Many people put their trust and faith in you and it is YOU who let us down.
Do you have the guts to make things right?
After seeing you on GMA, I will say the jury is out.
She made two glaring mistakes: one was saying that "when you are a prominent person and athlete, you trust the people around you that they have your best interests at heart."
Marion: that was mistake number one.
The second one, and I think this was very telling is that during the interview, she NEVER apologised to her teammates who also were forced to give up their gold medals. The IOC thinks if one person is tainted, they all are and the message is turn 'em in.
I would like to think she has learned at least a little something during her time in the joint. She says that she wants to go out and speak to people about the mistakes she's made. But in my opinion, she has to get right with herself, even before she starts to think about lecturing others.
The real victim here isn't Marion, but her teammates who had nothing to do with doping getting caught up in her scandal and them paying the price for something they did not do. A lot of people, including athletes, fans, and those of us who deal with the Olympic movement didn't believe the talk at first. I firmly believed that Marion was clean, and as I wrote earlier, it was her dirtbag ex-husband that I heard plenty about. But Marion? Nah. No way. How could we have got it so wrong?
Marion, you should be ashamed of yourself. Many people put their trust and faith in you and it is YOU who let us down.
Do you have the guts to make things right?
After seeing you on GMA, I will say the jury is out.
Thursday, December 4, 2008
IOC to the EBU: Go to hell!
The IOC has turned down the European Broadcasting Union's bid for the rights to upcoming Olympic Games. The IOC has cited wanting to negotiate individual contracts in the countries involved (read: more $$$ and £££) as the reason for the decision. I wonder if this is totally wise.
In my opinion, you get continuity when you have a master contract covering most of Europe. There may be a few countries here and there that don't sign on and want their own deals. I just can't see the sense of this. It's going to drive up costs (obviously) and for some poorer or smaller nations, the cost to broadcast may be prohibitive.
At the last IOC session in Guatemala City, Jacques Rogge cited concern about certain countries not being able to receive Olympic programming or getting inconsistent transmissions of certain events. But by starting to put a chokehold on the European broadcast rights is only the beginning. We're already seeing in Oceania terrestial broadcasters who previously held the rights being shut out by local cable, most notably Foxtel for 2010 Winter and 2012 Summer (along with Nine Network), shutting out long-time broadcaster 7 Network.
It's time to give it back to the people who have done it the best and done it the longest-and not some upstarts who think they can do it better and sell the IOC and the viewing public a bunch of damaged goods, all in the name of someone lining their pockets when it comes time to negotiate the contract.
The real losers will be the viewing public, and with no viewers, there is no ratings and in the end, no bux.
Familiarise yourself where the on/off switch is. You will need it if you live in Europe-and I suspect elsewhere too.
In my opinion, you get continuity when you have a master contract covering most of Europe. There may be a few countries here and there that don't sign on and want their own deals. I just can't see the sense of this. It's going to drive up costs (obviously) and for some poorer or smaller nations, the cost to broadcast may be prohibitive.
At the last IOC session in Guatemala City, Jacques Rogge cited concern about certain countries not being able to receive Olympic programming or getting inconsistent transmissions of certain events. But by starting to put a chokehold on the European broadcast rights is only the beginning. We're already seeing in Oceania terrestial broadcasters who previously held the rights being shut out by local cable, most notably Foxtel for 2010 Winter and 2012 Summer (along with Nine Network), shutting out long-time broadcaster 7 Network.
It's time to give it back to the people who have done it the best and done it the longest-and not some upstarts who think they can do it better and sell the IOC and the viewing public a bunch of damaged goods, all in the name of someone lining their pockets when it comes time to negotiate the contract.
The real losers will be the viewing public, and with no viewers, there is no ratings and in the end, no bux.
Familiarise yourself where the on/off switch is. You will need it if you live in Europe-and I suspect elsewhere too.