We haven't had one of these in awhile---plus blind items for you to figure out!
Just Asking:
What network president snubbed two employees in the restaurant at the Hyatt;didn't even go over to say hello, even though one of them was his Vice President? He could have said hello, as he was only sitting four tables away!
What reporter for a Far East newspaper also got snubbed by same said network VP in the Hyatt lobby? Hey girl, next time kick him in the shin or the bum!
What city's bid committee made a bunch of promises to a lot of people-and has yet to make good? C'mon, Sport Accord attendees have been home for, what, a month now?!?
What bid city's rep made a half-hearted attempt at intimidation to this writer in the elevator at the Hyatt? I think he mistook me for someone else-until he saw the name on the accreditation badge, then he beat a hasty retreat. Well, that's one way to tell me you read me!
*******
Could someone tell me the difference between anime and cartoons?
It's sad about the news with all these missing kids.
I just love the music of Kevin Rudolf-be sure to watch the Miss USA pageant on Sunday night when he performs.
Does anyone believe the predictions that the Cleveland Indians will make the post-season?
RIP Harry Kalas-Puppy Bowl will never be the same!
Friday, April 17, 2009
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Pat Ryan: foot in mouth disease
Pat Ryan, the head of Chicago 2016 may have just sealed his city's fate several weeks ago before the IOC evaluation commission visit when he made a comment that the visit of the evaluators "won't necessarily win you the Olympic Games." His reasoning was that because they don't have votes, that in the whole scheme of things, they were a minor factor in the process.
But they can and do issue the final report that influences greatly the votes of those who do. Also, some members of the commission met with a group called No Games Chicago. Big oops. Very rarely do evaluators meet with opposition groups. It has happened before. But not to this scale-and with two members of Chicago 2016 present.
You have to keep your nose clean at every step of the process. I have seem some really stupid mistakes made by bid cities (Mayor Bloomberg's meltdown in the lobby of the Raffles hotel in Singapore ranks right up there) and I have always maintained that it is the little things that will either make or break your bid.
Chicago would bode well to reach out to those folks that they have dismissed (including the IOC visitors) if they hope to have any chance of this bid even coming close in the voting in Copenhagen. But right now-it would take a miracle for Chicago to pull this one off, and I just don't see it happening.
You get what you deserve-in this case, defeat in October.
But they can and do issue the final report that influences greatly the votes of those who do. Also, some members of the commission met with a group called No Games Chicago. Big oops. Very rarely do evaluators meet with opposition groups. It has happened before. But not to this scale-and with two members of Chicago 2016 present.
You have to keep your nose clean at every step of the process. I have seem some really stupid mistakes made by bid cities (Mayor Bloomberg's meltdown in the lobby of the Raffles hotel in Singapore ranks right up there) and I have always maintained that it is the little things that will either make or break your bid.
Chicago would bode well to reach out to those folks that they have dismissed (including the IOC visitors) if they hope to have any chance of this bid even coming close in the voting in Copenhagen. But right now-it would take a miracle for Chicago to pull this one off, and I just don't see it happening.
You get what you deserve-in this case, defeat in October.
Friday, March 27, 2009
Ebersol's irresponsible comments
As reported by Around the Rings, NBC Olympics president Dick Ebersol has made a comment in regards to Bode Miller. "He's the greatest American skier of all time. He's certainly entitled to his opinions."
In case for review: Bode is the guy who was criticised for his excessive partying during the Turin Olympics and failing to medal. He also boasted about "skiing drunk" during some of his competitions.
Bode is not the greatest of all time. True sports stars know of their responsibility to the community and of the example they must set once they make the Olympic team. I would be personally happy if Bode would just shrink and go away. He's a poor example of what an Olympian should be.
Let's not make Bode into a hero. He's far from it, and there are so many others that deserve our recognition more.
The Olympics celebrate heroes-and not losers like Miller who think the world revolves around them and their irresponsible actions both off and on the piste.
In case for review: Bode is the guy who was criticised for his excessive partying during the Turin Olympics and failing to medal. He also boasted about "skiing drunk" during some of his competitions.
Bode is not the greatest of all time. True sports stars know of their responsibility to the community and of the example they must set once they make the Olympic team. I would be personally happy if Bode would just shrink and go away. He's a poor example of what an Olympian should be.
Let's not make Bode into a hero. He's far from it, and there are so many others that deserve our recognition more.
The Olympics celebrate heroes-and not losers like Miller who think the world revolves around them and their irresponsible actions both off and on the piste.
That pesky revenue sharing dispute
The talk here in Denver all week has been about the revenue sharing dispute between the USOC and the IOC. The USOC wants to tear up the existing contracts claiming that when they were signed, the economic climate was not as challenging as we are experiencing today. In all of the "he said she said" of this dispute, one fact has been easily forgotten by both parties: both sides signed a legally-binding contract.
A new contract is expected to be signed this week. But I think it sets a dangerous precedent. What if say a bid city that won the Olympics didn't like it's host city contract they signed, went to the IOC and said they wanted the terms renegotiated and if they didn't get their way, they would leave the IOC on the hook for millions, possibly billions of dollars?
I am really uncomfortable with this, only because this could go beyond revenue sharing and seep into other areas related to Olympic bid management and host city operations.
It will be interesting to see in the runup to Copenhagen what other issues come up that have been raised by this simmering dispute that has exploded into some ugly words between both parties.
As the saying goes, be careful what you wish for. It could be more than you can handle.
A new contract is expected to be signed this week. But I think it sets a dangerous precedent. What if say a bid city that won the Olympics didn't like it's host city contract they signed, went to the IOC and said they wanted the terms renegotiated and if they didn't get their way, they would leave the IOC on the hook for millions, possibly billions of dollars?
I am really uncomfortable with this, only because this could go beyond revenue sharing and seep into other areas related to Olympic bid management and host city operations.
It will be interesting to see in the runup to Copenhagen what other issues come up that have been raised by this simmering dispute that has exploded into some ugly words between both parties.
As the saying goes, be careful what you wish for. It could be more than you can handle.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Tokyo talk back
By all accounts, Tokyo is leading the points race to be elected the city to host the 2016 Olympics. You look at any survey and they have clearly overtaken Chicago and it looks to stay that way. Of course, anything can happen between now and October, but if they stay the course, victory is theirs in Copenhagen.
It's really amazing to see now the loyalties coming out. It's mid-week at Sport Accord and patterns are starting to emerge. People have asked me which bid I will endorse and that will be mentioned on this blog at the end of the week.
There are some here who don't have an appreciation of Tokyo's cultural heritage, history and uniqueness. Granted, I have never been there, but in talking to some of my Japanese friends here, it is clear they have an advantage that the other bid cities don't.
A heart for one.
A real desire to welcome the world in 2016. After all, they did it once before, in 1964 which brought the world storied Olympic performances that are still talked about today.
Every bid and Olympic city has it's seedy side. Gosh knows Atlanta sure did. But no one forces you to go into a so-called "gentelman's club" or order that porn movie in your hotel room. Hell, the Hyatt has adult movies that would make Larry Flynt blush.
Let's not be pushing our moral judgements on what people do in their private lives. It's none of anyone's damm business.
Otherwise, I will paraphrase a popular credit card commercial: what's in YOUR closet?
It's really amazing to see now the loyalties coming out. It's mid-week at Sport Accord and patterns are starting to emerge. People have asked me which bid I will endorse and that will be mentioned on this blog at the end of the week.
There are some here who don't have an appreciation of Tokyo's cultural heritage, history and uniqueness. Granted, I have never been there, but in talking to some of my Japanese friends here, it is clear they have an advantage that the other bid cities don't.
A heart for one.
A real desire to welcome the world in 2016. After all, they did it once before, in 1964 which brought the world storied Olympic performances that are still talked about today.
Every bid and Olympic city has it's seedy side. Gosh knows Atlanta sure did. But no one forces you to go into a so-called "gentelman's club" or order that porn movie in your hotel room. Hell, the Hyatt has adult movies that would make Larry Flynt blush.
Let's not be pushing our moral judgements on what people do in their private lives. It's none of anyone's damm business.
Otherwise, I will paraphrase a popular credit card commercial: what's in YOUR closet?
A boxer with a heart of gold
Yesterday, I met an extraordinary young lady by the name of Tiffanie Hearn. She's the number one ranked female boxer in the United States, and ranked number three in the world. She has the talent to go all the way and bring home gold-and lots of it- for the USA in 2012. There's only one problem: the IOC won't let her-or any female boxer for that matter compete in the Olympics, because there isn't any Olympic events for them.
Tiffanie told me the story for the men is different: "They get $6000 a month to support their training-and we get nothing."
What's wrong with this picture? Plenty.
Tiffanie says "the men don't have to work because the support is there. We're second-class in the eyes of the IOC. This has got to change."
Big time, I say.
The head of the IBA women's division put it bluntly: it's discrimination and it's got to stop.
We all were discussing how this is 2009 and these issues shouldn't even be coming up. And what will it take to change the minds of the powers that be. The fact that women are still barred from certain Olympic competitions just isn't right. It's time for a change. And that change must come NOW.
So, the favor I ask is for you to see a great boxing talent and as an audience, support Tiffanie's fights, either on TV or in person. We're all she's got.
In this way, maybe we can change some minds---so there is more gold come 2012.
I don't think that is too much to ask, do you?
Tiffanie told me the story for the men is different: "They get $6000 a month to support their training-and we get nothing."
What's wrong with this picture? Plenty.
Tiffanie says "the men don't have to work because the support is there. We're second-class in the eyes of the IOC. This has got to change."
Big time, I say.
The head of the IBA women's division put it bluntly: it's discrimination and it's got to stop.
We all were discussing how this is 2009 and these issues shouldn't even be coming up. And what will it take to change the minds of the powers that be. The fact that women are still barred from certain Olympic competitions just isn't right. It's time for a change. And that change must come NOW.
So, the favor I ask is for you to see a great boxing talent and as an audience, support Tiffanie's fights, either on TV or in person. We're all she's got.
In this way, maybe we can change some minds---so there is more gold come 2012.
I don't think that is too much to ask, do you?
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
On the ropes
Funny when you catch someone not telling the truth how they hem and haw and backtrack. Such was the case with my visit to the Chicago 2016 booth. I spoke with a young lady who will remain anonymous and I told her of my so-far unsatisfactory dealings with them. I said I had one simple question: why doesn't their head of PR (in fact anyone at their organisation) ever return emails?
After a few shifts of the feet, she said that there "had to have been some kind of mistake" and I stopped her right there-there had been no mistake, "especially after I sent you people six or seven emails with no response." I also proceeded to tell her of the story of a friend of mine who didn't start to get his emails returned until a friend of his joined the bid.
She stammered that you didn't have to have a friend on the bid committee to get a response and my parting comments were that I "thought it was extremely rude and that (I) was not impressed."
Left in the dust: one 2016 rep wondering what had hit her.
In all my years on the Olympic scene, I have never even run into such a disorganised, rude, thoughtless group of people as Chicago 2016. May their bid sink without a trace in October-which is exactly what they deserve.
Because you can't treat the written press like dirt-and not expect to suffer the consequences of your actions.
In this case, defeat in Copenhagen come October.
After a few shifts of the feet, she said that there "had to have been some kind of mistake" and I stopped her right there-there had been no mistake, "especially after I sent you people six or seven emails with no response." I also proceeded to tell her of the story of a friend of mine who didn't start to get his emails returned until a friend of his joined the bid.
She stammered that you didn't have to have a friend on the bid committee to get a response and my parting comments were that I "thought it was extremely rude and that (I) was not impressed."
Left in the dust: one 2016 rep wondering what had hit her.
In all my years on the Olympic scene, I have never even run into such a disorganised, rude, thoughtless group of people as Chicago 2016. May their bid sink without a trace in October-which is exactly what they deserve.
Because you can't treat the written press like dirt-and not expect to suffer the consequences of your actions.
In this case, defeat in Copenhagen come October.