USOC “Athletes”: Why Don’t They Want to Change?

"Business As Usual" at the USOC?

An Editorial by John Leonard

THE recent resignation by the leader of the USOC, Mr. Norm Blake, was a shocking and disturbing event. Mr. Blake stated that he was resigning because he–rather than the concepts of reform–was becoming the issue.

The real reason for the resignation was that the athletes involved in USOC governance, turned on him. Mr. Bill Stapleton, former swimmer at the University of Texas, and currently a lawyer and an "agent" for athletes, originally was one of the driving forces in the hiring of Mr. Blake, in the days of the USOC Search Committee. Yet less than six months later, he was the key force in driving Mr. Blake out of the same post.

Mr. Stapleton was widely quoted in the press as stating that Blake's departure "proves that the athletes control the agenda" of the USOC.

Oh?

Which agenda? The one that asks for strong reform, a more businesslike approach to operation, and accountability by staff? Or, the one that rejects Mr. Blake’s excellent work to make each sport accountable for its success, downsize the organization of the USOC, and actually have sports and individuals work for their money?

Next comes the issue of Mr. Stapleton himself. If he is truly earning his living these days as an agent for athletes, how can his presence on, much less his personal leadership of the Athletes Advisory Council be anything but the most grievous of conflict of interests? Is he Agent? Or Athlete?
Or ?

One thing is certain: he turned 180 degrees on a man he begged to be hired just scant months before. If Mr. Stapleton’s judgement was so faulty in the hiring process of Mr. Blake, can it be trusted in his rush to dismiss, and now in his assertions that Mr. Blake should leave" immediately, certainly in weeks, not months." ?

All this begs us to ask the question: What are the "athletes" or Mr. Stapleton so afraid of in the change process? Is accountability really not all it is cracked up to be?

Why don’t the "athletes" as represented by Mr. Stapleton want change? Clearly his vacillating, indecisive leadership is not what anyone needs to summon the courage for change. His personal conflict of interests do not aid his leadership potential, and the time gap between the active career of some athletes, such as Mr. Stapleton, and his current status makes questionable his athlete status.

We have seen endless examples of short-term, self-interested thinking on many occasions by many athlete leaders. Simply put, in many areas, such as the development of the sport and athletes, the older athlete does not possess sufficient perspective to understand cause and effect. Self-interest replaces educated, experienced assessment of pluses and minuses of proposals.

The seemingly endless appropriation of little children’s registration monies in order to provide subsistence funds to athletes providing mediocre performances in return has been a more than decade- long irritation to many. Athlete welfare is not a popular concept with anyone but the athletes receiving it. Athletes seem to be asking for accountability from coaches (who are not paid by the federation)and from administrators, but not willing to demand it of themselves.

And change, as proposed by Mr. Norm Blake, would have demanded the accountability that athletes in many sports other than swimming, could not have withstood in scrutiny.

Short-Term Thinking and Self-Interest: That’s the harvest we have reaped so far from the "athlete agenda." No thanks, Mr. Stapleton. Go back to your day job. An agent is an agent is an agent.

(John Leonard is the Executive Director of the American Swimming Coaches Association.)

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