In Dallas, Mark McDonald writes, USOC President LeRoy Walker
"has compared the USOC to 'a small Fortune 500 company that
happens to be in the business of sports.' And Walker is
presiding over what is likely to be a significant downsizing of
the USOC." Walker, who has been examining budget recommendations
at the U.S. Olympic Congress in Nashville this weekend:
"Everything's on the table (to be cut)." The USOC's
participation in future World University Games is said to be "in
trouble," and Walker even floated the idea that the U.S. might
not send full teams to other major events if the U.S. athletes
would not be competitive (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 11/13). Anita
DeFrantz, one of the U.S.'s IOC members, said the size of U.S.
Olympic teams must not be affected by budget cutting. DeFrantz
suggested charging for time at Olympic training centers, federal
and state tax checkoffs and funding from pro sports as
alternative ways to trim budgets (AP, 11/12).
THE NASHVILLE RUMOR CIRCUIT: As for the USOC's Exec Dir
position that Harvey Schiller vacated for the presidency of
Turner Sports, "the job appears to be fund-raiser John Krimsky's
for the taking or leaving." Other names being floated: SWC
Commissioner Steve Hatchell, USA Gymnastics chief Sandy Knapp and
soon-to-be former Governors Ann Richards and Mario Cuomo (DALLAS
MORNING NEWS, 11/13). In New York, Jere Longman profiles
Krimsky: "The very same toughness that serves Krimsky well in
deal-making may make him unsuitable as executive director" (N.Y.
TIMES, 11/13). Walker on Krimsky: "We're going to get this done
with all deliberate speed. But we're going to do it right. One
thing that is a priority is getting Krimsky out of the dual-role
situation and into either one or the other. And the sooner the
better" (Bob Ford, PHILA. INQUIRER, 11/14).
