IOC President Juan Antonio Samaranch called for "faster
changes" at the top of the USATF, citing "concerns" over the
future of track and field in the U.S., according to Philip
Hersh in the CHICAGO TRIBUNE. Not mentioning any names,
Samaranch stated that the USATF should replace "lame-duck"
Exec Dir Ollan Cassell "as soon as possible, even if it
means buying out the final year of his $135,000-a-year
contract." Samaranch: "We in Europe cannot understand that
having the best (track and field) athletes in the world,
track and field in your country is facing a very special
situation. The ratings are going down, there are less
meetings, all these very good athletes have to come to
Europe to get some money. It is even more difficult to
understand when we're aware of the great success of track
and field during the Atlanta Games." USATF President Pat
Rico said the governing body hopes to have a new Exec Dir
hired by the end of May (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 3/25).
HELP WANTED: Nike Exec Steve Miller and Washington, DC,
attorney Craig Masback are among those who have been
contacted to replace Cassell, and the TRIBUNE's Hersh notes
"sources close" to the situation said NBC Sports President
Dick Ebersol, and Primo Nebiolo, Int'l Amateur Athletic
Federation President, are among those "insisting on
accelerating USATF's new direction" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 3/25).
