The USOC "is not ready to announce specific punishment
for the room-trashing episode" involving U.S. hockey players
in Nagano, but Joe Lapointe of the N.Y. TIMES writes that
the USOC "appears to be moving away from threats, hoping for
a settlement in the form of a group apology and a
significant payment by team members." The USOC had
"threatened possible sanctions" against the entire team for
the incident, possibly banning all players from future
international competitions. Lapointe: "The new strategy
seems to be based, at least in part, on a feeling that the
USOC may be on uncertain legal ground trying to punish the
hockey team as a whole" (N.Y. TIMES, 3/11). In N.Y., Ira
Berkow writes under the header "Hockey Team's Stonewalling
Is Childlike Behavior." Berkow, in response to Brian Leetch
who recently said the threat of a team penalty sounded like
"elementary school": "If they act like children, it is only
proper that they be treated like children" (N.Y. TIMES,
3/11). USOC President Bill Hybl and USOC Exec Dir Dick
Schultz will hold a news conference today (USA TODAY, 3/11).
