USOC officials said yesterday they are "willing to
accept a 'sincere' collective apology, along with
restitution, for the vandalism that took place last month at
the athletes' Olympic village in Nagano," according to Rick
Sadowski of the ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS. But USOC Exec Dir Dick
Schultz said that he doesn't want the public to sense his
group is "backing off" its threat to ban the players from
future international competition: "All the options are still
open, including team sanctions." Schultz said the incident
has "been an embarrassment and needs to be resolved very
quickly" (ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS, 3/12). Schultz and USOC
President Bill Hybl said that any donations would be made to
a third party, not the USOC or USA Hockey, benefitting a
youth sports group. When asked what amount of restitution
would be appropriate, Schultz said, "We don't want anyone
thinking that the players are buying their way out of this
situation" (CO Springs GAZETTE TELEGRAPH, 3/13). Schultz
acknowledged the USOC is limited by what it can impose by
its Code of Conduct: "Our authority, once these players are
not on the Olympic team .. is very limited" (NEWSDAY, 3/13).
BLAME GAME: The Rangers' Brian Leetch said the
situation "wasn't handled correctly by the USOC or USA
Hockey at the time of the incident or even the first week
after it." Leetch: "[W]hy didn't U.S. Hockey get the team
together before anyone could leave Nagano, and get it
straightened out then?" (N.Y. POST, 3/12). Schultz, on the
handling of the situation: "Everybody has to take a share of
the blame. ... [But] I don't think there was any way that
there could have been a better or stronger effort made to
keep them in Nagano" (Jere Longman, N.Y. TIMES, 3/12).
BEHIND-THE-SCENES: In N.Y., Larry Brooks reports that
two agents who remained anonymous said that NHLPA Exec Dir
Bob Goodenow "had been obstructing the NHL's investigation
into the matter." One agent: "It isn't going away and it
won't go away no matter how much Goodenow tells the players
to stonewall. I think the players need to consider the kind
of advice they've been receiving" (N.Y. POST, 3/12). Steve
Bartlett, agent for three Team USA members: "If they want
them to apologize as a team and kick in a few dollars, I
don't think that would be a problem" (USA TODAY, 3/12).
Coyotes coach Jim Schoenfeld, on the players: "They're going
to be accused of rape, murder and pillage pretty soon. ...
Let's get it done" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 3/12).
REAX: In Chicago, Jay Mariotti, under the header,
"Hockey Brats' Silence Adds To U.S. Shame," writes,
"Incredibly, their conspiracy of silence is working." While
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman has yet to name the guilty
parties, the players "are making a fool of him, a travesty
of his office, and they seem to be enjoying every minute of
it" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 3/12). In Philadelphia, Bob Ford:
"Mark it down. For the first time in its Olympic
experience, the U.S. hockey team got a victory over someone
other that Belarus" (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 3/12).
