On Friday, Chris Chelios sent a check for $3,000 to the
Japanese Olympic Committee to cover the expenses from damage
done at the Olympic Village last month in Nagano, according
to Rich Strom of the CHICAGO TRIBUNE. Chelios, on behalf of
the U.S. team, sent a letter to the Japanese Olympic
Committee and the USOC, acknowledging that certain conduct
by a few team members "was inexcusable." Chelios, from the
letter: "I want to take this opportunity to apologize to the
people of Japan, the Japanese Olympic Committee, the USOC
and to all hockey fans throughout the world. Bitter
frustration at our own level of play caused a few team
members to vent their anger in a way which is not in the
tradition of NHL/Olympic sportsmanship. ... Our heartfelt
apologies and our thanks to the people of Japan." Strom:
"May the whole episode rest in peace" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE,
3/15). Chelios said he hopes the threat of banning Team USA
members from future Olympics is not followed through: "I
hope the same group of guys can go on and prove that they
really love representing the country and wouldn't do
anything to jeopardize it" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 3/15).
REAX: NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman: "An apology from
Team USA is long overdue and in that respect this is a
positive step. However, I would have preferred that the
responsible parties had stepped forward" (NHL)....In Ft.
Worth, Mike Heika reported that "those threatened bans"
against Team USA "could be a smokescreen. It appears the
[NHLPA] has made rumblings that any suspensions would be met
with an appeal and possibly court action" (STAR-TELEGRAM,
3/14). In N.Y., Frank Brown wrote that a check for $3M --
or even $30M -- "is not enough to bandage the damage, which
now is incalculable" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 3/15). NEWSDAY's Joe
Gergen wrote that "At the very least," USA Hockey should
require its 2002 team to attend a mini-camp that raises
their Olympic sensitivity (NEWSDAY, 3/15).
WINTER WONDERLAND: The 29-city Stanley Cup tour during
the NHL's Winter Break for the Olympics raised $2M for local
charities, doubling its goal (NHL).
