Allegations around the USOC led some prominent boosters to call for Blackmun to step downGETTY IMAGES
Outgoing USOC CEO Scott Blackmun had been "highly regarded and viewed as a stabilizing force in an organization previously troubled by chaotic leadership," but that ultimately was superseded by the "criticism of the committee’s handling" of the Larry Nassar scandal, according to Ruiz & Futterman of the N.Y. TIMES. Blackmun yesterday announced he is resigning after eight years in his position, and the fallout from the Nassar case led two U.S. senators and a "group of about 30 former Olympians, athletes’ representatives and child-advocacy experts to call" for him to step down (N.Y. TIMES, 3/1). In Colorado Springs, Earls & Roeder in a front-page piece note there are questions about "how much Blackmun knew, and when, and how his organization handled allegations of sexual assaults on athletes in more than one Olympic sport." Allegations of sexual abuse "weren't limited to gymnastics," as the Orange County Register last month "revealed that more than 250 coaches and officials with USA Swimming have been arrested, charged or disciplined for alleged sexual misconduct with swimmers under age 18." USA Swimming Chair Jim Sheehan "seemed stunned at Blackmun's resignation." The compounding sexual assault allegations "led a group of prominent Olympic boosters to call for Blackmun to leave." Before the sexual assault scandals exploded, Blackmun was "seen as a crusader for cleaning up" the Games. Shortly after getting the top USOC job, Blackmun "launched an effort to stamp out sexual assault and support victims" (Colorado Springs GAZETTE, 3/1).
INCREASED PUBLIC PRESSURE: U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) was one of those calling for Blackmun to resign and said yesterday's move was "long overdue." Shaheen: "The U.S. Olympic Committee must now bring on new leadership determined to deliver answers and accountability regarding how Larry Nassar was able to freely abuse young girls for decades, as well as answers to questions about abuse in other Olympic programs. It’s clear that the culture at the U.S. Olympic Committee desperately needs to change so that it prioritizes the health and safety of U.S. athletes" (WASHINGTON POST, 3/1). U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) tweeted, "Good to see overdue changes being made at the U.S. Olympic Committee. Officials who were aware of sexual abuse and chose not to intervene have no place overseeing our Olympic teams. Reports of sexual abuse must be reported immediately." In N.Y. Christian Red notes Feinstein is a "leading advocate for protecting Olympic athletes from sexual abuse" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 3/1). Nancy Hogshead-Makar, the CEO of sports feminist advocacy group Champion Women, said, "He saw the writing on the wall. I'm glad this happened sooner rather than later. He was not an innocent bystander" (USA TODAY, 3/1).
THE TIME WAS RIGHT: In DC, Sally Jenkins notes Blackmun's exit was the "result of an athlete revolt." He "tried to call several gymnasts" last week impacted by the Nassar scandal, but they "refused to even speak to him or to cooperate in the flimsy so-called investigation he suddenly tried to engineer by hiring a law firm." The USOC’s Athletes’ Advisory Council this week "sent an internal letter demanding answers and remedies." It wants to "know why the USOC sat silently on allegations of abuse in so many cases" and is looking for a congressional commission to "review the USOC’s entire structure and workings." Blackmun's resignation, which "seems to have been partly in response to these public pressures and not just his health issues, is not an adequate remedy to any of it" (WASHINGTON POST, 3/1).
NOT A STEP FORWARD: USA TODAY's Christine Brennan notes Blackmun "brought internal change and international respect to the USOC," and had he been healthy, he "quite possibly could still be on the job today, leading an embattled organization through its most trying times." It will be "popular to say that Blackmun was forced out due to the burgeoning sex abuse scandals in gymnastics and swimming," but that will "not be correct." This is a "substantial loss for the USOC" (USA TODAY, 3/1). 3 WIRE SPORTS' Alan Abrahamson wrote mob justice is "no way to do business." Abrahamson: "Neither is political opportunism." People who have been "screaming for Blackmun's head" just "forced the exit of a guy who is honorable, decent, who is 100 percent integrity and who absolutely, unequivocally did not deserve this" (3WIRESPORTS.com, 2/28).
TAKE THE GOOD WITH THE BAD: In Colorado Springs, David Ramsey in a front-page piece writes Blackmun "designed the groundwork for a superior and safer American Olympic Movement, but the past, full of horrors, overtook him." Blackmun "saw the weakness" in the USOC and its NGBs and knew the USOC "needed to offer athletes a simple yet powerful avenue to expose abusers." Blackmun’s foresight led to the '17 "creation of Denver-based SafeSport, which seeks to find the creeps." He also "oversaw an organization that failed to respond quickly enough or strongly enough to Nassar and other villains." He was the "right man to lead the USOC to more medals and more stability." He was "not the right man to take on the monster" who is Nassar. He "should have spoken loudly." He should have been "more open to exposing, and humiliating, the leaders of USA Gymnastics for their many failures." Ramsey: "Blackmun, a good man, failed to do enough to expose Nassar, a bad man. This failure will be part of Blackmun’s legacy" (Colorado Springs GAZETTE, 3/1).
