USA Gymnastics interim CEO Mary Bono has apologized for a tweet from Sept. 7 that was critical of "Nike's endorsement deal with Colin Kaepernick," according to Nancy Armour of USA TODAY. Bono said, "I deeply regret posting the Tweet because I respect everyone's views and their fundamental right to express them. This in no way reflects how I will approach my position at USA Gymnastics." Bono's post was made a month "before she was named interim CEO." However, the fact that "no one thought to delete it before her appointment was announced" was considered "particularly tone-deaf." The NGB "remains without an apparel sponsor" following Under Armour leaving in the wake of the Larry Nassar scandal. The tweet fallout marks the "latest in a long series of missteps" by USAG (USATODAY.com, 10/13). The WALL STREET JOURNAL's Rachel Bachman wrote Bono's tweet only "adds to the turmoil" at USAG (WSJ.com, 10/14). USA TODAY's Nick Schwartz wrote it took less than one day for Bono to "become embroiled in controversy" (USATODAY.com, 10/13).
JUST DO IT: ESPN.com noted Gold Medal-winning U.S. gymnast Simone Biles on Saturday "criticized" the appointment of Bono by USAG. Biles "quote-tweeted Bono's post" that was critical of Nike, in which Bono "posted a photo of herself blacking out a Nike logo on a golf shoe." Biles wrote, "Don't worry, it's not like we needed a smarter usa gymnastics president or any sponsors or anything." A few hours after Biles' post, Bono wrote that she "regretted making the initial message." Bono said that she will "do everything I can" to help build an "open, safe & positive environment." Biles is "personally sponsored by Nike" (ESPN.com, 10/13). USA Today's Armour wrote, "When you have annoyed @Simone_Biles in your first 24 hours as @USAGym CEO, you are not off to a great start." MSNBC's Luciana Lopez: "Just to point out the obvious, USA Gymnastics needs Simone Biles *a lot* more than they need Mary Bono. By a factor of like a billion" (TWITTER.com, 10/13).
CONGRESSIONAL EXPERIENCE: The AP's Will Graves noted USAG hired Bono to the interim CEO position as it "searches for a permanent successor" for former CEO Kerry Perry. Bono spent 15 years in Congress, and she has a "background in gymnastics" after having "trained for several clubs for a decade" (AP, 10/13).
