Final Questions and Suggestions for U.S. Speedskating:
I know you won't take it from me, and you won't take it from The Protocol. You don't want to admit you're wrong, even in consideration of your performance at the 2006 Olympics. But here are my final suggestions for how to improve this sport.
1. Do you really want to grow the sport? Do you really want to attract more skaters? Because I don't think you do. Why don't you re-think your attitude toward new skaters? Do you see them as "outsiders" and "intruders"? You should also adjust your attitude toward your star athletes, so that they will want to help recruit new kids to the sport. The first thing that comes to a champion athlete's mind should not be how much they hate and resent their federation, but rather how grateful they are for their federation's help and support.
2. A speedskating federation should be DEMOCRATIC, not TOTALITARIAN. All board positions should be subject to review and voting. Hold administrators and coaches accountable for their performance. Hold the federation accountable for representing the best interest of its members, and for staying true to its own mission statements! Make sure all selection committees are impartial, free from conflicts of interest, and accountable to SOMEONE for their decisions.
3. Do you, U.S. Speedskating, realize how many of your former athletes hate you? Do you understand the consequences of this animosity? Does this bother you? Do you realize how much of it is YOUR FAULT for being arbitrary, vicious, and unfair?
4. Do you mislead your sponsors and the USOC about how you spend the money they give you? Do you mislead your sponsors about WHAT THEY WILL GET for the money they give you?
5. Realize that the main obstacle for almost all elite speedskaters is financial. Either give them the freedom to find their own sponsors, or find sponsors as a federation that will give them what they need. DO NOT EXPECT THEM TO BE WALKING BILLBOARDS FOR YOUR SPONSORS, WHILE GETTING NOTHING IN RETURN. You cannot have your cake and eat it too.
6. Please realize that calling in special favors for certain individual athletes damages the credibility of the federation.
7. Examine your personal motives for being a sports administrator.
I know you won't take it from me, and you won't take it from The Protocol. You don't want to admit you're wrong, even in consideration of your performance at the 2006 Olympics. But here are my final suggestions for how to improve this sport.
1. Do you really want to grow the sport? Do you really want to attract more skaters? Because I don't think you do. Why don't you re-think your attitude toward new skaters? Do you see them as "outsiders" and "intruders"? You should also adjust your attitude toward your star athletes, so that they will want to help recruit new kids to the sport. The first thing that comes to a champion athlete's mind should not be how much they hate and resent their federation, but rather how grateful they are for their federation's help and support.
2. A speedskating federation should be DEMOCRATIC, not TOTALITARIAN. All board positions should be subject to review and voting. Hold administrators and coaches accountable for their performance. Hold the federation accountable for representing the best interest of its members, and for staying true to its own mission statements! Make sure all selection committees are impartial, free from conflicts of interest, and accountable to SOMEONE for their decisions.
3. Do you, U.S. Speedskating, realize how many of your former athletes hate you? Do you understand the consequences of this animosity? Does this bother you? Do you realize how much of it is YOUR FAULT for being arbitrary, vicious, and unfair?
4. Do you mislead your sponsors and the USOC about how you spend the money they give you? Do you mislead your sponsors about WHAT THEY WILL GET for the money they give you?
5. Realize that the main obstacle for almost all elite speedskaters is financial. Either give them the freedom to find their own sponsors, or find sponsors as a federation that will give them what they need. DO NOT EXPECT THEM TO BE WALKING BILLBOARDS FOR YOUR SPONSORS, WHILE GETTING NOTHING IN RETURN. You cannot have your cake and eat it too.
6. Please realize that calling in special favors for certain individual athletes damages the credibility of the federation.
7. Examine your personal motives for being a sports administrator.
posted by Eva at 11:56 AM
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