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Los Angeles, May 14, 2001 Dear Readers: This is progress? ... Much has been made of the United States Olympic Committee's goal of winning an all-time high of 20 medals in Salt Lake City. The USOC has even based a portion of staff bonuses on attaining the goal. Press reports have noted that the previous highest medal haul was 13 at both Nagano in 1998 and Lillehammer in 1994. In the three previous Winter Games held in this country, Lake Placid 1932, Squaw Valley 1960 and Lake Placid 1980, U.S. athletes won 12, 10 and 12 medals, respectively. A total of 20 medals sounds impressive by comparison until you remember that the earlier Winter Games featured far fewer events. At Squaw Valley, the Americans won 12.88 percent of the medals; at Lake Placid in 1980 they took 10.4 percent. At the 1932 Games, which admittedly were poorly attended by other nations, U.S. athletes won 29 percent of the medals awarded. Winning 20 medals in Salt Lake City would give the U.S. 8.5 percent of the total.
Your bid ... Having achieved official recognition by the International Olympic Committee as an international sport federation, the World Bridge Federation reports on its Web site (www.bridge.gr), "prospects are that bridge will soon be an official competition at the Olympic Winter Games." Apparently, they are serious, so work with us on this one. If you can get past the unlikely concept of Olympic bridge, the obvious question becomes, "Why the Winter Games?" The WBF Web site has a ready answer: "Given that the Olympic Summer Games have grown to the limit, new disciplines can only be accepted in the Winter Games." Therefore, the WBF is working toward inclusion on the program of the 2006 Turin Olympic Winter Games. To that end, the WBF will stage a bridge competition at the Grand Americana Hotel in Salt Lake City next February before the official opening of the Olympic Winter Games. Add bid ... The federation admits that some obstacles remain for bridge, which the WBF calls "an integral part of the Olympic Movement." The WBF must seek an amendment/modification to Rule 9.4 of the Olympic Charter which states that: "Those sports which are practised on snow and ice are considered as winter sports." We have always maintained that the only thing better than watching bridge is watching bridge played on ice. Last add bid ... Another hurdle is the doping issue. The WBF site reports, "the IOC has requested confirmation that 'the WBF doping regulations are in conformity with the Olympic Movement Medical Code.'" The federation responded by "suitably" amending its by-laws and constitution in August 2000. Bobbing and weaving ...Bridge notwithstanding, 10 new events will be added to the Olympic program at Salt Lake City, including skeleton (last contested at the Winter Games in 1948), the 1,500 meters in short track speedskating, five additional nordic skiing events, and women's bobsleigh. Already, there's been much ado about women's bobsleigh, in part because the U.S. team is favored to medal. While this marks the first women's Olympic competition, women have a long history of participation in the sport. Throughout the 1800s and early 1900s, bobsledding was a mixed sport; women often competed with and against men. In the five-person event, each team was required to have two women onboard. Add bobbing ... In 1923, the year before the first Olympic Winter Games, the Fédération Internationale de Bobsleigh et de Tobogganing banned women from competing, in part because the sport was considered "too dangerous" for them. Despite the ban, women continued to practice the sport, and in 1940 the Amateur Athletic Union reopened its events to women. That year, Katherine Dewey (the granddaughter of Melvyl Dewey, who created the Dewey Decimal System) piloted the Sno Birds of Lake Placid club to victory in the senior 4-man AAU championships, becoming the first and only female bobsledder to win a national title in competition with men. Just as quickly, the AAU decided that women could only compete against other women, in effect banning Dewey (and others) from the sport. Presidential debate ... With the Salt Lake City Winter Games less than a year away, it remains to be seen whether President George W. Bush will open the Games. To date, no American president has opened the Winter Games. New York Gov. Franklin D. Roosevelt opened the 1932 Lake Placid Games; Vice President Richard Nixon, a California native, opened the 1960 Squaw Valley Games; and Vice President Walter Mondale presided over the 1980 Lake Placid Games. Presidents have a better record with the so-called "Summer Games" held in the U.S.: Ronald Reagan in Los Angeles in 1984, and Bill Clinton in Atlanta in 1996. Vice President Charles Curtis opened the 1932 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, while the 1904 St. Louis Games didn't have an official opening ceremony. Bush or Cheney? Stay tuned. Card-carrying member ... Every issue of Sports Illustrated for Kids includes sports cards for its young readers to collect. In the April edition, you could find full-color action shots of such athletes as basketball star Sheryl Swoopes, pitcher Randy Johnson, shortstop Rafael Furcal, and ... singer Britney Spears? Indeed, the "Queen of Teen Pop" has her own "sports card," with much of the same statistical information ("Height: 5'4", Weight: 115 lbs.") as the athletes. Maybe SI is preparing young readers to become adult consumers of its swimsuit issues. Add cards ... On the back of each card is a short bio. So, while learning that "Sheryl [Swoopes] helped the Comets win their fourth straight WNBA championship last season," we discovered that Britney's "second album has sold 7 million copies as of January 30." Oops! ... She did it again. Equine war ... In the last edition of SportsLetter, we noted that professional billiards players were trying to decide which organization should represent them as the sport's governing body. Now, a dispute between the U.S. Equestrian Team and the American Horse Shows Association is threatening the equine status quo. The USET has filed a complaint against AHSA, seeking to replace AHSA as the national governing body for equestrian sports. The USOC will resolve this dispute: may we suggest a best-of-five snooker tourney? Howard Cosell was right! ... Humble Howard never had a high opinion of former athletes becoming TV commentators. Maybe he was onto something. When ESPN The Magazine recently asked former Philadelphia Eagles quarterback – and current ESPN football analyst – Ron Jaworski to rate NFL off-season quarterback transactions, his answers struck a single note. Brad Johnson? "He's great at reading coverage and finding the right guy." Elvis Grbac? "He'll be a great leader." Jon Kitna? "A great sideline passer." Doug Flutie? "Getting Flutie was a great move by the Chargers." Uh, great job, Jaws. Hyperbole department ... Triathlete magazine featured Steve Scott on the cover of its March 2001 issue, with the headline "World's Greatest Miler Steve Scott Tells You How to Run." We do not mean to take anything away from his brilliant career (including more than 100 sub-4 minute miles), but Scott never won a world championship, or an Olympic medal. And, he never set a world record in the mile or 1,500 meters (unless you count his Masters age-group record). Then again, the headline "One of the World's Great Milers Steve Scott Tells You How to Run" probably wouldn't sell too many issues. Add hyperbole ... Triathlete also featured a product called HeadBlade, a unique razor that makes it easier to shave one's head. The magazine states that HeadBlade is "great for the triathlete looking to eschew the pool swim cap for a sleeker aquadynamic presence in the water." We think that's a good thing. Add blade ... HeadBlade has several athlete endorsers, including boxer Jesse James Leija. According to the company's Web site, The Jesse James Leija Signature Series HeadBlade is "a legend in the making. It gives a clean close shave and knocks the competition cold." All this for $18.
Heavyweight production ... In the wake of Hasim Rahman's upset victory over Lennox Lewis, many boxing experts blamed Lewis' participation in the film "Ocean's Eleve," the remake of the Frank Sinatra vehicle, for his weak performance. There seems to be precedence to Hollywood affecting the outcome of a heavyweight title fight. Boxing historians recall that in 1933 heavyweight champ Primo Carnera and charismatic contender Max Baer appeared as, basically, themselves in the film "The Prizefighter and the Lady." In the original script, Baer was slated to beat Carnera in the climactic fight. But Carnera insisted that this not happen; the script was changed so that the two fought to a draw. The next year, when Baer beat Carnera for the heavyweight championship, he credited sparring with Carnera during filming for his victory. Ice Capades ... In February, it was reported with great fanfare that the average attendance for NHL games exceeded the average attendance for NBA games for the first time since the 1988-89 season. But few reporters bothered to update the story. By the end of the season, the NBA had regained its average attendance lead over the NHL (16,784 to 16,563). Perhaps more ominously, minor league hockey actually experienced sagging attendance. According to Street & Smith's Sports Business Journal (March 12-18), attendance at the seven minor hockey leagues plummeted 9 percent this season. In addition, several teams folded during the season. The primary reason? Over expansion: 55 new teams were added in the last several years. Perhaps the sequel to "Slap Shot" – currently in production with the Hanson Brothers – will save minor league hockey. Add ice ... Dare we utter the unspeakable? In terms of average per game attendance, the recently-deceased XFL did better than either the NBA or the NHL, pulling in about 23,000 sports lovers a game during the regular season. Lest you weep for the future, remember that the XFL was an eight-team league that played a short season. Total regular-season attendance for the XFL was 936,000. The NBA in 1999-2000 reported regular-season attendance of 20 million, while the NHL attracted 18.8 million spectators. Four on ice ... SportsLetter, in its March 1999 issue, noted the impressive number of times hockey teams from colleges and universities in Michigan have made it to the NCAA's Frozen Four. This year was no exception as Michigan State and the University of Michigan did it again. Not only did the Michigan State men's hockey team go to the Frozen Four, but the men's basketball team reached the Final Four. It marked the second time in three years that the Spartans achieved this double. Must be something in the (ice) water in Michigan. The only other university to send both its hockey and basketball teams to the Final/Frozen Four in the same year was the University of Michigan, in 1993. Fishing tales ... What is it about bass fishing? The news that ESPN purchased B.A.S.S. (Bass Anglers Sportsman's Society), the world's largest fishing organization, for $40 million, marks the second attempt by a major sports network to use bass fishing to hype its ratings. In 1999, Fox Sports televised the $3.5 million Ranger Millennium M1 Bass Tournament – the world's richest bass fishing tournament. In the latest deal, ESPN will air the Bassmaster Tournament Trial, as well as the world championship fishing circuit. Perhaps Vince McMahon might consider adding bass fishing to the XFL. Add fishing ... B.A.S.S. does not consider itself to be the junior partner in its deal with ESPN. At its Web site (www.probass.net), the organization states that "Like ESPN, B.A.S.S. is a leader in a variety of businesses and media, including magazine publishing, event management, merchandising, television distribution and the Internet." The Web site also notes that ESPN is the "world wide leader in sports," while B.A.S.S. is "globally recognized as the leader in setting standards for quality and professionalism in fishing."
Will run for oil ... Cuba and Venezuela have announced that they will exchange two precious resources. Cuba will supply sports coaches and expertise to Venezuela, in exchange for cheap Venezuelan oil. According to www.sportcal.com, about 300 Cuban men and women will spend 18 months in Venezuela, helping to improve the country's performances in track and field, baseball, boxing, wrestling, karate, weightlifting and volleyball. At the Sydney Games, Cuba won 29 medals (including 11 gold). Venezuela was shut out. Perhaps California Gov. Gray Davis can work out his own exchange system: he could send the UCLA track and gymnastics teams to help the state solve its energy crisis.
Pitch medicine ... According to the Associated Press, pharmaceutical companies are increasingly using using athletes to pitch their products, not through commercial advertisements, but by paying them to tell news reporters about their illnesses. For instance, jockey Julie Krone talked to many news outlets about her battle with depression and how she treated her illness with Zoloft. At the time, Krone was sponsored by drug company Pfizer, which makes Zoloft, a fact that many news outlets did not report. Also, Olympic gymnast Bart Conner talked about his painful arthritis on "Good Morning America" and other outlets, disclosing that he was treating his arthritis with Celebrex (made by Pfizer and G.D. Searle). It was never disclosed that Conner was being paid. According to the pharmaceutical companies, the commercial relationship between the company and the hired athletes is made clear to the journalists. Said Pfizer spokeswoman Celeste Torello: "It's really up to the journalists to decide in the final story how much or how little of that relationship to mention."
Snap this ... In this age of specialization in the NFL, it should come as no surprise that there are two Web sites devoted to the art of long-snapping. On www.longsnapper.com, Chicago Bears long-snapper Patrick Mannelly dispenses valuable advice to fledgling snappers, such as: "If you pull your butt up during the snap then this will cause the ball to travel high." On www.longsnap.com, Green Bay Packers Kendall Gammon, who identifies himself as a "deep snapper," notes that, "One thing that I check to this day is the position of my left thumb on the ball. Having my thumb stretched down towards the bottom of the ball is what makes the difference as to whether it's a tight spiral or not." Of course, all of this information can be gleaned at the National Longsnapping Academy. Yes, camps for long-snappers exist. Add Web ... While you're learning how to snap, you can tune into www.skateradio.net, "the only radio station on the ‘net devoted to figure skating." The site allows you to search, by skater, for songs they've used in past programs, and then hear those same songs. For instance, Michelle Kwan has skated with "Can You Feel the Love Tonight?" from "The Lion King." Unfortunately, when we requested the songs that Dick Button used, we got no response.
Now that's reality ... Maybe all the wannabe models on "Survivor" should check out the New Zealand-based Supergames 2001. According to the competition's Web site, (www.supergames2001.co.nz) athletes in the "powerplay" competition must: 1. Pull a 10-tonne truck over 20 meters; 2. Shift three tonne of goods; 3. Shovel two tonne of sand; 4. Move and stack 30 hay bales; and 5. Fill a 500-liter water tank using various sized containers. On the second day, competitors must: 1. Push a train carriage over 30 meters; 2. Move and stack 20 railway sleepers; 3. Shovel two tonne of coal; 4. Throw 40 fence posts over a 2-meter-high wall; and 5. Pull a trolley loaded with ten 50-liter beer keg 30 meters. (A tonne is a metric ton equaling about 2,205 pounds.) Thankfully, all "harnesses, shovels and containers will be supplied." As will, no doubt, plenty of Advil.
Man Utd update ... The rich keep getting richer. On the heels of Manchester United's deal with the New York Yankees (see SportsLetter, March 2001), the club announced a similar plan to partner with New Zealand's All Blacks rugby team. Now comes word that the club reported a $41.6 million profit in 2000. In addition, www.sportcal.com reports that the club may launch a range of financial services, including banking products, pensions, insurance schemes, investments, and mortgages. The team already has its own credit card, with 300,000 accounts, as well as a savings account through the Britannia Building Society, that last year generated about half a million pounds for the team. Now, the question is: Are you ready to buy insurance from Man Utd's U.S. partner, George Steinbrenner? Add United ... And, if that wasn't enough, press reports from England warn that a musical theater production celebrating the club's success is in the works in London. Coffin corner ... The Birmingham City Football (soccer to you Philistines) Club now offers funerals for club supporters. The brainchild of City's managing director Karren Brady, the program includes three price points – bronze, silver and gold – ranging from about $145 to $285. "Obviously we don't provide a burial service," says Brady on the club's Web site (www.bcfc.com), "but, fans can have their ashes scattered." The service itself is conducted in a hospitality suite at the club's St. Andrew's stadium. As the Web site explains, "Surely this must be the most unusual halftime entertainment ever provided by a club. It's certainly more interesting than watching a bunch of schoolchildren trying to score penalties against the third-choice goalkeeper. But seriously, of course funerals won't be taking place during the actual match. You wouldn't expect [manager] Trevor Francis to be outside delivering the funeral oration while simultaneously giving his half-time team talk." True, but then we never expected someone would be making a pitch to include bridge in the Olympic Winter Games. Say goodbye to winter and Martenitsa, the mascot of the 2001 World Junior Figure Skating Championships, in Sofia, Bulgaria.
Sincerely, SportsLetter staff.
SportsLetter
is published bimonthly. Reproduction is encouraged with credit to
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Copyright 2001, Amateur Athletic Foundation of Los Angeles. All
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