runDirtyrun wrote:
2. Tracktown knows which way the wind is blowing. Alan Abrahamson makes it clear the unnamed apparatchiks at the IAAF prefer Hightower.
How true the Abrahamson information is remains an open issue. I'm not convinced he's reporting honestly. But it doesn't mean he's wrong, if that makes any sense.
I have not read Alan's stuff to mean that at all. Alan has repeated the Boards talking points some of which are demonstrably false.
I went to go read Alan's piece from yesterday and I do see a new post on Alan's site from Luciano Barra in Italy telling Bob to give up the fight. That means nothing. It is the opinion of one person and should his opinion matter more than the wishes of 85% of USATF delegates?
It is clear from reading the letter Mr. Barra does not like Bob Hersh. So take it was you will. A guy who writes a personal letter to Bob asking him to retire and CC's Alan is a political operative.
He could want Bob to leave because he wants the USA's power with the IAAF to be diminished. Bob Hersh got more votes than Sergey Bubka and Seb Coe last time.
And he's criticizing the Diamond League? It's a step in the right direction for the sport. Bob did not create the Diamond League but if he did he should get a pat ont he back. People forget he is 1 of 27 Council members.
But most importantly are you saying that Luciano Barra's opinion is more important than 85% of the USATF constituents? That is what Alan Abrahamson doesn't get. He looks down on the delegates. Alan writes today, "Within the U.S. track and field community, there continues to be misunderstanding about the dynamics of the 392-70 floor recommendation for Hersh and then the 11-1 board of directors vote for Hightower."
There is no misunderstanding. The delegates had a clear choice. They know Stephanie, the know Bob. It is not that hard. They had a choice between them. They chose Bob 85% to 15%. Ignore that at your own peril. Why should we care what an Italian IOC person wants. Especially a guy who seems to be advocate less money in the sport, "To pursue athletics based on money and records has also made the doping a major issue." If Barra wants to live in the amateur era of the Olympics and Hersh is pushing forward with the Diamond League even better for Hersh.
Alan cites one Olympic figure in Italy, big deal. Larry Eder wrote today, "The truth is, that the new style of governance in USA Track & Field is not working. The Board is not communicating, in a form that the constituency appreciates. That means, if one has ever taken a class on politics, that the board is, at present, failing. The board is communicating in a vacuum, I believe.
How dangerous is this? The Board of Directors needs to get outside of the meeting room, because, I can tell them, that there is trouble brewing. That the board did not figure out how a guy like Bob Hersh was respected when he had a vote of 392-70 is just ridiculous. I have been in the US, and Europe for six weeks. I can tell you that the USATF Board is being questioned by many on both sides of the pond. "
http://www.runblogrun.com/2015/03/controversy-continues-in-usa-track-field-it-needs-to-end-by-larry-eder.htmlThe key line is " I can tell you that the USATF Board is being questioned by many on both sides of the pond. "