Endgame: Abused gymnasts asking for USOC & USA Gymnastics takeover

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg

TSX HEADLINES – for Mar. 5, 2018: The legal entanglements concerning the Larry Nasser sexual abuse scandal will go on for years. But two of the highest-profile filings, for U.S. gold-medal-winning gymnasts McKayla Maroney and Aly Raisman, ask for an unusual remedy.

Sure, the normal requests for compensatory damages are in there, as well as punitive damages against USA Gymnastics, the U.S. Olympic Committee and others. But one request is unusual: court supervision of both organizations!

Imagine a California judge supervising either organization; that’s not going to happen, but it could be a catalyst for actions by others – the Federal government perhaps? – or keep major U.S. competitions out of the state altogether.

We review the situation and the details are in our Lane One commentary, plus coverage of 16 different sports in this 33-page issue:

(1) THE TICKER: Tokyo 2020 selects its mascots, Justin Gatlin’s new-old coach and the 2018 plan for the uninteresting FINA World Cup. Spoiler: the new plan is just about as boring as the old plan.

(2) THE BIG PICTURE: Service to the memory of the great Roger Bannister, the first sub-4:00 miler, and much, much more.

(3) THE MAIN EVENT: Christian Coleman and the U.S. dominate the IAAF World Indoor Championships, but loses the world record in the men’s 4×400 m to Poland! Plus, British officials disqualify 26 athletes or teams during the meet?

(4) CYCLING: U.S. wins two golds and four total medals in UCI World Track Cycling Championships – including a world record – but the real story is a Dutch rider gone Wild!

(5) GYMNASTICS: Strong wins by World Champion Morgan Hurd and U.S. All-Around champ Yul Moldauer at the American Cup in Illinois.

Plus a big beach volleyball win for Phil Dalhausser and Nick Lucena, U.S. Rugby wins in Seven Series, Taylor Ruck stars in the Tyr Pro Swim Series and Ester Ledecka loses and wins in the same race!