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The top stories of 2018 – Part II: The Olympic Movement will be rocked

By
Rich Perelman
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Lamine Diack (SEN), former IAAF president and IOC member, whose trial on corruption charges in France has begun

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TSX HEADLINES – for Jan. 3, 2018: If experience is any teacher, 2018 is going to be a rocky road for the Olympic Movement. Sure, the Winter Games come soon enough in February and there’s the FIFA Wold Cup in June, but those are about the highlights.

In the second part of our look ahead to the top stories of 2018, there’s the explosive trial of the former head of the IAAF, accused of bribery and cover-ups of Russian doping positives. And in June, a referendum which could turn the race for the 2026 Winter Games inside out. Oh, and did we mention doping?

We have the details of our top-five (projected) stories of 2018 in our Lane One commentary, plus the latest on:

(1) ALPINE SKIING: The unstoppable Mikaela Shiffrin won again, this time in Oslo, her fourth World Cup win in the last five races! Wow!

(2) CROSS COUNTRY: Sensational bronze in the Tour de Ski pursuit for Jessica Diggins, in position to make history by winning the U.S.’s first-ever Tour medal!

(3) ICE HOCKEY: The United States U-20 men’s ice hockey team turns back Russia to reach the IIHF World U-20 Championships semifinals in Buffalo, and USA Hockey names its men’s and women’s Olympic teams for PyeongChang.

This issue includes GLOBETROTTING from Phil Hersh on his awards for 2017; SCENE & HEARD notes on Anti-Doping ~ PyeongChang 2018 ~ Athletics ~ Ice Hockey; ON DECK previews of Alpine Skiing ~ Biathlon ~ Ice Hockey; SCOREBOARD reports on Alpine Skiing ~ Cross Country Skiing ~ Ice Hockey ~ Ski Jumping ~ Speed Skating, and AGENDA, our calendar of top-level international events.

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The top stories of 2018 – part I: More tumult? More cheating?

By
Rich Perelman
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Simone Biles at the 2016 Olympic Games (by Agencia Brasil Fotografias via Wikipedia Commons)

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TSX HEADLINES – for Jan. 1, 2018: If the problems of 2017 weren’t enough, more are coming in 2018. But there will be highlights, too.

Will Simone Biles make a triumphant return to gymnastics? What about her teammates?

Can anyone get close to the U.S. women at the FIBA World Cup in Spain in September. The schedule might give some teams a chance.

And then there are the problems of “mechanical doping” in cycling, the IAAF’s re-shuffling of the calendar and a lot more. In the first of two parts, we nominate our top-10 stories of 2018 in our Lane One commentary, plus the latest on:

(1) ALPINE SKIING: The amazing Mikaela Shiffrin won gold and bronze over the weekend and could win four events this week!

(2) CROSS COUNTRY: Sensational skiing by the U.S. women with medals at the prestigious Tour de Ski for Sophie Caldwell and Sadie Bjornsen!

(3) FIGURE SKATING & SPEED SKATING: Previews of the U.S. Nationals in figure skating and the Olympic Trials in speed skating, going on this week in San Jose and Milwaukee.

This issue includes ON DECK previews of Figure Skating ~ Speed Skating; SCOREBOARD reports on Alpine Skiing ~ Cross Country Skiing ~ Ice Hockey ~ Nordic Combined ~ Ski Jumping and AGENDA, our calendar of top-level international events.

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The top stories of 2018 – part I: More tumult? More cheating?

By
Rich Perelman
-
Simone Biles at the 2016 Olympic Games (by Agencia Brasil Fotografias via Wikipedia Commons)

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TSX HEADLINES – for Jan. 1, 2018: If the problems of 2017 weren’t enough, more are coming in 2018. But there will be highlights, too.

Will Simone Biles make a triumphant return to gymnastics? What about her teammates?

Can anyone get close to the U.S. women at the FIBA World Cup in Spain in September. The schedule might give some teams a chance.

And then there are the problems of “mechanical doping” in cycling, the IAAF’s re-shuffling of the calendar and a lot more. In the first of two parts, we nominate our top-10 stories of 2018 in our Lane One commentary, plus the latest on:

(1) ALPINE SKIING: The amazing Mikaela Shiffrin won gold and bronze over the weekend and could win four events this week!

(2) CROSS COUNTRY: Sensational skiing by the U.S. women with medals at the prestigious Tour de Ski for Sophie Caldwell and Sadie Bjornsen!

(3) FIGURE SKATING & SPEED SKATING: Previews of the U.S. Nationals in figure skating and the Olympic Trials in speed skating, going on this week in San Jose and Milwaukee.

This issue includes ON DECK previews of Figure Skating ~ Speed Skating; SCOREBOARD reports on Alpine Skiing ~ Cross Country Skiing ~ Ice Hockey ~ Nordic Combined ~ Ski Jumping and AGENDA, our calendar of top-level international events.

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The top stories of 2017 – part 2: Glory, greed, drugs and surprises

By
Rich Perelman
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The City of Los Angeles flag

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TSX HEADLINES – for Dec. 28, 2017: This was the year that Usain Bolt retired, but not the way he envisioned. Mo Farah won one and lost one at the World Championships, but no one saw the stunner of the women’s Steeplechase coming.

American Caeleb Dressel equaled Michael Phelps’s record of seven gold medals in one World Swimming Championships, but no else had ever won three golds in a single day.

Those were the competitive highlights of 2017, moments we will always remember. But there were other moments, about bribery and drugs and an Olympic bid process that ended up in a way not seen for a century.

Which was the no. 1 Olympic-sport story of 2017? We complete our list and you can review our selections in our Lane One commentary, plus what you need to know about:

(1) ALPINE SKIING: The unstoppable Mikaela Shiffrin might be on her way to breaking open the seasonal World Cup race starting this weekend. She’s the best Slalom skier in the world and Thursday starts a run of seven straight Slalom or Giant Slalom races; can she win them all?

(2) NORDIC COMBINED & SKI JUMPING: The winner-goes-to-Korea U.S. Olympic Trials for both sports are on Saturday in Park City, Utah. Our preview and the likely contenders!

(3) THE TICKER: Japanese organizers looking to use a facial recognition system to bolster access control for athletes, coaches, officials and news media for the 2020 Games in Tokyo!

This issue includes SCENE & HEARD on Anti-Doping ~ Athletics ~ Cycling ~ Judo; ON DECK previews of Alpine Skiing ~ Cross Country ~ Ice Hockey ~ Nordic Combined ~ Ski Jumping, and AGENDA, our calendar of top-level international events.

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The top stories of 2017 – part 2: Glory, greed, drugs and surprises

By
Rich Perelman
-
The City of Los Angeles flag

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TSX HEADLINES – for Dec. 28, 2017: This was the year that Usain Bolt retired, but not the way he envisioned. Mo Farah won one and lost one at the World Championships, but no one saw the stunner of the women’s Steeplechase coming.

American Caeleb Dressel equaled Michael Phelps’s record of seven gold medals in one World Swimming Championships, but no else had ever won three golds in a single day.

Those were the competitive highlights of 2017, moments we will always remember. But there were other moments, about bribery and drugs and an Olympic bid process that ended up in a way not seen for a century.

Which was the no. 1 Olympic-sport story of 2017? We complete our list and you can review our selections in our Lane One commentary, plus what you need to know about:

(1) ALPINE SKIING: The unstoppable Mikaela Shiffrin might be on her way to breaking open the seasonal World Cup race starting this weekend. She’s the best Slalom skier in the world and Thursday starts a run of seven straight Slalom or Giant Slalom races; can she win them all?

(2) NORDIC COMBINED & SKI JUMPING: The winner-goes-to-Korea U.S. Olympic Trials for both sports are on Saturday in Park City, Utah. Our preview and the likely contenders!

(3) THE TICKER: Japanese organizers looking to use a facial recognition system to bolster access control for athletes, coaches, officials and news media for the 2020 Games in Tokyo!

This issue includes SCENE & HEARD on Anti-Doping ~ Athletics ~ Cycling ~ Judo; ON DECK previews of Alpine Skiing ~ Cross Country ~ Ice Hockey ~ Nordic Combined ~ Ski Jumping, and AGENDA, our calendar of top-level international events.

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Ho Ho Ho: The top stories of 2017, a tumultuous year in Olympic sport

By
Rich Perelman
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TSX HEADLINES – for Dec. 25, 2017: This has been anything but a tranquil year in international sport, mixing great performances with uneasy politics, cheating and controversy.

What were the top stories in 2017? We’re starting our count-down from no. 10 to no. 1 over two issues, starting with a tie for no. 10 and working our way to no. 6. Along the way you will meet an unbeatable 6-8 “geant” and a precocious 22-year-old who’s a foot shorter, but who are both the best in the world.

These six stories take us to the worlds of alpine skiing, athletics, cycling football, gymnastics and judo and both breath-taking triumphs and stunning disappointments. Can’t tell you more; you’ll have to read it for yourself!

Review our selections in our Lane One commentary – and guess what nos. 1-5 will be – plus what you need to know about:

(1) ANTI-DOPING: The International Olympic Committee’s Oswald Commission finished its reviews of 46 athletes suspected of doping by issuing decisions disqualifying 11 more Russians. Get the list and which sports (and medals) are impacted.

(2) ATHLETE MARKETING: Germany’s Federal Cartel Office says it won some concessions from the German National Olympic Committee and the IOC regarding athlete advertising and the restrictions of Rule 40 of the Olympic Charter. Is this the first opening of the flood gates?

(3) FREESTYLE SKIING: First-ever World Cup medal for U.S. Moguls skier Troy Murphy and two medals for women’s Moguls star Jaelin Kauf scored a gold and silver in the competitions in China!

This issue includes GLOBETROTTING by Phil Hersh with an exclusive on a figure skating judge under investigation (again); SCENE & HEARD on Anti-Doping ~ Athlete Marketing ~ Cycling ~ Shooting; ON DECK previews of Ice Hockey; SCOREBOARD reports on Alpine Skiing ~ Freestyle Skiing ~ Judo ~ Shooting ~ Snowboard ~Table Tennis, and AGENDA, our calendar of top-level international events.

What you need to know about the worldwide carousel of sports is in The Sports Examiner, your all-in-one briefing on Olympic sport!

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Ho Ho Ho: The top stories of 2017, a tumultuous year in Olympic sport

By
Rich Perelman
-

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TSX HEADLINES – for Dec. 25, 2017: This has been anything but a tranquil year in international sport, mixing great performances with uneasy politics, cheating and controversy.

What were the top stories in 2017? We’re starting our count-down from no. 10 to no. 1 over two issues, starting with a tie for no. 10 and working our way to no. 6. Along the way you will meet an unbeatable 6-8 “geant” and a precocious 22-year-old who’s a foot shorter, but who are both the best in the world.

These six stories take us to the worlds of alpine skiing, athletics, cycling football, gymnastics and judo and both breath-taking triumphs and stunning disappointments. Can’t tell you more; you’ll have to read it for yourself!

Review our selections in our Lane One commentary – and guess what nos. 1-5 will be – plus what you need to know about:

(1) ANTI-DOPING: The International Olympic Committee’s Oswald Commission finished its reviews of 46 athletes suspected of doping by issuing decisions disqualifying 11 more Russians. Get the list and which sports (and medals) are impacted.

(2) ATHLETE MARKETING: Germany’s Federal Cartel Office says it won some concessions from the German National Olympic Committee and the IOC regarding athlete advertising and the restrictions of Rule 40 of the Olympic Charter. Is this the first opening of the flood gates?

(3) FREESTYLE SKIING: First-ever World Cup medal for U.S. Moguls skier Troy Murphy and two medals for women’s Moguls star Jaelin Kauf scored a gold and silver in the competitions in China!

This issue includes GLOBETROTTING by Phil Hersh with an exclusive on a figure skating judge under investigation (again); SCENE & HEARD on Anti-Doping ~ Athlete Marketing ~ Cycling ~ Shooting; ON DECK previews of Ice Hockey; SCOREBOARD reports on Alpine Skiing ~ Freestyle Skiing ~ Judo ~ Shooting ~ Snowboard ~Table Tennis, and AGENDA, our calendar of top-level international events.

What you need to know about the worldwide carousel of sports is in The Sports Examiner, your all-in-one briefing on Olympic sport!

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Russia’s plan to embarrass the IOC for PyeongChang

By
Rich Perelman
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IN THIS ISSUE:  Sure, the Russian Olympic Committee was suspended by the International Olympic Committee, but whatever you think of Russia, they are resilient.

And they are already gaming the system the IOC has set up for allow only “clean” athletes to compete in the Olympic Winter Games in PyeongChang in February.

The background, details and the process are explained in our Lane One commentary, plus what you need to know about:

 ALPINE SKIING: Is Mikaela Shiffrin about to run away with a second straight World Cup overall title? She got a head start by sweeping the Courchevel races and the schedule is perfectly set up for her.

¶ ATHLETICS: New accusations from a British newspaper about coach and former U.S. sprinter Dennis Mitchell, but The Telegraph’s headline was about World 100 m Champion Justin Gatlin!

 GYMNASTICS: Lawsuit filed by Olympic medalist McKayla Maroney to open up a confidential settlement from last December that paid her $1.25 million to say nothing about sex abuser Dr. Larry Nasser!

This issue includes GLOBETROTTING by Phil Hersh on the “I, Tonya,” movie from one who reported it;   SCENE & HEARD on Anti-Doping ~ Athletics ~ Football ~ Gymnastics; ON DECK previews of Alpine Skiing ~ Freestyle Skiing ~ Snowboard; SCOREBOARD reports on Alpine Skiing ~ Diving ~Table Tennis, and AGENDA, our calendar of top-level international events.

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Russia’s plan to embarrass the IOC for PyeongChang

By
Rich Perelman
-

TSX HEADLINES – for Dec. 21, 2017: Sure, the Russian Olympic Committee was suspended by the International Olympic Committee, but whatever you think of Russia, they are resilient.

And they are already gaming the system the IOC has set up for allow only “clean” athletes to compete in the Olympic Winter Games in PyeongChang in February.

The background, details and the process are explained in our Lane One commentary, plus what you need to know about:

 ALPINE SKIING: Is Mikaela Shiffrin about to run away with a second straight World Cup overall title? She got a head start by sweeping the Courchevel races and the schedule is perfectly set up for her.

¶ ATHLETICS: New accusations from a British newspaper about coach and former U.S. sprinter Dennis Mitchell, but The Telegraph’s headline was about World 100 m Champion Justin Gatlin!

 GYMNASTICS: Lawsuit filed by Olympic medalist McKayla Maroney to open up a confidential settlement from last December that paid her $1.25 million to say nothing about sex abuser Dr. Larry Nasser!

This issue includes GLOBETROTTING by Phil Hersh on the “I, Tonya,” movie from one who reported it;   SCENE & HEARD on Anti-Doping ~ Athletics ~ Football ~ Gymnastics; ON DECK previews of Alpine Skiing ~ Freestyle Skiing ~ Snowboard; SCOREBOARD reports on Alpine Skiing ~ Diving ~Table Tennis, and AGENDA, our calendar of top-level international events.

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Smoking guns, beautiful people and Spandex: the life of biathlete Susan Dunklee

By
Rich Perelman
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U.S. Biathlon Olympian and World Championships medalist Susan Dunklee

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IN THIS ISSUE – “A policeman taps me on the shoulder and says he had a report of a ‘mad woman with a gun’ that he needed to investigate. … Luckily, he was very friendly and understanding.”

A typical day in the life of World Championships silver medalist Susan Dunklee of the U.S., preparing for the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in PyeongChang. We asked her about what goes into being a biathlete and how her silver medal last year has changed her outlook … and that of others. After all, the U.S. has never won an Olympic biathlon medal …

Dunklee had lots to say and we outline her busy schedule upcoming next February in Korea in our Lane One commentary. Plus the results of a wild weekend of sports highlighted by the naming of new U.S. Olympians:

= p. 6/The Main Event: U.S. Short Track Trials with new stars John-Henry Krueger & Maame Biney!
= p. 9/Alpine Skiing: Lindsey Vonn not a “hag,” logs 78th World Cup win in Val d’Isere!
= p. 14/Bobsled: Elana Meyers Taylor & Kehri Jones on the podium again in Innsbruck;
= p. 17: Curling: Hamilton siblings win U.S. Mixed Doubles Trials & head to Korea;
= p. 21/Handball: France’s women take World Championships title from Norway;
= p. 23/Luge: U.S. names Olympic team after best-of-season results in Lake Placid;
= p. 27/Snowboard: Chloe Kim, Jamie Anderson & Chris Corning secure Olympic berths!

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Smoking guns, beautiful people and Spandex: the life of biathlete Susan Dunklee

By
Rich Perelman
-
U.S. Biathlon Olympian and World Championships medalist Susan Dunklee

PALM DESERT, December 18, 2017 – “A policeman taps me on the shoulder and says he had a report of a ‘mad woman with a gun’ that he needed to investigate. … Luckily, he was very friendly and understanding.”

A typical day in the life of World Championships silver medalist Susan Dunklee of the U.S., preparing for the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in PyeongChang. We asked her about what goes into being a biathlete and how her silver medal last year has changed her outlook … and that of others. After all, the U.S. has never won an Olympic biathlon medal …

Dunklee had lots to say and we outline her busy schedule upcoming next February in Korea in our Lane One commentary. Plus the results of a wild weekend of sports highlighted by the naming of new U.S. Olympians:

= p. 6/The Main Event: U.S. Short Track Trials with new stars John-Henry Krueger & Maame Biney!
= p. 9/Alpine Skiing: Lindsey Vonn not a “hag,” logs 78th World Cup win in Val d’Isere!
= p. 14/Bobsled: Elana Meyers Taylor & Kehri Jones on the podium again in Innsbruck;
= p. 17: Curling: Hamilton siblings win U.S. Mixed Doubles Trials & head to Korea;
= p. 21/Handball: France’s women take World Championships title from Norway;
= p. 23/Luge: U.S. names Olympic team after best-of-season results in Lake Placid;
= p. 27/Snowboard: Chloe Kim, Jamie Anderson & Chris Corning secure Olympic berths!

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Launching at last: The Sports Examiner goes to subscriptions

By
Rich Perelman
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IN THIS ISSUE: This is the 215th issue of The Sports Examiner and the one comment that we have most often received from readers is “This is great. You should charge for this!”

After months of planning, programming and software testing, our subscription program is now ready and The Sports Examiner Web site has been converted into a portal for subscriptions.

Find out about the subscription plans and how you can still access the current issues for free for about four weeks, after which time our issues will be for subscribers only.

Our pricing is modest and we have great plans for the future, which we’re eager to share with you. Get the details in our Lane One commentary, plus previews of the last full weekend of winter sport before the holiday break:

= p. 5/The Main Event: U.S. Olympic Trials in Short Track on at the Utah Olympic Oval;
= p. 7/Anti-Doping: Oswald Commission disqualifies 2014 Russian women’s hockey team!
= p. 13/Bobsled: Elana Meyers Taylor to drive four-man sled in Innsbruck;
= p. 23/Snowboard: World champ Lindsey Jacobellis takes charge of U.S. Olympic qualifying;
= p. 26/Handball: Women’s World Championship heads for semifinal round in Hamburg.

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Launching at last: The Sports Examiner goes to subscriptions

By
Rich Perelman
-

PALM DESERT, December 15, 2017 – This is the 215th issue of The Sports Examiner and the one comment that we have most often received from readers is “This is great. You should charge for this!”

After months of planning, programming and software testing, our subscription program is now ready and The Sports Examiner Web site has been converted into a portal for subscriptions.

Find out about the subscription plans and how you can still access the current issues for free for about four weeks, after which time our issues will be for subscribers only.

Our pricing is modest and we have great plans for the future, which we’re eager to share with you. Get the details in our Lane One commentary, plus previews of the last full weekend of winter sport before the holiday break:

= p. 5/The Main Event: U.S. Olympic Trials in Short Track on at the Utah Olympic Oval;
= p. 7/Anti-Doping: Oswald Commission disqualifies 2014 Russian women’s hockey team!
= p. 13/Bobsled: Elana Meyers Taylor to drive four-man sled in Innsbruck;
= p. 23/Snowboard: World champ Lindsey Jacobellis takes charge of U.S. Olympic qualifying;
= p. 26/Handball: Women’s World Championship heads for semifinal round in Hamburg.

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U.S. national federations graded on governance … and get a D

By
Rich Perelman
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IN THIS ISSUE: With scandals emerging left and right in international sport, good governance is becoming an increasingly critical issue.

The University of Colorado is establishing a new study center for sport governance and as part of that effort, constructed an “good governance” index for 22 of the 47 U.S. national federations … and the average grade was a “D.”

That’s hardly impressive, but a lot better than most of the international federations do! Get the details, methodology and scores – and one important group which seems to be paying attention to all this – in our Lane One commentary, plus a crazy weekend of bad weather, medal performances by the U.S. and four world records in speed skating in Salt Lake City:

= p. 9/Bobsled: U.S. women earn silver in miserable conditions at Winterberg World Cup;
= p. 10/Cross Country: Kikkan Randall back on the Sprint podium for the U.S. in Davos!
= p. 13/Figure Skating: Nathan Chen holds on for ISU Grand Prix Final win in Nagoya!
= p. 15/Freestyle Skiing: Sochi gold medalist David Wise back on top at Copper Mountain;
= p. 20/Snowboard: Chloe Kim leads 8-medal U.S. splurge in Toyota Grand Prix!

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U.S. national federations graded on governance … and get a D

By
Rich Perelman
-

PALM DESERT, December 11, 2017 — With scandals emerging left and right in international sport, good governance is becoming an increasingly critical issue.

The University of Colorado is establishing a new study center for sport governance and as part of that effort, constructed an “good governance” index for 22 of the 47 U.S. national federations … and the average grade was a “D.”

That’s hardly impressive, but a lot better than most of the international federations do! Get the details, methodology and scores – and one important group which seems to be paying attention to all this – in our Lane One commentary, plus a crazy weekend of bad weather, medal performances by the U.S. and four world records in speed skating in Salt Lake City:

= p. 9/Bobsled: U.S. women earn silver in miserable conditions at Winterberg World Cup;
= p. 10/Cross Country: Kikkan Randall back on the Sprint podium for the U.S. in Davos!
= p. 13/Figure Skating: Nathan Chen holds on for ISU Grand Prix Final win in Nagoya!
= p. 15/Freestyle Skiing: Sochi gold medalist David Wise back on top at Copper Mountain;
= p. 20/Snowboard: Chloe Kim leads 8-medal U.S. splurge in Toyota Grand Prix!

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A career nurse and now a U.S. Olympic curler: Nina Roth

By
Rich Perelman
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IN THIS ISSUE:  Representing the United States in a World Championships is quite an honor. But it’s not the same as the Olympic Games.

Ask Nina Roth, the Wisconsin-based registered nurse who skipped the Olympic Trials champion squad that will play in the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in PyeongChang.

How the 29-year-old balances her life, her family, her career and being a member of the U.S. Olympic curling squad – and the one thing she really dislikes about the sport – is in our Lane One commentary, plus reaction to the IOC’s Russian suspensions, more previews of this weekend’s events and two new American records in swimming:

= p. 6/Anti-Doping: Reaction to the IOC’s decision on Russian participation comes swiftly!
= p. 7/Weightlifting: IOC OKs weightlifting for the 2024 Games … for now, but not for good …
= p. 8/Alpine Skiing: Julia Mancuso scheduled to return for Alpine Combined at St. Moritz;
= p. 14/Luge: World Cup moves to North America & starts in Calgary;
= p. 19/Swimming: Zane Grothe sets two American Freestyle Records at the Winter Nationals.

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Nina Roth: A career nurse and now a U.S. Olympic curler

By
Rich Perelman
-

PALM DESERT, December 8, 2017 – Representing the United States in a World Championships is quite an honor. But it’s not the same as the Olympic Games.

Ask Nina Roth, the Wisconsin-based registered nurse who skipped the Olympic Trials champion squad that will play in the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in PyeongChang.

How the 29-year-old balances her life, her family, her career and being a member of the U.S. Olympic curling squad – and the one thing she really dislikes about the sport – is in our Lane One commentary, plus reaction to the IOC’s Russian suspensions, more previews of this weekend’s events and two new American records in swimming:

= p. 6/Anti-Doping: Reaction to the IOC’s decision on Russian participation comes swiftly!
= p. 7/Weightlifting: IOC OKs weightlifting for the 2024 Games … for now, but not for good …
= p. 8/Alpine Skiing: Julia Mancuso scheduled to return for Alpine Combined at St. Moritz;
= p. 14/Luge: World Cup moves to North America & starts in Calgary;
= p. 19/Swimming: Zane Grothe sets two American Freestyle Records at the Winter Nationals.

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The IOC got it almost perfect: No Russia, but maybe some Russians …

By
Rich Perelman
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IN THIS ISSUE:  The long-awaited decision of the International Olympic Committee’s Executive Board on Russia’s participation came Tuesday with a split decision.

No Russia, but a process by which some Russian athletes can be invited to compete in the Games as Russians … but not in national uniforms (sort of).

It’s complicated, but the IOC got a lot of things right in making a decision that was (surprisingly?) detailed, disciplined and subtle. There are plenty of things that can still go wrong, but the outcome – and the effort behind it – was impressive.

Not everyone thinks so, however. Our review of the results and the process behind it are in our Lane One commentary; the much-respected Phil Hersh is (much?) less enthusiastic in his Globetrotting column, reprinted with permission. Read them both; see which you agree with!

All that plus the climax of the World Weightlifting Championships and U.S. Olympic qualifying starting this week for Freestyle skiers and Snowboard:

= p. 9/Weightlifting: World records + Sarah Robles wins gold in World Weightlifting Champs!
= p. 15/Swimming: FINA names 13 athletes of the year, including two Americans!
= p. 17/Figure Skating: The Grand Prix Final is in Nagoya, but is it really important this time?
= p. 18/Freestyle & Snowboard: All eyes on Copper Mountain for PyeongChang qualifying!
= p. 22/Ice Hockey: Canadian women beat U.S., 2-0, tie up their pre-Olympic series at 3-3.

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The IOC got it almost perfect: No Russia, but maybe some Russians …

By
Rich Perelman
-

PALM DESERT, December 6, 2017 – The long-awaited decision of the International Olympic Committee’s Executive Board on Russia’s participation came Tuesday with a split decision.

No Russia, but a process by which some Russian athletes can be invited to compete in the Games as Russians … but not in national uniforms (sort of).

It’s complicated, but the IOC got a lot of things right in making a decision that was (surprisingly?) detailed, disciplined and subtle. There are plenty of things that can still go wrong, but the outcome – and the effort behind it – was impressive.

Not everyone thinks so, however. Our review of the results and the process behind it are in our Lane One commentary; the much-respected Phil Hersh is (much?) less enthusiastic in his Globetrotting column, reprinted with permission. Read them both; see which you agree with!

All that plus the climax of the World Weightlifting Championships and U.S. Olympic qualifying starting this week for Freestyle skiers and Snowboard:

= p. 9/Weightlifting: World records + Sarah Robles wins gold in World Weightlifting Champs!
= p. 15/Swimming: FINA names 13 athletes of the year, including two Americans!
= p. 17/Figure Skating: The Grand Prix Final is in Nagoya, but is it really important this time?
= p. 18/Freestyle & Snowboard: All eyes on Copper Mountain for PyeongChang qualifying!
= p. 22/Ice Hockey: Canadian women beat U.S., 2-0, tie up pre-Olympic series at 3-3.

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Welcome to The Sports Examiner!

By
Rich Perelman
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Welcome to The Sports Examiner!

If you’re looking for the latest news, previews, results and commentary on Olympic sports, you’ve come to the right place.

Our goal is to keep you up to date on what is happening in each of the 28 sports that are part of the Olympic Games, the seven sports in the Olympic Winter Games and the five added sports for the 2020 Games in Tokyo, Japan. That’s a lot of sports – including 441 separate events – and you can find all the details in one place.

It used to be that newspapers carried a lot of this material, but, sadly, not anymore. After last June’s outstanding USA Track & Field National Championships in Sacramento – which we covered with daily editions – a reader of the Los Angeles Times wrote to the paper, complaining that “It continues to astonish me that the L.A. Times, which in most respects is internationally recognized for its objective and comprehensive coverage of international events, can so woefully ignore track and field. A case in point is your failure to include even minimum results last week on the U.S. Track and Field Championships.”

The Sports Examiner is generally published three times a week, arriving in the e-mail inbox of our subscribers on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings, U.S. time. Our Monday edition is generally filled with results of the weekend’s action; Wednesdays have previews of the major upcoming events of the weekend and news from the Olympic sports world, and Fridays capture the mid-week results and complete our weekend previews.

In addition, our Lane One commentary by editor-in-chief Rich Perelman – a veteran organizer who has served with five Olympic organizing committees and more than two dozen mega-events of all kinds – illuminates and ruminates on the key business, political and sporting issues in the Olympic Movement.

Each issue is in Adobe’s PDF format, easy to read on any device and which can be read online or offline. No more clicking and clicking and clicking to find out about your favorite sport; just scroll through the issue.

Major events, such as the world championships in swimming and track & field, are covered with special, daily editions to not only keep you updated with yesterday’ results, but with previews to help you follow today’s coverage on television.

All this in more than 150 editions each year, and more when needed!

The price is as little as $8 a month for individual, annual subscriptions, and even lower for group and corporate programs. It’s easy to sign up and become an Olympic-sport connoisseur with our expert coverage, previews and links for even more knowledge.
We’re excited to bring the sports that enchant fans around the world every four years to you every day. Thanks for your support!

Putin’s “tough response” if Russia is banned from 2018 has nothing to do with sports

By
Rich Perelman
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IN THIS ISSUE – The International Olympic Committee’s Executive Board is scheduled to decide whether Russia will be allowed to compete in the 2018 Olympic Winter Games and under what conditions or circumstances, if any.

The Kremlin is already expecting a full ban, or close to it, and has planned its response on the parallel tracks of sports and politics. The sports track is somewhat predictable, but the political track has nothing to do with sports. It has a lot to do with Russia’s president, Vladimir Putin and the Russian national elections coming up on 18 March.

How are they tied together? The details are in our Lane One commentary, plus a wild weekend of breakthrough performances by U.S. athletes at home and aboard:

= p. 5/Weightlifting: Long-sought medals for the U.S. in World Weightlifting Champs!
= p. 11/Anti-Doping: Oswald Commission extends hearings beyond the McLaren Report;
= p. 14/Alpine Skiing: Mikaela Shiffrin wins first World Cup Downhill, at Lake Louise!
= p. 19/Cross Country: Sadie Bjornsen in the medals again in Lillehammer Sprint!
= p. 28/Speed Skating: Heather Bergsma wins first World Cup race of the season!

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Putin’s “tough response” if Russia is banned from 2018 has nothing to do with sports

By
Rich Perelman
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PALM DESERT, December 4, 2017 – The International Olympic Committee’s Executive Board is scheduled to decide whether Russia will be allowed to compete in the 2018 Olympic Winter Games and under what conditions or circumstances, if any.

The Kremlin is already expecting a full ban, or close to it, and has planned its response on the parallel tracks of sports and politics. The sports track is somewhat predictable, but the political track has nothing to do with sports. It has a lot to do with Russia’s president, Vladimir Putin and the Russian national elections coming up on 18 March.

How are they tied together? The details are in our Lane One commentary, plus a wild weekend of breakthrough performances by U.S. athletes at home and aboard:

= p. 5/Weightlifting: Long-sought medals for the U.S. in World Weightlifting Champs!
= p. 11/Anti-Doping: Oswald Commission extends hearings beyond the McLaren Report;
= p. 14/Alpine Skiing: Mikaela Shiffrin wins first World Cup Downhill, at Lake Louise!
= p. 19/Cross Country: Sadie Bjornsen in the medals again in Lillehammer Sprint!
= p. 28/Speed Skating: Heather Bergsma wins first World Cup race of the season!

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How the Oswald Commission is finding Russian athletes guilty of doping

By
Rich Perelman
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IN THIS ISSUE – The International Olympic Committee’s Disciplinary Commission – better known as the Oswald Commission – has been handing down penalties for doping against Russian athletes throughout the month of November.

But on Monday (27th), the first detailed explanation of how the Commission’s findings were arrived at were made public. It’s a 46-page, 495-paragraph, densely-written legal opinion designed to stand up to scrutiny in the Court of Arbitration for Sport, and elsewhere.

What does it say? Check out our digest – in six pages – in our Lane One commentary, plus previews of a massive weekend of major Olympic-sport action:

= p. 9/Phil Hersh: ISU warns Skate Canada over gifts linked to ice dancer Tessa Virtue;
= p. 11/Weightlifting: World Championships open with women’s 58 kg showdown;
= p. 17/Anti-Doping: Three more Russian doping cases confirmed by Oswald Commission;
= p. 18/Alpine Skiing: U.S. women stars Lindsey Vonn & Mikaela Shiffrin at Lake Louise;
= p. 29/Wrestling: U.S. women face no. 1 Japan in in Freestyle World Cup!

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How the Oswald Commission is finding Russian athletes guilty of doping

By
Rich Perelman
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PALM DESERT, December 1, 2017 – The International Olympic Committee’s Disciplinary Commission – better known as the Oswald Commission – has been handing down penalties for doping against Russian athletes throughout the month of November.

But on Monday (27th), the first detailed explanation of how the Commission’s findings were arrived at were made public. It’s a 46-page, 495-paragraph, densely-written legal opinion designed to stand up to scrutiny in the Court of Arbitration for Sport, and elsewhere.

What does it say? Check out our digest – in six pages – in our Lane One commentary, plus previews of a massive weekend of major Olympic-sport action:

= p. 9/Phil Hersh: ISU warns Skate Canada over gifts linked to ice dancer Tessa Virtue;
= p. 11/Weightlifting: World Championships open with women’s 58 kg showdown;
= p. 17/Anti-Doping: Three more Russian doping cases confirmed by Oswald Commission;
= p. 18/Alpine Skiing: U.S. women stars Lindsey Vonn & Mikaela Shiffrin at Lake Louise;
= p. 29/Wrestling: U.S. women face no. 1 Japan in in Freestyle World Cup!

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Disciplinarians or hypocrites? What will the IOC do about Russia and weightlifting?

By
Rich Perelman
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IN THIS ISSUE – The International Olympic Committee’s Executive Board will have a full agenda when it meets on 5-6 December, including deciding whether Russia will be permitted to compete at the 2018 Olympic Winter Games and whether weightlifting will be confirmed on the program of the 2024 Games in Paris.

While the IOC’s Oswald Commission makes headlines almost daily with confirmations of doping disqualifications of Russian athletes from the 2014 Winter Games, the International Weightlifting Federation is beginning its 2017 World Championships with a more serious tone, having banned nine countries – including Russia – for multiple doping infractions.

Will the IOC play disciplinarian or hypocrite in the decisions it makes regarding these two groups: one repentant and reformed and the other defiant and vowing to fight the IOC anywhere it can. Get the story in our Lane One commentary, plus our first look at the week ahead:

= p. 6/Phil Hersh: The collapsing U.S. women’s figure skating situation for PyeongChang;
= p. 10/Weightlifting: Crossroads World Championships for this sport starts in Anaheim;
= p. 12/Anti-Doping: Five more Russian doping disqualifications; 11 medals now rescinded!
= p. 14/Fencing: Powerful U.S. men’s and women’s Foil teams at Turin Grand Prix;
= p. 17/Wrestling: U.S. wins three medals in inaugural U-23 World Championships!

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Disciplinarians or hypocrites? What will the IOC do about Russia and weightlifting?

By
Rich Perelman
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PALM DESERT, November 29, 2017 – The International Olympic Committee’s Executive Board will have a full agenda when it meets on 5-6 December, including deciding whether Russia will be permitted to compete at the 2018 Olympic Winter Games and whether weightlifting will be confirmed on the program of the 2024 Games in Paris.

While the IOC’s Oswald Commission makes headlines almost daily with confirmations of doping disqualifications of Russian athletes from the 2014 Winter Games, the International Weightlifting Federation is beginning its 2017 World Championships with a more serious tone, having banned nine countries – including Russia – for multiple doping infractions.

Will the IOC play disciplinarian or hypocrite in the decisions it makes regarding these two groups: one repentant and reformed and the other defiant and vowing to fight the IOC anywhere it can. Get the story in our Lane One commentary, plus our first look at the week ahead:

= p. 6/Phil Hersh: The collapsing U.S. women’s figure skating situation for PyeongChang;
= p. 10/Weightlifting: Crossroads World Championships for this sport starts in Anaheim;
= p. 12/Anti-Doping: Five more Russian doping disqualifications; 11 medals now rescinded!
= p. 14/Fencing: Powerful U.S. men’s and women’s Foil teams at Turin Grand Prix;
= p. 17/Wrestling: U.S. wins three medals in inaugural U-23 World Championships!

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Why can’t Olympic sports be more like college football?

By
Rich Perelman
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Auburn's Chris Davis returns a missed field goal for the winning touchdown against Alabama.

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IN THIS ISSUE – This past weekend was a great one in Olympic sports … and college football.

Fans of both were attending spectacular events in the thousands and there were rapt audiences watching on television.

In the U.S. anyway, there were a lot more people watching college football, however, as the season progresses toward the conference championship games and the College Football Playoff.

Can’t the winter sports learn from this and create similar passion in a planned, coordinated climax to each season?

It can happen, and we have the details on how it could be arranged in our Lane One commentary, plus all the results and surprises of a big weekend of action:

= p. 6/Anti-Doping: Another four Russians caught for doping in Sochi and disqualified;
= p. 7/Athletics: IAAF Council punts on world record review and transfer regulations;
= p. 8/Alpine Skiing: Gold in Killington for U.S. Slalom queen Mikaela Shiffrin!
= p. 11/Basketball: U.S. men sweep first two games in FIBA World Cup qualifying;
= p. 14/Cross Country: Sensational silver medal for Sadie Bjornsen in Finland!
= p. 15/Figure Skating: Nathan Chen & the ShibSibs mine gold at Skate America;
= p. 19/Luge: U.S. women shine in Germany as Erin Hamlin makes fourth OWG team!

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Why can’t Olympic sports be more like college football?

By
Rich Perelman
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Auburn's Chris Davis returns a missed field goal for the winning touchdown against Alabama.

PALM DESERT, November 27, 2017 – This past weekend was a great one in Olympic sports … and college football.

Fans of both were attending spectacular events in the thousands and there were rapt audiences watching on television.

In the U.S. anyway, there were a lot more people watching college football, however, as the season progresses toward the conference championship games and the College Football Playoff.

Can’t the winter sports learn from this and create similar passion in a planned, coordinated climax to each season?

It can happen, and we have the details on how it could be arranged in our Lane One commentary, plus all the results and surprises of a big weekend of action:

= p. 6/Anti-Doping: Another four Russians caught for doping in Sochi and disqualified;
= p. 7/Athletics: IAAF Council punts on world record review and transfer regulations;
= p. 8/Alpine Skiing: Gold in Killington for U.S. Slalom queen Mikaela Shiffrin!
= p. 11/Basketball: U.S. men sweep first two games in FIBA World Cup qualifying;
= p. 14/Cross Country: Sensational silver medal for Sadie Bjornsen in Finland!
= p. 15/Figure Skating: Nathan Chen & the ShibSibs mine gold at Skate America;
= p. 19/Luge: U.S. women shine in Germany as Erin Hamlin makes fourth OWG team!

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After 125 years, time to say “Thanks, Baron” one more time

By
Rich Perelman
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Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the modern Olympic Movement

PALM DESERT, November 24, 2017 – This Saturday will mark 125 years since a 29-year-old Frenchman named Pierre de Coubertin proposed that the Olympic Games be revived.

He did it at the Sorbonne in Paris and the reception he received was the one thing he hadn’t expected.

What happened? Get the details and some reflections on his legacy in our Lane One commentary, plus a preview of a big weekend of action:

= p. 5/Phil Hersh: Why didn’t the USOC react to a slur against Olympian Ibti Muhammad?
= p. 8/Anti-Doping: Four more disqualifications of Russian athletes from Sochi 2014;
= p. 10/Short Track: ISU confirms U.S. has eight qualifiers for PyeongChang 2018;
= p. 13/Alpine Skiing: Mikaela Shiffrin back in action on home turf in Vermont!
= p. 16/Figure Skating: Shibutani twins looking for another win at Skate America!

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Role reversal: now the cities ask, “Why do we want the Games?”

By
Rich Perelman
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PALM DESERT, November 22, 2017 – It wasn’t so long ago that it was the International Olympic Committee asking probing questions of a group of candidate cities all vying to host the Olympic or Olympic Winter Games.

Now it’s the cities asking: why should be we interested?

What is it in for the cities who host the Games? The cost and the long line of facilities that have gone under-used (or unused) after recent Games has made the shine of new arenas unattractive. So what is the interest?

The city of Calgary, which hosted the 1988 Winter Games, looked closely at the options and surveyed the public. They found that the attraction to the Games may have nothing to do with the sports events at all and instead something that even the democratic process has not brought to the city.

What is it? Get the details in our Lane One commentary, plus a preview of a big weekend of action:

= p. 2/The Ticker: USA Swimming’s annual awards handed out at the Golden Goggles gala!
= p. 5/Phil Hersh: Why are heads of national skating federations still judging at major events?
= p. 10/Athletics: USA Track & Field names its Jesse Owens and Jackie Joyner-Kersee award winners;
= p. 11/Basketball: USA Basketball starts a long road to the 2019 FIBA World Cup this week;
= p. 16/Gymnastics: China dominantes World Trampoline Championships in Bulgaria.

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Is this the last week that FloJo will be a world-record holder?

By
Rich Perelman
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PALM DESERT, November 20, 2017 – The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) will hand out its annual awards this coming Friday in Monaco. During the two days following, the IAAF Council may vote to strip dozens of athletes of the title of “world record holder.”

The Council is expected to review a radical proposal by European Athletics to eliminate all records set before 2005, from when drug-testing samples are still available for re-testing. The Council could adopt the idea, or change it, or trash the whole thing.

Our perspective is on one suggestion, which would consider in depth whether marks by stars like Randy Barnes, Florence Griffith-Joyner and Jackie Joyner-Kersee would remain intact. Get the details in our Lane One commentary, plus review of a big weekend of action:

= p. 8/Bobsled & Skeleton: Jamie Greubel Poser & Lauren Gibbs strike gold for the U.S.;
= p. 9/Curling: Skips Nina Roth and John Shuster lead their teams to Olympic Trials wins;
= p. 12/Figure Skating: World champ Javier Fernandez back to top form in ISU Grand Prix;
= p. 16/Short Track: J.R. Celski & U.S. men’s relay win medals in final World Cup;
= p. 17/Speed Skating: More medals for Joey Mantia & Heather Bergsma in World Cup II!

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Who makes more: Track stars or World Cup skiers?

By
Rich Perelman
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PALM DESERT, November 17, 2017 – Alpine skiers have to be the princes and princesses of the Olympic-sport world, don’t they?

Training and competing at beautiful resorts, traveling to exotic locations around the world and winning plenty of the $9.7 million in annual prize money on the 77-stop World Cup circuit has got to be a dream come true.

How do the skiers compare with, say, track & field athletes who compete in the 14-meet IAAF Diamond League, which paid out a record $5.6 million in prize money this season?

The comparison will shock you, as these sports are a lot more alike than they are different … especially in who doesn’t get paid. The numbers are in our Lane One commentary, plus previews of a full weekend of action coming up:

= p. 5/Phil Hersh: Why figure skating star Yuzuru Hanyu’s competitive zeal could hurt him!
= p. 9/Anti-Doping: WADA find Russia still non-compliant and not to be reinstated!
= p. 11/Bobsled: Codie Bascue now driving USA-1 Four-Man in Park City World Cup;
= p. 12/Curling: Nina Roth & Health McCormick leading in Olympic Trials playoffs;
= p. 20/Swimming: Chad Le Clos & Sarah Sjostrom clinch seasonal World Cup titles!

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Don’t they know that the Olympics is mostly a television show?

By
Rich Perelman
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PALM DESERT, November 15, 2017 – There’s a lot of angst over lower ticket sales for February’s PyeongChang Olympic Winter Games. One Korean academic even said the Games will be a failure if things don’t change soon.

Really?

Spectators and ticket sales are important, but a failure? The Olympics are a television show and the athletes are the stars. If everyone would focus on that, we’ll have a success.

How this has been proven in the past and can work again is explored in our Lane One commentary, plus a wild week already in Olympic sport:

= p. 5/Athletics: Chaunte Lowe finally becomes the 2008 high jump bronze medalist!
= p. 6/Athletics: Are Gwen Jorgensen’s chances to win the 2020 marathon “slim and none”?
= p. 7/Football: Is the U.S. Soccer Federation putting together an alternate World Cup?
= p. 11/Short Track: Final Olympic Qualification World Cup this weekend in Korea!
= p. 14/Football: Next-generation U.S. men’s team earns a 1-1 draw in Portugal.

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Individual justice vs. collective responsibility, or is it the IOC vs. the IAAF?

By
Rich Perelman
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PALM DESERT, November 13, 2017 – Over the next four weeks, both the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) are going to consider the difficult decisions that come when individual justice collides with collective responsibility.

That’s how IOC president Thomas Bach of Germany has framed the question of Russian participation in the 2018 Winter Games in light of the massive Russian doping scandal at the 2014 Winter Games it hosted in Sochi in 2014.

And the IAAF, led by iconic Olympic gold medalist Sebastian Coe, is scheduled to take up the question of whether to eliminate a swath of world-record performances that came before current testing methods were in place and samples still available for re-testing.

Where will these two organizations draw the line between the individual and the collective?

We consider the issues in our Lane One commentary, plus a massive weekend of competition and achievement for American athletes, and more:

= p. 5/Phil Hersh on whether Canada “lost virtue” over a gift at its Skate Canada event;
= p. 9/Alpine Skiing: Mikaela Shiffrin scores World Cup silver in the Levi Slalom;
= p. 11/Bobsled: U.S.’s Bascue & McGuffie win World Cup gold in memory of Steven Holcomb;
= p. 12/Cycling: U.S.’s Hannah Roberts wins first-ever BMX Freestyle Park world title!
= p. 18/Football: U.S. ends 2017 with decisive, 3-1 win over Canada in San Jose;
= p. 18/Ice Hockey: U.S. women’s national team throttles Canada to win Four Nations Cup;
= p. 21/Short Track: U.S. men break Canadian-held world relay record in Shanghai!

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The cheapest, most undeserved gold medal in Olympic history

By
Rich Perelman
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ADN-ZB Demme 2.8.81 Erfurt:DVfL-Sportfest-Sieger im Hürdenlauf- Auch am zweiten Tag des Sportfestes gab es eine Reihe bemerkenswerter Resultate. Über 400 m Hürden siegte Volker Beck vom SCTF in 49:38.

PALM DESERT, November 10, 2017 – What will happen to the Russian team at the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in Korea?

Will the International Olympic Committee keep it from competing? Impose sanctions such as neutral uniforms and removing its flag and anthem from any victory ceremonies? In that case, Russian officials say they won’t allow their athletes to compete.

We’ve seen this before – in Russia, in fact – when athletes are not allowed to compete thanks to politicians. And it resulted in the most undeserving gold medal in the history of the Olympic Games in 1980.

Who won it? Who should have won it? Get the story in our Lane One commentary, plus a look ahead to an enormous weekend of competition:

= p. 5/Anti-Doping: Four Russian cross-country skiers DQ’d for doping in Sochi;
= p. 7/Alpine Skiing: Reindeer naming rights at stake at World Cup slalom in Levi;
= p. 9/Curling: Week-long U.S. Olympic Trials start in Omaha;
= p. 11/Figure Skating: Star-studded field for ISU Grand Prix/NHK Trophy in Tokyo;;
= p. 19/Football: U.S. and Canadian women finish with hard-fought 1-1 tie in Vancouver.

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A 39-year first? IOC will accept less than a full Host City financial guarantee from Sion!

By
Rich Perelman
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PALM DESERT, November 8, 2017 – The International Olympic Committee insists as a condition of granting hosting rights to the Olympic or Olympic Winter Games that the host city or country be responsible for any financial deficit resulting from the staging of the Games.

That stance has not been altered since the contract for the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles was signed in 1978. But 39 years later, the situation is changing.

The IOC’s Executive Director for the Olympic Games, Christophe Dubi, has informed the bidding group for the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Sion (SUI) that it would accept less than the outright guarantee usually required.

How much less? With what strings? Read the full text of Dubi’s letter and get the implications in our Lane One commentary, plus a look ahead to a big weekend of competition:

= p. 5/Athletics: Kenya’s 2016 Rio marathon winner Jemima Sumgong gets four-year drug ban!
= p. 7/Athletics: Rio triathlon winner Gwen Jorgensen to focus on the marathon for Tokyo!
= p. 7/Bobsled: World Cup season opens in Lake Placid, but without the late Steven Holcomb;
= p. 8/Fencing: No. 1-ranked Alexander Massialas back in World Cup action in Tokyo;
= p. 10/Football: U.S. women finish 2017 season with two games vs. Canada.

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New math? How does an $8.5 million subsidy in 2016 turn into a profit in 2017?

By
Rich Perelman
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PALM DESERT, November 6, 2017 – If there is anything which chases people away from the Olympic Games these days, it’s the exorbitant cost. So when the City of Windsor, Ontario trumpets finishing “in the black” when in fact the FINA World Short Course Swimming Championships cost Canadian taxpayers $8.5 million in subsidies, it’s another example of happy talk in place of real facts.

Another example of “new math”?

Get the background and the details in our Lane One commentary, plus coverage of a great weekend for American athletes in the U.S., Asian and Africa:

= p. 5/Athletics: Sensational win for U.S.’s Shalane Flanagan in women’s New York Marathon!
= p. 9/Cycling: 16-year-old Hannah Roberts wins second straight Freestyle Park World Cup!
= p. 10/Fencing: Eli Dershwitz scores first career gold in Sabre World Cup in Africa!
= p. 11/Figure Skating: Two Russian wins, two American medals in Audi Cup of China;
= p. 12/Wrestling: U.S. wins 15 golds at Dave Schultz Memorial Invitational.

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Between Scylla and Charybdis: IOC president Thomas Bach

By
Rich Perelman
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PALM DESERT, November 3, 2017 – The famed Greek poet Homer wrote about two terrors that had to be faced at the same time in the seas between Troy and Ithaca when Odysseus tried to get home after the Trojan War: Scylla and Charybdis.

Which path to take, which ordeal to face? A similar situation now faces International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach of Germany. Ban Russia from the 2018 Olympic Winter Games because of its manipulation of drug testing at the 2014 Winter Games it hosted in Sochi? Let Russian athletes compete because some of them might be clean?

Either way, there will be criticism, but based on what happened in 2016 and Bach’s speech at the General Assembly of the Association of National Olympic Committees this week, his approach seems clear. Get the background and the details in our Lane One commentary, plus:

= p. 5/Anti-Doping: Two Russian skiers disqualified from 2014 Games for doping;
= p. 5/Athletics: USA Track & Field Hall of Fame class of 2017 inducted in New York;
= p. 6/Weightlifting: USA Weightlifting names candidates for 2017 World Champs in Anaheim;
= p. 7/Athletics: Meb Keflezighi to finish his marathon career where it started: New York!
= p. 9/Figure Skating: Audi Cup of China on this weekend in third ISU Grand Prix.

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World bobsled champ Elana Meyers Taylor: “I’ve crashed more times than I can count”

By
Rich Perelman
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American Olympic women's bobsled ace Elana Meyers Taylor (Photo: Dietmar Reker via Wikipedia)

PALM DESERT, November 1, 2017 – Being World Champion doesn’t mean you have all the answers. Elana Meyers Taylor, who won the 2017 world women’s bobsleigh title with brakeman Kehri Jones for the U.S., is constantly thinking of new ways to go a little faster.

She thinks she probably thinks too much. That and much more in an entertaining insight into what world-class bobsleigh is about in our Lane One commentary, plus:

= p. 6/Alpine Skiing: American superstar Bode Miller retires, will join NBC in Korea;
= p. 6/Athletics: World-record holder Wayde van Niekerk rips ACL and has surgery;
= p. 7/Athletics: British star Mo Farah leaves Nike Oregon Project for a British coach;
= p. 9/Fencing: U.S. Foil star Lee Kiefer faces stiff challenge in second World Cup;
= p. 10/Wrestling: 20th Dave Schultz Memorial Invitational starts new-look wrestling season.

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German court will hear challenge to IOC’s sponsor exclusivity Rule 40

By
Rich Perelman
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PALM DESERT, October 30, 2017 – Very few athletes can quote chapter and verse from the Olympic Charter, the rulebook of the International Olympic Committee and the Olympic Movement.

But a lot of them can tell you about the restrictions of Rule 40, which severely constrains what non-IOC sponsors can do related to the Olympic Games during the Games period. Now an arm of the German government is planning to take the National Olympic Committee of Germany to court to challenge whether the regulations are “too restrictive.”

What’s in Rule 40, anyway? How much is at stake here? Who can resolve these issues? Get the details in our Lane One commentary, plus:

= p. 5/Anti-Doping: IOC has undertaken 4,000 pre-Winter Games doping tests!
= p. 6/Alpine Skiing: Mikaela Shiffrin fifth in World Cup opener in Austria;
= p. 10/Figure Skating: Ashley Wagner and Jason Brown strong for U.S. at Skate Canada!
= p. 12/Judo: UAE acts of anti-Semitism dominate headlines from IJF Grand Slam in Dubai;
= p. 15/Shooting: U.S.’s Keith Sanderson wins World Cup Pistol title on seventh try!

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Coming soon: the sports marketing spectacle of the 21st Century … or a train wreck?

By
Rich Perelman
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PALM DESERT, October 27, 2017 – The 2028 Olympic Games have been awarded to Los Angeles. The 2026 FIFA World Cup could be assigned to the joint bid of Canada, Mexico and the U.S. next June. And now the United States Olympic Committee is considering a bid for the Olympic Winter Games for 2026 or 2030.

Is all this too much of a good thing? A back-to-back-to-back hosting of these three events would be a first for any country and points to one significant problem. What is it? Get the details in our Lane One commentary, plus:

= p. 6/Anti-Doping: WADA report shows doping positives rose in 2016!
= p. 7/Alpine Skiing: Mikaela Shiffrin, Lindsey Vonn & Ted Ligety in World Cup season opener;
= p. 9/Figure Skating: Ashley Wagner & Karen Chen ready for Skate Canada International;
= p. 11/Football: England and Spain to face off in final of FIFA U-17 World Cup in India;
= p. 14/Shooting: Legendary Kim Rhode equals world record to win World Cup Skeet title!

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Triathlon star Katie Zaferes is all about being prepared

By
Rich Perelman
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PALM DESERT, October 25, 2017 – American triathlon star Katie Zaferes finished second at the Triathlon World Series Grand Final this year and is second on the International Triathlon Union’s points list.

Sure, talent is important. But preparation has a lot to do with it.

She shares how she gets ready for a race long before she lands in a city, and her goals for the future … and her weakness for ice cream. All the details are in our Lane One commentary, plus:

= p. 6/Anti-Doping: German TV documentary starts new inquest on Chinese doping!
= p. 9/Ice Hockey: U.S. and Canadian women continue their pre-Olympic tour;
= p. 11/Shooting: U.S. already with a medal in World Cup Final in New Delhi;
= p. 15/Football: Clash of unbeatens Brazil and England in U-17 World Cup semis!
= p. 16/Swimming: Italians sweep FINA 10 km Open Water season titles!

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Anita DeFrantz on the 1980 boycott: “It still is extremely painful”

By
Rich Perelman
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PALM DESERT, October 23, 2017 – Anita DeFrantz rose to fame by suing the United States Olympic Committee to allow American athletes – including her – to compete at the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow.

She failed, but that was the catalyst for a long career in the Olympic Movement, including a senior role with the organizing committee for the revolutionary 1984 Games in Los Angeles, then becoming a member of the International Olympic Committee and an activist for athletes and women in sport.

She reflected on the 1980 experience and what came after at the launch of her memoir, written with Josh Young, entitled My Olympic Years. We have a selection of her comments in our Lane One commentary, plus:

= p. 6/Figure Skating: Nathan Chen & the Shibutanis strike gold in Moscow Grand Prix!
= p. 14/Fencing: Bronze for Race Imboden and gold for the U.S. men’s Foil team in Cairo;
= p. 15/Football: U.S. men eliminated by England in U-17 World Cup quarterfinals;
= p. 15/Football: U.S. women crush Korea, 6-0, in friendly in North Carolina;
= p. 17/Triathlon: American Sophie Chase wins her 1st ITU race: the American Champs!

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After Innsbruck’s repudiation, is the IOC whistling past the Olympic graveyard?

By
Rich Perelman
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Is college football digging the graves of all other collegiate sports programs?

PALM DESERT, October 20, 2017 – The International Olympic Committee is staying cool after the repudiation of the Winter Games bid by Innsbruck and the Tyrol region of Austria last Sunday. Everything will be OK.

But one member – Switzerland’s Rene Fasel – has recognized the danger to the Games: its size. In an interview, he noted some astonishing facts on costs and says action is needed. Olympic historian Dr. Bill Mallon has done the same and shared the figures on how the Games have grown.

The worst part: the IOC itself recognized this before … and has done nothing about it. We have the details in our Lane One commentary, plus:

= p. 7/Triathlon: Pan American Championships this weekend in Ecuador;
= p. 9/Football: U.S. men’s U-17 squad faces England in World Cup quarterfinals;
= p. 9/Football: U.S. women cruise past Korea, 3-1, in New Orleans.

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Innsbruck’s message to the IOC: Even a zero-cost Games isn’t worth the hassle

By
Rich Perelman
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PALM DESERT, October 18, 2017 – The failure of the referendum supporting a bid for the Olympic Winter Games in Innsbruck and the Tyrol region of Austria wasn’t just a rejection of sky-high costs for the Games.

It was rejection of the Olympic concept itself … because the bid as envisioned could well have earned a surplus!

How? We have the stunning details in our Lane One commentary, plus:

= p. 5/Fencing: Double Olympic gold medalist Mariel Zagunis welcomes a baby girl!
= p. 5/Gymnastics: Olympic star Simone Biles announces new coach!
= p. 8/Fencing: Top-ranked Alex Massialas leads U.S. in men’s Foil World Cup;
= p. 9/Figure Skating: Nathan Chen & the Shibutanis in action in first ISU Grand Prix meet!
= p. 12/Football: Tim Weah’s hat trick leads U.S. to 5-0 win in FIFA U-17 World Cup!

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It’s all in the mind for Slopestyle World Champion McRae Williams

By
Rich Perelman
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McRae Williams was all up in the air over winning the 2017 World Slopestyle title! (Photo courtesy McRae Williams)

PALM DESERT, October 16, 2017 – In Freestyle Skiing, it seems younger is always better. Until 26-year-old McRae Williams stunned everyone – including himself – with a World Championships win last March, making him one to watch for the 2018 Winter Games.

We asked Williams about his career season and it turns out a book changed his outlook on life and sport. What book? What did it say?

We have the details in our Lane One commentary, plus:

= p. 7/Bobsled: U.S. names women’s national Bobsled squad for 2017-18 World Cup;
= p. 14/Fencing: U.S.’s Lee Kiefer wins season-opening Foil World Cup in Cancun;
= p. 14/Football: U.S. plays Paraguay Monday in FIFA men’s U-17 World Champs;
= p. 15/Gymnastics: U.S. & Evita Griskenas dominates Pan Am Rhythmic Champs;
= p. 16/Sport Climbing: New U.S. Lead star Ashima Shirashi wins World Cup silver!

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U.S. Soccer is based in Chicago; to succeed, it must learn from the Cubs

By
Rich Perelman
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PALM DESERT, October 13, 2017 – It’s a quiet time in the offices of the U.S. Soccer Federation in Chicago, where the stunning failure of men’s National Team to qualify for the 2018 World Cup is still sinking in.

Across town, however, there is jubilation as the World Champion Cubs will continue their title defense in Los Angeles against the Dodgers after eliminating the Washington Nationals in their National League Division Series finale on Thursday.

The Cubs went 108 years between World Series wins, but they are the champions now. Perhaps the soccer folks can learn something from them. We explore the situation and check the facts in our Lane One commentary, plus:

= p. 8/Curling: U.S. quartet advances to playoffs in World Mixed Championships;
= p. 10/Football: U.S. loses final group match, but is in the world U-17 knock-put round!
= p. 10/Swimming: Better late than never, Katinka Hosszu & Chad le Clos win FINA World Cup cluster titles!

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Is there real money in Olympic sport? For FIFA, yes; for others, not so much

By
Rich Perelman
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PALM DESERT, October 11, 2017 – If the root of all evil, as it is said, is money, then it’s no wonder why the biggest scandals in international sport involved FIFA and the International Olympic Committee.

Because that’s where the money is.

We explore just how much money FIFA has, notably in comparison to some of the other international federations who publishing their financials, such as the governing bodies for cycling and swimming, among others. The details are in our Lane One commentary, plus:

= p. 6/Football: U.S. men’s national team fails in Trinidad & will miss the 2018 World Cup;
= p. 8/Anti-Doping: More than 1,000 re-tests from Vancouver 2010 found just one doper!
= p. 8/Athletics: See why Tirunesh Dibaba needs to see her accountant after winning Chicago;
= p. 9/Beach Volleyball: Interesting new U.S. women’s combo in 3-star tourney in China;
= p. 12/Football: U.S. men remain undefeated in FIFA U-17 World Cup in India.

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Sebastian Coe says track & field has to be radical to stay relevant; how about competent?

By
Rich Perelman
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PALM DESERT, October 9, 2017 – Olympic middle-distance icon Sebastian Coe was elected to head the international federation for track & field in 2014. After three years of dealing with continuing scandals regarding doping and alleged criminal activity by his predecessor, he says he’s got the IAAF in position for potentially “radical” reforms.

Fine, but how about doing the things that successful professional leagues already do to make their sports worldwide juggernauts?

We have three suggestions in our Lane One commentary, plus coverage of a stunning World Gymnastics Championships and more:

= p. 6/Gymnastics: Stunner by U.S.’s Morgan Hurd to win the women’s All-Around!
= p. 9/Football: U.S. really needed a win vs. Panama and Christian Pulisic delivered;
= p. 11/Athletics: American stars Galen Rupp & Jordan Hasay superb at Chicago Marathon;
= p. 14/Football: U.S. stomps India in New Delhi to open FIFA men’s U-17 World Cup!
= p. 15/Judo: Sweet surprise bronze medal for U.S. judoka Hannah Martin in Tashkent!

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It Takes a Village if the IOC is going to reform the Games

By
Rich Perelman
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PALM DESERT, October 6, 2017 – The head of the International Olympic Committee’s Coordination Commission for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo is now pressuring the organizers and the government to cut their budgets.

Australian IOC member John Coates has said he would like to see the cost of the 2020 Games slashed by as much as $1 billion. He said this week that he’s now looking into ways to trim some costs from the Olympic village.

He’s talking pennies in a billion-dollar project. The solutions are obvious, but no one wants to face reality. We have the details in our Lane One commentary, plus coverage of the World Gymnastics Championships and more:

= p. 5/Gymnastics: China goes 1-2 in men’s World Champs All-Around;
= p. 8/Athletics: American stars Galen Rupp & Jordan Hasay in Chicago Marathon;
= p. 10/Football: U.S. starts play Friday in FIFA men’s U-17 World Cup in India.

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