USOC apologizes to track cyclists

by mikelpearce on Sep 17, 2008 12:07 PM EDT

See velonews:

http://www.velonews.com/article/83310/the-us-olympic-committee-apologizes-for-slamming-cyclists

A little late, I would think ...

The article quotes one of the cyclists as saying that they were treated like children by the USOC. I seem to recall that a number of PdC members (including me) were incensed at USOC's treatment of the cyclists and surmised that the "apology" issued by the cyclists was mandated by USOC. Turns out that is exactly what happened. Free speech indeed ...

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Comments

That's not an apology

I’m sorry, but I’m sick of these so-called “apologies”

You know what I’m talking about. “I’m sorry if you were offended…”

Here’s the official apology:

"We apologize if you felt that the USOC or your National Governing Body did not appropriately support you through this incident, and you should rest assured it was not our intent."

A little editing gives a proper apology.

"We apologize that the USOC and your National Governing Body did not appropriately support you through this incident."

An better apology would be “I’m sorry that we gave you masks to wear and then threw you under the bus when you actually wore them.”

by johnw on Sep 17, 2008 12:54 PM EDT reply actions

+1

I’d like to see mike send something back like “you can take sorry and shove it up your ass.”

"I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass... and I'm all out of bubblegum."

by Drew Davis on Sep 17, 2008 1:02 PM EDT up reply actions

+1 to that.

They got screwed with this whole thing. I’ve been reading a lot up on the “apology” and it’s far from anything other than one of those, oh darn, let’s just move on from a major screwing of our athletes.

"The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed."

by nikki on Sep 17, 2008 2:05 PM EDT up reply actions

Yes, the non-apology apology

But I think it’s not perfect until it contains the Chewbacca defence as well.

Bork, bork, bork!

by TheFigurehead on Sep 17, 2008 1:12 PM EDT up reply actions

It does not make sense!

You have got to love the Chewbacca defense. Perfect in this situation.

by Jimbo... on Sep 17, 2008 1:43 PM EDT up reply actions

Oh

I have a big strategy meeting Monday. I am totally advocating that we use the Chewbacca defense in an upcoming case.

"If writing too much about the Classics is wrong, I don't want to be right."

by Chris Fontecchio on Sep 17, 2008 2:13 PM EDT up reply actions

only if

you finish with this.

by Sui Juris on Sep 17, 2008 3:28 PM EDT up reply actions

Translation

We’re sorry if we messed up, which we didn’t.

"If writing too much about the Classics is wrong, I don't want to be right."

by Chris Fontecchio on Sep 17, 2008 2:11 PM EDT reply actions

translation

we’re not willing to accept liability for any potential fallout/litigation/risk.

and i agree, that ain’t no apology…

by nicknorco on Sep 17, 2008 3:29 PM EDT up reply actions

I never really understood why

it was a bad idea to wear masks.

Bejing’s air is a polluted nasty, dangerous thing. Just because they shut down every factory for a couple of weeks people should be afraid of offending them?

"Tourists and locals are watching from sidewalk cafes. Non-racers. The emptiness of those lives shocks me." Tim Krabbe

by cyclingchallenge on Sep 17, 2008 3:20 PM EDT reply actions