Scott Blackmun: Arguably the USOC's last best chance

Scott Blackmun's introduction Wednesday as the chief executive officer of the U.S. Olympic Committee was filled with telling moments -- moments that underscore why Blackmun may arguably be the last best chance for the USOC, riven for so long by extraordinary turmoil, to take its rightful place within the international Olympic movement as an institution that leads when appropriate but exerts such leadership with humility and with integrity.

There were any number of such moments on Wednesday, some obvious, some more subtle. And while ordinarily I wouldn't offer up so many quotes and at such length, this may well be one of those moments in time that deserve a full accounting for the history books.

So here goes:

-- In Colorado Springs, warmly received by staff and others at an early-morning meeting, Blackmun said:

"We win, not when an American stands on the podium at the Olympic Games, but when that victory is predicated on integrity and resonates within our society. When it reminds us all, young and old, that the realm of the possible waits for us just beyond the horizon.

"We win when the friendships and performances and even victories of other teams let us see the world in a different light.  That is the promise of the Olympic Games and it is what defines the movement's iconic place in our society. It is what ignites passion and inspires our youth to win."

Those words were written a few weeks ago by Max Cobb, the executive director of USA Biathlon. Cobb sent them to USOC board chairman Larry Probst. Probst shared them with Blackmun.

Cobb was thrilled to be so quoted. Asked about it later, Blackmun said Cobb's perspective "completely captures why we're all here."

-- The USOC's two essential missions are easily described -- winning medals at the Games while promoting throughout the American landscape the aspirational ideals of the Olympic movement.

Throughout much of its history, the USOC has been dogged by allegations, particularly from some within the International Olympic Committee, that it is disproportionately interested in making money and in winning medals.

Blackmun, speaking a little bit later Wednesday morning at a news conference, said, "The USOC has the power of the Olympic symbol. We have the ability to influence kids and their decisions. The more we message along those lines the better off we're going to fulfill our mission.

"It's not just about winning medals. We don't want to win medals if we can't do so honorably. It's about competing fairly. It's about competing to the best of our ability. So those are things which sports teach.

"You know, people in the circus do a lot of wonderful things. People are not that interested in the circus. They're interested in the USOC because we stand for a lot more than that. We stand for fair play."

-- Immediately after those remarks, Pat Sandusky, the USOC's spokesman, moved the conversation to a look-ahead to the 2010 Vancouver Games, now just a little more than a month away.

"Let's start with Larry and then Scott," Sandusky said.

Probst interjected, "Let's start with Scott."

"All right, we'll start with Scott," Sandusky said, adding lightheartedly in a reference to Probst, "You're the boss."

Probst said quickly, referring to Blackmun, "He's the boss."

That's how it should be -- the chief executive is, indeed, the day-to-day boss, albeit a boss supported by the big-picture board, and that was a fantastic message by Probst, delivered unequivocally and genuinely.

As Harvey Schiller, a key figure on the Olympic scene for many years, said in a post to his Twitter feed on Wednesday, "Larry and Scott came across as a unified team during press conference!"

-- Probst, among other remarks in the news conference, made plain an easy familiarity with the multiple moving parts of the Olympic scene within the United States, a striking change from not so long ago.

The steep learning curve that confronts anyone new to the Olympic movement -- which Probst was in late 2008, when he took over as board chairman -- is now quite clearly over.

For instance, in one brief observation that nonetheless fully encompassed the mission, Probst said, "We are committed to improving our relationships with the IOC and the international constituencies; also to making sure we fully engaged with all our stakeholders domestically, the NGBs [national governing bodies], the AAC [an athletes' advisory group], the multi-sport organizations, the U.S. Olympians; and also we want to make sure that we are maximizing and optimizing our relationships with our sponsors."

-- If Blackmun is the boss, that nonetheless does not obscure the unique role that Probst, as chairman of the board, or "president" in Olympic-speak, is obliged to play internationally.

Many abroad expect Probst to be the USOC's primary representative in the international arena. Blackmun must be visible, and pledged he would be. Probst must be even more visible. He said he would be.

In an interview later Wednesday, Blackmun said of Probst, "I think he's definitely all-in. He does not want to fail. More importantly, he wants this organization to flourish and he wants to be the instrument to make that happen."

-- When the news conference was opened to questions from reporters listening in by phone, the very first query, from Phil Hersh of the Chicago Tribune, concerned Blackmun's salary and the length of his contract.

Such information of course becomes public when the USOC undertakes its annual tax filings. But those filings won't be made available for several months.

Probst responded immediately. Blackmun's base salary "will be $450,000 to begin," Probst said, adding, "We have a four-year agreement with him."

Blackmun, a few moments later, asked to articulate his vision of the USOC's future, said, "In my opinion, it's the world's greatest brand and we haven't been good stewards of the brand. So first and foremost, we need to act with transparency and integrity. I know I have the full support of the board in that. The way you saw Larry answer the question about salary is indicative of a change in direction."

Blackmun also said, referring to the legendary UCLA basketball coach, "I am a big fan of John Wooden. He talks about success being defined by making sure you gave it your best shot and making sure you acted with integrity and honesty in your dealings with others, and that's going to be the foundation of this organization going forward."

-- From Lausanne, Switzerland, the IOC's headquarters, came this statement:

“We are clearly pleased at the appointment of a new chief executive officer at the United States Olympic Committee.  Our relationship with [the] USOC is a key one for the future of the Games, and having an experienced operator in the post is clearly to be welcomed.
 
"Scott Blackmun is a man with tremendous experience both of [the] USOC and of the wider Olympic Family. He understands the challenges and particularly the opportunities that the post brings and we look forward to a close and constructive working relationship.”

Most welcome statements are of course sky-is-blue. But for the IOC -- that was pretty darn blue.

Blackmun said, "At the end of the day, the IOC is the leader of the worldwide Olympic movement, and we need to respect that, and we need to spend some time listening."

-- It's all reason for optimism. Except in certain circles of the press corps, which has seen reason for optimism at the USOC many times before, only to bear witness thereafter to implosions so spectacular they border on the surreal. Why, Blackmun and Probst were asked at the news conference by NPR's Howard Berkes, is this time different?

Probst said, "I tend to be a person who sees the glass as being half full or nearly full. I think that we went through a very comprehensive and extensive and exhaustive search process. I think we ended up with exactly the right person."

Blackmun, for his part, said, "Howard, my wife asked the same question. What I told her is what's really different is the quality of the board. We have a fantastic group of leaders at the board level who are really committed to the success of the USOC and aren't there for the wrong reason."

Later, asked if and how that déjà-vu-all-over-again perception in some quarters not only can but will change, Blackmun said, "The only thing that will change that is how this situation plays itself out. I have every confidence these guys did their homework. They know me. They know who I am. I know who they are. There are no unknowns."