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Show Allin ger Takes “When it went to SLOC, I didn’t apply for the job,” Marsh says. “It was my choice. When USOC decided they were going to hire a SLOC person, | decided to move on.” Now the street version: The USOC wants publicity and lots of it. They want the kind of an entry-level program, which has a lot of room for creativity, and an established ath- letic program, which must be far more struc- tured and rigid. Despite that, the USOC was unhappy, and decided to give Marsh’s position to Allinger, who was Bills’ assistant. Which story is true? Marsh sticks with his version, that he was not pushed out but decided to leave. Ever the gentleman, he has only positive things to say about Bills, Allinger, SLOC and the USOC. But when asked about the publicity, Marsh admits that both SLOC and USOC want it bad. “Everybody who puts something into this effort wants some publicity,” he acknowledges, adding this reality: “There just isn’t anything very glamorous about 14- and 15-year-olds working their fannies off to move ahead in their sport.” FLUFF ‘N’ PUFF Are you wondering why you haven't heard about the financial terms of the for which high school students built bobsleds that were then raced by Gov. Mike Leavitt and SLOC head Mitt Romney. The event got worldwide press coverage. However, the USOC’s comparison of the officials, the real $999,730 is in a bank sleds. But Bills created the Governor's Cup, two programs doesn’t take into consideration that there’s a huge difference between small margin. Cat-1 rider Heather Alburt “Where To Shop’ Provides List of Olympic Retailers,” “SLOC Website Records All-Time High 7.2 Million Hits,” “SLOC Budget — won for the women in 54:30:04. But Mindy Proposal Cuts Expenditures By $113 Million.” Laura Howatt may be racing in the Master’s category, but with a 57:25:62, is a certainly not acting her age. The Aug. 21 event is such a tradition that | riders brag about how many years they’ve competed in it. This year’s biggest age category: men 40-49. | Gillespie showed she has what it takes to move up from Cat-4 with her 57:44:08. Here’s a surprise, folks: We are not getting the real news from SLOC. The blizzard of sugary “releases” is like a layer of snow hiding the fact that few substantial facts are coming out of SLOC’s promised open _ door. The trouble with this policy of issuing sweet nothings as news is that something unforeseen always pops up. Then, once people realize they have been lulled into not paying attention, they make up for it in a Bush-ian way, giving even a small bit of negative news hysterical, prolonged and damaging scrutiny. | SKELLY NO LONGER AN ORPHAN | The U.S. skeleton team has its own sugar. daddy. Robbie Vaughn, from a wealthy Texas oil family, will be the new head of skeleton for the U.S. Bobsled and Skeleton TEN MILES LONG, 3,500 FEET OF VERTICAL Federation. He has also hired IMG, the big Burke Swindlehurst must have lungs like a bellows. The Category 1 cyclist won the notorious Snowbird Hill Climb race up Little Cottonwood Canyon in 44.5 minutes, beat- sports management group, to get money and sponsors for the sport. Vaughn, in his 40s, was a member of the U.S. skeleton team last year and may also compete as an athlete while running the show this year. CODP partnership between SLOC and the USOC? Could you also be wondering why you didn’t hear about this: When SLOC took over as the new owners of the Utah Winter Sports Park, they were supposed to provide a $1 million down-payment as the first part of the payback of the $59 million loaned to SLOC by taxpayers (remember that referendum we voted on?). Instead, SLOC paid $27,000 in cash, and the other $999,730 as VIK (Value In Kind). They can legally do this because of a loophole in the original contract The VIK is the refrigeration equipment used to ice the Sports Park bobsled track and the speedskating oval, which was actually donated to SLOC by a sponsor years ago. At the same time, according to SLOC publicity garnered by SLOC’s entry-level Youth Sports Program, headed by Bob Bills. The USOC’s hunger for good press borders on lust. USOC made unfavorable comparisons between the lack of press garnered by Marsh’s program and the highly visible, always-in-the-news efforts of Bills. As an example of the difference between the way the two programs were run, when more bobsleds were needed for the junior program, Marsh quietly purchased four _ of what they call news releases. They include ing runner-up John Osguthorpe by a minute and a half. But imagine the final dogged sprint, when Osguthorpe (46:01:41) came in Ss ahead of Tom Buckly (46:09:53) by such a — CUT IT OUT... CHECK IT OUT... VISAGE son stuvi0s 2006 South 900 East 16 exclusive salon studios ¢ contemporary styling ¢ fully equipped ¢ top of the line interiors lots of free parking ° laundry ¢ breakroom, etc. gathering interest until after the Games when it will be paid back to taxpayers along Bored? “Home For Information, Call Robert 328.3399 Listless? Alone? ~ @B0OSQuvej0 Gallery Don’t spend another Saturday night home. soaking your head. Check out PC Nights & Coming Attractions - for this week’s state-of-the-art, up to date briefing on what to do and where to do it! my own salon? - focated at 60 n. main, kamas 435-783-6867 ¢ open wed - sat and by appointment morgan hall - proprietor REPRESENTING LOCAL & NATIONAL ARTISTS WORKING IN: | PAINTING - OIL, WATERCOLOR AND ACRYLIC PRINT - ETCHING, MONOTYPE, LITHO, SCREEN POTTERY - FROM MEXICO AND THE U.S.A. METAL - OBJECTS AND SCULPTURE ECCLECTIC & EXRESSIONIST PIECES | fy | SEPTEMBER 2, 1999 | 17 CODP is a U.S. Olympic Committee program that serves as a pipeline to bring committed junior athletes along to the elite level. Marsh’s job was to manage the program and make sure the developing athletes had whatever was needed for training and competition, whether that was ice time for skaters or sleds for lugers. There are several versions of the story behind the switch. First, Marsh’s take: He says the USOC has been looking for a “partner” (read: co-sponsor) for CODP for some time. When SLOC said it would like to be that partner, the USOC thought it was a great idea, and the merger was made. _ headliners such as: “Utah’s ‘Cool Winter Games’ Art Show Begins Traveling Exhibit,” Marsh’s Place Bob Marsh has left the Community Olympic Development Program (CODP). He has been replaced by SLOC’s Dawn Allinger. with the remaining $58 million. For reals. Meanwhile, SLOC has issued a plethora |