[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by Dakota

That was his claim. Here is my claim: as a person in the business of selling sports equipment of all kinds, his entire existence on the IOC was a conflict of interest of exactly the same kind as he only saw fit to recognize in this instance. By his own claim, he should not have been a voting member; he should have not accepted the position. But, then, he wouldn't have had the perks that go with it. His actions were irresponsible no matter how you cut it; either his recusing himself was not necessary, or he should not have had that voting position in the first place. He could have kept softball in the Olympics by choosing a difference course of action; he did not, and softball was kicked off by the anti-USA bigots and the ignorant.

While he is not responsible for everyone else's vote, he is responsible for his own actions, and his own actions resulted in women's fast pitch no longer being an Olympic sport.

So, why is it you buy Easton bats again? (Generic "you", not "You, Hugo.")

The kicker is that apparently the IOC has a specific protocol for votes where a conflict of interest exists. From what I read at the time, the IOC policy is to pre-empt action or decisions by the individual and TELL them when there is a COI involving any member and pending action. The IOC Chair never noted a conflict.