Major Changes Proposed for USOC by Task Force

The U.S. Olympic Committee should cut 114 of its 123 board members and eliminate its 21-member executive committee, a panel recommended Saturday in Fort Worth, paving the way for the most sweeping changes in the history of the organization.

The proposals were presented by an in-house task force created in February after three months of turmoil led to eight resignations and drew the ire of Congress.

“I believe we are being given an historic opportunity to change ourselves, an opportunity to begin the process of regaining the faith and the trust of the American public and the athletes we serve,” said Frank Marshall, a vice president and co-chair of the USOC task force.

“The best way to do that is to do it ourselves.”

Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell, part of a Senate committee investigating the USOC, commended the organization for suggesting such drastic changes.

“I think that they’ve made a major change if they’ve done that,” said Campbell, a former Olympian who has been one of the USOC’s sharpest critics. “They’ve probably taken some of the load off of us, if they can actually get that passed.”

Turf battles between volunteers and paid staff have plagued the scandal-ridden organization almost since its inception 25 years ago.

The 10-member task force hopes to curb the infighting by eliminating the position of president and broadening the power of the chief executive to make the organization more staff-driven.

The CEO would be held accountable for the USOC’s success under the proposal, and the president would be replaced by a chair of the board, who would oversee the nine-member panel.

“The CEO has to be empowered to lead and manage the USOC within board policies,” said task force member Fraser Bullock, former president of the Salt Lake City Organizing Committee.

Tennis

Serena Williams held off a late rally by third-seeded Lindsay Davenport for a 6-1, 7-5 victory to reach the finals of the Family Circle Cup at Charleston, S.C. She will play Justine Henin-Hardenne, a 6-2, 6-1 winner over Ashley Harkleroad.

Nikolay Davydenko defeated seventh-seeded Max Mirnyi, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, to advance to today’s final of the Estoril Open in Oeiras, Portugal. He’ll face Agustin Calleri, a 6-4, 6-2 winner over fifth-seeded Tommy Robredo.

In the women’s semifinals, second-seeded Magui Serna beat third-seeded Virginie Razzano, 6-0, 6-1. She will face Julia Schruff, who beat Emmanuelle Gagliardi, 6-3, 6-4.

Miscellany

Freshman Thomas Vanek sparked a four-goal third period, leading Minnesota to a 5-1 victory over New Hampshire in the NCAA hockey championship game at Buffalo, N.Y.

UCLA won its fifth consecutive regional women’s gymnastics title by easily capturing the NCAA South Central Regional at Columbia, Mo.

The Bruins recorded a team score of 197.725 and advanced to the NCAA championships April 24-26 at Lincoln, Neb.

Junior Jamie Dantzscher, the defending NCAA all-around champion, scored 39.75 in her four routines to edge all competitors.

In the NCAA men’s gymnastics championships at Philadelphia, Daniel Furney won the all-around to lead Oklahoma to an undefeated season (26-0) and fifth national title.

Aaron Garcia threw four touchdowns to lead the New York Dragons (4-7) to a 34-27 Arena Football League victory over the Georgia Force (6-5) at Duluth, Ga.