International Swimming Hall of Fame CEO to Muchnick: ‘Will Respond Before the Week Ends’
USA Swimming’s Excuses on Rapist Coaching Legend Paul Bergen: (1) ‘Not a Law Enforcement Authority’; (2) ‘No Control Over Hall of Fame’
June 19, 2013After Maryland Health Department Relents, Meadowbrook Aquatic Center’s Unredacted Report on Louis Lowenthal Death Raises More Questions
June 19, 2013June 13, Muchnick to Bruce Wigo, President CEO of the International Swimming Hall of Fame:
You are right to be correcting the record regarding the ISHOF status of Rick Curl. I will be writing about that, but I will also be making the point that the reasons why Curl is not in a Hall of Fame (along with the reasons why he was never formally on an Olympic coaching staff) also tell us a lot about the decades-long cover-up of his known sexual abuse, for which he was only recently criminally charged and sentenced.
I also have a further and related question for you: Since in the Swimming World article you state that ISHOF would not include sex abusers among its honorees, what is your position on Paul Bergen and Murray Stephens? I would like to begin this discussion by not pretending that you know nothing about the allegations against them, and I would prefer to hear in your own words the threshold of evidence or procedure by which Bergen or Stephens or anyone would be “de-inducted.”
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June 14, Wigo to Muchnick:
I have received your email and will respond next week.
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June 19, Wigo to Muchnick update:
I … will respond before the week ends as promised.