Callan out

[Magy Cannon]

Carol Callan steps down from USA Basketball weeks after Tokyo roster selection, Nneka Ogwumike outrage

Callan oversaw all six consecutive gold medals. USA Basketball said she will step down to focus on her elected position as president of FIBA Americas.

sports.yahoo.com

 

[UConnCat]

A very misleading thread title, suggesting she was fired. She wasn't. She is 68 years old and is stepping down after being with USA Basketball for 26 years.

 

[Plebe]

Much agreed. Thread title should be changed.

The hacks at Yahoo are living up to their name as well. The article does little more than regurgitate the Nneka issue in an attempt to imply that Callan is retiring because of it. Just a total hatchet job.

 

[bbsamjj]

I agree it's incredibly misleading; but this is also what happens when you make a controversial decision on the Olympic roster, refuse to say anything about it (either about the players who made or missed the team), allow the controversy to continue unabated, and then the next thing that's announced is you are leaving your current position.

Team USA insistence on saying nothing about their own Olympic team does no one any favors, imo.

 

[Plebe]

I agree it's incredibly misleading; but this is also what happens when you make a controversial decision on the Olympic roster, refuse to say anything about it (either about the players who made or missed the team), allow the controversy to continue unabated, and then the next thing that's announced is you are leaving your current position.

Team USA insistence on saying nothing about their own Olympic team does no one any favors, imo.

As others have asked, what exactly is the committee supposed to say? "We didn't select so-and-so because of reasons X, Y and Z"? It doesn't work that way because it can't work that way.

Absolutely nothing they might say is going to mollify the haters or assuage the understandable disappointment of Nneka, her circle, and her fans.

"Allow the controversy to continue unabated": Again, just how are they supposed to "abate" it?

And no, I don't give a pass on this one. To imply that the controversy is forcing Callan out is willfully dishonest.

 

[bbsamjj]

As others have asked, what exactly is the committee supposed to say? "We didn't select so-and-so because of reasons X, Y and Z"? It doesn't work that way because it can't work that way.

Absolutely nothing they might say is going to mollify the haters or assuage the understandable disappointment of Nneka, her circle, and her fans.

"Allow the controversy to continue unabated": Again, just how are they supposed to "abate" it?

And no, I don't give a a pass on this one. To imply that the controversy is forcing Callan out is willfully dishonest.

Why can't it work that way? USA Basketball did a press call with reporters in 2016 when Candace didn't make it. There will always be haters, but at the very least USA basketball can help put to bed some of the more egregious rumors/conspiracy theories. Instead, when you have silence from USA Basketball, Curt Miller practically running away from a question, and GEno implying that if it was just his call he'd be fine talking; it makes it seem like they have something to hide .

How hard is it for Carol Callhan to get on a call and say, "Look, we love Nneka, she's been a huge staple for team USA and is an amazing ambassador for the game. But we felt that we had players on the team who bring similar skill sets to her, and given her uncertain health status, our priority was getting more perimeter defense/outside shooting/whatever. These are tough calls, and unfortunately we always have to leave great players home. But our job is to build the best team to win a gold medal, and we believe the team we've put together will do that."

Follow up: So you're saying she was left off because of her injury? Why did you put DT on then?
Answer: WE evaluate every player both individually and on what their skill set brings to the team. We look at EVERY player's health, but it's not the only thing we are looking at.

Q: Some are saying you're using a double standard here.
A: I respectfully disagree. We are looking at all factors to try and build the best team to win a gold. There are always tough calls to make; we can't bring everyone we'd like to.

 

[CL82]

I agree it's incredibly misleading; but this is also what happens when you make a controversial decision on the Olympic roster, refuse to say anything about it (either about the players who made or missed the team), allow the controversy to continue unabated, and then the next thing that's announced is you are leaving your current position.

Team USA insistence on saying nothing about their own Olympic team does no one any favors, imo.

So you are saying that she deserves a misleading article as punishment?

That's an interesting take.

 

[bbsamjj]

I'm not saying she deserves anything as "punishment." But there are consequences when you refuse to be transparent with the press/public.

 

[Plebe]

Why can't it work that way? USA Basketball did a press call with reporters in 2016 when Candace didn't make it. There will always be haters, but at the very least USA basketball can help put to bed some of the more egregious rumors/conspiracy theories.

But in no scenario, not even in your imaginary ideal conversation, would anything they say quiet the conspiracy theorists. The haters would just accuse them of lying. What little has been said about Nneka's situation has already been met with accusations of dishonesty (or, I quote, "BS"). Nothing is made better from that.