Were you affected by the AAU pulling out of the USAT Open? Do you agree with Mike Friello's decision to boycott the event? Do you think it's all political posturing and BS on both sides? Vote in the poll.
I don't have a lot of information mysel, as I'm no longer involved in AAU. I did get a copy of a letter that Michael Friello, the National Sport Chairman of Taekwondo for AAU sent to "All Team Members", which I'll try to post on line later today. Here are some excerpts that tell his side of the story, I'm sure the USAT has a version that supports their side too. snip Ok, so far I'm with Friello, if the USAT and AAU have joined forces then they shouldn't schedule meets on top of each other. It's bad for the athletes, and that's what they're both supposed to be all about right? But later in his letter, and it seems to be the meat of the letter, the issue becomes political/personal. Still with me? Now we're getting to the good stuff He goes on to promise refunds to AAU athletes who've already registered for the US Open etc., etc. So, what do you think? Were the AAU and Mr. Friello right/wrong? Was the USAT right/wrong?
Change the names, and it describes what is going on in Australia too... And probably everywhere else.
Both the USAT and the AAU are EXTREMELY political in nature. Its their way or the highway. They both want to control the US olympic team and exclude anyone who doesn't worship the ground they walk on instead of opening it up to ALL TKD players. The USAT changed its name when a scandal hit its original group the USTU to try to cut the strings from their old reputation. While there were/are good people in both organizations, theres enough stink there to warrant soem investigations by some sort of independent group before they make a mockery of TKD in the US.
Whom between those two has the larger members/followers? If USAT control the US Open, wouldn't that mean they can control who goes to the Olympic or not?? Wouldn't the participant at the US open chosen to represent in the Olympic??
Yes, the US Open determines the US TKD Olympic squad. We have an athlete going to Dallas to fight for a spot. To the other question, I don't know which is the larger, but I'd guess, (and it's only a guess) that the USAT is larger.
