Olympics | USOC faces criticism after Chicago's failed bid for 2016 Games

Olympics

Truce is over: For weeks, the U.S. Olympic Committee and the national sports governing bodies it oversees had settled into an uncomfortable truce. Despite a year of upheaval and conflict, the parties had agreed to set aside their differences in solidarity for Chicago's bid to win the 2016 Summer Games.

But as quickly as Chicago was dispatched from the race won Friday by Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the truce ended. In frank terms, influential figures in American Olympic sports questioned the performance of the USOC's new management team.

Chicago's last-place finish in the International Olympic Committee voting Friday in Copenhagen, Denmark, was the latest blow in a year marked by the departure of major sponsors, layoffs at USOC headquarters, controversy over the salary of the acting chief executive and the failed plan for an Olympic television network.

Asked what should happen next to return the USOC to prominence in international circles, James Ravannack, the president of USA Wrestling, said: "Resignations. It's an absolute embarrassment. I don't know what else to tell you. Where is the leadership?"

Last October, Larry Probst, chairman of the video-game publisher Electronic Arts, replaced Peter Ueberroth as USOC chairman.

In March, Probst and the board removed the chief executive, Jim Scherr, and appointed a board member, Stephanie A. Streeter, in Scherr's place.

The turnover angered many leaders of the national governing bodies of Olympic sports, who chafed at the corporate backgrounds of Probst and Streeter and their lack of Olympic experience. The relationship further soured when it was revealed the board had approved an annual salary of $560,000 for Streeter — a 30 percent increase over Scherr's — months after 54 USOC employees were laid off.

Many IOC members have said the United States receives an inordinate share of revenue. The United States receives 20 percent of global sponsorship money and 12.75 percent of television money, an arrangement that will be renegotiated in 2013.

"Any U.S. bid city will be in a difficult place until the USOC works out a new relationship with the IOC in terms of the revenue cut the U.S. gets," said Dick Ebersol, chairman of NBC Universal Sports.

NHL

Avs goaltender Anderson makes 35 saves: Craig Anderson stopped 35 shots as the Colorado Avalanche beat the Vancouver Canucks 3-0 in Denver.

Paul Stastny and Wojtek Wolski had a goal and assist each. Anderson, previously with Florida, has stopped 73 of 75 shots in his first two games with the Avalanche.

The Canucks, who dropped to 0-2, play their home opener Monday against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

College basketball

Army hires Spiker as coach: Zach Spiker, 33, previously an assistant coach at Cornell, has been hired to coach Army. He replaces Jim Crews, who was fired last month.

Kansas suspends Morningstar: Kansas junior guard Brady Morningstar has been suspended for the semester after his arrest on suspicion of driving while intoxicated. He was released on $250 bond.

WNBA

Fever hosts Game 3 of Finals today: The Indiana Fever was welcomed home by hundreds of screaming fans Friday, a day after its victory in Phoenix in Game 2 tied the best-of-five WNBA Finals.

Indiana, coached by former Storm coach Lin Dunn, is seeking to clinch its first championship with victories at home today and Wednesday at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

The Fever lost 120-116 in overtime in Game 1 — the highest-scoring game in league history — and bounced back with a 93-84 victory Thursday. All-Star guard Katie Douglas of the Fever said the game plan didn't change, but the execution and intensity improved in Game 2.

"I think it was just the energy, the focus we had, the concentration on the defensive end," Douglas said. "We just played with a lot more concentrated effort as a unit."

Douglas said the reception from fans at Indianapolis International Airport offered a boost for the weary team.

"It definitely woke me up," Douglas said. "I was kind of tired. There's an energy and excitement, and people are now embracing this team."

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