FUTURE OF THE IBAF
The nominations are in now for positions on the IBAF Executive Committee to include the President. As all know by now, I am not seeking election to any position. I have informed the candidates that I will serve the organization in any way possible to help the growth of our sport. Specifically, the relationship we now have with MLB, MLBPA, and other professional organizations is at an all time high. It's imperative that we keep these connections as strong as possible in the years ahead.I do hope that the upcoming December election is held with focus on the future of the organization and not on an

PEOPLE KEEP ASKING
A day does not go by without questions about Chicago's failed 2016 bid. How did Chicago lose on the first round? My take: 1) The other cities had either an IOC member or an NOC leader as an integral part of their bid; 2) Tokyo did an excellent job of asking that their bid be supported thru the first round knowing they would be eliminated but to save face; 3) Early on other cities focused on the probable presence of President Obama to soften his effect; 4) Rio played the "small" nation and geographical issue to its' advantage; 5)Never discount the repeat presence of cities in the bid process; 6) The current bid process requires

AN OLD ADAGE!
Most remember the old saying; "Kick me once, you're stupid, kick me twice, I'm stupid!" Well, the IOC made two important announcements today reflecting the IOC/USOC status.The IOC is closing their USA marketing office in Atlanta (home of Coca Cola if you forgot, the longest serving IOC sponsor) and also diversifying their marketing to be less reliant on US sponsors. Add all this to the events of these past weeks and months, and one wonders if the Olympic movement in the United States is not as fragile as it has ever been.

DON'T UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF ROGGE
One only has to review the events of these past years to understand the power of IOC President Rogge to appease the demands of NOC's and sport federations to reduce the USOC share of TV and sponsor revenues . US President Obama received the strongest welcome of any world leader in Olympic history. The city of Copenhagen came to a complete halt to allow his motorcade to move to the convention hall.Chicago drops out on first round of voting. Obama is selected for Nobel Peace Prize, an award every IOC President has sought! New York City is considered the world's home. Their bid is defeated by Madrid in

THE USOC CONTROVERSIES
As most of you may know, yesterday, the national governing bodies of the USOC delivered a vote of no confidence in the leadership of the current USOC chair and CEO and asked for their immediate resignations. I've been asked many times if these leaders supported Baseball's return to the 2016 games. The answer is NO! In spite of calls, letters, meetings, and emails, except for the two USOC IOC members, there had been no response nor any actions. This in spite of the fact that Baseball still remains an national governing body of the USOC and I, as IBAF president, am only one of two federation presidents