tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37388994.post4516869561274964381..comments2024-01-13T00:38:28.549-08:00Comments on Southern California Aquatics SCAQ Swim Club: David Berkoff crafts more tall tales to the Missoulian Newspaper.Tony Austinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00109365938555421509noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37388994.post-85780113740802318012013-06-05T20:16:03.045-07:002013-06-05T20:16:03.045-07:00Anonymous at 5:33 PM
You are also one of the unsu...Anonymous at 5:33 PM<br /><br />You are also one of the unsung heroes. I respect you so muchTony Austinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00109365938555421509noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37388994.post-89319915627954386662013-06-05T17:33:49.239-07:002013-06-05T17:33:49.239-07:00I was in my early thirties when I wrote the compla...I was in my early thirties when I wrote the complaint. The incident occurred when I was 19. But he had been my junior college coach from ages 17-19. This occurred during his regular age group club practice with some very young teenagers there.<br /><br />I don't feel like describing it. Totally humiliating.<br /><br />Otherwise, yes, this seems to be correct.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37388994.post-28194513009128307672013-06-05T16:32:41.938-07:002013-06-05T16:32:41.938-07:00And let me add one more thing... When the exec dir...And let me add one more thing... When the exec director, Chuck Wielgus, got the letter. He knew it was red-hot and that is why he ordered an attorney to keep it quiet. <br /><br />He actually ordered to keep it quiet. This was not a questionable policy point, this was a duck and cover-up.<br />Tony Austinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00109365938555421509noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37388994.post-17201459600312754342013-06-05T16:25:02.446-07:002013-06-05T16:25:02.446-07:00The coach was sexually harassing a young adult and...The coach was sexually harassing a young adult and it was a red flag, a scarlet red flag, and this guy should have been questioned and checked out.<br /><br />Guess what, turns out he was a monster who was never BG checked by USA Swimming.Tony Austinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00109365938555421509noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37388994.post-12882897046050236582013-06-05T15:55:26.930-07:002013-06-05T15:55:26.930-07:00Anon said she was 19 when she made the complaint.
...Anon said she was 19 when she made the complaint.<br /><br />I believe that USA Swimming still to this day does not care about abuse done to young adults. I think that once an athlete turns 18 years old they are fair game and USA Swimming has no sympathy or concern and condones abusive behavior to these teens. The attitude is still "you don't like it, go somewhere else".Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37388994.post-16462892455418845502013-06-05T11:42:45.851-07:002013-06-05T11:42:45.851-07:00Clarification: I was the swimmer who sent the comp...Clarification: I was the swimmer who sent the complaint about Andy King (and also the first and second anon poster here). I was in my early thirties when I wrote it, about an event that occurred when I was 19 years old, at a club swim practice, mostly minors, very young teenagers. And as I would painfully learn later, many were his victims.<br /><br />Otherwise, yes, it is true, Chuck Wielgus told other board members involved in the email thread to stay quiet about it, as it would make the sport look bad.<br /><br />This complaint disappeared, and would not resurface again until 2010 or so. The entire thread, with Wielgus' instructions, was sent to me in a .pdf.<br /><br />Or are you speaking of another complaint? That would be even more disturbing.<br /><br />Regarding "rumors," I think when you are in a position of authority, whether it be coach, VP, or CEO, you cannot dismiss them as such. You have an obligation to investigate. And I think that this is where Berkoff (and the rest) went wrong, that he knew of these rumors of Curl -- enough to try to make policy changes -- but didn't make steps to remove him from the sport entirely.<br /><br />This is actually what I'm trying to verify for my own understanding. Can I get an affirmation on that?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37388994.post-14774597425250834592013-06-05T09:23:21.645-07:002013-06-05T09:23:21.645-07:00I wish you would have used paragraph breaks.
You ...I wish you would have used paragraph breaks.<br /><br />You say:<br /><br />"...It is easy to say someone knew but what did they really know. To hear something occurred is a far cry from witnessing it. ..."<br /><br />If a kid tells their parents there is a drug dealer at school, do the parents "really know" an/or should they report it? I am with the school that says you report it.<br /><br />"...Rick Curl deserved to be punished and did immeasurable damage to Ms. Currin but blame starts with the choices made when this came out and a settlement was taken. ..."<br /><br />Choices made? I hope you are not referring to the age of consent but rather the contract her parents signed! Minor children cannot consent to or enter into a binding contract until they reach the age of majority. So, I would hardly call her "contract" a choice or even a contract.<br /><br />You say:<br /><br />"...I know many people who are angry about what has happened but understand it is not as simple as you make it seem..."<br /><br />It is as simple as it seems. It really is. <br /><br />Berkoff was convinced of the molestation, he acknowledged it in his email thread and recently to the Missoulian.<br /><br />Next, we have the former USA Swimming National Team Coach, Mark Schubert, testifying under oath that he told the executive director of USA swimming, Chuck Wielgus, that Kelly Currin was molested by Rick Curl.<br /><br />WIth that in mind don't forget that it was in 2002 or 2003 that Chuck Wielgus received a letter from a 15-year-old female swimmer who I won't named categorically stated that Coach ANdrew King was sexually harassing swimmers and WIelgus told the USA Swimming lawyer: "Let's keep this between you and me."<br /><br />You say:<br /><br />"... There are good people out there that want to see change and want to ensure the safety of the swimmers but if they disagree with how you might handle it you condemn them. ..."<br /><br />Of course their are good people but then there is Chuck Wielgus, Bob Berkoff, Norm H, and jackass John Leonard. Everything I have said to "vilify" them is 100% factual. <br /><br />Next, have you not seen my postings validating Susan Woessner? I liken her to "cow-grrrl" in the wild west rooting out pedophiles from the sport.<br /><br />I to have filed a complaint with USA Swimming regarding what I believed to be an instance of a sexual assault and it was handled professionally and to the letter of the rules.<br /><br />I can get into executive salaries but I am late for work.<br /><br />I have been trying to use names and policies only, not the organization but it befuddles me how unengaged the parents are and actually let USA Swimming exec management teram get away with what they do. ie. A shell corporation in the Caymans, $3/4-million for Chuck WIelgus. Come on, this is not a business, it is a youth based organization.<br /><br />Thank you for your comment.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Tony Austinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00109365938555421509noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37388994.post-14299759435343133092013-06-05T07:15:35.916-07:002013-06-05T07:15:35.916-07:00Craig Lord seems to get the complexity of the situ...Craig Lord seems to get the complexity of the situation including the decisions made to not pursue criminal charges and how this changed everything. It is easy to say someone knew but what did they really know. To hear something occurred is a far cry from witnessing it.Rick Curl deserved to be punished and did immeasurable damage to Ms. Currin but blame starts with the choices made when this came out and a settlement was taken. When the people who have the information to share decide not to why should anyone else assume they know better and put themselves out there and risk being wrong? It is not as simple as Berkoff knew and did nothing or others knew and did nothing. The problem with all your arguments are that they show such a disdain for USA Swimming and anyone that supports the sport is viewed as supporting Rick Curl. I know many people who are angry about what has happened but understand it is not as simple as you make it seem. There are good people out there that want to see change and want to ensure the safety of the swimmers but if they disagree with how you might handle it you condemn them. I know I've heard enough about your issues with David Berkhoff. I'm not expecting him to make sweeping changes and be the voice for the sport so let's get back to those at the club level that can be most effective protecting the swimmers by doing their part in researching who they are hiring. USA Swimming to most people is not Weilgus etc it is the swimmers and the families. That is why you lose ground attacking USA Swimming because it is so much more than the people you want to bring down- it is a community of great people that are supporting what they know and love- NOT Rick Curl. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37388994.post-82035590338769448032013-06-04T19:00:40.820-07:002013-06-04T19:00:40.820-07:00I agree... I would much rather break bread with Ke...I agree... I would much rather break bread with Kelly Currin rather than Rick Curl.<br /><br />I would rather break bread with Robert Allard than Chuck Wielgus. The same goes for Dia Rianda over Schbert, Jancy Thompson over John Leonard.<br /><br />Even Craig Lord over at Swim Vortex over David Berkoff. In fact even Craig is going "WTF, WTF, WTF are you guys thinking?" Tony Austinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00109365938555421509noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37388994.post-79428022564191756142013-06-04T18:43:02.454-07:002013-06-04T18:43:02.454-07:00More thoughts...
Another thing Bob Allard did was...More thoughts...<br /><br />Another thing Bob Allard did was put another pedophile behind bars. One thing I really can't stand is how people leave comments blaming Currin or her parents even of twisted acts of one. It's many years too late, but this is justice.<br /><br />I guess what's really at question is this: Was Berkoff aware that Curl would be at the Trials? In the article, he says he was completely surprised.<br /><br />Still, the sad (and wrong) part to me is that somehow, in his mind, a pedophile swim coach is fine in Australia. Does anyone need a reminder that Australia is no longer a penal colony?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37388994.post-84321801199141318932013-06-04T17:26:21.324-07:002013-06-04T17:26:21.324-07:00Here is something I learned from all of this:
Unl...Here is something I learned from all of this:<br /><br />Unless you put it into writing, you never said it. <br /><br />Morales could be telling the truth. He could be lying. He never put it into writing, so we will never know.<br /><br />Example to Support My Theory: I heard two of my coaches talking about a girl sitting on Andy King's lap at a swim meet. I'm sure they deny it now. They never put it into writing, so it's as good as having never said it at all.<br /><br />To be clear: Were it not for Bob Allard, there'd be no policy changes at all. USA Swimming would be allowed to push all of this under the rug. I have to get this out because I do not like how he is vilified.<br /><br />I'm just trying to understand timelines.<br /><br />Berkoff heard these rumors about Curl from somewhere. If not Pablo Morales or Matt Biondi, than from someone closer to the source. So from whom? It couldn't have been the Psychic Network.<br /><br />I just suspect there's a whole lot more to the story than we will ever know. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com