Bill Martin
  A familiar name has returned to the key leadership role at the U.S. Olympic Committee, as Peter Ueberroth was named Chair of the newly created Board of Directors.    He appeared at a press conference at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., along with some members of the new 11-person Board. It marks a major milestone for the organization, which has undergone historic changes in its governance in response to Congressional involvement after a public scandal.    
Jim Scherr
Ueberroth became a household name when he was the President of the Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee for the 1984 Olympic Games, one of the most important events of the history of the modern Games. He went on to increased prominence as the Commissioner of Major League Baseball.    "Make no mistake; we are officially seated," said Ueberroth of the new Board. "We have met this morning and will have a session this afternoon."    Ueberroth immediately addressed the service of the outgoing board, as well as the USOC national staff, led by interim CEO Jim Scherr (a 1988 Olympic freestyle wrestler and past USA Wrestling Executive Director).    "There are a great deal of quality people on the past Board," said Ueberroth. "This Board cares about the Olympic movement and they served the organization well. They need to stay involved."    "Jim Scherr leads a group of 400-plus here in the Colorado Springs," said Ueberroth. "They've gone through some tough times, and at times, they have been roundly criticized. They are now, have been and will be part of the solution. They are terrific people, and I look forward to working with them."    
Theodore Boehm
Ueberroth was pressed by media members for information on his priorities as the new Chair, as well as the future of Scherr as the leader of the national staff. Ueberroth refused to take a stance at this time.    When initially asked about Scherr, Uebberoth joked about Scherr's athletic background. "He's much bigger and stronger and he's a wrestler… I don't think Jim will be a problem with us."    When asked again about Scherr's future, Uebberoth said that the new Board will address it.    "I will not make that decision," said Uebberoth. "The Board will make that. I've expressed, it is my opinion and it should be yours that Jim is doing a good job."    He would comment on whether an 11-person Board is better than one with more than 100.    "A Board of 11 can function," said Uebberoth. "A Board of 125 is hamstrung by its size. 11 will serve this organization well."    
Gruenwald and Miranda
When asked why he took the job, Uebberoth was also very clear about things.    "My wife of 45 years said I could take this job," said Uebberoth. "It is a family decision. You do it because you think you can make a difference for your country."    The final question from the press was concerning the current doping controversy that has been in the headlines all year. Ueberroth would not respond, and passed the question on to Scherr.    "We have an obligation to the rest of the country and to the world to field a clean team at the Olympics," Scherr said emphatically.    Appearing at the press conference with Ueberroth were Scherr, outgoing USOC President Bill Martin and Nominating and Governance Committee chair Justice Theodore R. Boehm.    Martin seemed pleased with the transition, which changes the USOC radically and makes him now a past President.    
Peter Uebberoth
"This marks the final step in a historical event in the existence of the USOC," said Martin. "Sixteen months ago, we were mentioned in the same breath as Enron and Arthur Anderson. This is no longer the case. We have done a 180-degree turn."    "We have done it," said Martin. "I want to thank Jim Scherr and his senior staff who took an enourmous task overnight and did an incredible job."    Scherr talked about the positive perspective that the staff has about the new Board.    "On behalf of the staff, we are not just pleased, we are ecstatic," said Scherr. "It has been a long process. I want to thank the Nominating and Goverance Committee for a great job."    Scherr also had kind words for Martin and his service to the Olympic Committee.    
Gruenwald interviewed
"Bill Martin stepped in at the lowest time in the organization,a nd at great cost to his time and energy and his business," said Scherr. "He has paid of every expense as our President, and that says a lot about his character. I have enjoyed his leadership and his friendship."    Boehm talked about the process of selecting the 11 members, and then announced all of the names of the new Board, some of who were in the audience.    "This group is appropriately diverse and has unquestionable integrity and talent," said Boehm. "It's sole objective is to serve the U.S. Olympic Committee, and to be a Board to work together as a team. To do this, we cast as broad a net as we could."    Joining Uebberoth on the Board are:    Bob Ctvrtlik, Newport Beach, Calif.  Erroll Davis, Madison, Wis.  Anita L. DeFrantz, Los Angeles, Calif.  Jim Easton, Van Nuys, Calif.  Jair Lynch, Washington, D.C.  Mary McCagg, Cambridge, Mass.  Jim McCarthy, Chicago, Ill.  Mike Plant, Peachtree City, Ga.  Dr. Harold Shapiro, Princeton, N.J.   Stephanie Streeter, Neenah, Wis.    A number of Olympic athletes were at the press conference to speak with the media after the presentation, including two-time Greco-Roman Olympian Jim Gruenwald and women's wrestling Olympian Patricia Miranda.    Ueberroth did not rule out changes in the future for the U.S. Olympic Committee, but just wanted to get through the process of conducting the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens first.    "These 60 days will go very fast," said Uebberoth. "You all know the issues. We will provide Jim and his staff cover to make the right decisions. We won't make any changes right away."