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SPORTS Friday 21 december 2018
Bradley on Berhalter's 1st roster, Guzan, Altidore left off

By RONALD BLUM in October following a one- Canouse and Djordje Mi-
AP Sports Writer year absence along with hailovic; and forwards Jer-
NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. cap- 34-year-old goalkeeper emy Ebobisse and Christian
tain Michael Bradley has Brad Guzan. Ramirez.
an immediate chance to Guzan was omitted so he Berhalter has been in Eu-
show new coach Gregg can train under a new club rope meeting with the for-
Berhalter he deserves to coach with Atlanta, which eign-based portion of his
be considered for the next opens in February with the player pool, a group not
World Cup cycle. CONCACAF Champions available to the national
The 31-year-old midfielder League. Berhalter left off team until a pair of home
was the oldest player and 29-year-old forward Jozy exhibitions in March. The
among just four veterans Altidore and 28-year-old 45-year-old Berhalter, a
selected for a 27-man ros- midfielder Darlington Nag- member of the 2002 and
ter that will attend Ber- be, both recovering from '06 World Cup rosters, said
halter's first training camp injuries. Berhalter said Alti- he is "trying to get a sense
starting Jan. 6 dore will come to camp for of the past but also the fu-
"I truly believe that and a day or two to "see the en- ture, what this group is look-
this is an opportunity for vironment." In this Sept. 1, 2017, file photo, U.S. midfielder Michael Bradley, ing for."
Michael to show his value The first U.S. coach who right, and Costa Rica midfielder Celso Borges compete for the "I think we can use this op-
ball during the first half of a World Cup qualifying soccer match
to the group," Berhalter played for the Americans in Harrison, N.J. portunity in this training
said during a conference in the World Cup, Berhal- Associated Press camp to just start the pro-
call Thursday. "So we're ex- ter was hired Dec. 2 from cess and set the tone for
cited to see him and how the Columbus Crew to Sarachan gave debuts to midfielder or winger. The what this group is going to
he works through this train- succeed Dave Sarachan, 23 players, with the Ameri- only other players picked be like," he said, emphasiz-
ing camp and meeting the the interim coach for 13 cans winning three match- with more than a dozen ing three points: "building
team and also contributing months. Berhalter's first es, lost five and tied four. appearances were for- a culture within the team,
to what we're trying to do matches are exhibitions Berhalter chose 12 players ward Gyasi Zardes (40) and instilling a style of play and
on the field." against Panama on Jan. 27 with no national team ex- midfielders Kellyn Acosta then competing — com-
Bradley has 142 interna- at Glendale, Arizona, and perience for the training (23) and Paul Arriola (17). peting in every single thing
tional appearances but against Costa Rica on Feb. camp, and seven others Players who could make we do."
like most veterans was 2 at San Jose, California. with five appearances or debuts include are goal- Among the players he
dropped after the Octo- The team's first competitive fewer. The group averages keeper Tyler Miller; defend- met with in Germany was
ber 2017 loss at Trinidad match in 20 months is June 24 years, 230 days and just ers Justin Glad, Nick Lima, 20-year-old star midfielder
and Tobago that ended 18 at St. Paul, Minnesota, 10 appearances. Daniel Lovitz, Mark McK- Christian Pulisic, who on
the Americans' streak of where the Americans open Berhalter's roster was cho- enzie, Keegan Rosenberry Tuesday made first Bundes-
seven straight World Cup the defense of their CON- sen entirely from MLS, and and Auston Trusty; mid- liga start for Borussia Dort-
appearances. He returned CACAF Gold Cup title. he intends to add a central fielders Corey Baird, Russell mund since Sept. 29. q

House panel finds Olympic

leaders valued image over safety

By EDDIE PELLS The panel's recommenda- how it handles banned lists.
AP National Writer tions include a review of Each response was differ-
A congressional review of the law that governs the ent; 18 of the NGBs do not
the U.S. Olympic system's USOC, and the USOC using publish their lists.
handling of sex-abuse cas- its authority to more active- Those differences are part
es criticizes a culture that ly protect athletes. of what has made it difficult
sought to protect reputa- USOC CEO Sarah Hirshland for the SafeSport Center to
tion and image over ath- pointed out the federation publish a comprehensive
lete safety. formed the U.S. Center for list of all banned people — In this May 23, 2018, file photo, witnesses prepare to testify be-
A House subcommittee re- SafeSport and is reviewing among the many tasks it fore the House Commerce Oversight and Investigations Sub-
leased the report Thursday, how it engages with the was given when it was es- committee about the Olympic community's ability to protect
outlining conclusions about national governing bod- tablished in March 2017. athletes from sexual abuse, on Capitol Hill in Washington. From
the handling of sex-abuse ies and athletes. A report The report said perhaps its left are: U.S. Olympic Committee Acting CEO Susanne Lyons,
USA Gymnastics President and CEO Kerry Perry, USA Swimming
cases involving Larry Nassar commissioned by former most troubling finding was President and CEO Tim Hinchey, USA Taekwondo CEO Steve
and others that have led to WNBA President Lisa Bor- a culture that prioritized im- McNally, USA Volleyball CEO Jamie Davis, and U.S. Center for
calls for change at the U.S. ders is expected next year. age over safety. SafeSport President and CEO Shellie Pfohl.
Olympic Committee and "We will continue to do the It included instructions to Associated Press
the sports organizations it work necessary to devel- panels that deliver sanc-
oversees. op a healthy culture that tions that included "the ef- about the relationship be- In a 2016 deposition relat-
The report acknowledges keeps athletes safe and al- fect on the USOC's reputa- tween the USOC, the NGBs ed to sex abuse, USOC at-
the changes that have lows them to be their very tion" as one of the factors to and the athletes. On a day- torney Gary Johansen was
come since Nassar's crimes best," Hirshland said. consider when deciding on to-day basis, NGBs have asked: "You want to pro-
were exposed. But it criti- In one of the most striking penalties. That bullet point more direct contact with tect your athletes from be-
cizes the lack of confor- examples of the diffuse has since been removed. athletes than the USOC. ing sexually abused. That's
mity among the organiza- policies that exist in the U.S. Also in the report was a de- Meanwhile, the USOC pro- a top priority, right, sir?"
tions, noting some didn't Olympic system, the report position from a USOC attor- vides funding to NGBs but Johansen's response:
use background checks or included a table detail- ney that underscores the doesn't have much say in "The USOC does not have
publish banned lists. ing each NGB's policy on general state of confusion their operation. athletes."q