PapaGuth's Girl, Sue Haywood, Gets 300k

Papa Guth -Your girl is STILL causing problems from two Olympics ago???

from cyclingnews.com
Haywood awarded damages for losing Olympic nomination
Sue Haywood
Photo : Bill McCarrick
American mountain bike racer Susan Haywood was awarded over $300,000 in damages by a US Federal Judge on Thursday for being unfairly being removed from the USA Olympic team in 2004.

Haywood was originally nominated to the US team by USA Cycling, but an appeal launched by fellow competitor Mary McConneloug overturned the nomination.

Haywood then filed a counter-appeal, but lost when an arbitrator decided that 15 points that Haywood earned in an Idaho UCI race which never were submitted to the UCI shouldn't have factored into her points total in the Olympic selection.

A West Virginia jury awarded Haywood $318,647.14 in compensation, $18,647.14 of which were expenses incurred to fight USA Cycling's decision and the remainder in damages.

"After the Jury returned its verdict, Susan was grateful for the Judge and Jury finally acknowledging what she knew all along – that she was the rightful nominee to the 2004 Athens Olympics," a press release from her lawyers stated. "Sue pursued this case seeking to bring the issues to light in the hopes that mistakes such as this will not occur in the future."

"No verdict or court can ever give me what USA Cycling took," the release quoted Haywood. "It is my hope that this outcome will send a message to USA Cycling that it needs take its job as seriously and work as hard as those athletes who pursue the dream to represent the United States at the Olympics."

The really sad part of that whole ordeal is that the best rider was nowhere near contention to make the team because of an injury sustained early on in the year. Allsion deserved the spot...again.

What a crappy situation for all of the riders...but what a kick butt DVD - Off Road to Athens

Yeah...I'd say she deserves the right to bitch:) Bottom line is she had more UCI points than Mary. Unfortunatly USA Cycling is a bunch of idiots that never submitted the points from Idaho:( I think the arbitrator ruled the way he did because Mary never really new how much points she really needed. I've been fortunate enough to see both ladies race and I can honestly say Sue is the stronger of the two. As for Allison goes she was in the same boat as Shonny V and Shonny was clearly was the strongest than them all:) Juyst my 2 cents!

I was rooting for Mary but I think Allison deserved it the most. Shonny was my favorite, though, for signing my DVD and petting the Eddie Monster (and for being smokin' hot).

Turns out Sue got the best deal. Which would you rather have? A chance to race for umteenth place on a shitty olypmic course or $300k? That's an easy choice for me!