Splash of Rumor?

One of the things I've consistently noted since the Splash of Truth e-mails and subsequent website dropped itself into our lives is the resistance of anyone to talk about the contents. Through my blogs I've tried to filter some of the information and help people process what is out there. I am not a "traditional" media member, however, I have bias. I do disagree with many of USA Swimming's actions in relation to sexual abuse, and my commentary is colored by that. However, that doesn't mean that USA Swimming's accusers and their accusations are all cool with me. In fact, there are many parts of the Splash of Truth website that, left unresolved, cast serious doubt over their information.
A large number of accusations present on the site represent, as far as I know, pure rumor and have no evidence supporting them. Given the serious nature of the accusations, its irresponsible at best to publish them. I believe even the USA Swimming conspiracy theorists should apply the same level of scrutiny to Splash of Truth as they do USAS. To that end, lets go through some of the most dramatic accusations that are thus far completely unfounded.

There is no evidence that John Leonard wrote a letter of recommendation for pedophile coach George Gibney to enter the United States- There are many things that John Leonard does that I disagree with. I don't like the ASCA system in general and I don't think their training is worth the money. Although Paul Bergen and Mitch Ivey have never been criminally convicted of anything, there is enough evidence for me to not want them glorified as swim coaching greats (as they are in the ASCA photo album). However, we were told March 10th that John Leonard not only knew that George Gibney was a child molester but helped him flee prosecution in Ireland. We were told that his letter of recommendation is on file with the US Department of Homeland Security. And yet we have seen no letter or any evidence that it exists.

Sean Hutchison has not fled the country to get $400,000 to coach in Brazil: It appears that Sean has left FAST, an unfortunate set of circumstances for the world class swimmers that came to train with him (although you could do much worse than have Jon Urbanchek as a back up). However, Brazil just held a long course time trial and, frankly, I think if one of the most famous US Swim coaches was now working down there we would be hearing about it from more than just an anonymous e-mailer.

The insinuations about Pat Hogan are misleading. Again, I want to couch this with my own take on Pat Hogan. I don't like even his account of what happened with his former wife, as far as how soon they began dating after he coached her. Its not the way I think a swim coach should behave. He represents a pervasive culture I would like to see go away. But none of us really know what happened with Pat and his former wife and right now Pat is the only one talking about it. To put a picture up with him and another young female swimmer and then say that you "hope" that he conducted himself is an inappropriate distraction from the real objections to Pat.

Which brings me to my final point. If you truly want reform at USA Swimming and ASCA and everywhere else in the world, you have to take issue with this thus unfounded rumor milling. I have only listed a few above, but many more people have been thrown into the accusation pool with nothing to back it up. If there's evidence out there, lets see it, because otherwise this is a really strong distraction and discrediting of the people trying to affect this change.