Starting His Own Swim Team?
I hired Val Bagri in the fall of 2004 to be my Head Age Group coach, Ms. Stratton wrote from New Hampshire. He did a fine job, once he was acclimated to the expectations of the team. However, our relationship was strained when we received word that he was looking to secure pool space to start his own team made up of the swimmers in his group. When confronted with this knowledge, Val grudgingly admitted that he was looking to be a Head Coach in the near future. It was for this reason and other concerns regarding his conduct with the coaching staff that prompted us to dismiss Mr. Bagri. It was at this point that he teamed with members of the team (who were) upset with his firing to try and recruit as many swimmers to join him as he could, a practice forbidden by Southern California Swimming. Later, after partnering with Mr. (Lenny) Krayzelburg, (an Olympic gold medal winner), Royal was officially founded. Unfortunately, the official formation of the team did not preclude Mr. Bagri from continuing to actively recruit swimmers from TSM to join him. As you can imagine, this created a tense situation for our team, one that could have been avoided if a higher level of professional ethics had been demonstrated. It is my fear that similar behavior may be demonstrated if it is decided that Royal and Edge will share pool space.
Edge Support Is Growing
As representatives from the Edge and Royal prepare to join Mr. LaPointe on Monday, the latest meeting to settle the dispute over allotted practice times, official backing for the Edge was growing. Two important coaches, Nestor Dordoni of Culver City High School and Clay Evans of Southern California Aquatics, the Masters swim team that shares The Plunge,told this newspaper unequivocally that Edge rather than Royal should be Culver Citys home team. I dont want the (Royal) team in The Plunge, Mr. Dordoni said. Mr. Evans said he has had his run-ins with Patrick Moran, founder and director of the Edge, whose hard-driving personality has been repeatedly identified throughout negotiations as a problem by some people. Mr. Evans said he has transcended such feelings. Stating his case with biting succinctness, he said: I am not a huge fan of Patricks. But I am a huge fan of justice. It would be unjust, he suggested, to drastically disturb the current practice paradigm. It is also folly, said Mr. Evans, for the city to believe Mr. Corlins share-the-pool plan was even remotely acceptable. The compromise plan just wont work, he said. Families will jump from one (team) to the other. Besides, Edge is a homegrown team. The coaches and their swimmers work very hard. Mr. Evans did not attend last weeks summit meeting when Mr. LaPointe surprised Edge officials by handing them a 12-page share practice plan. What made the event noteworthy was that the City Council only had handed the directive down less than three days before. Mr. Evans said when his absence from the meeting was noted, he was told he had been sent an invitation. No, I didnt, he replied. This week, he said, it was admitted I was not invited. It was learned he plans to attend Mondays presumably pivotal meeting.
Postscript
Work it out, guys. You have no choice. That is a truncated version of Vice Mayor Alan Corlins latest unyielding admonition to the Edge Swim Club, which is resisting the City Councils order to reduce its precious practice time at The Plunge. Cant we all just get along? Mr. Corlin asked thefrontpageonline.com. The idea of sharing the pool evenly is new, and people dont like things to change. I think the Edge people have lost sight of why they are on a swim team for the children. The Vice Mayor also sprinkled a dusting of criticism on his city colleague Mr. LaPointe. I think Bill was a little bit too aggressive in trying to implement the disputed new schedule the very next week after the Councils order. That was too soon. On the other hand, many people in Culver City want this to happen fast. Mr. Corlin was scalding hot in criticizing emails from Edge leaders and partisans who are rejecting implementation of the proposed 50-50 plan. These messages are being sent by well-meaning adults, the Vice Mayor said. If the same messages were coming from children, we would be questioning the abilities of their parents to parent. Mr. Corlin is determined to see his suggestion carried out. There is going to be a way found to make my share-the-pool plan work, he said this morning. It is going to work because it has to. Mr. Corlin said it was irrelevant that there is a gaping difference between the number of Culver City swimmers on Royal (5) and on Edge (more than 100). The most important thing is to have The Plunge utilized by the most Culver City people, he said. It will be up to the adults to make that happen.
