500 Finding a Scapegoa (1/2)

Frey, the Chief Operating Officer of the U.S. Track and Field Association, stared at Williams, surprised.

”Mr. Williams, did I hear you right? You mean 'the head coach'? You want to hire a Chinese man to be the head coach of our American track and field team?”

Williams was pleased with Frey's surprised reaction. He nodded, ”Yeah, you heard that correctly.”

”America is the best in track and field. Our team is the Dream Team! Ae you sure we should hire a Chinese man to be our head coach? His country only wins one gold medal in track and field every Olympics.

”I have thought carefully about this,” Williams said. ”I was so blind and optimistic about the appointment of Rivers, but it turned out to be a bad decision. Rivers was not qualified enough to be respected by the athletes, and they would respect Li. So far, the only American coaches we can find are lie Rivers.”

”Yeah, the coaches who are qualified are either involved in the performance-enhancing drugs scandal or have turned down our invitation,” said Frey.

”I think other less qualified and less competent coaches would face the same situation as Rivers. If they can't be accepted by the athletes and lead the whole national team, then they are not capable of being the head coach. So, I think we should find someone who is competent, no matter their nationality.

”Dai Li is qualified. He coaches Aylwin, Alexander, and Ford. They won't resist their own coach, so they will help Dai Li to get a foothold in the national team.”

Frey nodded, ”I agree with you, but Dai Li is Chinese! I'm very uncomfortable a Chinese man as the head coach of our American team. The public opinion won't be on our side. People might think that our going outside the country to find a head coach shows that we are incompetent as an organization!”

”But that's true. We do lack qualified talent right now, right?” Williams composed himself. ”There's no shame in owning your flaws in front of the public.”

”But…”