Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, February 10, 1994 TAG: 9402100143
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: LILLEHAMMER, NORWAY LENGTH: Medium
Earlier, in a television interview, Harding vowed she would go to the Olympics, win a gold medal and "hang it on my wall forever."
She also said that if given the chance, she would give Nancy Kerrigan a hug, "if she'll let me."
The lawsuit, filed in Clackamas County Circuit Court in Oregon, contends that Harding has complied with all rules and regulations of the U.S. Figure Skating Association and should be allowed to compete.
Harding's attorney, Robert Weaver, said the suit seeks a court order to stop the USOC from holding a disciplinary hearing Feb. 15 that could get her thrown off the team. He expected a hearing on the order to be held today.
Asked if the suit meant that Harding would not appear before the USOC panel, Weaver said: "We're going to exhaust this first and see where it goes."
The USOC scheduled the hearing to determine whether Harding's role in the attack on Kerrigan violated Olympic ethics.
The suit, which seeks $20 million in punitive damages, says people close to Harding have been charged with conspiracy in the Kerrigan assault, but that no charges have been filed against her.
USOC officials in Norway awaited formal notification of the suit early today and said they would not comment until then.
Earlier Wednesday, however, USOC executive director Harvey Schiller said the committee "like any other organization, considers the liability issues when it holds a board hearing."
"We will protect our position in every way possible," he said.
The USOC was notified Tuesday by Harding's ex-husband, Jeff Gillooly, that he was willing to testify before the board provided he received permission from the Multnomah County, Ore., district attorney to travel as well as expenses and legal fees.
"He wants to cooperate with the USOC's fact finding in an attempt to mitigate the injury he and others have caused Nancy Kerrigan and her family," Gillooly's attorney, Ron Hoevet, said in court papers requesting permission to travel.
The committee, through attorney Peter Alkalay, requested that Gillooly be made available to testify before the board. The request was made in a letter sent Tuesday to Hoevet.
Gillooly also asked that the results of a lie detector test he took be made public and given to the USOC.
A hearing on Gillooly's requests was set for today. Multnomah County District Attorney Michael Schrunk said, "I can't imagine" opposing the motion.
Gillooly pleaded guilty to a charge of racketeering in connection with the Kerrigan attack, and he implicated Harding as one of the plotters. He has agreed to serve two years in prison and pay a $100,000 fine as part of a plea bargain.
In an interview with "Inside Edition" set for broadcast today and Friday, Harding said: "I'm going to the Olympics. I'm going to win a gold medal. And, I'm going to hang it on my wall forever."
She also said that given the chance, she would apologize to Kerrigan.
"I'll tell her that I'm really sorry that this has happened and that I always wish her the best and, hopefully, she'll forgive me for all this crap that's going on," Harding said. "Maybe [I'll] give her a hug. If she'll let me."
Harding said winning a gold medal was important to her for reasons other than money.
"If it all ended tomorrow and I had a gold medal in my hand with the people I'm surrounded with now, my life would be complete," she said.
After avoiding comment for days, Harding also was interviewed for "Eye to Eye With Connie Chung," scheduled for broadcast tonight. She maintained her innocence and said she no longer loved Gillooly because "if somebody loved me, they wouldn't do this to me."
She also said: "I can't let this ruin me. I've worked too hard, too long, 20 years."
Harding, the 23-year-old U.S. figure skating champion, still was scheduled to arrive in Norway on Feb. 16, the day after the hearing is to begin.
Her absence probably would not change the USOC's plans, Schiller said, but it might not help her cause.
"My expectation would be that the board would consider all the information they have . . . in light of her non-appearance," he said.
Harding's reluctance to appear before the USOC hearing could stem from the fact that any testimony could be used against her in the criminal investigation still under way in Oregon.
by CNB