ORIGINAL: Doug Cronkhite
Not to play devil's advocate much, but is it up to the team manager/officials to decide upon who actually flies on the team? Do they even have the option of making that call? Allowing the team management to decide the team pilots or make changes to the team on their own outside of the results of the selection contest seems like it sets a dangerous precedent, and creates a very slippery slope of simply changing team pilots because someone doesn't happen to like someone else.
Keeping in mind of course, the 800 lb gorilla could in fact result in nothing, regardless of how things look now. People still are in fact innocent until proven guilty in this country, and as a result the team should be as decided upon in the selection contest until such time as a pilot advises the management they will be unable to compete. All alternates should be as ready to go as possible if that word comes.
I agree 100% on the innocent until proven guilty, but my intent was not to start a discussion on that. I've heard a lot of rumors and speculation that the team manager or team selection committee does have a little lattitude to replace a team member if he felt that any team member would not represent the USA well, or not be a good ambassador for US pattern. This is an excerpt from the team selection "Blue Book" on the AMA website:
VII. World Championship Teams
Becoming a team member carries with it the obligation to work in harmony with the other team members, and in particular, to be responsive and submit to the guidance and direction of the team manager.
A team member’s conduct should never cause embarrassment or discredit to the Academy or the United States.All team members shall be present at all official functions at a World Championship. This includes the opening and closing ceremonies and the banquet.