Samaranch

* I thought Mike Penner wrote a good article about the International Olympic Committee (“Truth Is, Change Minimal for IOC,” Sports, Jan. 25). Then I read a rather weak editorial about Juan Antonio Samaranch (Jan. 26).

It seems to me that the kettle is calling the pot black. I still recall the Nagano Olympics, wherein Samaranch was plastered with icons of various sponsors upon his clothing. I am wondering who got paid for what for that advertising.

Now that you divulged that Samaranch picked 80 members of his committee, one begins to think. In the U.S., business bribery is illegal. However, throughout most of the rest of the world it is considered standard practice. Is Samaranch not trying to cover up the non-U.S. practice of 10% bribery commissions?

MATTHEW O. KUITUNEN

Anaheim