The importance of the USCF image

In the recent weeks, there have been a lot of discussions about the reason why the AF4C backed out of sponsoring the US Championship. Here are some of the remarks:

"I believe this is exactly what some of us have been saying would be the problem with Sam on the EB. There is no way a major corporation is going to consider the USCF when any web search will tie Sam Sloan and his web filth to the USCF." Mark Nibbelin

"Sevan did tell me he heard this from John Henderson, and Don Schultz heard something similar from Erik Anderson, and I later spoke to Henderson who told me the same thing, that AF4C's sponsor pulled out because they found internet postings by Sam Sloan and learned that he was on the Executive Board." FM Bill Goichberg

"Sam - one day, maybe, you will come to the realization that you are the root cause of sponsors not wanting to deal with the USCF. I've spent the last 3 weeks having conference calls and meetings with CMOs of large businesses in the Chicagoland area. 2 of them specifically during the meetings asked me to explain YOU and why they would want to associate their corporate images with the likes of a character as yourself given that you are a board member. They were very specific of what they found about you thru Internet searches and your website. One of their words were 'I understand there are strange, questionable, and downright improper characters in all activities out there, but having an improper character on the board of a national organization that is a NFP to boot is asking a bit much for me to look past." Sevan Muradian

"That means Sam Sloan is NOT responsible for the decision by AF4C not to foot the bill themselves and is NOT responsible for the delay in making an announcement. However, we would have a 2007 US Championship today if Sam Sloan was not on the Executive Board. He and his supporters are indeed responsible for that!" NM Michael Aigner