Prefiero morir de pie que vivir de rodillas.

So spoke Emiliano Zapata, arguably the most revered figure in Mexico's political history.

In essence, so spoke 145 pound, 60 year old Jack Weiss, USAT's treasurer, by arguing that secession from the USOC is better than being treated shabbily by it.

To the chagrin and embarrassment of the entire USOC community, Weiss spoke this to the L.A Times, USA Today, and several other major daily newspapers. Much of the rest of the Colorado Springs fraternity of national governing bodies was applauding Weiss. But the applause was muted and out of earshot of the USOC's chief executive who, wrote Inside Triathlon's Timothy Carlson, said to USAT's board, "[this tactic] is ineffective and won't change how the USOC deals with any NGB. It does impact the support we provide you."

Scherr was compelled to say that yet, frankly, Weiss' tactic will change how the USOC deals with USAT. "It brought you to our meeting," Weiss reminded Scherr, who bristled at the comment according to those in attendance.

For all this, there was never any chance whatsoever that USAT would secede. And, there is no chance that the USOC will decertify USAT. The fact that both entities can survive without the other caused both to threaten to end the relationship. Why? Because you can't strike your best deal unless you're willing to walk away from the table. Yet all parties, Weiss included, thankfully recognize the same fact: All sides will fare much better with each other than without.

This fracas was never about money. It was quite a bit about who controls triathlon's national federation. More than anything else, however, it was about dignity. Do not think that the USOC will continue to treat USAT in the thoughtless and dismissive way it has over the past weeks. Do not think that behind closed doors Scherr is not exhorting his staff to write with more care, and speak with less flippancy.

Several positive developments will spin off from this difficult month. Carlson further reported that, "both Scherr and Jack Weiss agreed the annual bill for USA Triathlon's support of the elite program is $550,000, while the USOC's contributions were $250,000 base and roughly $500,000 in [products and services]. Weiss—and I—have been saying for quite some time that USA Triathlon subsidizes the Olympic triathlon program to the tune of several hundred thousand dollars annually from the general—member funded—budget (not counting the elite's share of the brick & mortar, and of several hundred thousand dollars in overhead, payroll costs and burden).

While Weiss and I have no problem with this, it galls both of us that USAT's national office just will not admit this, and uses Enron math to hide this fact. Now that this is out there, perhaps we can have a grown up discussion about how the members can feel fully vested in their investment in the elite program.

I'd rather die on my feet than live on my knees. Best yet, Zapata would admit, is to live on one's feet. Perhaps Weiss' gambit has enhanced USAT's ability to stand tall, even in Colorado Springs.