gymn Digest Sat, 13 Aug 94 Volume 2 : Issue 165

Today's Topics:
Aussie Commonwealth Goals
Commonwealth Games tidbits
Dawes and Bagiu (2 msgs)
Debbie's request
Drew Durbin??
Elfi Schlegel
GG, W Team tidbits
Here is a poem
Jennie Thompson (3 msgs)
jesus rivera (4 msgs)
Mailing List (3 msgs)
ROMANIAN GYMNASTICS NEWSLETTER
Subscription change
Tank anywhere?
Trivia Questions Needed
TV Commentary - Kathy J's perspective (2 msgs)
worlds

This is a digest of the gymn@athena.mit.edu mailing list.
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Date: Thu, 11 Aug 94 22:01:27 EDT
From: ***@aol.com
Subject: Aussie Commonwealth Goals

>From the Aussie AP (story by Bruce Montgomerie) ...

"Australia is hoping to equal the tally of 16 gymnastics medals"

[Peggy Browne AUS gym. fed. director] "Canada is the strongest contender in
gymnastics at the Games ... We are looking for finalists in every event we
compete in, men's and women's and rhythmic. Each country is allowed two
finalists in each event and we hope to get two into each final."

Browne cites Chinese ex-patriot Ju Ping Tian as the main reason for
Australia's gymnastics surge. Tian came to the AIS (AUS institue of sport) in
1985.

Oz Medal Hopeful's include ... Bret Hudson, Brennon Dowrick (he won a gold
in the '90 Games) and Peter Hogan (2 bronzes in '90) in the men's events and
14-year-old Kasumi Takahashi in the rhythmic section.

"The four male and four female artistic and three female rhythmic gymnasts
will compete for a total of 84 medals (including 33 team medals) when
competition begins on August 19"

Susan


------------------------------

Date: Fri, 12 Aug 1994 15:33:44 UTC-0700
From: <***@cs.ubc.ca>
Subject: Commonwealth Games tidbits

Today's TV times from the local Vancouver Sun newspaper has a feature
article on the Commonwealth Games since they start on Thursday. It sounds as
if CBC is showing swimming and track and field live and will just show
gymnastics in the end of the day highlight package. I can't confirm this
however, since the listing just say Commonwealth Games coverage and don't
list what events will be shown.
The article mentions that Elfi Schlegel (double gold medal winner at the
age of 14 in the 1978 Commonwealth Games) will be doing colour commentating.
She is quoted as saying, "I spent that summer at the cottage and only came
back to train 10 days before the Games, but it launched my career in a whole
new direction." What a change from today's gymnasts.
The article also mentions that Elfi competed for 4 years in the US on a
gymnastics scholarship while completing a degree in telecommunications. Does
anyone know where she went to school?
According to the article, the Canadian gymnast to watch for is Alan Nolet.
They don't mention any female gymnasts (ie. Stella Umeh). It seems that we're
lucky that gymnastics is at these games since not all sports are offered at
each competition. The sports offered depend upon politics and facilities.
This is only the third time that gymnastics has been part of the games.
Competition in gymnastics occurred in the 1978 and 1990 games.

Karen

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 12 Aug 94 12:40:38 EDT
From: ***@aol.com
Subject: Dawes and Bagiu

I'm trying to track down Dominique Dawes and Mihai Bagiu. If anyone can give
me some addresses or hints I would appreciate it.
Monica

------------------------------

Date: Sat, 13 Aug 94 14:31:38 EDT
From: ***@aol.com
Subject: Dawes and Bagiu

Dawes has lived in several places recently, and I am not exactly sure where
she is now. However, her mother and coach are listed (of all places <g>) --
in the phone book. To save you the time, I will e-mail you the info (rather
than post it here for the world to see).

I believe Mihai's wife is on Delphi (at least, I think she was 7 months ago
when I was there). I can't remember the e-mail address though. Perhaps
someone else does. If I remember, I will send it to you.

Caleb

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 11 Aug 1994 03:35:27 -0400 (EDT)
From: ***@delphi.com
Subject: Debbie's request

I have sent the only JO National results I have on file, if you want detailed
files, let me know and I'll dig'em out and type them in (sigh) :-). I try to
keep a decent set of results for most current US competitons on my BBS
(NorCal Womens Gym. Assoc. BBS, (707) 585-7448.) The system is only running
at 2400b and Xmodem at the moment, I am trying to get NorCal to get me up to
14.4kb and new wild software (PBBS), but alas, not yet! If you or anyone
here can tolerate RBBS and 2400, give it a call, if you have requests, leave
a comment to the Sysop, me. I'll do my best.
(I haven't mentioned the BBS yet because of it's slowness. When I get PBBS
up I'll let everyone know. The system will even have an Internet address and
an online Data Base with results, downloadable and compatible with almost
any database program out there!)
And personal posts ARE ok, unlike USA Gym. Stuffy buggers.

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 10 Aug 1994 10:03:22 +0800
From: ***@Eng.Sun.COM
Subject: Drew Durbin??

Connie writes:

Question: Is it safer for a gymnast to fall on the mat or be somehow
"caught" by a coach spotting? I've rarely, if ever, seen a coach put
his/her body on the line to save a gymnast from a truly ugly fall....

Actually trying to catch somebody might be kind of dangerous. I think the
most important thing with spotting is making sure the person lands safely.
This can usually be accomplished with little motion on the part of the
spotter.

------------------------------

Date: Sat, 13 Aug 94 17:28:26 EDT
From: ***@aol.com
Subject: Elfi Schlegel

To All:
Someone had asked where Elfi Schlegel attended. She attended the
University of Florida for four years, then helped out for a while after that
as an assistant coach.
She was exceptionally good at coaching beam. Her broadcast career started
when she started doing the color commentary for the state broadcasts of the
home UF meets on SportsChannel.
One other note: the license plate on her car says, "The Elf."
-- Ronald Dupont, Jr. in Gainesville, Florida

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 31 Jul 1994 16:19:03 -0400 (EDT)
From: <***@cap.gwu.edu>
Subject: GG, W Team tidbits

On Sun, 31 Jul 1994, Rachele wrote (in part):

> Another collage of news wires...
>
> Now, from the AP (btw, the writer has the coolest name: SALVATORE
> ZANCA):
>
> -Jennie Thompson is: the youngest ever US Junior Nat'l Champ; 13 years
> old as of Friday, 7/29; 4'1"; and 58 pounds. She scored a 9.0 on
> vault, sat down on her bars landing to score a 9.15, but then garnered
> a 9.55 on beam.

Was it just my imagination, or did Jennie Thompson do the new "compulsory"
optional vault for women, the Yurchenko-.5 twist-front layout? I just saw
she did something with a forward landing.

Lisa

Lisa Cozzens * Age 15 * Sidwell Friends School, Washington DC
lcozzens@cap.gwu.edu, lcozzens@sidwell.edu, bccymca@aol.com
"If gymnastics was easy, they'd call it football."

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 12 Aug 94 17:27 PDT
From: <***@MVS.OAC.UCLA.EDU>
Subject: Here is a poem

for all you Maja Hristova fans out there (there has to be at least one).

Pug Hristova
Teammate to Mitova
Maja to you
I will stag leap across your room
Let me out,your bedspread is ugly

Get those bars away from me - HISSSS
I dont do releases
I dont do drugs
Thats not my urine!

I am a nightmare
Prancing around in your head
Better not go to bed
I might hurt you
I might paint your face red, or teal.

Why was I born squat?
No rhythmic career ahead
Who knows?
Just score me 8.95
And let me lie awake in bed.

-A. P. '93

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 10 Aug 1994 18:22:45 -0700 (PDT)
From: ***@netcom.com
Subject: Jennie Thompson

Jennie Thompson only weighs 58 lbs ?
I dont thing we are gonna have her long.
Next storm blows in, and she'll be with the Canadians !

Now on a more serious note... where is she from ? (Hometown)
Is she from West Virginia ?

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 10 Aug 1994 21:21:25 -0500 (CDT)
From: <***@owlnet.rice.edu>
Subject: Jennie Thompson

| Jennie Thompson only weighs 58 lbs ?
| I dont thing we are gonna have her long.
| Next storm blows in, and she'll be with the Canadians !

Well, just to throw this in, she *is* incredibly short... 4'1". But
still.

| Now on a more serious note... where is she from ? (Hometown)
| Is she from West Virginia ?

She is from Wichita Falls, Texas. From my understanding, she began
gymnastics at Dynamo (or was there soon after she started), then
transferred to Karolyi's, then back to Dynamo in July 1993. When she
went to Karolyi's, her mom moved with her... maybe her Dad and brother
too, but I don't remember it that way.

Btw, interesting tidbit, when Kerri Strug was at Karolyi's, she lived
with the Thompson family.

On a side note, I read the _SI_ story finally, today. What a scary
story -- I hope desperately that it's not all true. The one that
shocked me the most was the part about how a UCLA gymnast admitted
recently that the whole team would get together and binge and purge.
(And, of course, while I read this story I was stuffing my face with
more food than you can imagine, including heavily-cheezed cheese fries
dipped in non-fat-free ranch dressing.)

Rachele

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 10 Aug 94 22:27:03 PDT
From: ***@eworld.com
Subject: Jennie Thompson

>She is from Wichita Falls, Texas. From my understanding, she began
>gymnastics at Dynamo (or was there soon after she started), then
>transferred to Karolyi's, then back to Dynamo in July 1993.

Yeah...probably got tired of a certain romanian texan telling her that at 58
lbs she was too fat...

>The one that
>shocked me the most was the part about how a UCLA gymnast admitted
>recently that the whole team would get together and binge and purge.

Jesus. I wonder if Art or Valerie knew anything about this? You would think
that these girls would focus on the numerator in the power/weight ratio
instead of the denominator. If they spent half as much time doing outside
power-building training as they did chowing on Fatburgers and feeding the
Porcelain God, the weight issue would probably be moot. Don't get me wrong--I
would be the last on the planet to suggest that UCLA women do not train
enough. However, the angst and effort could have been more positively spent
if they had the guidance.

>(And, of course, while I read this story I was stuffing my face with
>more food than you can imagine, including heavily-cheezed cheese fries
>dipped in non-fat-free ranch dressing.)

Thanks, rachele. Tell me this AFTER all of the decent burger joints in town
have closed for the night...

David

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 10 Aug 94 14:39 PDT
From: <***@MVS.OAC.UCLA.EDU>
Subject: jesus rivera

I think that before every mens FX final in world and olympic competition, they
should show Jesus Rivera's FX from 85 worlds, just so people can see what FX
can be

after looking at what passes as mens FX these days, I'm surprised people
don't riot...

-Brett

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 10 Aug 1994 19:15:06 -0400 (EDT)
From: <***@husc.harvard.edu>
Subject: jesus rivera

Hi!

> I think that before every mens FX final in world and olympic competition, they
> should show Jesus Rivera's FX from 85 worlds, just so people can see what FX
> can be
>
> after looking at what passes as mens FX these days, I'm surprised people
> don't riot...
>
> -Brett
>

Can you expand on this Jesus Rivera FX routine? I'm curious as to what
he did that is so different from today's men's FX "standards". I'm pretty
much a newbie fan of this sport so I don't know anything about this guy.

-Alex


------------------------------

Date: Thu, 11 Aug 1994 08:52:02 +1000
From: <***@pharm.med.upenn.edu>
Subject: jesus rivera

>I think that before every mens FX final in world and olympic competition, they
>should show Jesus Rivera's FX from 85 worlds, just so people can see what FX
>can be
>
>after looking at what passes as mens FX these days, I'm surprised people
>don't riot...


Would you mind posting the routine, and score that went with it, so that we
can see what he did. Unfortunately his routine doesn't stand out in my
mind.

Personally when I think of great fx Chad Fox(NM '87), Mike Racanelli (OSU
'90) and Bill Roth (Temple '90) come to mind. Chad opened and closed with
doubles open layout, close tuck.

Fortunately for you I remember Rac's and Roth's routines (details) - seen
them a million times:

Racanelli - RO, FF, double layout(pike), FF, Tucked full, punch front
1(1/4); RO, FF, tucked full-in; flair handstand pirouette lower to
straddle, press to split handstand (japanese), roll out; Front handspring,
layout front-full, roll, split jump, punch front to one knee, Y-scale, RO,
FF, double tuck. This earned him a 9.75 in AA, and 9.85 in EF.

Roth - RO, FF, Tucked full-out, scale; RO, whipback, immedite double tuck,
Manna, press through to handstand,; punch fron 1(3/4); RO, FF, double tuck.
This earned him 9.75 in AA, and 9.75 in EF.

Roth is still doing the same FX - for the most part, although his press
through to handstand is a tad bit more exciting, now he rolls his shoulders
(dislocates) from the Manna to the handstand - watch for it at Nationals
and Worlds - it is something to see.

Racanelli hasn't done much floor work in the last couple of months, but I
do know he plans to out do the '90 routine - so be on the lookout for him,
not at Nationals this summer, but I would say winter nationals.

Mayland

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 12 Aug 94 17:17 PDT
From: <***@MVS.OAC.UCLA.EDU>
Subject: Jesus Rivera

Ok, I have had a few replies asking me to post his routine, so here goes.
However it is important to note that what made him stand apart, wasn't so
much all his skills (although many of them deserve mention), but his
style, presentation, connection between the moves (i.e there was some), and
composition. 4 of the 6 Cubans in the 85 worlds showed a real artistic
presentation in their floor performances... (Lazaro Amador was a dork and
Casimiro had to scratch midway thanks to his mushy ankles)...

Anyway here goes...

Ro, FF Arabian double front (stick) and upon landing, he threw his head back
and arms up while going into a swedish fall just to show how simple it was for
him. He then did flairs to breakdancing on his shoulders to spinning around
on his head to splits (all with toepoint). After his press to handstand he
did front, front, RO, high side somi. He then did a neat leap that was like
a hitch kick with a full immediate body wave, immediate full-twisting butterfly
to deep lunge (head up arms out as always). After a RO, full, punch front he
did a ballet full turn to another deep lunge. Obligatory Y-scale, but after
the 2 seconds, he let go with his hands which his leg remained at 135 degrees-
ish.. RO,ff, double tuck to end.

Throughout his routine, every move was connected his arms were always up and
out, his chest was always open, there was a tremendous rhythm to his
performance...Those crazy cubans...

His score was 9.8 This was the 2nd highest score for the cubans in the
competition.. (The muy loco Israel Sanchez scored 9.9 for his 1-arm cartwheel,
side somi vault. Incidentally Sanchez also did a double side off rings and
a hop-full from FRONT giants on HB. Can we say human highlight film?)

Jesus (Rivera, not the long haired guy who sleeps on the cross), made it into
AA and again scored 9.8 for this routine.

But of course no Cubans allowed in FX finals...

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 10 Aug 1994 17:50:41 -0700 (PDT)
From: ***@netcom.com
Subject: Mailing list

>
> Hello! I would like to be put on the gymnastics mailing list. I was sent
> here by Mr. Dupunt jr. I love gymnastics I would be so happy if I could be
> included in this. My name is Melissa Weaver but my screen name is Missy Mae.
> Thanks!
> Missy Mae
>
>

Little reminder to you all :

Administration of the list is to be done at the address

***@athena.mit.edu

When you tell friends about this list, I beseach you, PLEASE, tell them
to send mail to the list owner to request adds, drops, modifications.

Sending admin messages to the general list is just gonna get you on peoples
nerves.

Ron ! Wake up !
(Grrr....)

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 11 Aug 1994 15:48:37 -0700 (PDT)
From: ***@netcom.com
Subject: Mailing list

> Texx:
> Please note that I'm sending this message to you personally and not to the
> whole list.

I am cc'ing the list because I feel you are owed a public apology.
I screwed up, keep reading.

> When I first became a member of Gymn nearly a year ago, I posted a message
> in the gymnastics bulletin board of AOL and told them about the list -- long
> before I was told about there being seperate addresses for administration.
> When I later learned of the administration addresses, I posted a new
> message on the bulletin board, informing them of it. Unfortunately, the old
> one is still on there and cannot be deleted or modified -- and it's been on
> there for nearly a year. So, unless somebody reads further in the bulletin
> board to the second note, they'll send their request to the list itself.

Sorry I ASSumed that this person had gotten the info from you directly rather
than an outdated BBS posting. We all know what happens if you ASSume.
Sorry bout that ! What I did was dumb.

I also hadnt counted on you taking it quite that seriously.
It was intended along the lines of a nudge in the ribs and maybe an ice cube
down your neck. Now hopefully everyone saved that post, becasue besides
some good old fashioned teasing, there was some pertinent info in there.

Any possibility you can get the sysop to nuke the old post and substitute
in your new updated, latest, greatsest, state of the art one ?

Now one totally unrelated issue... Has ANYONE seen the comic strip
"Tank Manamara" any where lately ?

I havent seen it in a few years. It was a great satire on pro sportscasting.
Tank is a washed up football jock/ clumsy moose who has gone into sportcasting
and his adventures behind the scenes of sportscasting are so true you dont
know if to laugh or cry. Is it around anywhere anymore ?

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 12 Aug 94 01:11:21 EDT
From: ***@aol.com
Subject: Mailing List

>Now one totally unrelated issue... Has ANYONE seen the comic >strip
>"Tank Manamara" any where lately ?

Yep, see it all the time. It's in the sports pages of the Boston Globe. If
you can't find it with the other comic strips, try the sports pages.

Lee

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 11 Aug 94 11:00:32 EDT
From: ***@aol.com
Subject: ROMANIAN GYMNASTICS NEWSLETTER

Hi Everyone:
We're starting a Rom Gymn Newsletter. It will come out 4 times a year, with
the first issue coming out after worlds. We are going for the quality not
quantity. We are going to include pictures, interviews, and hopefully
official input from Deva if they are friendly when I go visit at X-mas =).

The first issue is free with a self-addressed stamped envelope. After that
we are going to have to charge a little to help with the costs of printing,
postage, and phone calls, etc... It won't be too much and the more the
cheaper. So if you're intrested mail me at;
Monica ***
235 2nd st NE
Washington, DC 20002
Don't forget the SASE

Monica

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 11 Aug 94 01:30:36 EDT
From: ***@aol.com
Subject: Subscription change

I just joined this mailing list this week, and I'm already kicking myself for
not doing it when the address was first posted. But I'm realizing that it's
going to fill up my mailbox very quickly, which might mean not being able to
access other letters for as far back as I'd like. Consequently, can I take
this ID off the mailing list and substitute another? If so, please add
ESTHIG to the list and delete Mellifur. Thank you.

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 11 Aug 94 17:09:24 PDT
From: <***@holonet.net>
Subject: Tank anywhere?

> Now one totally unrelated issue... Has ANYONE seen the comic strip
> "Tank Manamara" any where lately ?

I remember seeing it in _The Island Packet_, the daily on Hilton Head
Island, SC, where my grandparents live.

I don't know why I remember this sort of thing. :)

--Tim

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 12 Aug 94 20:18:41 EDT
From: ***@aol.com
Subject: Trivia Questions Needed

Wanted: Trivia Questions

Topic: Team Competitions at the World Championships (Comp 1A & 1B)

For our newcomers, you need to send me *both* the question and the answer.
Within the next few days I'll post the quiz.

Also, send them directly to me via e-mail to

***@aol.com

rather than to the list.

Thanks in advance!

Mara

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 12 Aug 94 22:52:44 EDT
From: ***@aol.com
Subject: TV Commentary - Kathy J's perspective

As we've been discussing the technical elements of commentary, thought you
might find an item from the new 'USA Gymnastics' interesting (see page 30 for
full article).

Perhaps Kathy Johnson is lurking here on the list (if so, hi Kathy), as she
had the following response to a question on her work as a commentator:

**************************
Question: What frustrations do you have with the position?

Kathy: We're asked not to get too technical. The gymnastics community is
only a small part of our audience. I would like to get more in depth with my
commentary, but the average person watching the show wouldn't understand.
******************

I'm probably opening (or re-opening <g>) a hornet's nest, but 'thoughts,
anyone?'

Mara

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 12 Aug 1994 23:28:59 -0400 (edt)
From: <***@dorsai.dorsai.org>
Subject: TV Commentary - Kathy J's perspective

Absolutely right. Perhaps we should try watching without the sound.
Football games improved immeasurably that way! :)

Their responsibility as former gymnasts in that position is to do
everything to make watching (and watching again the next time) as
pleasurable and rewarding as possible for the larger general population,
so people will continue to want to see gymnastics on TV. Our small
population of knowledgeable people cannot attract enough advertising to
make it worthwhile to broadcast gymnastics. Understanding that, it is in
our own self-interest to accept the commentary for what it is: another
tool to bring the general audience closer to the event, and to keep the
masses from changing the channel. If the commentary gets too technical,
it will make it unappealing for the general audience to watch and
eventually there will be less gymnastics on the tube.

> As we've been discussing the technical elements of commentary, thought you
> might find an item from the new 'USA Gymnastics' interesting (see page 30 for
> full article).
>
> Perhaps Kathy Johnson is lurking here on the list (if so, hi Kathy), as she
> had the following response to a question on her work as a commentator:
>
> **************************
> Question: What frustrations do you have with the position?
>
> Kathy: We're asked not to get too technical. The gymnastics community is
> only a small part of our audience. I would like to get more in depth with my
> commentary, but the average person watching the show wouldn't understand.
> ******************
>
> I'm probably opening (or re-opening <g>) a hornet's nest, but 'thoughts,
> anyone?'
>
> Mara
>
>

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 11 Aug 1994 17:34:37 -0700 (PDT)
From: <***@shell.portal.com>
Subject: worlds

What are the broadcast dates and network broadcasting the worlds?

------------------------------

End of gymn Digest
******************************