gymn Digest                 Sat, 28 Jan 95       Volume 3 : Issue  62

Today's Topics:
                         American Cup tickets
                      ASU vs Minnesota (women's)
                       Atlanta Olympic WWW page
                      CAL-SJ STATE-UC DAVIS MEET
                            College sport?
                             Compulsories
                       Dawes interview (3 msgs)
                   Gold Cup wins GymMaster's Invite
                       GymMaster's Event Finals
                         help on BHS (2 msgs)
                     More Trivia Questions Needed
                        NCAA Score Inflation
                NCAA Score Inflation [Again] (2 msgs)
             NCAA Score Inflation [Again] (fwd) (3 msgs)
                             NCAA Trivia
                   Portland Reese's Cup... (2 msgs)
                      PR: American Cup (2 msgs)
                      PR: Rhythmic Pan Am Trials
                         Reese's competitors
                     Reeses Cup Report - the show
                 Trivia Answers #26-NCAA Individuals
                   Trivia Quiz #26-NCAA Individuals
                    UF-SE Missouri State (2 msgs)

This is a digest of the gymn@athena.mit.edu mailing list. 

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

Date: Mon, 23 Jan 95 15:56:00 CST
From: ***@madrad.radiology.wisc.edu
Subject: American Cup tickets

Hello everyone!
      I have more info on American Cup
tickets (thanks to my husband, who did all the
calling):  Seattle ticketron phone number-
      (206)628-0888
Mar. 2nd- prices are $8, $18, and $28; and less
      for children, I believe.
Mar. 4th- $15, $25, and $35.  No discounts for
      children in the finals session.
      There are only about 6000 seats
available.  I'm sorry but I don't have any
info. on the "mixed pairs" session (Mar. 5th).

      Lani.
------------------------------

Date: Wed, 25 Jan 1995 16:36:36 -0700 (MST)
From: ***@asu.edu
Subject: ASU vs Minnesota (women's)

      I went to this meet on Friday night.  It was the home season
opener I believe.  It was the first NCAA meet I've ever attended.  Anyway
it wasn't too exciting.  ASU is ranked 9th in the country and Minnesota is
unranked so it wasn't much of a contest.
      ASU started on vault.  Everyone did handspring fronts I believe,
maybe one piked.  Someone did a barani-out.  Another thing, I don't know
exactly what code these judges were using but flawed handspring front
tucks with landing problems were getting 9.7's so it must not be very up
to date or they don't know how to judge at all.  The barani-out was the
best vault of the night.  It was high with decent form and just about
stuck but only received a 9.825 which surprised me considering the
inflated scoring for the other vaults.
      Minnesota started on bars right in front of me.  Very poor form
throughout all their routines.  There were huge leg seperations, almost
splits, during the pirouettes which were not deducted for.  Everyone did
double flyaways tucked I believe except for a Rudi and a toe on front.
Someone did a Shushunova (blind change to Markolev).  I don't know why
this move is so popular in NCAA gymnastics but it's quite common though
considering I haven't seen it performed internationally since '88.
      Then the teams switched events and I think a grand total of one
Minnesota gymnast stood up a front handpring vault, and she only did it
once.  There was a piked Tsuk also performed. 
      On bars the ASU girls had better routines overall then the
Minnesota gymnasts.  All did double flyaways and received about five
tenths bonus from the crowd screaming when they stuck the landing.  There
was a pretty nifty fall when one girl did a piked Jaeger WAY too close to
the bar and hit the back of her legs upon regrasp.  The coach attempted
to catch her but ending up falling on top of her under the bars and he
laid on her for a second.  Anyway she was fine and finished her routine
complete with a spot on her double tuck. 
      Then Minnesota went to floor and ASU to beam.  ASU mainly all had
the same routines, ff lo ff and either front full, Rudi, or ro full
dismounts.  The big move on floor for Minnesota was the double back,
although one girl attempted a triple full for the second pass.  The music
was cheesy, very techno, and the lack of proper dance training made the
routines quite unwatchable.  Also a lot of very weak attempts at front
tumbling. 
      The same was the case for ASU on floor, I was surprised at the
amount of front fulls and even more confused as to what Code the judges
were using.  One gymnast did a piked full-in, a few did front to double
tuck, and every one else mounted with double tuck. 
      On beam someone from Minnesota mounted with a split leap immediate
tour jete which was pretty cool.  Almost everyone fell and they all did
the same passes and dismounts as ASU except for one cartwheel gainer full
off the side.
      I went to this meet with my friend who competed in gymnastics for
ten years.  She does not follow international gymnastics or even national
gymnastics and so her criticism of the gymnastics on display was
interesting.  Like me, she thought the attempts as dance and choreagraphy
on floor were a joke and that the form was very weak overall. Standing on
the low bar as a transition move was downright hideous looking considering
these girls are all over five feet tall.  Also there was a definite lack
of originality as everyone did the same routine practically.  And the
judging was ridiculous of course.  Maybe they pay the judges to mark the
routines higher than they deserve so more people will come to the meet if
they expect a very high level?  No ten's were given but I wouldn't have
been surprised if any were.
      I will probably continue to go to my school's home meets because I
love gymnastics, and it's only about two hundred yards from my dorm.  I
realize that the level isn't as high as some would like to believe so I
was not as disappointed as some, like my friend, who went in expecting a
very high level of gymnastics. 

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

Date: Mon, 23 Jan 95 14:22:53 GMT
From: ***@ic.ac.uk
Subject: Atlanta Olympic WWW page

This info is from the "rec.sport.olympic" usenet newsgroup.

There is a 1996 Atlanta Olympic WWW Page at:

http://www.mindspring.com/~royal/olympic.html

I'm sure there are more similar places on WWW about Atlanta
Olympics somewhere.

Sherwin

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

Date: Wed, 25 Jan 95 06:24:00 UTC
From: ***@genie.geis.com
Subject: CAL-SJ STATE-UC DAVIS MEET

Hi all;
      Here is a little report on last Friday's meet at San Jose.  I wasn't
there, so it is mostly the scoresheet turned into prose and heresay from
various friends. (G)  Cal came up by 3.9 points from last week's score.
They are still not at full strength and are going easy.  But if they are
going to squeek into Nationals, they need to improve on bars and nail beam.
 
 
            CAL-SAN JOSE STATE-U.C. DAVIS TRI-MEET - JAN. 20TH
 
         On Friday, Jan. 20th, U. C. Davis and U. C. Berkeley (CAL) ventured
down to San Jose's Spartan Stadium for a tri-meet.  For the Cal Bears it
wastheir chance to erase the memory of their loss the last week to Stanford.
They came back strong this week with a 188.10 to 182.40 victory over second
place San Jose State.  U. C. Davis had a rough night and finished third with
a 178.475.
        On vault, Cal swept away the competition.  Lisa Washington
(pikefront), Candace Kwok (pike front) and Heather Schneider (tuck
front)finished 1-2-3 (9.85, 9.775, 9.75)  The Bears came up with a 48.50
vault set.The Spartans delivered a couple of front tuck vaults and came up
with a 45.80 set score.  UC Davis had twisting vaults of lower value and
came out with a 44.475 set score.
        Cal's bars (44.70) were their weakest set of the evening.  They
dropped .20 to the Spartans 44.90 bar set.  Even so, sophomore, Mindy
Ornellas, and junior, Heather Schneider placed 1st. and 3rd. Hawley Almstedt
of San Jose State placed second with a 9.425.  Honorable mention needs to go
to Cal Bear, Jennifer Wang, who missed her piked Geinger, but nailed a
gorgeous double-layout dismount.
        On beam, CAL didn't have to count any falls, but there were some
bigtime wobbles.  Candace Kwok, in her first meet this season, won beam with
a9.65.  Dawn Pavis of U. C. Davis placed second with a 9.575.  Ioana Ojog,
aRomanian competing for San Jose State, performed a BHS, Layout, BHS, Layout
series for a 3rd place finish (9.50)
        On floor, CAL won again with a 47.55 set score.  Mindy Ornellas
threw a front through to a double back and a second pass with a double back
which earned the top score of the night (9.65).  Bears, Lisa Washington and
Cassie Shigeoka, tied for second with a pair of 9.60's.  Tara Law was San
Jose State's top scorer with a 9.525.

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

Date: Wed, 25 Jan 1995 05:28:58 GMT
From: ***@fradvice.smithfield.nc.us
Subject: College sport?

How widespread is gymnastics as a college sport?  I'm not an avid fan,
but I've enjoyed watching it since about two years ago and being in
college myself was curious as to how popular it is.

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

Date: Thu, 26 Jan 95 17:19 PST
From: ***@MVS.OAC.UCLA.EDU
Subject: Compulsories

I will miss Compulsories... They are actually my favorite part of
int'l competition because you can really see the good from the great.

Compulsories at Barcelona were a joke though... at least the scores were

They didn't really need to actually compete them.  They should just have
had the coaches decide which gymnasts would go in which sessions and we
could have come up with their scores that way, kind of like rotiserrie
baseball..

So figuring everyone will hit compulsories (which everyone with semi-decent
basic skills does), if say Octavian Belu turned in his roster in compulsories
as

Neculita, Hadarean   Session 1
Pasca, Gogean        Session 2
Bontas, Milosovici   Session 4

We can just score Neculita 39.0, Hadarean 39.2, Pasca 39.3, Gogean 39.45
Bontas 39.6, Milosovici 39.65 and not have to put them through the
pressure of actually competing...

Remember the top score, No matter what, in the 1st session is 9.825.
This will go up in slight increments throughout the day and by the last
session, any gymnast from the top 3 teams who hits will get at least 9.85.

Also, the last 2 gymnasts up in compulsories for the top 3 teams are
automatically entered in all event finals...  After all, qualification
for event finals arent won due to performance, just score.. and we know
what happens to the scores in the final session... next you're going to
tell me that Shannon Miller does a better compulsory vault than Chusovitina..

The Olympics sure are wacky...

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

Date: Wed, 25 Jan 1995 11:31:49 -0700 (MST)
From: ***@dana.ucc.nau.edu
Subject: Dawes interview

      For those interested, Seventeen magazine has a nice little
article this month where they interviewed Dom. If you buy it already,
cool. If not, its worth the couple of minutes of slight embarassment to read it
in a store. One of the most interesting things was that their gym has NO
air-contitioning and gets up over 90 degrees at around 3 in the afternoon
during the summer, and all
the girls have hand problems on bars when this happens (more rips due to
soft, warm, moist hands). Occasionally, Kelli will abort regular practice
in favor of group backrubs (!)

Cara             

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

Date: Wed, 25 Jan 1995 14:26:15 -0500
From: ***@aol.com
Subject: Dawes interview

Just a note about the Dominique interview in SEVENTEEN:  One of the three
photos in the spread is not of Dom, but instead of Betty Okino.  I already
sent SEVENTEEN a letter about it--hopefully they'll print a retraction.

Ann Marie

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

Date: Fri, 27 Jan 1995 23:49:06 -0500 (EST)
From: ***@minerva.cis.yale.edu
Subject: Dawes interview

One of the most interesting things was that their gym has NO
> air-contitioning and gets up over 90 degrees at around 3 in the afternoon
> during the summer, and all
> the girls have hand problems on bars when this happens (more rips due to
> soft, warm, moist hands).

Boy, can I relate to this.  Try a 90-degree-plus gym all day, all year!  We
had a zinc roof, which made the gym an *oven* (when it wasn't letting in
rain or being blown off by a hurricane...).  I could go on about our gym,
but I'll spare you all.

:)
Adriana

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

Date: Mon, 23 Jan 1995 10:14:05 -0800
From: ***@Eng.Sun.COM
Subject: Gold Cup wins GymMaster's Invite

Rachele writes:

 --A Cypress gymnast wrapped himself on high bar (where the grip locks
 in place but the gymnast keeps swinging around the bar) -- but somehow
 he managed to not break his wrist. I don't know much about it, but
 isn't it almost better to have a clean break rather than stress the
 wrist that badly? 

I don't *think* that locking up necessarily need result in a broken arm or
a stressed wrist, although somebody that's really cranking would have a lot
of energy.  For the uninitiated (hopefully everybody), it happens when your
highbar grips are too long and lock up, kind of like an oil filter wrench.
When it happens, the motion of your body actually makes the wrap tighter.
I heard of one fellow that when it happened to him they had to toss him
around the bar the other way to get him down, broken arm and all. Grips
stretch over time, so it's important to check them regularly (and *never*
wear ring grips on highbar.)

I don't thing that it's an issue on uneven bars, because of the diameter.
Anyone heard of it happening?

Hey, as long as we're on the subject, I've got a nerdy question for all
you gymnasts out there.  I've had experience with two grip manugacturers,
Reisport and 10.0.  The 10.0 grips seem thicker to me and cozier at first,
but they stretch out really quickly.  The Reisports seemed a little thin
and awkward at first (couldn't seem to develop a lip), but over time they
became very comfortable, and don't appear to stretch nearly as much.  Am
I just imagining this, or has anyone else out there noticed a difference?

-George

 

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

Date: Sat, 21 Jan 1995 22:03:39 -0700 (MST)
From: ***@rmii.com
Subject: GymMaster's Event Finals

Gold Cup dominated event finals winning all six golds in event finals
at the GymMaster's Invite. 

FX: Mihai Bagiu overrotated his Arabian double front but covered by
falling to a prone position.  He also had problems with a side
tumbling pass where I think he either left out or downgraded a move,
but he covered well and so the "rough spots" were actually quite
seamless.  I was impressed by Shannon M... (didn't catch his last
name) who tumbled a layout full-in (too piked, though -- or maybe it
was supposed to be an open pike) and a piked Arabian double front
(which he sat down, but he was hitting it in warmups).  Shannon was a
clean gymnast, reminded me some of Jeff Bender (former gymnast of
Stanford who was also very tall, thin, relatively clean).

1. Mihai Bagiu - 9.3
2. Shannon M. - 8.85
3. Larry Johns - 8.8
[4. Mike WIlliams - 8.8 (no triple)]

PH: Mihai repeated his class act from Nationals including many
difficult skills (everyone liked his flairs with hands on the outside
of the pommels).

1. Bagiu - 9.65
2. Williams - 9.15
3. Daniel F. - 8.65

SR: Kieffer was the only Gold Cupper to qualify (I think). Lots of
stuck dismounts on this event.

1. Kieffer - 9.2
2. Jones - 9.15
3. Danny Boots - 8.8

VT: Mihai hit a great Yurchenko-full to stuck landing; lots of the
other gymnasts did excellent hand pike fronts but didn't stick.  This
was a hard even to medal on though because the top six were all above
9.0.  To put that in perspective, the other five events all together
had only eight scores above 9.0.

1. Bagiu - 9.4
2. Kieffer - 9.35
3. Williams - 9.2

PB: Townsend, in 3rd, is still a little boy (about 11,12?) but will be
able to tell people that he stood next to a two-time worlds team
member on the awards stand!  Mihai did a Manna to double tuck front
today, which makes me wonder if I really did see a double pike front
yesterday -- but I *think* I did.

1. Bagiu -- 9.35
2. Kieffer -- 9.1
3. Shawn Townsend (GymMasters) - 8.55

HB: Mihai and Mike, who should have taken 1st and 2nd (and it would've
been close between them), both fell and ended up 4th (Mike) and 5th
(Mihai).  Mike caught his Gaylord 2 but was too close to the bar on
his other releases and fell on his triple back dismount.  Mihai missed
his Kovacs and also his triple dismount.  But never fear, Gold Cup had
Walter Jaramillo (sp?) to save the day, who dismounted with a double
double (laid out, mostly) to win.  Larry Johns, of Citadel, could have
won also based on sheer difficulty, if he had caught his skills.  He
did a Tkatchev laid out -- WITH A FULL TWIST -- but missed the
regrasp.  He was close though.  He also missed a Tkatchev -- much to
his surprise -- but then remounted to throw a Tk-Tk-Gienger combo.

1. Walter J. - 9.05
2. S. J. Jones - 8.75
3. Ritchie Ellis - 8.6

Sorry Adriana, never got a chance to find out the name of the mystery
ring man!

Rachele

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

Date: Mon, 23 Jan 1995 18:01:45 -0800
From: ***@Eng.Sun.COM
Subject: help on BHS

Are you using a trusted spotter?

-George


Subject: help on BHS
 
  Can someone help on a problem of roundoff backhandsprings?  I can't seem to
  get legs together or whip enough.  I also go crooked.  Part of this may be I
  never took gymnastics lessons.  My standing backhandsprings or okay, but I
  need help w/ the RO BHS.  Please post or private e-mail me at:
  daydream6.aol.com
  Thanks!  
          Anne
 

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

Date: Mon, 23 Jan 1995 21:22:06 -0700 (MST)
From: ***@asu.edu
Subject: help on BHS

>   Can someone help on a problem of roundoff backhandsprings?  I can't seem to
>   get legs together or whip enough.  I also go crooked.  Part of this may be I
>   never took gymnastics lessons.  My standing backhandsprings or okay, but I
>   need help w/ the RO BHS.  Please post or private e-mail me at:
>   daydream6.aol.com
>   Thanks!  
>           Anne


      It seems strange that you can get enough momentum for the bhs
just standing, but not from a roundoff.  It seems to me that your
roundoff doesn't have enough power.  I guess you need to go back to
basics.  Make sure that during your cartweel, you are completely going
over the top, not leaning over to the side at all, if you know what I
mean (like when someone shows you their really bad cartwheel and they
barely get their feet off the ground).  Spring off your hands quickly,
rebounding onto your feet again during the roundoff.  Try a running start
too.  You'll find yourself bouncing back up quite quickly, even if you
just hop vertically.  Even on grass or something you should be able to
get some momentum from your ro/cw.  Once your feet hit don't pause but go
backwards into the ff, throwing your arms backwards powerfully.  If you
get a really good roundoff you can twist before your second hand goes
down and you can gain speed.  You should use a spot too.  Landing on your
head on your living room carpet is not very fun.  Believe me.  Anyway I'm
not a coach so some may dispute my advice but good luck anyway!

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

Date: Sun, 22 Jan 1995 22:06:00 -0500
From: ***@aol.com
Subject: More Trivia Questions Needed

More Trivia Question are definitely needed.

The topic is NCAA Individuals


Mara

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

Date: Fri, 27 Jan 95 15:58:51 EST
From: ***@email.cfr.org
Subject: NCAA Score Inflation

Amanda wrote with a ;-) -

>I know, how about let them judge using a "Noise-O-Meter?"  When they scream
>the loudest then that's the best routine.  That will *really* encourage
>audience participation!

And the home team would win automatically!!  On T.V. I've seen/heard
almost felt that gym in Utah rock-n-roll!!!  I *must* go to one of these
women's NCAA finals, seems a phenomenon in itself.  The "noise-o-meter's"
needle would bust....

Connie

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

Date: Wed, 25 Jan 1995 19:45:09 -0500
From: ***@aol.com
Subject: NCAA Score Inflation [Again]

First week, and the score inflation is already ridiculous.  It's a shame,
because (1) the differentiation isn't there and (2) a strong competitor who
has a fall is doubly penalized.

>  1  Kim Arnold           9.975   GEORGIA, U. OF  SE
>  1  Lori Strong          9.950   GEORGIA, U. OF  SE
>  1  Kim Arnold           9.900   GEORGIA, U. OF  SE
>--  T. SOMMER            9.900   UTAH, U. OF     MW
>--  Lori Strong          9.900   GEORGIA, U. OF  SE
>  1  Kim Arnold           9.950   GEORGIA, U. OF  SE

>  1  DARREN ELG           9.9000   Brigham Young   W
>  1  Puljic, Blaz         9.8500   New Mexico,U.of W
>  1  Dave Frank           9.9000   Temple Univ.    E
>  1  DARREN ELG           9.6500   Brigham Young   W
>  1  Jones, Scott         9.7500   New Mexico,U.of W
>  1  TOM ELLEFSON         9.9000   Penn State      E

Mara

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

Date: Thu, 26 Jan 1995 08:46:50 +1000
From: ***@pharm.med.upenn.edu
Subject: NCAA Score Inflation [Again]

>First week, and the score inflation is already ridiculous.  It's a shame,
>because (1) the differentiation isn't there and (2) a strong competitor who
>has a fall is doubly penalized.
>
>>  1  Kim Arnold           9.975   GEORGIA, U. OF  SE
>>  1  Lori Strong          9.950   GEORGIA, U. OF  SE
>>  1  Kim Arnold           9.900   GEORGIA, U. OF  SE
>>--  T. SOMMER            9.900   UTAH, U. OF     MW
>>--  Lori Strong          9.900   GEORGIA, U. OF  SE
>>  1  Kim Arnold           9.950   GEORGIA, U. OF  SE
>
>>  1  DARREN ELG           9.9000   Brigham Young   W
>>  1  Puljic, Blaz         9.8500   New Mexico,U.of W
>>  1  Dave Frank           9.9000   Temple Univ.    E
>>  1  DARREN ELG           9.6500   Brigham Young   W
>>  1  Jones, Scott         9.7500   New Mexico,U.of W
>>  1  TOM ELLEFSON         9.9000   Penn State      E
>
>Mara


Well, considering I saw the 9.9 by Dave Frank, the only thing that was even
in question regarding his rings routine was a commeserate dismount, which
is not a strict deduction - otherwise it was a 10.0 routine, with no
deductions (commeserate dismount is where they took it - yes, I talked to
all 4 of the judges regarding this routine (note there were 4 not 2)) --
and I remember Darren Elg's work he is fantastic, just back from Missionary
work and really psyched from what I have heard from others, so I wuold not
doubt his ability to get those scores in the slightest.

I guess my point is that you can't really say inflation unless you saw the
routine -- I thought that the problem of speculation vs fact was gone

Also, remember that base score is higher during the season than at
International meets and finals at NCAA championships

Kudos to those gymnast who **REALLY** **EARNED** their scores.

Mayland

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

Date: Thu, 26 Jan 1995 07:07:02 -0700 (MST)
From: ***@rmii.com
Subject: NCAA Score Inflation [Again] (fwd)

| >First week, and the score inflation is already ridiculous.  It's a shame,

Actually, I was sorta surprised that there were no ten's.  Some people
regard the high probability for ten's as the very essence of the NCAA
(women's), but I tend to feel that a proliferation of ten's only
serves to undermine the integrity of the judging.  The closest to a 10
was Kim Arnold's 9.975, on VT, and I can guarantee that she is capable
of that -- phenomenal vaulter.

| Also, remember that base score is higher during the season than at
| International meets and finals at NCAA championships

This is true for the men.  For the women, I believe that the base
score is the same but that they judge by a different set of rules from
int'l and USGF elite competition.

I think it's not really a question of score inflation for the
individual routines, but rather just the whole thing that the NCAA
needs to relax the rules so that the gymnasts can attain scores that
are more appealing to the public.  Does this hurt or help gymnastics,
in the long run?  I could argue both ways, and haven't really made up
my mind on that yet.

Rachele

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

Date: Thu, 26 Jan 1995 11:54:08 -0500 (EST)
From: ***@minerva.cis.yale.edu
Subject: NCAA Score Inflation [Again] (fwd)

> | Also, remember that base score is higher during the season than at
> | International meets and finals at NCAA championships
>
> This is true for the men.  For the women, I believe that the base
> score is the same but that they judge by a different set of rules from
> int'l and USGF elite competition.

The women have a higher base score than is used in the FIG Code, too. 
The Code's base score is 9.4; in the NCAA the base score is 9.6.  In
addition to that, certain skills have not been devalued: a double back on
floor is still a D, as are layouts on beam (the former probably
acceptable; the latter totally absurd, IMHO); a double flyaway is still
a C.  Those are the ones that come to mind right now.  Also, prone
landings are still permitted on FX (a good idea, IMO -- it's ok to
remove things from the Code for safety considerations, not because the
WTC in its ultimate wisdom regarding aesthetic value thinks it
should go).

:)
Adriana

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

Date: Thu, 26 Jan 1995 10:57:01 -0700 (MST)
From: ***@asu.edu
Subject: NCAA Score Inflation [Again] (fwd)


> | >First week, and the score inflation is already ridiculous.  It's a shame,
>
> Actually, I was sorta surprised that there were no ten's.  Some people
> regard the high probability for ten's as the very essence of the NCAA
...
> I think it's not really a question of score inflation for the
> individual routines, but rather just the whole thing that the NCAA
> needs to relax the rules so that the gymnasts can attain scores that
> are more appealing to the public.  Does this hurt or help gymnastics,
> in the long run?  I could argue both ways, and haven't really made up

      Well if you argue that NCAA is competitive and not just a circus
(remember that thread as NCAA women competitors and whether or not they
could make the national team?) that I can't say but that it hurts the
sport.  They should be judged on what they actually perform, and not "on a
curve ;-)".  How can anybody who takes gymnastics seriously say that the
scores should be inflated so the audience likes it?  I'm sorry but most of
the audience knows little or nothing about the sport, except for stuck
landings and that they recognize falls are bad.  I know, how about let
them judge using a "Noise-O-Meter?"  When they scream the loudest then
that's the best routine.  That will *really* encourage audience
participation!
      We should contact the FIG about this too.  Isn't that part of why
they're cancelling compulsories, because nobody goes and sees them?  Keep
compulsories, and let them score so the audience is happy.  They could
give out Bontas scores.  9.15 routines can get 9.9's so the audience can
get their money's worth.  And ten's everywhere.  The audience loves those.
Almost as much as the nachos.  They go crazy.  That'll keep 'em coming
back for more.  It's not like it's not fair or anything because the
*really* good routines get tens too, so it's not like anyone is getting
underscored.  And unless they fall more than twice, remember, no score's
under 8.9.
      Think of how good everyone will be if they all score 39.5's! 
Everybody will be so good.  The level will be so much higher too. 
Yeaaaaa!!!!!!
 
     
Amanda ;-)

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

Date: Fri, 27 Jan 95 03:33:00 UTC
From: ***@genie.geis.com
Subject: NCAA Trivia

Dear Mara and Karen,
    Thanks for the reminder of Carol Johnson.  I always admired her spunk.
    At CAL (U. C. Berkeley) there is a gymnast on the men's team who has
only one leg.  I have seen him work out on all events, but I hear he will
only compete high bar and rings.  He is really amazing.
 
Kathy E.

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

Date: Sun, 22 Jan 1995 02:00:27 -0700 (MST)
From: ***@rmii.com
Subject: Portland Reese's Cup...

Here are the results from Portland's Reese's Cup, from the AP wire.  Cash
prizes are as follows: 1st-$2000, 2nd-$1,200, 3rd-$800, 4th-$550, 5th-$300,
6th-$300.  Note that at "exhibition" type events, they rarely do vault...

   Uneven Bars

1, Dominique Moceanu, Houston, 9.75, $2,000
2, Amanda Borden, Cincinnati, 9.40, not accepting prize money
3, Oksana Chusovitina, Uzbekistan, 9.40, $1,200
4, Wendy Bruce, Altamonte Springs, Fla., 9.20, $800
5, Missy Marlowe, Salt Lake City, 9.10, $550

   Balance Beam

1, Svetlana Boguinskaia, Belarus, 9.80, $2,000
2, Oksana Chusovitina, Uzbekistan, 9.70, $1,200
3, Dominique Moceanu, Houston, 9.55, $800
4, Wendy Bruce, Altamonte Springs, Fla., 9.45, $550
5, Missy Marlowe, Salt Lake City, 9.05, $300
6, Tatiana Lisenko, Ukraine, 8.95, $150
7, Jaycie Phelps, Cincinnati, 8.90

   Floor Exercise

1, Amanda Borden, Cincinnati, 9.90, not accepting prize money
2, Svetlana Boguinskaia, Belarus, 9.75, $2,000
3, Oksana Chusovitina, Uzbekistan, 9.70, $1,200
4, Dominique Moceanu, Houston, 9.65, $800
5, Wendy Bruce, Altamonte Springs, Fla., 9.20, $550
6, Missy Marlowe, Salt Lake City, 9.00, $300
7, Tatiana Lisenko, Ukraine, 9.00, $150

 Men

    Floor Exercise

1, John Roethlisberger, Minneapolis, 9.70, $2,000
2, Scott Keswick, Los Angeles, 9.65, $1,200
3, Paul O'Neill, Mandan, N.D., $800
4, Valentin, Moguilny, Russia, 9.55, $550
5, Vladimir Novikov, Kazakhstan, 9.50, $300
6 (tie), Vladimir Gogoladze, Georgia, and Dmitri Bilozerchev, Russia, 9.45, $75
8, Chris Waller, Albuquerque, N.M., 9.40

   Pommel Horse

1, Valentin Moguilny, Russia, 9.90, $2,000
2, Dmitri Bilozerchev, Russia, 9.70, $1,200
3, Chris Waller, Albuquerque, N.M., 9.60, $800
4, Vladimir Novikov, Kazahkstan, 9.30, $550
5, Vladimir Gogoladze, Georgia, 9.20, $300
6, Scott Keswick, Los Angeles, 9.10, $150
7, John Roethlisberger, Minneapolis, 9.00

   Still Rings

1, Paul O'Neill, Mandan, N.D., 9.70, $2,000
2, Scott Keswick, Los Angeles, 9.50, $1,200
3, Chris Waller, Albuquerque, N.M., 9.40, $800
4, John Roethlisberger, Minneapolis, 9.30, $550
5, Dmitri Bilozerchev, Russia, 9.20, $300
6, Vladimir Novikov, Kazahkstan, 9.00, $150
7, Valentin Moguilny, Russia, 8.70

   Parallel Bars

1, Valentin Moguilny, Russia, 9.75, $2,000
2, Scott Keswick, Los Angeles, 9.65, $1,200
3, Dmitri Bilozerchev, Russia, 9.60, $800
4, Vladimir Novikov, Kazahkstan, 9.50, $550
5, Chris Waller, Albuquerque, N.M., 9.50, $300
6, Vladimir Gogoladze, Georgia, 9.10, $150
7, John Roethlisberger, Minneapolis, 9.00

   High Bar

1, John Roethlisberger, Minneapolis, 9.70, $2,000
2, Valentin Moguilny, Russia, 9.60, $1,200
3, Scott Keswick, Los Angeles, 9.50, $800
4, Chris Waller, Albuquerque, N.M., 9.40, $550
5, Vladimir Novikov, Kazahkstan, 9.30, $300
6, Dmitri Bilozerchev, Russia, 9.25, $150
7, Vladimir Gogoladze, Georgia, 9.20.

And here are the big winners, overall, money-wise, by my own, unofficial
calculations:

$5750, Valentin Moguilny, Russia
$4550, John Roethlisberger,  Minneapolis
$4350, Scott Keswick, Los Angeles
$4000, Svetlana Boguinskaia, Belarus
$3600, Dominique Moceanu, Houston
$3600, Oksana Chusovitina, Uzbekistan
$2800, Paul O'Neill, Mandan N.D.
$2525, Dmitri Bilozerchev, Russia
$2450, Chris Waller, Albuquerque N.M.
$1900, Wendy Bruce, Altamonte Springs Fla.
$1850, Vladimir Novikov, Kazahkstan
$1150, Missy Marlowe, Salt Lake City
$525, Vladimir Gogoladze, Georgia
$300, Tatiana Lisenko, Ukraine

-Rachele

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

Date: Mon, 23 Jan 95 14:04:46 EST
From: ***@BBN.COM
Subject: Portland Reese's Cup...

>From Reese's Cup results:
>   Uneven Bars
>1, Dominique Moceanu, Houston, 9.75, $2,000

Does this mean that Moceanu is now ineligible for the NCAA?

>>Kathy

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

Date: Thu, 26 Jan 1995 07:17:04 -0700 (MST)
From: ***@rmii.com
Subject: PR: American Cup

McDonald's American Cup and International Mixed Pairs
Date: January 25, 1995
Luan Peszek, Director of Public Relations
Ramonna Robinson, Coordinator of Public Relations

McDonald's American Cup and International Mixed Pairs

WHAT: The McDonald's American Cup and International Mixed Pairs are
two of the most prestigious gymnastics competitions in the world. The
McDonald's American Cup is a two day all-around competition. The top
eight competitors in preliminaries advance to the finals on Saturday
to determine the all-around champions. The International Mixed Pairs
competition combines one man and one woman to compete as a pair.
There are three rounds of competition. All pairs compete in the first
round, narrowing to eight pairs in round two and only three pairs
compete in the third and final round to determine the champions.

WHEN: McDonald's American Cup Preliminaries, March 2, 7:00 p.m.
McDonald's American Cup Finals, March 4, 11:30 a.m.
International Mixed Pairs, March 5, 2:00 p.m.

WHERE: Seattle  Center Arena, Mercer and Republican Streets, Seattle,
Washington 98109. (206)684-7334

WHO: McDonald's American Cup--The top gymnasts in the world have been
invit ed to compete including Dominique Dawes, 1994 USA National
Champion; USA's Shannon Miller, 1993 and 1994 World Champion; Belarus'
Vitaly Scherbo, six-time gold medalist from the 1992 Olympic Games and
1993 World Champion; Russia's Svetlana Khorkina, 1994 World
Championships bronze medalist; Romania's Gina Gogean, all-around
silver medalist from the 1993 World Championships; Germany's Valeri
Belenki, fourth all-around at the 1994 World Championships; as well as
USA athletes Mihai Bagiu, Scott Keswick, Steve McCain, John
Roethlisberger, Bill Roth, Mary Beth Arnold, Amanda Borden, Dominique
Moceanu, Kerri Strug, Doni Thompson, and Jennie Thompson.

International Mixed Pairs--The same foreign athletes from above plus
USA National Team Members. Selection of the American athletes will be
determined after Men's Winter Cup Challenge (Jan. 27-28) and Women's
Pan American Games Team Trials (Feb. 16-18).

COUNTRIES: The following 16 countries have been invited to
participate: Argentina, Belarus, Canada, China, Cuba, Spain, France,
Germany, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Romania, Russia, Ukraine and
the United States.

TICKETS: Available at all Ticketmaster outlets and by phone 206-628-0888.

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

Date: Thu, 26 Jan 1995 10:25:57 -0700 (MST)
From: ***@asu.edu
Subject: PR: American Cup

> McDonald's American Cup and International Mixed Pairs
> Date: January 25, 1995
> Luan Peszek, Director of Public Relations
> Ramonna Robinson, Coordinator of Public Relations
>
> McDonald's American Cup and International Mixed Pairs
>
(bunch o' stuff deleted)

> Vitaly Scherbo, six-time gold medalist from the 1992 Olympic Games and
> 1993 World Champion; Russia's Svetlana Khorkina, 1994 World
> Championships bronze medalist

Actually she didn't win a bronze.  She won two silvers (vault and bars).
Not to be picky or anything, but hoping it will be right in the
program.

Amanda

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

Date: Thu, 26 Jan 1995 07:18:01 -0700 (MST)
From: ***@rmii.com
Subject: PR: Rhythmic Pan Am Trials

1995 RHYTHMIC GYMNASTICS CHALLENGE/PAN AM GAMES TRIALS
Date: January 25, 1995
Luan Peszek, Director of Public Relations
Ramonna Robinson, Coordinator of Public Relations

Seventeen of the top U.S. rhythmic gymnasts in the country will
compete February 11-12 at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado
Springs, Colo., during the 1995 Rhythmic Gymnastics Challenge.

This event is one of the most important national competitions of the
year for rhythmic gymnastics. It will determine national team
rankings, assignments to international competitions and distribution
of training funds to help offset training expenses. In addition, the
top two seniors in the all-around competition will earn the right to
compete at the Pan American Games in Mar del Plata, Argentina, March
4-19. The USA Rhythmic Group team will also compete in the Pan
American Games and will be tra ining at the U.S. Olympic Training
Center during the Rhythmic Challenge.

Two-time World Championships Team Member and 1992 Olympian Tamara
Levinson, from Silver Spring, Md., will attempt to defend her Rhythmic
Challenge title from 1994. Levinson will be challenged by Caroline
Hunt from Winnetka, Ill., and Jessica Davis, f rom San Anselmo, Calif.

1994 Junior National Champion Natalie Lacuesta, from Skokie, Ill.,
will attempt to defend her title in the junior division, as well.  The
junior athletes will compete rope, hoop, clubs and ribbon while the
senior athletes will compete rope, ball, clubs and ribbon.  "This is
always a great competition," said USA Gymnastics Rhythmic Program
Director Nora Campbell. "All of the athletes come into the Rhythmic
Challenge with new and more difficult skills and they push each other
to higher levels."

The competition begins at 2:00 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday at the
Sports Center. General admission is $2 and tickets can be purchased at
the door.

# # #

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

Date: Sat, 21 Jan 1995 22:11:34 -0700 (MST)
From: ***@rmii.com
Subject: Reese's competitors

Well, I don't know any results, but in an AP wire report, it listed
the following as a few of the competitors for the Reese's Cup in
Portland:

   -- Svetlana Boguinskaia of Belarus
   -- Oksana Chusovitinia of Uzbekistan
   -- Tatiana Lisenko of Ukraine
   -- Dmitri Bilozerchev of Russia
   -- Vladimir Gogoladze of Georgia
   -- Valentin Moguilnyi of Russia
   -- Vladimir Novikov of Kazakhstan

For the USA, there's Wendy Bruce, Paul O'Neill, and I think
Roethlisberger (they didn't refer to him as a competitor, but quoted
him a lot about how this competition was pressure free, playing to the
crowd, etc etc).

Rachele

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

Date: Sun, 22 Jan 1995 22:59:07 -0800
From: ***@teleport.com
Subject: Reeses Cup Report - the show

Reeses Cup International Gymnastics Cup  -  Portland Oregon  1/21/95

5000 enthusiastic fans enjoyed 3 1/2 hours of show and high level
gymnastics.  16 international
gymnasts competed for $50,000 of individual prize money in this
entertainment.  All routines were
done to music and with at least a costume charade before each performance. 
Three judges scored
the performances on a 1-3 scale for difficulty/combinations; execution; and
Exercise presentation. 
In addition up to 1 point could be gained for bonus.  There was no vault or
all around and not all
gymnasts competed every event.

SCORES and COMPETITORS
                       Floor           Horse           Rings           Pbar            Hbar
        Valentin Moguilny       Rus      9.55             9.90              
8.70              9.75             9.60
Scott Keswick                       USA    9.65             9.10           
9.50              9.65              9.50
Dmitri Bilozerchev                 Rus      9.45             9.70              
9.20              9.80              9.25
Chris Waller                 USA    9.40             9.60               9.40     
        9.25              9.40
John Roethlisberger                USA    9.70             9.00              
9.30              9.00              9.70
Vladimir Novikov             Kzk      9.50             9.30              
9.00              9.50              9.30
Vladimir Gogoladze                 Geo         9.45             9.20             
dnc               9.10              9.20
Paul O'Neill                 USA    9.80            dnc               9.70       
       dnc              dnc

                        Bars        Beam        Floor
Dominique Moceanu USA   9.75        9.55        9.65
Oksana Chusovitina                    Uzb 9.40        9.70        9.70
Wendy Bruce       USA   9.20        9.45        9.20
Missy Marlow            USA   9.10        9.05        9.00
Svetlana Boguinskaia    Blr   dnc         9.80        9.75
Amanda Borden                       USA   9.40        dnc         9.90
Tatiana Lisenko                     Ukr   dnc         8.95        9.00
Jaycie Phelps           USA   dnc         8.90        dnc

I watched the meet from the floor as a volunteer at the scoring table. 
Rather than embarrass my
gymnast daughter, I will let you watch the "Wide World of Sports" telecast
on April 1st. 
However I will try to give some flavor of the "show". 

MENS FLOOR -  John Roethlisberger stole the show dancing with a partner
(life size doll) tied to
his arms and legs.  Scott Keswick did a very entertaining "Charlie Chaplin"
take off, complete with
duck walk.  Paul O'Neill performed in a guerrilla suit (not the best
execution, but marvelous that he
could execute at all).  Hopefully the TV will also show Vladimir Gogoladze
and his coach as the
"Blues Brothers" and Dmitri Bilozerchev as the old decrepit man with a cane

UNEVEN BARS -  a pair of cats, black for Dominique Moceanu (Who showed
remarkable poise
and showwomanship for a 13 year old) and gold for Amanda Borden, led the
way.  The show
stopper was Wendy Bruce arriving on a "cherry" Harley Hog and swinging to
"Born to be Wild".

HORSE - Valentin Moguilny received perfect 3s in each category plus .9 bonus
for his enactment
of a tired horseless traveler who finds a "horse".  Dmitri Bilozerchev
portrayed a "Good 'Ole Boy"
sleeping under the horse, complete with straw hat and farmer john jeans, 
Chris Waller after
Oriental homage to his bunny master kept "going and going and going" to the
Everready
commercial.

BALANCE BEAM - Classic Boguinskaia performance with added attraction of a
toreador
costume.  Oksana Chusovitina was the most colorful performer in a multi hued
and patterned
outfit and Dominique Moceanu played to he "Darlin" image very well.  (The
only boos of the
night were for her score which the crowd deemed too low - although she
scored with Svetlana and
Oksana on difficulty and execution.)

RINGS - Paul O'Neill, as "Spider Man" got full credit for difficulty and
presentation and received
1.0 in bonus.  His Olympic Maltese Cross looked impossible even in the
overhead replay.  Scott
Keswick was the prototype surfer while Chris Waller demonstrate "Pop Eye's"
gymnastic abilities. 
Also you may see John Roethlisberger as a chain carrying street gangster,
complete with dry ice
fog below the rings.

P BARS - Valentin Moguilny dominated with his skill and his presentation of
a "swell" on the
town, complete with bow tie.  He also did a second dismount, a 1 1/2.  Scott
Keswick was one of
several flintstone presentations for the night.  Dmitri Bilozerchev stopped
the show with his Heart
covered boxer shorts.

WOMENS FLOOR - Amanda Borden portrayed a gum chewing teeny bopper (including
blowing
bubbles at the judges and leaving her gum stuck to the judges table). 
Svetlana, as always,
appeared elegant even in a leather jacket and baseball cap.  Oksana
Chusovitina fiddled with a
scarf headband and Dominique just looked cute (performed wonderfully).

H BAR - John Roethlisberger as Professor Heart Beat gave a lecture on Roll
and Rock before
flying on the bar, ending the routine with a dance with his floor "doll"
partner.  Valentin Moguilny
as the Phantom of the Opera, complete with bat fringes on his black costume
did two release
moves, the second flying straddled over the bar from a giant.

For the gymnastics watch the TV show on April 1st.  This was a different
(and enjoyable) evening
of show and skill.

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

Date: Wed, 25 Jan 1995 19:47:34 -0500
From: ***@aol.com
Subject: Trivia Answers #26-NCAA Individuals

Here are the answers...

Questions submitted by:

#1-Greg
#2-Karen
#3-Mara

1.  Which former US national individual event
champ and Pan Am Gold medalist was the first
to win two individual events in a single NCAA
Championship?

Yumi Mordre

2.   This 1-armed female gymnast from Calgary,
Alberta, Canada competed for Cal. State and had
a Disney movie (called "Lefty") made about her.

Carol Johnson

3.  Which current competitor owns two AA titles
in both the NCAA and USAG National Championships?

John Roethlisberger

*****

Mara

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

Date: Wed, 25 Jan 1995 00:29:52 -0500
From: ***@aol.com
Subject: Trivia Quiz #26-NCAA Individuals

This is going to be the shortest Gymn Trivia Set so far, due to lack of
interest [only two people plus myself submitted questions].

Enjoy, if you even care...

#1-Greg
#2-Karen
#3-Mara

1.  Which former US national individual event
champ and Pan Am Gold medalist was the first
to win two individual events in a single NCAA
Championship?

2.   This 1-armed female gymnast from Calgary,
Alberta, Canada competed for Cal. State and had
a Disney movie (called "Lefty") made about her.

3.  Which current competitor owns two AA titles
in both the NCAA and USAG National Championships?

*****
Answers tommorrow.

Mara

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

Date: Wed, 25 Jan 1995 23:28:10 -0500
From: ***@aol.com
Subject: UF-SE Missouri State

To All:
 The University of Florida's home-opener was an eye-opener as the team nailed
vault and dominated beam en route to the highest score in school history,
defeating SE Missouri State, 194.975-188.25.
 "Pretty cool, huh?" said a grinning Judi Avener, the Gators' head coach. "I
think the kids gotta feel great. This has been a great confidence booster for
everybody."
 Led by the team's three oldest members and supported by a highly touted
freshman class that has been dubbed "The Fantastic Four," the Gators had no
falls and threw much difficulty on beam, scoring a 49.05 on that event, also
a school record.
 Perhaps the most unique routine of the night was that of Gator Freshman
Sybil Stephenson, who on bars threw a giant-full to a high Gienger and then
followed that with a Healy-twirl off the high bar to a handstand on the low
bar.
 "I had a hard time getting to sleep last night," Stephenson said after the
meet. "I don't know how many times I went through a routine in my head."
 The Otahkians had particularly evident difficulty on bars, where virtually
every gymnast threw a giant-full to a big release move. Renae Parr's routine
caught the attention of the crowd as she combined two giant-fulls to a
Deltchev and then dismounted with the seldom-seen double-twist. The Otahkians
also threw two, 10.00-rated vaults: a handspring-front with-a-half (by Kate
Farrington) and a full-on, 1 1/2-off (by Vanessa Simmons).
 All-American Gator Kristen Guise won the all-around with a 39.5, yet another
school record. She also won the bars and beam titles with identical scores of
9.925 and the floor title with a 9.9. The vaulting title went to SE Missouri
State's Simmons and Gators Amy Myerson and Colleen Johnson at 9.775.
 The announced attendance was 1,700 in what is believed to have been the
first Tuesday meet in Gator history.

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

Date: Thu, 26 Jan 1995 17:47:39 -0500
From: ***@aol.com
Subject: UF-SE Missouri State

(I sent this a day ago and AOL told me that the ASCII was messed up and it
didn't send. I'm sending it again, hopeful that you all don't get it twice.)

To All:
 The University of Florida's home-opener was an eye-opener as the team nailed
vault and dominated beam en route to the highest score in school history,
defeating SE Missouri State, 194.975-188.25.
 "Pretty cool, huh?" said a grinning Judi Avener, the Gators' head coach. "I
think the kids gotta feel great. This has been a great confidence booster for
everybody."
 Led by the team's three oldest members and supported by a highly touted
freshman class that has been dubbed "The Fantastic Four," the Gators had no
falls and threw much difficulty on beam, scoring a 49.05 on that event, also
a school record.
 Perhaps the most unique routine of the night was that of Gator Freshman
Sybil Stephenson, who on bars threw a giant-full to a high Gienger and then
followed that with a Healy-twirl off the high bar to a handstand on the low
bar.
 "I had a hard time getting to sleep last night," Stephenson said after the
meet. "I don't know how many times I went through a routine in my head."
 The Otahkians had particularly evident difficulty on bars, where virtually
every gymnast threw a giant-full to a big release move. Renae Parr's routine
caught the attention of the crowd as she combined two giant-fulls to a
Deltchev and then dismounted with the seldom-seen double-twist. The Otahkians
also threw two, 10.00-rated vaults: a handspring-front with-a-half (by Kate
Farrington) and a full-on, 1 1/2-off (by Vanessa Simmons).
 All-American Gator Kristen Guise won the all-around with a 39.5, yet another
school record. She also won the bars and beam titles with identical scores of
9.925 and the floor title with a 9.9. The vaulting title went to SE Missouri
State's Simmons and Gators Amy Myerson and Colleen Johnson at 9.775.
 The announced attendance was 1,700 in what is believed to have been the
first Tuesday meet in Gator history.

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

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