GYMN-L Digest - 5 Aug 1995 to 6 Aug 1995 - Special issue
There
are 28 messages totalling 1023 lines in this
issue.
Topics in this special issue:
1. computer
games and books
2. pictures on WWW pages (2)
3. Gymnastics Team Championship of
US?
4. TV coverage (5)
5. US Championships & Olympic Fest
(2)
6. <No subject
given>
7. Fwd: Re: best biography / children's books?
8. TV COVERAGE (2)
9. INCIDENTS (2)
10. Where's Gordon?
11. TV Coverage
12. Australian World Trials (RSG)
(2)
13. Trivia
Questions.........
14. 94
Worlds signed posters (2)
15.
Gymnastics books
16. Three per
country rule (2)
17. QLD State
Champs
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Sun, 6 Aug 1995 13:05:10
EST-11
From: ***@DISINFORMATION.BF.RMIT.EDU.AU
Subject:
Re: computer games and books
Years ago I had a Sega game called Summer
Olympics, or something like
that. It had gym on it but only girls
vault. The only skills I
could get the gymnast to do were variations on a handspring
or 1/2
turn on back salto
off. I think the most difficult
skill I ever made
my gymnast do was a 1/2 on,
double back salto with a full twist off!!
It
was a pretty hopeless game. Even
when my gymnast stuck her
landing, she'd get
anything from a 7.0 to a 9.0.
Long live SimCity2000!!!!
Re
gym books, I also remember "The Rascals from Haskals
Gym". It was
one of my favourite books in my
early teens. I've also read a
book
about Nadia published in early 1977, but I
can't remember what it was
called.
Simone.
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 5 Aug 1995 23:52:22
-0400
From: ***@AOL.COM
Subject:
Re: pictures on WWW pages
>Also, check it out,
we now have a gif of Chris Lamorte next to Yang
>Bo. Both on their best
events (rings, beam).
>
>Rachele
Very
nice! I'm glad to see that men's
gymnastics has a been
included in the opening
images. This serves as a great
reminder
to everybody who accesses the page that
men's gymnastics is
just as important as women's
gymnastics. Now, it seems that
RSG
is being left out. Any plans for a
3rd opening image, Rachele?
Tige
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 6 Aug 1995 00:23:03
-0400
From: ***@AOL.COM
Subject:
Re: Gymnastics Team Championship of US?
>Do you think that a
gymnastics team championship of the US would go over?
If it could
happen, it would have happened at either USAIGC or Buckeye. It
only
'close to' happened at Buckeye in '91 (??).
Too many egos and profits
involved.
Just MHO,
Mara
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 6 Aug 1995 00:08:35
-0500
From: ***@VIPER.NET
Subject:
Re: pictures on WWW pages
I must say that was a very nice set of
pictures also! I think that both
men and
womans
gymnastics should be looked at a little more seriously!! We know that
people
in this forum do but we need to get the rest of the world to!
Michele
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 6 Aug 1995 00:00:43
-0700
From: ***@ACCESSNV.COM
Subject:
Re: TV coverage
>
With another US Championship coming up, and thinking about last
>
week's brief thread about USOF TV coverage, I'll ask
again what people would
> like to see done for
their gymn TV coverage...how much to get in, too
>
much/too little commentary (and by who), how to show
more competitors, etc.
>
Let's first look at a week of Sports
in TV Guide:(all in hours)
Auto Racing-46.5, Baseball-71.5, Basketball-2,
Volleyball-11, Bike
Racing-6.5, Bowling-4.5, Boxing-7, Equestrian-3,
Football-17, Golf-14.5,
Horse Racing-4, Karate-3, Motorcyle
Racing-6, Rodeo-5, Roller Hockey-8.5,
Soccer-15.5, Softball-5.5,
Surfing-5.5, Tennis-20.5, Wrestling-5.5
I'm not saying that we
need to reduce coverage of these fine sports, my
point
is that on a weekly bas is even Roller Hockey gets 8.5 hours of
coverage. Would
it be so bad to cover (completely) the 10 or so big
meets
that we have each year. (Not the 45 min. junk we're getting now).
The best
time I had watching gymnastics is when I got the triple cast
during the 92 Olympics.
I had the whole team over to my house and we
were
having a ball being able to watch whole routines of everyone
competing. If
even Surfing can get 5 hours a week surely gymnastics
should
fit in there somewhere.
Greg
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 6 Aug 1995 09:42:12
-0500
From: ***@VIPER.NET
Subject:
Re: TV coverage
Exactly my point..... there is sports out there that get alot
more coverage than
gymnastics and no matter who
you talk to they love watching the routines of
these
girls, whether they have a child in it or they know someone in it, or they
are a competitor themselves.
There is alot of reruns of sports programs where they could be
placing a
gymnastics meet.
If everyone in
this forum would email, call or write their local TV station and
tell them how they feel maybe this can change. I wonder if petitions are in
order here to help get the point across.
Michele
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 6 Aug 1995 12:05:57
-0400
From: ***@AOL.COM
Subject:
US Championships & Olympic Fest
Dear Gymners,
I'm
going to be out of town, away from the vcr
and the ever so popular record
button, (and of
course the computer) and I'm going to be gone during
Championships :-( I
was wondering if someone could tape both days of coverage
for me, and then send me the tape. I'd really appreciate it
a lot, and I'd
pay for postage & stuff, too.
If you would be willing to do this for me, just
e
mail me. Thanks in advance!! BTW, does anyone know if Tanya Maiers
is going
to compete or not????
Jessica
PS--I'm
still looking for womens coverage of the olympic festival...either
prime or cbs, or both. I will pay
for postage, and any other expenses. If you
can
help me, e mail. Thanks!!!!
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 6 Aug 1995 11:07:25
-0500
From: ***@VIPER.NET
Subject:
Re: US Championships & Olympic Fest
When and where will it be
aired??
Michele
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 6 Aug 1995 13:14:04
-0700
From: ***@IX.NETCOM.COM
Subject:
<No subject given>
Does anyone have any gymnastics posters other
than the ones in IG that
they got at a store? If
you have one, where did you get it. I have
about 7 big ones from IG and A LOT of small ones from Gym
Stars. I also
got a Shannon Miller one at some
stand. Thanks!!!
Margi :)
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 6 Aug 1995 13:17:21
-0700
From: ***@IX.NETCOM.COM
Subject:
Fwd: Re: best biography / children's books?
What
is the title of the book that Mary Lou and Bela wrote
together? It
sounds cool. Thanks :)
Margi:)
---------------------------Resonding to--------------------------------
I
read the book Mary Lou and Bela wrote together and it
was
forgettable. It
was
more about being a champion than it was about gymnastics. I prefer
when
they discuss what it's
like to train and learn skills and what it's
like
to
compete. That's more what Tim's book was
about.
Bye,
P.S. I've started taking a new adult gymnastics
class and it's such a
blast.
I wish it were
every day.
Orion
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 6 Aug 1995 16:30:54
-0400
From: ***@AOL.COM
Subject:
Re: TV coverage
I would love to see more coverage of gymnastics, but I
have to give the
networks credit for, in my
opinion, at least making an effort.
In the past
year they've broadcast the
Goodwill Games, Nationals, World Team Trials,
World Championships, American
Cup, Mixed Pairs, Nadia's Return to Romania,
Kodak Invitational, Visa
Challenge, JO Naitonals, Budget Rent-a-Car,
European
Championships, and two exibitions. Those are just the ones I taped--I
know
there were others. Really, besides maybe the U.S. Classic,
what else is
there that would attract a wide
audience? The gymnatics
community is very
small--they have to consider the
interests of the casual observer as well.
Also, the networks can't put on these
shows without advertising dollars, so
I think a push for better marketing
(filling the stands at the Budget
Rent-a-Car would have helped) is perhaps
a better solution than just telling
the networks,
"We want more gymnastics."
Not that that isn't a great idea,
but it
will take more than that.
I don't really have too many complaints
about the number of competitions that
are aired,
but, rather, how long they are on.
Nationals is the most
frustrating for
me. I read last year where NBC said
they only put 2 hours of
coverage on because of
time constraints, but I think they should give at
least
another hour of both AA and EF coverage.
I know they can't show
everyone, but there
have got to be some routines by non-medalist that they
can
sneak in there. I really don't see
what problem they could have in
showing all of the
event finalists. All they would
have to do is cut out the
time between gymnasts
preparing to perform and just let the tape run. Last
year
it was Dominique and Shannon and little else.
Ann Marie
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 6 Aug 1995 16:29:16
CDT
From: ***@UA1VM.UA.EDU
Subject:
TV COVERAGE
Don't forget billiards coverage on ESPN II, outdoor fly fishing, ESPN Extreme
Games II, etc.
Brenda
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 6 Aug 1995 16:35:50
-0500
From: ***@VIPER.NET
Subject:
Re: TV COVERAGE
That kind of stuff is exactly what I
have been talking about, stuff that most
people have no interest in.... most everyone loves to watch
gymnastics.
Michele
P.S.
Where all on
the net can you find gymnastics stuff????
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 6 Aug 1995 17:51:35
-0400
From: ***@DELPHI.COM
Subject:
INCIDENTS
Yesterday, Lorraine made a
reference to the Christy Henrich,
Adriana Giurca, and Hwang Bo Sil
incidents in her post about "The Fortunate
Few." What happened to Hwang Bo Sil?
Gymnastically yours,
David =]
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 6 Aug 1995 18:27:09
-0400
From: ***@AOL.COM
Subject:
Re: TV coverage
>In the past
year
they've broadcast the Goodwill Games, Nationals, World Team Trials,
World
Championships, American Cup, Mixed Pairs, Nadia's Return to Romania,
Kodak
Invitational, Visa Challenge, JO Naitonals, Budget
Rent-a-Car, European
Championships<
Actually it was the 95
European *Cup* they showed and NOT the Euro
Championships. There was no coverage of the 94 European
Championships on
American networks for the first time in awhile. ABC has showed it the past
several years (89, 90, 92 etc). I'm sure it should make the roster
in
pre-Olympic 96.
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 6 Aug 1995 18:44:51
-0400
From: ***@BCVMS.BC.EDU
Subject:
Where's Gordon?
Sorry for this public message, but I cannot find his
email address and
would like to thank him very
much for hte tape :)
My apologies to the group,
Amy
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 6 Aug 1995 17:37:24
-24000
From: ***@USAID.GOV
Subject:
TV Coverage
I must agree that it is not so much the number of
competitions that are
shown, but the limited
number of routines provided in a given broadcast. It
seems
that the only decent coverage is provided by cable networks such as
TBS, TNT, HTS, ESPN, etc. NBC is probably the best of the major
networks,
and even then you have to wonder about
who selects which routines to show
(I'm thinking specifically of the '94
Team Worlds). With only so many
major
competitions in a given year, you would
think that it would not be such a
hardship to show
as much of the whole thing as possible.
I have to say that
I would not mind a competition being broadcast at
3:00 am, if it was a
*complete* broadcast.
I
can't say I have any preference as far as commentators---I figure I can
mute someone if they start to annoy me. One thing I would personally like
to
see is the start values of the routines. With
vault, of course, you usually
know, but with the
other events sometimes all you can do is make is an
educated
guess. I can't tell you the number
of times I've watched a
competition with a casual
observer, and he/she will say, "Wow, that was
pretty
well done---why such a low score?", not knowing that every routine
doesn't automatically start at a 10. With a posted SV, you can get a
more
accurate sense of how a routine was scored,
and would be more enlighting both
to the serious fan and the general public.
Another
thing that would be great is a snippet reel of new and/or outstanding
skills, similiar to what is done
in IG. I, for one, would love to
actually
see Chris LaMorte's
ring routine, or Ajaz Pegan's
Gaylord 1/2, or that Korean
Guy's (sorry, forgot the name) handspring 2 1/2
twists(!).
Something like
that could easily be
integrated in the program, and perhaps we could get,
say,
a few less instant replays.
ge
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 6 Aug 1995 18:58:17 -0400
From: ***@AOL.COM
Subject:
Australian World Trials (RSG)
Results (from the AAP) ...
Sr. Optionals:
1-Kasumi Takahashi (Victoria)
35.900
2-Kristy Darrah (WA) 35.550
3-Leigh Marning (NSW)
35.550
4-N. Inokai (NSW) 34.750
5-K. Mitchell
(NSW) 33.650
6-C. Manners (Vic) 30.800
7-T. Smith (NSW) 30.150
Jr.
Optionals:
1-S. Johnson (NSW) 30.900
2-T. Vahala (WA) 30.025
3-A. Grey (NSW) 29.850
4-D. Leray (NSW)
29.350
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The
meet was held in Melbourne August 6th and the AAP says that ...
"Freezing
conditions in the competition venue
contributed to mistakes by all
gymnasts." (remember it's
winter there)
The top three Sr's (Takahashi,
Marning, and Darrah) make
up the world team
for Vienna, Austria (September
19-24).
Marning is the Nat'l champ
(Takahashi, who lives and trains in LA, did not
compete
at that meet) and Darrah was the runner up.
Takahashi
entered the Sr. RSG ranks last year by winning the Commonwealth
Games. For
the victory the AGF
named her "Gymnast of the Year." Here at the
trials she had the two highest scores of the meet (9.25 on
clubs and 9.15 on
rope).
Darrah had the highest ball score (9.1) and Marning got a mmet
high 9.0 with
the ribbon.
~Susan
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 6 Aug 1995 18:08:58
-0600
From: ***@ZEPHYR.MEDCHEM.PURDUE.EDU
Subject:
Trivia Questions.........
Triva
Questions:
The topic for this series was "he/she should have
but for......". implying
that a gymnast could have won something but didn't due to
the fact that
there were errors or politicing, etc. Hope these are fun and my thanks to
Lori
and Brenda for their input. There are 25 questions.
Jeff
We
can thank Brenda (***@UA1VN.UA.EDU) for the following questions:
1)
Who was the gymnast who was robbed "twice" at the 1980 Olympics?
First
she fell off the uneven bars which knocked
her down to sixth place. Later
she was in a
position to win the all-around again. Despite a half-hour of
arguing about the score, she had to settle for second place
as a tie. Who
is this gymnast?
2)What East German gymnast came close to winning a gold
medal, i.e. second
all-around missing the gold by
.5 points at the '77 World Cup, was second
in
vaulting at the '79 Worlds, and tied for second on the bars at the '80
Olympics
but never won a gold medal in competing.
3) What East German
Gymnast was the "mistress of the uneven bars" but
won only one major all-around title when she competed from
the late '70's
to the mid '80's
4)
The US nearly won an Olympic team medal in this Olympics but for a point
deduction. Name the Olympics and the type of deduction.
Bonus: Name the
official who assessed the
deduction.
5) In the 1960 Olympics gymnastics
was dominated by this country as it never
has
been and probably never will be again. This country won every medal but
one. Name this country. Name the gymnast, country and the
event and the medal
she won.
6) Why did
Natalia Kot of Poland win the 1963 European
Championships?
These came from Lori (***@interacive.net)
7)
This east german was second
to Olga Mostepanova at the '84 alternate games
after she lost her grip after a release on bars. She later came back to win
that event in finals with a perfect 20.0.
8) She
would Have made the '84 US olympic
team but sprained an ankle while
vaulting and
scratched from the meet.
9) This future Romanian star finished fourth
AA behind three Soviets in the '84
jr
Europeans after falling on both vaults.
10) Name the THREE Romanians
that were forced to withdraw from the '77 European
Championships
during the beam final. They
qualified in 1st, 2nd, and 7th.
Misc
(me)
11)This gymnast qualified in first place
for BB in '81, but went overtime
and didn't get a
medal.
12) When this gymnast missed both attempts at a HB release move
on his final
event, he missed the 1988 US Olympic
Team.
14) This gymnast should have won the 1983 Europeans, but fell
off BB and had
to settle for 3rd.
15) She
settled for an Olympic silver because she landed a
double flyway
on all fours in the team optionals.
16) Despite scoring a 10.0 in team optionals on floor, she didn't qualify for
the event finals since two team mates had a higher
preliminary average than
her in '87.
17)
She royaly missed her beam dismount and landed on her
head and missed a
medal at the '78 Worlds in her
last AA event.
18) A fall from UB caused this prelimary
AA leader to land out of the
AA medals in '78.
19) She hopped on a
full-in off UB and went from 1st to 3rd AA '92.
20)
She was the compulsory
leader, a medal winner from '80, and the
heir
apparent to the gymnastics world in '81, but couldn't compete
floor and didn't qualify for AA.
21) He was
the defending world AA and an Olympic Champion but injuried
his ankle
a week prior to worlds and could not
compete floor in the Worlds AA. He also
simply
dismount rings, his last event, by just dropping off (no dismount.)
22)
This american placed 6th in
preliminaries but fell off BB in AA finals to
drop
out of the top ten in '88.
23) This gymnast stepped out of bounds on
floor (her first event) in her
second junior european champs, but battled back to win the AA
bronze.
24) She could have finished with an AA medal, but she injured
her leg on BB
during the team competition in '88
and had to withdraw from the meet.
25) This gymnast, known for her
incredible tumbling abilities, landed
her layout
half in half out out of bounds and couldn't medal in
Barcelona.
Hope these were fun.
Jeff
Peace
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 7 Aug 1995 09:28:05
+1000
From: ***@STUDENT.GU.EDU.AU
Subject:
Re: Australian World Trials (RSG)
> The meet was held in Melbourne
August 6th and the AAP says that ... "Freezing
> conditions
in the competition venue contributed to
mistakes by all
> gymnasts." (remember it's winter there)
It was held in a
netball centre, which probably didn't help!
>
Takahashi entered the Sr. RSG ranks last year by winning the Commonwealth
>
Games. For the victory the AGF named her "Gymnast of the
Year." Here at the
> trials she had the
two highest scores of the meet (9.25 on clubs and 9.15 on
> rope).
Eek, how do I put this.......I
saw a little of the meet on a sports show,
and
have to say that Kasumi didn't look that great. She's put on weight
since last year, and it's quite noticable. She was interviewed
afterwards, and said is hoping to qualify for Olympics, by
placing top 50
in the Worlds. Australia has drawn pool C or D, which
the AGF believes
will make it difficult.
It
was also mentioned in an interveiw yesterday, that
the Australian mens
team
is on track to qualify for Atlanta, with it's strongest team ever,
but that the womens team isn't as
strong as 91. Even so, they're
hopeful
of placing top 12 in Sabae.
Michelle
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 7 Aug 1995 02:34:55
+0000
From: ***@TPONE.TELEPAC.PT
Subject:
Re: INCIDENTS
I just want to answer to David <***@DELPHI.COM>
signature:
>Gymnastically yours,
>David =]
>
>I
GET UP BEFORE THE MILKMAN.
- You bet. You are the one who gives the
milk to the milkman.
>
>I CONDITION TILL MY BODY ACHES
>AND
BEGS ME TO STOP.
- Big deal. Your body is not to
exigent.
>
>MY COACH PUSHES ME TO KEEP
>GOING. JUST ONE MORE.
-
What do you do you expect? you have just arrived.
>
>I
REPEAT MY SKILLS UNTIL I CAN
>DO THEM IN MY SLEEP.
- Now you
know why you are having those nightmares.
>
>MY DEDICATION
OVERRULES MY PAIN.
- I beleive you just
dedicate yourself to pain.
>
>IF YOU THINK I'M LEAVING THE
GYM
>BEFORE MY GOALS ARE ACCOMPLISHED,
>YOU'RE WRONG.
-
Well, make mistakes is only human. Sorry about that.
>
>GYMNASTICS
IS MY LIFE!
- Where I come from we have a saying:
E PRECISO TER CALMA, NAO DAR O CORPO PELA ALMA.
In english:
BE COOL, DONT GIVE
YOUR BODY FOR YOUR SOUL.
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 7 Aug 1995 10:34:04
+1000
From: ***@STUDENT.GU.EDU.AU
Subject:
94 Worlds signed posters
On Sun, 6 Aug 1995, Martie
wrote:
> Does anyone have any gymnastics posters other than the
ones in IG that
> they got at a store? If you
have one, where did you get it.
Ok, if anyone
is interesed, the Queensland Gymnastics Federation,
has
about a hundred 20 by 28 inch glossy colour posters from Brisbane Worlds,
that
have been signed by EVERY gymnast (male and female) who competed.
The
poster was the 'Kate and Katchev' one, which had the
mascots on BB &
rings, and inset colour photos of the top 3 AA, mens
and womens from 93
Worlds in
Birmingham.
Quite simply the posters are awesome, and when I
saw them for sale
Saturday, I was shocked that there were any left (only
1000 were printed,
and each is numbered - a real
collectors item, and the best bit of gym
memorabilia
I've found!)
Anyway, they cost $12 Australian dollars, and since our
dollar is only
worth about .72 US cents, thats about US $8.50.
I don't know if the QGA
will mail them
overseas, but if enough people are interested I'll ring
the
QGA and ask them about overseas postage costs. (If they don't want
to do it, I might orgainise
it?)
Also left over from Brisbane Worlds, are more than 20 T-shirts in
sizes
16 to 22 (white with either blue or green logo), which are only
$11
Australian or approx US $8. They also have the large street
banners
(which any of you who were here will
remember!), which are selling for
$50 (or US $36). These are probably larger than a bedroom
door, so
unless you're a die-hard gym fan, these
are probably best for gyms etc.
Anyway, please E-mail me if you are intested and I'll get in touch with
the
QGA about postage costs. Then I'll
post you with the details and QGA
address.
Michelle
P.S. I'm not sure what the forum rules are on
selling stuff? If I've
broken any, please tell me, and I'll do any further posting
by private
E-mail. (The fact
that I'm not an employee of the QGA and won't make any
money
out of this may make it OK?)
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 7 Aug 1995 10:41:21
+1000
From: ***@STUDENT.GU.EDU.AU
Subject:
Re: Gymnastics books
Hi everyone,
I've got to agree with
Sherwin's comments about 'The Fortunate Few'. I
read it
before I became interested in gym (it was on our grade 6 reading
list), and though that was 9 years ago, I still remember the
name of the
girl who dies (Beth). It's completely unrealistic, and
basically a
professional sports story, written
about gymnastics.......(I mean, the
fact that it
has England challenging the Soviets as the best in the world
should tell it all - and it's the 70's!)
I remember
2 gym books I read as a kid that were alot
better. They were
english also and written by Shelia
Haigh. I
thin the title of the title
of the first one was
'the little gymnast', and the second one
'somersaults',
but that's a total guess, since it's been a while since
I've read a childrens fiction story!!!
Michelle
>
> Has anybody else on this list ever read a book called "The
Fortunate
> > Few" by Tim Kennemore
>
>
I have got this book and it really is very unrealistic (at least by
> today's standards). They talk about gymnastics girls only
care about
> money and fame and there are all
sorts of unbelievable stuff such
> as
"gymnastics hooligans" when spectators stab each other with
knives
> during "matches" (they've
set up a professional gymnastics league).
>
> The worst bit is
towards the end when during a match as one of the girls
> was injured and tired, but the coach still insisted on her
going on the
> beam and tried out her big
dismount. She did, but she messed up the
> dismount
and hit her head on the beam and collapsed. The manager of the
> team came up to the coach and asked how it was, the coach
replied that
> it was alright, since she had
done enough with her exercise that their
> team
had won the match! The girl died...
>
> Right at the end, the
main character, who was a team mate of the dead
>
girl, was offered a large sum of money to keep this
matter secret (the
> fact that the coach forced
the girl onto the beam which caused her
> death),
and she accepted the money!
>
> I think this is not a good book
at all (to put it mildly) and I'm glad
> that
people can't readily get it now in the bookshops since any young
> girl who want to be in gymnastics will certainly think twice
if they
> believe anything that is written in
this book! It's got an innocent
> enough cover
and title "The Fortunate Few"... it should belong in the
> crime/fantasy section!
>
> Sherwin
>
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 7 Aug 1995 11:22:35
+1000
From: ***@STUDENT.GU.EDU.AU
Subject:
Re: Three per country rule
Had to add a couple of comments:
On
Fri, 4 Aug 1995, Brenda wrote:
> I always had a hard time with
the
> constant trumpeting that was done after
Mary Lou won the Gold in '84. Only
> after I
saw her in exhibition did I finally feel maybe she would have had
> some kind of impact if it was a non-boycotted Olympics? Does
anyone have an
> opinion.
Yes, Retton would have had no impact on the 84 Olympics. In fact no one
would
have known she was there. Her
gymnastics still gives me
nightmares, and the fact
that Americans are dumb enough to believe that
she
could have medalled against the Soviets makes me laugh! She was an
awful
gymnast, and Mostepanova, Yurchenko
et al, would have walked all
over her - by the end
of the meet she would've been licking their feet.
I'm sorry if this
annoys those of you Retton fans, I've tried to
keep
insults to a minimum, since I could post
about this all day. But the
fact is, MLR was not a real gymnast - she was a runt with a
big name
coach who happened to strike it
lucky. I mean what were the chances
of
having an Olympics in your home country in
front of a very biased crowd,
the best in the
world can't compete because of politics, AND the only
gymnast
of any standard there (Szabo) has to count a
fall!
Lets face it. The gymnastics
at the 84 Olympics was a write off, and as
far as
I'm concerned didn't exist. No one
outside the US will ever call
MLR an Olympic Champion,
without stressing the word boycott.
And nor
should they, since her chances of
winning a non-boycotted Olympics were 0
in a
million.
Lets re-write the record books now, and pencil in Mostepanova as 84
Olympic Champ, since her victory in
the alternate Olympics, was far more
real than Retton's was!
> Finally, Does anyone know
whatever happened to Natalia Kuchinskaya.
She's now coaching in Japan. I have a photo of her, taken about
1993,
and she looked quite nice. If you've seen the 90 Japanese Juniors
you'll
see her coaching Gutsu,
Galieva, Kotchetkova & Kniznik. She
moved to
Japan soon after that meet.
Michelle
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 6 Aug 1995 21:40:54
-0400
From: ***@UMICH.EDU
Subject:
Re: TV coverage
Hi All:
With regard to TV coverage, I
personally wish that ESPN would cover more
NCAA coverage...I saw them cover
a meet between Alabama and Georgia and
it was
great..i wish I had taped
it...I equally would like more Elite
coverage...Everyone
is right that so many little known sports get
coverage
on ESPN and not us...
Anjel
>
With another US Championship coming up, and thinking about last
>
week's brief thread about USOF TV coverage, I'll ask
again what people would
> like to see done for
their gymn TV coverage...how much to get in, too
>
much/too little commentary (and by who), how to show
more competitors, etc.
>
>
> --
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 7 Aug 1995 12:00:36
+1000
From: ***@STUDENT.GU.EDU.AU
Subject:
QLD State Champs
Our state champs were held yesterday at the Sleeman Sports Complex at
Chandler. A sports hall, that's had the honour of hosting names like
Laschenova,
Shevchenko, Milosovici, Yang Bo, Stobtchatia,
Dawes, Okino,
Lussac......
Enough of the past, the present 2000 &
2004 girls elite squads were in
action, along with
the level 7-10's in mens and womens.
The
2000 junior elites is the only comp I'll mention, since for once
Queensland
actually has the bulk of the nations talent (proven at
Nationals where our
sub-junior girls won half the medals on offer!)
Sarah Drovandi
hasn't lost an AA title this year, thanks to consistent &
polished routines.
But Saturday night, in the first rotation she fell
off BB. During
FX warmups the doctor had to be called over, because
she
was feeling sick. The coach gave her the option to retire,
or take a
panadol and
she refused. In the past I've
watched her and wondered why
she always wins,
since she isn't the most talented junior in the
country. But she showed something else Saturday
night - determination -
who wouldn't have thrown
in the towl when you're felling sick and had
to count a fall?
Amazingly, due to errors on BB & UB from her team mates
she managed to win!
2nd was Kristy Browse. The smallest and youngest of the bunch, who is
the most talented junior
I've seen. She didn't have any
falls, just a
few wobbles on BB. Many are predicting her to be our first
medalist in
2000, but alot can happen in 5
years. Thankfully, she's a really
nice
kid, with terrific parents!
Other
names to look out for in coming years, include Kristy Dobbie,
who
messed up on UB, but won BB & FX. Jessica Auld, who's 9th (and last)
place doesn't match her ability (2 falls on UB, and one on
BB), and Heidi
Picardi, who's BB
is the stuff of dreams - when she hits, as she did on
Saturday. The other kids in the Russian squad
(called that cause all
their coaches are
Russians), are Danica Wood, Cherelle
Martin, Nikki Lee
Hew & Tina Skinner.
Overall
it was an interesting meet, and these girls will head to Adelaide
in a week or two, for national clubs, which double as a
World Champ
training squad selection trial, for
the seniors.
Michelle
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 6 Aug 1995 19:23:16
-0700
From: ***@IX.NETCOM.COM
Subject:
Re: 94 Worlds signed posters
Is anyone as excited about these posters
as I am? I am thrilled to
death. Personally I
would pay about $1000. Okay I am exagerating a
bit,
but that is a good price. I can't
wait!!!!!!!!!!!
Margi :)
-----------------------------------responding to-----------------------
Ok, if anyone is interesed, the Queensland Gymnastics Federation, has
about a hundred 20 by 28 inch glossy colour
posters from Brisbane
Worlds,
that have been
signed by EVERY gymnast (male and female) who competed.
The poster was
the 'Kate and Katchev' one, which had the mascots on
BB
&
rings, and inset colour
photos of the top 3 AA, mens and womens
from 93
Worlds in Birmingham.
Quite
simply the posters are awesome, and when I saw them for sale
Saturday, I
was shocked that there were any left (only 1000 were
printed,
and each is numbered - a real collectors item, and the best
bit of gym
memorabilia I've found!)
Anyway,
they cost $12 Australian dollars, and since our dollar is only
worth about .72 US cents, thats
about US $8.50. I don't know if
the
QGA
will mail them overseas, but if enough
people are interested I'll ring
the QGA and ask
them about overseas postage costs.
(If they don't want
to do it, I might orgainise it?)
Also left over from Brisbane
Worlds, are more than 20 T-shirts in sizes
16 to 22 (white with either
blue or green logo), which are only $11
Australian or approx US $8.
They also have the large street banners
(which
any of you who were here will remember!), which are selling for
$50 (or US $36).
These are probably larger than a bedroom door, so
unless
you're a die-hard gym fan, these are probably best for gyms etc.
Anyway,
please E-mail me if you are intested and I'll get in
touch with
the QGA about postage costs. Then I'll post you with the details
and
QGA
address.
Michelle
P.S. I'm not sure what the forum rules are on
selling stuff? If I've
broken any, please tell me, and I'll do any further posting
by private
E-mail. (The fact
that I'm not an employee of the QGA and won't make
any
money out of this may make it OK?)
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 6 Aug 1995 19:39:26
-0700
From: ***@IX.NETCOM.COM
Subject:
Re: Three per country rule
I am not trying to be rude because you are
allowed to have your own
opinion but I believe
that Mary Lou Retton won the gold fairly. THe
Soviets weren't there but remember the Romanians
were. That includes
Ectaterina Szabo who had as much of a chance as anyone but had an
error
when it counted.
Sure Natalia Yurchenko might have been able to beat her but the
point
is that she didn't and she wasn't competing
there. Let's say that Roza
Galieva
competed in the all around instead of Tatiana and Shannon won
the gold medal, would you claim that Shannon didn't deserve
it because
her competition wasn't there? Let's
stop playing "what if" games. Mary
Lou deserved the gold. Many
people thought that Svetlana Bog. would
have won the gold medal (92)but since she messed up she
didn't. Who
knows. Yurchenko
could have messed up too and mary
Lou Retton would
have
still won the gold medal.
Mary Lou's gymnastics is great. She nailed all of
her routines when it
counted and the others
didn't. Maybe if Yurchenko was there Mary Lou
wouldn't have won but she wasn't there and mary Lou *did* win and she
has
the medal and Yurchenko *doesn't*.
Sorry if this
sounds like a mean letter but yours wasn;t
so friendly
either. Remember Katie Dyson? People
don't like to be critisized and
have all of their faults and :what ifs" pointed out.
Let's just *hope*
Mary Lou isn't subscribed.
Thanks,
Margi
:)
------------------------------responding
to----------------------------
Had to add a couple of comments:
>
I always had a hard time with the
> constant
trumpeting that was done after Mary Lou won the Gold in '84.
Only
> after I saw her in exhibition did I finally feel maybe she
would have
had
> some
kind of impact if it was a non-boycotted Olympics? Does anyone
have an
> opinion.
Yes,
Retton would have had no impact on the 84
Olympics. In fact no
one
would have known she was
there. Her gymnastics still gives
me
nightmares, and the fact that Americans are
dumb enough to believe that
she could have
medalled against the Soviets makes me laugh! She was an
awful
gymnast, and Mostepanova, Yurchenko
et al, would have walked all
over her - by the end
of the meet she would've been licking their feet.
I'm sorry if this
annoys those of you Retton fans, I've tried to
keep
insults to a minimum, since I could post
about this all day. But the
fact is, MLR was not a real gymnast - she was a runt with a
big name
coach who happened to strike it
lucky. I mean what were the chances
of
having an Olympics in your home country in
front of a very biased
crowd,
the best in the world can't compete because of politics, AND
the only
gymnast of any standard there (Szabo) has to count a fall!
Lets face it. The gymnastics at the 84 Olympics was a
write off, and
as
far
as I'm concerned didn't exist. No
one outside the US will ever
call
MLR an Olympic Champion, without stressing the word boycott. And nor
should
they, since her chances of winning a non-boycotted Olympics were
0
in a million.
Lets re-write the record books now,
and pencil in Mostepanova as 84
Olympic Champ,
since her victory in the alternate Olympics, was far
more
real than Retton's was!
>
Finally, Does anyone know whatever happened to Natalia Kuchinskaya.
She's
now coaching in Japan. I have a
photo of her, taken about 1993,
and she looked
quite nice. If you've seen the 90
Japanese Juniors
you'll
see
her coaching Gutsu, Galieva,
Kotchetkova & Kniznik. She moved to
Japan
soon after that meet.
Michelle
------------------------------
End
of GYMN-L Digest - 5 Aug 1995 to 6 Aug 1995 - Special issue
***************************************************************