The Sun Was In My Eye
I never thought I would post anything about the pseudosport that is gymnastics, but the latest "controversy" is so annoying that I couldn't resist.
The U.S. Women's Olympic Gymnastics coach is blaming the sport's officials for the girls' failure to capture gold. My response: "buck up".
Her claim is that Sacramone was called to the "don't fall off this skinny rail" (DFOTSR) event and then made to wait so long that she lost her concentration causing her to fall. Her fall subsequently caused her to land on her butt during the next event, "bouncy floor", as well. Oh, by the way, her fall on the DFOTSR also caused all 3 American competitors on bouncy floor to step out of bounds.
Really? Is that really the best reason Karolyi can come up with?
To add more fuel to this not-so-hot bed of controversy, iconic Mr. Karolyi claims that the Chinese girls are under age which gives them an advantage. Now, I'm no gymnastics expert but it seems like 20 yr old gymnasts wouldn't mind competing against 12 year olds. In fact, I can't think of any sport in the world where a 12 year old would have an advantage over a 20 year old. Did we have great 12 year olds waiting in the wings that could have brought home the gold, but because we follow rules so closely we sent our mediocre 20 year olds instead?
The commentators don't do this pseudosport any favors either. They constantly question the scoring of the judges. The judges of course have the opportunity to watch the performance in slow motion before awarding a random number to the performance. For instance, if someone does really fast arm swings while on the DFOTSR they might get some penalty points, but someone who arches their backs during a handstand while on the uneven monkey bars gets bonus points.
Look, I appreciate that what they do is difficult, but let's not call it a sport. It's totally subjective. It's great and beautiful, but it's more of an art form. We don't have speed painting at the Olympics where someone's use of color gets them a gold. I don't understand why we all have to get our panties in a wad and come up with ridiculously lame excuses as to why we didn't get the gold. Let's just acknowledge that the Chinese girls, no matter their age, were better. They didn't fall down as much. Hooray they win the gold for not falling down!
Let me know when they put two girls on the DFOTSR at the same time, give them giant q-tips and tell them to knock each other off, a la American Gladiator. That's a sport with a clear winner, and one I'd be more interested to watch.
The U.S. Women's Olympic Gymnastics coach is blaming the sport's officials for the girls' failure to capture gold. My response: "buck up".
Her claim is that Sacramone was called to the "don't fall off this skinny rail" (DFOTSR) event and then made to wait so long that she lost her concentration causing her to fall. Her fall subsequently caused her to land on her butt during the next event, "bouncy floor", as well. Oh, by the way, her fall on the DFOTSR also caused all 3 American competitors on bouncy floor to step out of bounds.
Really? Is that really the best reason Karolyi can come up with?
To add more fuel to this not-so-hot bed of controversy, iconic Mr. Karolyi claims that the Chinese girls are under age which gives them an advantage. Now, I'm no gymnastics expert but it seems like 20 yr old gymnasts wouldn't mind competing against 12 year olds. In fact, I can't think of any sport in the world where a 12 year old would have an advantage over a 20 year old. Did we have great 12 year olds waiting in the wings that could have brought home the gold, but because we follow rules so closely we sent our mediocre 20 year olds instead?
The commentators don't do this pseudosport any favors either. They constantly question the scoring of the judges. The judges of course have the opportunity to watch the performance in slow motion before awarding a random number to the performance. For instance, if someone does really fast arm swings while on the DFOTSR they might get some penalty points, but someone who arches their backs during a handstand while on the uneven monkey bars gets bonus points.
Look, I appreciate that what they do is difficult, but let's not call it a sport. It's totally subjective. It's great and beautiful, but it's more of an art form. We don't have speed painting at the Olympics where someone's use of color gets them a gold. I don't understand why we all have to get our panties in a wad and come up with ridiculously lame excuses as to why we didn't get the gold. Let's just acknowledge that the Chinese girls, no matter their age, were better. They didn't fall down as much. Hooray they win the gold for not falling down!
Let me know when they put two girls on the DFOTSR at the same time, give them giant q-tips and tell them to knock each other off, a la American Gladiator. That's a sport with a clear winner, and one I'd be more interested to watch.
Labels: gymnastics, olympics
posted by Eric Livingston at
8/13/2008
9 Comments:
i sense a little bitterness. did someone not make the gymnastics (or worse cheerleading team) in high school?
Maybe next olympics, they'll change the name of each apparatus to what you call it. DFTOSR, uneven monkey bars, and bouncy floor!
Carrie, I was too busy with my barbershop quartet to worry about trying out for cheerleading.
That's how I do.
Not winning the Gold - I agree with you. They didn't win because they were not as good.
Age - again, I agree in theory. Where as smaller, younger girls can fly faster and land easier, skill is still skill. You are either better or you are not.
Pseudosport - now this is where I disagree with you. It may not be a sport to your liking, but it is still a sport. There is definitely an artistic side to it, but this is not figure skating. The amount of strength, hand-eye coordination, training, conditioning, endurance, etc, it takes to do the things they do is right up there with any other sport, except the wear and tare of football. Basketball and baseball players are pansies compared to gymnasts. Hockey players are just street brawlers on ice, and golfers, well, come on... they are golfers.
LOL You are too funny, Eric. Although I totally agree the judging is frustratingly subjective, gymnastics is one of my favorite events because it is beautiful. It's a mystery to me why China would use girls below the age requirement, nor do I see any advantage to doing that. Still, who can believe those girls are 16??? Doesn't seem possible based on appearances, but who will ever know for sure? All whining aside, gymnasts are great athletes and have unbelievable strength - you HAVE seen those guys on the circle thingies on stringies, haven't you? Thanks for the laughs.
"circle thingies on stringies"
And now everyone knows where I get my stinging wit.
Love you mom.
Methinks he doth protest too much!
tracy o.
So glad the 20 year old kicked the 12 year old butts!!
We'll see how you feel when Jaylie wants to be a gymnast or cheerleader.
Never could figure out why football or boxing could be considered sports? What particular skills are required unless you consider brain damage a skill. And don't even get me started on GOLF (only a drunk could have come up with that game.)
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