GYMN-L Digest - 1 Feb 1996 to 2 Feb 1996 - Special issue

There are 23 messages totalling 1039 lines in this issue.

Topics in this special issue:

1. Gymnastics Spectators
2. British figure skating coverage
3. Statistics
4. Euros on US TV (was Re: gymnastics vs. figure skating)
5. Non US gymnasts (2)
6. Male Vs. Female Gymnastics in Media
7. citizenship of gymnasts
8. High school gymn coverage
9. GYMN-L Collegiate Update vol. 1, no. 9
10. Canadian TV: North Shore Invitational
11. Non US gymnasts.
12. GYMN-L Digest - 31 Jan 1996 to 1 Feb 1996 (2)
13. Who's on the forum
14. videos and Lavinia Milosovici
15. Address Help (2)
16. "Non U.S. gymnasts"--another view
17. Bogi article
18. The Client
19. 1996 Reese's Results and Commentary
20. North Shore Invitational (background & participating clubs)

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

Date: Thu, 1 Feb 1996 07:04:46 EST
From: ***@COMPUSERVE.COM
Subject: Gymnastics Spectators

I agree with the summation that gymnastics will not enjoy the popularity of
other sports, including figure skating, until such time as the general public
has embraced gymnastics to the point of wanting to attend a meet as a live,
ticket buying spectator.

I have long been an advocate of "beating the drum--and bushes" to awaken this
sleeping giant. One lady suggested to me that we go out and recruit the
children of news, sports, and media personalities, thus bringing these parents
into our folds. Not a bad idea, but I know a number of TV directors, cameramen,
technicians, and on-screen personalities who have their children in the sport,
and I have not noticed an appreciable difference.

As another step toward improving the situation, I pose the following questions:
When, where and how, did you learn to 'keep score' at a football or basketball
game and do you find it difficult to keep up during the game? Would you find it
distracting to watch four (women) or six (men) games at the same time?

My dear gymnuts (that's us), until we resolve these basic obstacles, all other
solutions are like spitting into the wind.

JOE

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

Date: Thu, 1 Feb 1996 12:56:55 GMT
From: ***@M4-ARTS.BHAM.AC.UK
Subject: British figure skating coverage

Jennifer asked about coverage of figure skating in the UK.

Well, they certainly show more figure skating than gymnastics, but
that's not difficult! While we have competitors doing well (Torvill &
Dean a while back, and now Steven Cousins in the men's), they tend to
give it quite good coverage. It typically gets a good couple of
hours on a Friday afternoon on one of the public service channels if
there's a major competition on, such as European champs, British
champs etc. I think it probably gets greater coverage on the
satellite/cable sports channels. I don't tend to watch it myself,
but it's often in the listings, and far more regularly than
gymnastics.

Perhaps our answer (as I think I've suggested before) is to produce
some top-class female gymnasts .. although judging by the coverage in
the US, from what's been said, it doesn't make that much difference!
I have to agree that if the meets were better promoted, certainly by
the BAGA over here, TV sponsorship might be more forthcoming. I
think more people like to watch gymnastics than actually let on to
the TV companies ..

Bex

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

Date: Thu, 1 Feb 1996 06:37:30 -0700
From: ***@RMI.NET
Subject: Statistics

" * Country Subscribers
" * ------- -----------
" * Australia 13
" * Austria 1
" * Belgium 2
" * Canada 28
" * Chile 1
" * Finland 1
" * France 1
" * Germany 4
" * Great Britain 18
" * Hungary 1
" * Iceland 2
" * Israel 1
" * Italy 1
" * Malaysia 1
" * Mexico 1
" * Netherlands 3
" * New Zealand 2
" * Norway 2
" * Portugal 1
" * South Africa 2
" * Spain 3
" * Sweden 4
" * Ukraine 1
" * USA 576
" *
" * Total number of users subscribed to the list: 671
" * Total number of countries represented: 24
" *

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

Date: Thu, 1 Feb 1996 08:54:36 -0500
From: ***@CLOUD9.NET
Subject: Euros on US TV (was Re: gymnastics vs. figure skating)

> Btw, did ABC air the 1987 Euros? Someone posted that they had
> covered this meet since 1975, missing 1994, but I don't recall seeing
> 1987 Euros on TV.
> Chris.

No, I don't think ABC aired the '87 Euros, and I don't think they showed
'81, '83, or '85 either. BTW, have they ever televised the *men's*
Europeans?

Debbie :-)

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

Date: Thu, 1 Feb 1996 10:06:40 -0500
From: ***@YALE.EDU
Subject: Re: Non US gymnasts

> Okay, how in the world can some gymnasts train here in the US because their
> own countries have such poor training facilities, but compete for a different
> country still? Like Bogi, she has trained in the US for years, but yet she
> can compete for Belarus at the Olympics? How? Eileen Diaz for Puerto Rico,
> Yelena Piskun? Isn't there a rule to keep your citzenship you have to live
> in that country so many days of the year? Why should she be able to train in
> leisure in whatever country she want's while the rest of the team doesn't
> have the money to and are training in their home country in a totally
> different situation; coaches, equipment, hours, etc.?

No, you don't have to be anyplace in particular to keep your citizenship,
(OTOH, I imagine some countries operate differently; couldn't one lose
citizenship by defecting from a communist country?). As to Eileen Diaz,
Puerto Ricans are US citizens, so they can't very well lose their
citizenship by living in Texas anyway. Requirements like that exist for
establishing residency, not citizenship. In PR, because citizenship is the
same, there are some requirements for being able to represent PR. I
think the PR Olympic Committee requires only that a grandparent, parent, or
the athlete him/herself have been born in PR or have lived there a
certain period of time (I don't know how long). Some PR federations
have additional requirements; I think gymnastics (unless something has
changed) requires a year of residency and participation in the national
championships, but I'm not sure whether that applies to Olypmic
Committee-sponsored events as well as to federation/FIG events.
Countries allow it because they can use the athletes, since they're
often better than the ones living at home. But don't think it goes
without being resented by anyone who gets bumped. Personally, when a person
has pretty much been raised in a place, their parents live there and
that sort of thing, I don't think it matters where they end up training.
It's like saying Kristi Yamaguchi should've competed for Canada. What
gets me are the ones who, despite meeting citizenship (or whatever)
requirements, have barely ever set foot in the place they're competing
for ("I came once for a week when I was five to visit my uncle's
step-brother's second cousin once removed's grandmother's gardener's
goddaughter..."), don't speak a word of the language, etc.

:)
Adriana

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

Date: Thu, 1 Feb 1996 10:29:06 -0600
From: ***@ZEPHYR.MEDCHEM.PURDUE.EDU
Subject: Male Vs. Female Gymnastics in Media

I have been wonodering something. With 'THE BOOK' and the recently bad acted
'The Client' epsiode on TV, the media seems to harp on the 'bad gymnastics'
coach. Is it just me, or does anyone ever wonder if a similar situation
could exist with male gymnastics? Are there male gymnasts who have had
brutal coaching situation or it is just something that only happens to
the female side of the sport. It makes me wonder. When I was competing, yeah,
the coach was tough, but I never was put on a scale or told to 'gain muscle
mass fast through steriod/drug abuse (which would be the antithesis of female
needing to drop weight). Does anyone know of any problems in the male
gymnastics world? We, and myself included, seem to focus primarily on the
females in the sport. What about the other 50%?



Jeff 'Now Flame Proof'

Ed. Note: wonodering = 'wondering'
epsiode = 'episode'

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

Date: Thu, 1 Feb 1996 12:16:32 -0500
From: ***@JUSTICE.USDOJ.GOV
Subject: citizenship of gymnasts

No, you don't lose your citizenship by living and working abroad!
Many, many people go to college in the US or UK or Canada despite
being from other countries (should Americans who attend McGill
lose their citizenship?), in many cases on athletic scholarships;
and our country is the better for it. Others work abroad -- I
have friends in Japan on astronomical research projects (the
particle detectors relevant to the subfield being available only
in Japan, South America and Switzerland); I used to work in Egypt
for the American University in Cairo; etc. And the country you
live in certainly has no obligation to grant you citizenship!

If Belarus is bothered by this, they have no obligation to name
Boguinskaya to the team. Each country is allowed its own
selection procedures, and if they want to send only those who
have been training in their programs, they can do so. Since your
concern seems to be for the gymnasts who have trained under the
more spartan conditions available there, why not leave it to the
national sports federation or whatever of the affected country?
Or, if your concern is that she's using US facilities, but we're
not getting the credit -- (a) we do get some; (b) much of the
training is with Bela and other coaches who came here from other
countries; and (c) I suppose the USGF (pardon old initials) could
bar coaches from training foreign athletes -- but what a horrible
idea! Not only unfair, in my mind, but bad for _US_ gymnastics
as well as for the affected gymnasts: what a thrill and
inspiration for someone like Jennie Thompson to work out with
Bogie as well as Kim (particularly since their styles are so
different), and for other gymnasts to be able to watch her and
learn from her (both about gymnastics and about the outside
world). Or for college gymnasts to be on a team with a former
Olympian from the former USSR (I've forgotten now who is doing
that sort of thing). One of the great things about international
sporting competition, I've always felt, was the chance to meet
people from totally different backgrounds -- sport brings people
together. (Perhaps I was influenced by the old ABC Wild World of
Sports gymnastics and car racing shows (they always used to be
paired: 2 small audiences made for more money I guess) which had
catchy slogans to this effect).

Examples of _Americans_ this rule would have hurt: Kristi
Yamaguchi, who trained for singles in Canada. (not unusual in
figure skating). Well, ok, no others immediately come to mind,
but -- crew in the UK? Ahhh -- almost the entire American men's
and women's soccer teams, in leagues abroad, and the American
women's basketball team, in European leagues. Maybe the great
Hawaiian sumo champ? I don't know if he trained in Japan, but it
seems likely. Or the child of an ambassador who learned to play
tennis or swim under the tutelage of coaches where his parents
were stationed.

Bottom line, the affected countries can dictate requirements
beyond citizenship and demonstrated ability as requisites for
making the team, though it strikes me as (short of criminal
behavior) a bad idea; and the Bogie situation really strikes
me as being Belarus' business. And remember, she became a
champion there, not here, so just because she's getting back to
competitive form here doesn't mean her roots have no role in
this.

--Ann

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

Date: Thu, 1 Feb 1996 12:25:02 -0500
From: ***@JUSTICE.USDOJ.GOV
Subject: High school gymn coverage

Since I criticized the Wash. Post for poor coverage of gymnastics
some months ago, I thought I'd mention that they have had quite a
few small feature articles about high school gymnasts (and
occasionally about meets) over the last few months, including one
today (I've forgotten the gymnast's name, but she had won a FX
in a dual meet, with a full-twisting layout despite having cut
much of the difficulty she used in her club routines. Actually,
I think she won AA, too. This was her first HS season). The
articles have been quite good, though they don't provide much
context.

Anyway, thought Aaron, at least, might be interested! Those of
you who are in college (ie, Aaron) should be able to find these
pieces in the Post in the library; they have an online service,
but it's not free and I'd be surprised if it covered this stuff.

The Post did not, however, cover the Maryland Classic -- and
basically didn't cover Dawes' near-triumph in Worlds in (?94. .
My memory is slipping). They never cover club events, so far as
I can tell. But since I criticized, I thought I should take some
of it back. I should also add that the reporters seem quite good
-- it's the editorial policy that seems off.

--Ann/

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

Date: Thu, 1 Feb 1996 09:41:54 -0800
From: ***@LELAND.STANFORD.EDU
Subject: GYMN-L Collegiate Update vol. 1, no. 9

GYMN-L's Collegiate Update
Volume 1, no. 9
Feb. 1, 1996
_____________________________________________________________________

Contents:

1. Alabama vs. Florida (W) report
2. IUP vs. Rutgers, Rhode Island (M) report
3. Michigan (M) schedule note
4. Various state of Utah (W) reports, URL's

_____________________________________

*****Item number 1.9.1*****

From: ***@proctr.cba.ua.edu
Date: Tue, 30 Jan 1996 09:24:27 CDT
Subject: Re: Alabama vs. Florida (W) report

Alabama vs. Florida
January 27,1996

Wow! That's about all I can say. Bama scored an amazing 196.725 to
Florida's 193.675. Once again, Bama was led by all-american Meredith
Willard. She totalled 39.55 in the all-around including a near
perfect 9.975 on floor. Florida's Kristen Guise would have placed
1st or 2nd if she hadn't fell on her first event, bars. They
suffered 3 falls on that event. Vault is Florda's best event as they
totalled a 49.225 to surpass Alabama on that event. It was
highlighted by Guise's stuck hand-front pike 9.95 and Chrissy Vogel's for a
9.90.
This meet saw the return of Kim Kelly and she rose to the occasion
posting a 9.825 on vault and a 9.95 on floor(exhibition on beam and
bars). On floor Kim included 4 tumbling passes. She opened with a
double-full punch front, rebound to a RO double tuck(1 run); 3rd
pass-double pike and ended with a double full.
Alabama has the most depth they have ever had. Florida is in awesome
shape and should be right up there for SEC's and Nationals.
I do have to say that the collegiate gymnasts are in the best shape I
have ever seen yet.

Bama's Scores
Vault:
Marna Neubauer 9.75
Shay Murphy 9.725
Heather Nasser 9.7
Meredith Willard 9.9
Kim Kelly 9.825
Merritt Booth 9.875
Total: 49.075

Bars:
Danielle McAdams 9.725
Booth 9.775
Gwen Spidle 9.75
Willard 9.85
Stephanie Woods 9.9
Neubauer 9.875
Total: 49.15

Beam:
Willard 9.825
Neubauer 9.75
Mandy Chapman 9.775
Shay Murphy 9.85
McAdams 9.8
Woods 9.925
Total: 49.175

Floor:
Chapman 9.725
Murphy 9.825
Neubauer 9.725
Booth 9.85
Kim Kelly 9.95
Willard 9.975
Total: 49.325

Team Total: 196.725

All-Around:
1. Willard 39.55 Alabama
2. Amy Myerson 39.15 Florida
3. Kristen Guise 39.125 Florida (w/ a fall)

T.V. ALERT:
Alabama at Georgia: Feb. 9th on Prime SportsSouth
Georgia at Alabama: March 12th on ESPN

_____________________________________

*****Item number 1.9.2*****

Date: Tue, 30 Jan 1996 11:55:13 -0500 (EST)
From: ***@grove.iup.edu
Subject: IUP gymnastics

<***Editor's note: for those who don't know, IUP is Indiana University
of Pennsylvania>

IUP competed this past weekend (Jan. 28) at Rutgers University against Rutgers
and the University of Rhode Island. Though heavily outgunned by those two
large Division I schools, the Indians did remarkably well and raised their team
score by over six points for the second consecutive meet to finish with a
175.95. URI edged out
Rutgers by .2 to win the meet by a score of 187.7 to 187.5. URI had a tough bar
rotation and Rutgers had a terrific meet to keep things tight right up to the
end. IUP's Georgiana Cunkelman took second in the All Around with a 37.35,
including a school record 9.625 on floor. IUP's home opener is February 4 vs.
Cornell University at 1:00 p.m. on the main floor of IUP's Memorial Field
House.

_____________________________________

*****Item number 1.9.3*****

Date: Tue, 30 Jan 1996 15:27:56 -0500 (EST)
From: ***@umich.edu
Subject: Michigan (M) schedule note


Western Michigan vs University of Michigan men's meet was cancelled.
Western Michigan couldn't get to Ann Arbor due to the snow.

_____________________________________

*****Item number 1.9.4*****

Date: Thu, 1 Feb 1996
From: ***@leland.stanford.edu
Subject: Various state of Utah scores, URL's

Scores from Deseret News reports (w/full URL's following):

Jan. 19 at the Spectrum:

Utah 192.350
Utah State 187.975

Sandy Woolsey won bar (9.85) and beam (9.775).
Jennifer Mercier suffered a "minor" knee injury on FX.
Lots of falls: Utah started with three on UB, and Utah State had two on
bars, four (!) on beam, and two on floor.

URL=http://www.desnews.com/cgi-bin/libstory?dn94-96&9601210146

******

Jan. 20th in Provo:

Brigham Young 191.45
Southern Utah 185.725

Angela Gunnell Andersen (1995 NCAA Championship qualifier and transfer
from SUU to BYU) won AA with a 38.675. BYU's Cristen Cosgrave sat out
with the flu. BYU swept the events. Janene Christensen took vault (9.8),
Kelli Rose took bars (9.8), and freshman Natalie Emig won beam (9.8) and
floor (9.725).

URL=http://www.desnews.com/cgi-bin/libstory?dn94-96&9601210230

******

Jan. 26 in Salt Lake City (Huntsman Center):

Utah 195.825
BYU 193.225

Traci Sommer (Utah) won AA (39.300). Woolsey (Utah) won bars (9.95) and
tied Sommer on beam (9.90). No other winning scores were given, but all
four of Utah's freshman put up scores that counted on at least one event.
This was an emotional night, as it included a ceremony (including a video)
honoring last year's championship squad as well as a moment of silence for
freshman Summer Reid's mother, who passed away on New Year's Eve. Summer,
BTW, went on to score 9.875, 9.775, and 9.700 in her three events. (The
article didn't say which three).

URL=http://www.desnews.com/cgi-bin/libstory?dn94-96&9601280142

_____________________________________

The "GYMN-L Collegiate Update" is a twice-weekly collection of news on the
collegiate gymnastics scene. Back issues may be found on the Web at
HTTP://www-leland.stanford.edu/~poser/GCU/
To make a submission to the _GYMN-L Collegiate Update_, send email to
***@leland.stanford.edu (NOT directly to the GYMN-L list) with
"Collegiate Update" or "GCU" in the subject header.
Please send any replies, comments, or suggestions to the same address.

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

Date: Thu, 1 Feb 1996 10:36:28 UTC-0800
From: ***@CS.UBC.CA
Subject: Canadian TV: North Shore Invitational

The North Shore Invitational was held this past weekend in North Vancouver,
British Columbia (Canada). 18 teams from Western Canada and some Western
states of the U.S. participated. The event finals will be broadcast on Shaw
Cable (North Shore) next week. The schedule printed in the program was:
Thursday, February 8th - 8pm
Friday, February 9th - 8pm
Saturday, Feburary 10th - 9am
and Sunday, February 11th - 1pm

No duration is listed for these broadcasts so I don't know if the finals
are split up over the four time slots or if it will be the same broadcast
repeated several times.
There is also information about how to get this broadcast locally if
your area is serviced by Rogers Cable or Shaw Cable. If you want this
information, please email me and I'll send it to you.
I attended part of this meet and will post some of my impressions of it
and some results in the next few days.

Karen

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

Date: Thu, 1 Feb 1996 13:44:13 -0500
From: ***@AOL.COM
Subject: Re: Non US gymnasts

>Okay, how in the world can some gymnasts train here in the US ...
>Yelena Piskun?

Umm, Yelena Piskun does *not* train anywhere but in Belarus, as far as I
know.

*Some* of the other gymnasts currently training outside of the country they
compete for:

Training in ...

Germany*:
Sergei Kharkov (RUS)

*Germany also has several of the former Soviet athletes (Misiutin,
Korobchinski, Ivankov, Scherbo, etc.) competing in their club system (the
"Bundesliga") much as foreign athletes often come to the US and compete in
the NCAA.

The USA:
Michaela Knox (GBR)
Kasumi Takahashi --RSG -- (AUS)
Sylvester Csollany (HUN)
Vitaly Scherbo (BLR)
Angelika Schatton (GER)
Wiebke Preiss (GER)

*Some* of the gymnasts that were born in countries other than those they're
now competing for:

Born in ...

Azerbaijan:
Valeri Belenky (GER)

China:
Li Donghua (SUI)

Japan:
Kasumi Takahashi -- RSG -- (AUS)

Kazakhstan:
Vladimir Shamenko (UKR)

Poland:
Magdalena Brzeska -- RSG -- (GER)

Romania:
Mihai Bagiu (USA)
Marius Toba (GER)

Russia:
Andrei Kravtsov (AUS)
Aleksei Demyanov (CRO)
Sergei Pieffer (GER)

Tajikistan:
Rustam Sharipov (UKR)

Ukraine:
Valentin Mogilny (FRA)
Yelena Degteva (CAN)

Uzbekistan:
Amina Zaripova -- RSG -- (RUS)
Roza Galieva (RUS)

This is just off the top of my head ... I'm sure there are more in both
categories. My point is it's not really that uncommon.

-Susan

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

Date: Thu, 1 Feb 1996 10:48:11 PST
From: ***@CISCO.COM
Subject: Re: Non US gymnasts.

Okay, how in the world can some gymnasts train here in the US because
their own countries have such poor training facilities, but compete
for a different country still?

Peter Corman, who sorta re-started US mens olympic gymnastics by winning
the first US medal in N years back in 1976 (?), did it by training in
Japan. So it works both ways.

BillW

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

Date: Thu, 1 Feb 1996 14:13:36 -0600
From: ***@CHARON.MATHCS.CARLETON.EDU
Subject: Re: GYMN-L Digest - 31 Jan 1996 to 1 Feb 1996

> Isn't there a rule to keep your citzenship you have to live
> in that country so many days of the year?

Absolutely not! My family has lived outside of the US since I was six
(I'm 19 now). We are still required to pay income taxes, we can still
vote in the presidential elections, and we still hold American
passports. Citizenship is not something that can be taken away leaving
you without a country. People often live outside their own country for
purposes of work, etc.. In the case of my family, my father has been
transfered a lot and all his positions happen to be outside of the US.
This makes me no less of an American that anyone else.

-Meg

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

Date: Thu, 1 Feb 1996 14:17:44 -0600
From: ***@CHARON.MATHCS.CARLETON.EDU
Subject: Re: GYMN-L Digest - 31 Jan 1996 to 1 Feb 1996

5-10 Canadian National Championships (R)/ Montreal, Quebec,
Canada

Does anyone have information on getting tickets for this event, etc?

-Meg

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

Date: Thu, 1 Feb 1996 15:37:29 EST
From: ***@MARISTB.MARIST.EDU
Subject: Who's on the forum

Occasionally we get updates as to how many and which countries
are subscribed to the list, but does anyone know about the individuals
on the list? Specifically I mean are there any people who we'd
recognize, any elite gymnasts or well-known coaches, etc?

thanks
Laura

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

Date: Thu, 1 Feb 1996 13:20:47 -0400
From: ***@HALCYON.COM
Subject: videos and Lavinia Milosovici

Hi
Just wanted to ask two questions:
-where can I find a video of the 92 olympics and a video of the
team worlds 94 in Dortmunt? If somebody knows it would be helpful.
-I really like Lavinia Milosovici but I don't have a lot of infos
on her (like results, where she is from in Romania, ...).
Also I forgot to introduce myself,I am 16, I live in the US since last year
but I am French. I am a new to this list and I really like it.

Chloe

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

Date: Thu, 1 Feb 1996 17:26:32 -0500
From: ***@AOL.COM
Subject: Address Help

I'm compiling a new _IG_ address list of the top clubs/gymnasts in the U.S.
(we just use federations of the foreign athletes) and I need some help with a
few -- mostly rhythmic clubs and colleges.

If anyone knows the addresses for the following clubs or universities (in
that case either the gym itself would be best or if nothing else the athletic
department) please let me know ***via priate e-mail*** (so as not to clutter
up the list) at <***@aol.com>.

Thanks A Lot!

-Susan Southall

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Gymstrada
Virgina Beach, Virgina

Gymmarin Pacific

Illinois Rhythmics

Iowa University Gymnastics

Minnesota University Gymnastics

Ohio State University Gymnastics

Oklahoma University Gymnastics

Rhythmic Gems

Stanford University Gymnastics

U.S. Olympic Training Center

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

Date: Thu, 1 Feb 1996 15:34:21 -0700
From: ***@ASU.EDU
Subject: "Non U.S. gymnasts"--another view

First of all, let's remember that having Boguinskaya train in the U.S.
is a real asset to American gymnastics. A former champion is a role
model for upcoming gymnasts to emulate. Think of Jennie Thompson and
Shannon Miller. I think one of the reasons that Dominique Moceanu has
more mature carriage and hand movements on beam than most thirteen year
olds is because she's been able to watch Boguinskaya on a day to day basis
(except when Bogi moved out temporarily.)
Secondly, a gymnast who trains in the U.S. and does well in
international competition brings honor to the U.S., regardless of which
country he/she represents. Several cities in Georgia are hosting members
of the track teams from African countries. When these athletes win,
Americans win, no matter which flag is raised or which anthem played.
Generosity toward other countries' athletes is a greater credit to
American sportsmanship than medals are.
As for the other athletes in Belarus, yes, it is very sad, but
let's face it--many former Soviet and developing countries are having
tough times now. Top-flight gymnastics facilities are a luxury most
can't afford. I admire those who stay under those conditions, but I
can't blame those who leave.
In a perfect world, money generated from TV rights to gymnastics
events would pay for the costs of facilities in poorer countries. Right
now, that isn't working. For the good of the sport, I'd like to see as
many talented athletes be able to train as possible, and I think there's
more than enough resources and facilities to go around in the U.S.

Leslie

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

Date: Thu, 1 Feb 1996 17:48:30 -0500
From: ***@CHELSEA.IOS.COM
Subject: Bogi article

There was a really good article about Svletlana Boguinskaia this past
Sunday in the Houston Chronicle. It talked about her former life and
training in comparison to her present attitude. It includes an interview
with her as well as with Bela. It's too long for me to type but anyone
that wants to read it can go to the Chronicle's web page (www.chron.com).
Just go to the search command and type "gymnastics". You can also see any
other article that fits your fantsy! If you can't find it, let me know and
I'll help you out!

Courtney
:)

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

Date: Thu, 1 Feb 1996 18:47:28 -0500
From: ***@AOL.COM
Subject: Re: Address Help

Oops! ... I forgot two. I also need addresses for:

Broadway Gymnastics (Florida)

... and ...

UCLA Gymnastics

-Susan

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

Date: Thu, 1 Feb 1996 19:46:38 -0500
From: ***@NORFOLK.INFI.NET
Subject: The Client

Joan Ryan must have written the script! That show was the worst and
tackiest show. As someone said earlier, it is going to give the wrong
impression to anyone and everyone who isn't intimately involved with the
support (either as a parent, gymnast or coach). My daughter is a
10-year-old level 9 gymnast. She trains at the same gym and with the same
coaches as two of the top junior nationals in the country. Yes, there is a
lot of hours put in to the gym. Yes, there is a lot of money involved too.
While occassionally the coaches might "talk a bit loud," I have NEVER
heard any coach SCREAM at a gymnast. The girls are councilled (sp?) by a
nutritionist and even have a "fruits and vegetables" day where they end
practice with a buffet table of fruits and vegetables and are encouraged to
"try a bit of everything."

That show was a disgrace and made a mockery of the sport that brings us all
together. It flat out made me angry! CBS should be ashamed of themselves
(didn't Andy Rooney blast the sport recently?). Sure there are bound to be
abuses (as there are everywhere--home, school, fields, in every
sport--baseball, skating, soccer, wrestling). Now there's one we could get
into--wrestling--what those guys go through to make weight! But that's a
whole other story.

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

Date: Thu, 1 Feb 1996 23:09:00 MST
From: ***@RMII.COM
Subject: 1996 Reese's Results and Commentary

Hey folks, sorry I took so long to get this sent off...

1996 Reese's International Gymnastics Cup
Portland, Oregon, USA
Rose Arena
27 January 1996

Portland got snowed in on the day of the Reese's, forcing the airport to
close, preventing celebrity judge Yasmine Bleethe of Baywatch from
attending. Kim Zmeskal was substituted in at the last minute as her
replacement. Other judges were Kathy Johnson, Brian Patrick Clarke, and Kurt
Thomas. Zmeskal had warmed up with the athletes the day before, but cited a
lingering touch of the flu as the reason for her absence from the
competition list.

The consensus of everyone who was at this meet both last year and this was
that while last year was good, this year was great. Having not seen last
year's, I can only say that I was definitely entertained by this year's
event, along the same lines as watching Paulette Huntnova in action. (I
still can't quite get used to the mounting and remounting bit, though.)
Gymnasts spent anywhere from two days to two weeks choreographing and
practicing their routines. Some were even joking about beginning their
preparation in December of next year for the meet!

Both halves of the Reese's (there was an intermission) were kicked off by
Rhythmic gymnasts Brooke Bushnell and Vanessa VanderPluym. Both were well
appreciated by the crowd, with Bushnell performing to "Greased Lightning"
and "Thriller", and VanderPluymn to "Send in the Clowns" and Aladdin's
"Arabian Nights".

Women's All-Around

1. Kristie Phillips, 118.80
2. Brandy Johnson, 117.95
3. Missy Marlowe, 117.65

Uneven Bars
1. Svetlana Boguinksaya, 39.65
2. Kristie Phillips, 39.55
3. Brandy Johnson, 39.10
4. Missy Marlowe, 39.00

Bogi won this event with a very high Tkatchev, while both Phillips and
Marlowe stood on the low bar and flipped off with a back layout in their
routines. Brandy Johnson made her bars entrance by descending from the
ceiling -- and this is not just any ceiling mind you, we're talking a domed
arena ceiling. Marlowe surprised many by tossing a Tkatchev straddle back
in her routine. The part in the middle of her routine where she dismounted,
picked up an Olympic flag and waved it around, and then remounted, really
puzzled me.

Balance Beam
1. Kristie Phillips, 40.00
2. Wendy Bruce, 39.85
3. Svetlana Boginskaya, 39.65
4. Brandy Johnson, 39.15
5. Missy Marlow, 39.0

Despite the fact that this competition placed emphasis on fun and
creativity, with three out of four judges previously Olympic gymnasts, you
know they're going to reward the "good stuff". As such, Kristie topped the
beam standings with a perfect score after a display of her still-outrageous
flexibility, and also a round-off layout mount onto the beam. The most
creative beam routine of the night was Bruce, who used a ladder to climb up
to the beam, had a safety net, and walked the beam as if it were a tightrope
in the circus. Bogi finished beam draped along the length in her
legs-crossed-arms-hugging-my-shoulders-and-lying-on-my-back pose from the
end of her Barcelona routine, which was kinda cool. Also amazing was
Brandy's back handspring, solely because she had this filmy white cape on
that I think must have been distracting at best.

Floor
1. Hope Spivey-Sheeley, 40.00
2. Brandy Johnson, 39.70
3. Missy Marlowe, 39.65
4. Kristie Phillips, 39.25

Boginskaya and Bruce did not compete floor. Kristie endured costume
problems as her sheer skirt tangled around her legs on a double twist, but
she quickly stripped the skirt off to free up her pink jean-satined legs.
Spivey-Sheely, whose husband played Frankenstein for her floor routine,
demonstrated her trademark floor perfection for the crowd (she got 27 tens
in NCAA competition). Marlowe's Phantom of the Opera was the third of the
night at that time, but still very classy. Brandy Johnson's floor was
creative, as she tangoed with herself, dressed half as a man and half as a
woman.

Men's All-Around
1. Dmitri Bilozerchev, 119.40
2. John Roethlisberger, 119.30
3. Chris Waller, 118.70
4. Valentin Moguilni, 117.85

Men's Floor
1. John Roethlisberger, 39.90
2. Bill Roth, 39.85
3. Dmitri Bilozerchev, 39.80
4. Paul O'Neill, 39.50
5. Valentin Moguilny, 39.35

Waller did a floor routine in which he constantly tried to win over a
cool-looking Cindy Waller by displaying gymnastics skills. She constantly
rebuffed him... and the cake was when as a last resort, he tried his
trademark reverse planche (c'mon Cindy, geez, how many guys can DO that?)
and Scott Keswick strides right up, puts his arm around Cindy and steals her
away... leaving Chris stuck in his reverse planche.

Moguilny had the best form of the meet by far, on every event. He did an
Arabian 1 and 3/4 on floor and also a punch front 1.5 roll-out.

Bilozerchev, who has earned more medals than anyone else in the Reese's, set
himself apart from the crowd again by opening new "performance venues" for
gymnastics. Namely, cross-dressing. Bilozerchev came out with this huge
black cape on and then proceeded to perform as the black swan of Swan
Lake... but after a short bit, he shed the cape and we were left with a
Bilozerchev in white tutu. His routine, choreographed by Olga Kokorina,
included a double back. Meanwhile, later in the floor rotation we were
witness to the "Roethlisberger," which is apparently up for inclusion in the
next men's Code of Points by the FIG. Precisely, the trick is a double back
with a life-size rag doll unobligingly strapped to each of your limbs.
Riddle me this, Riddle me that, what's big and green and does flips on the
mat? Bill Roth as the Riddler -- with a well choreographed routine and the
hardest tumbling, took third.

Still rings
1. Paul O'Neill, 39.95
2. Dmitri Bilozerchev, 39.90
3. John Roethlisberger, 39.60.
?. Waller 39.30
?. Moguilny 39.25
?. Keswick 39.10
Marinich?

More unusual costuming from Bilo -- who came dressed as a toddler for this
event. This event was not nearly as exciting as floor, although Chris
Waller's jiving to John Travolta was easily a good laugh, as was
Roethlisberger's choice of music: "Big John". (six foot six and
two-forty-five? Try again, John!) O'Neill handily won the rings prize
money with more tricks in his exhibition routine than probably all other
American gymnasts have in their real rings routines.

High Bar
1. Chris Waller, 40.00
2. Vitaly Marinich, 39.90
3. John Roethlisberger, 39.80
=4. Roth, 39.70
=4. Keswick, 39.70
6. Mog. 39.25

Nice to see Keswick back in action after his surgery from last year. All is
looking well for this gymnast, who only began hard mat landings the week
before the Reese's. His half-in half-outs off rings and high bar were right
on. As I said, however, difficulty was definitely rewarded as Chris Waller,
(Bill Roth's fellow Riddler) with three releases and a full-pirouetting one
arm giant won over the judging panel. Marinich used a Top Gun routine (such
smooth front giants!) for second, while Roethlisberger used black loafers,
slouchy white knee socks, an eight inch afro, and one glove to relive the
Michael Jackson Thriller memories.

# # #

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

Date: Thu, 1 Feb 1996 22:25:52 UTC-0800
From: ***@CS.UBC.CA
Subject: North Shore Invitational (background & participating clubs)

I attended part of this meet that was held January 27th and 28th in North
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It was the 23rd annual and was hosted
by the Flicka Gymnastics Club of North Vancouver. The meet was held at the
Capilano College Sportsplex, which seems to be a fairly new facility. The
only problem with the facility was that all of the doors to the gym are in
the middle so if you walked straight in the door being used, you would walk
right into the uneven bars. They had some short posts with caution tape
set up to direct people over to the stands. They also had a person at the
door who prevented people from entering if someone was doing a bar routine
at the time.
The meet was girls only and was divided into invitational and junior
invitational. According to an ad, the invitational was for gymnastics
capable of F.I.G. and had standards, Comp 1-B for preliminaries and Comp C-II
for finals. The junior invitational was split into 11 & under and 12 & over
and used the B.C. Provincial "A" Code (requirements - 3 A's, 4 B's, 1 C).
A list of participating clubs was printed in the program. I'm don't know
how accurate it is since I didn't attend the first day of the meet.

Club Location
---- --------
Altadore Gymnastics Club Calgary, Alberta
American Gymnastics Eugene, Oregon
Dynamic Gym Club Lake Elsmore, California
Flicka Gymnastics Club North Vancouver, British Columbia
Gemstar Gymnastics Surrey, British Columbia
Gymnastics Nevada Sparks, Nevada
Kamloops Gymnastics Club Kamloops, British Columbia
Leading Edge Gymnastics Bellingham, Washington
Marian Gym Club Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Nanaimo Gymnastic School Nanaimo, British Columbia
Omega Gymnastics Club Coquitlam, British Columbia
Pacific Coast Dynamo Langely, British Columbia
Phoenix Gymnastics Vancouver, British Columbia
Queen City Kinsmen Gym Club Regina, Saskatchewan
Stampede City Gymnastic Club Calgary, Alberta
Surrey Gymnastic Society Surrey, British Columbia
West Valley Gym Club Vernon, British Columbia
Westwind Gymnastic Club Lethbridge, Alberta

The program also lists all of the competitors but I don't want to type the
entire list in (about 100 gymnasts) unless I hear from people that this is
desired. It would probably be better for interested people to email me and
let me know which club(s) and/or level(s) you're interested in.

I'll post the results of the event finals and my impressions of the meet
in a separate message (hopefully tomorrow).

Karen

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

End of GYMN-L Digest - 1 Feb 1996 to 2 Feb 1996 - Special issue
***************************************************************