GYMN-L Digest - 24 Jul 1996 to 25 Jul 1996 - Special issue

There are 23 messages totalling 626 lines in this issue.

Topics in this special issue:

1. All-Around
2. CNN Talkback Live
3. Underscoring and Sportsmanship (Spoiler)
4. Alot of follow up. (2)
5. Olympics
6. weight
7. The crowd at Georgia Dome (fwd) (fwd) (2)
8. men's AA
9. New Engl J. of Medicine
10. Shcherbo's interview
11. Strug news...(yes, more!)
12. US Nationals? McDonald's American Cup
13. NBC's WWW Olympic page.
14. 2 Kerri Strug Sites
15. UB
16. EEUROSPORT VIEWERS.
17. Day and Date
18. Planet Hollywood Soiree
19. Demi & Bruce love gymn.
20. Late-night shows
21. Teams Finals (Women)

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Date: Wed, 24 Jul 1996 15:47:22 -0500
From: ***@LULU.ACNS.NWU.EDU
Subject: Re: All-Around

Hi all!

Can someone please either post the names of the 36 All-Around competitors
for tomorrow or point me towards a homepage where I might find this
information? I know that Kerri probably won't compete, but I just wanted to
see the names and countries that will be represented, especially since NBC
might not show a lot of them!

Thanks in advance....

--Meighan

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Date: Wed, 24 Jul 1996 22:40:17 -0400
From: ***@AOL.COM
Subject: CNN Talkback Live

I'm sorry if someone has already posted this message, but ...

Today on CNN's Talkback Live, Kerri's parents (Burt and Melanie Strug) were
being interviewed about Kerri's performance. Kerri "joined" the interview via
telephone, and also spoke privately to the president for awhile (interesting
how politics also joins the media in playing into it, since both Clinton and
Dole [who talked about her in a speech today] have talked about it.
(I started this letter than read another about it, anyway...) they also
interviewed Kerri's brother Kevin. Overall it was a good 15 mins. of
interview : )
Sea

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Date: Wed, 24 Jul 1996 23:10:33 -0400
From: ***@KENT.NET
Subject: Underscoring and Sportsmanship (Spoiler)

Don't read this if you don't want to know Men's AA results!!!!!
:
:
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:

:
:

:
Overall I was very happy with the men's results. All of the top three
hit six solid routines. It was great to see Li Xiaoshuang get some
redemption (along with the other Chinese men) after the team com-
petition. I do think Scherbo was underscored a little; I have no idea
why. For example, he stuck his vault and landed in the no-deduction
zone, but only got a 9.687. Vitaly was clearly disappointed with that
and some of the other scores.

I was especially happy to see the excellent level of sportsmanship
exhibited by the gymnasts. I noticed that Nemov and Scherbo
would usually slap hands when they passed each other during the
meet, and they even hugged at the end. That was really refreshing
to see, especially since Scherbo seemed disappointed with the
scoring.

Jordynn

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Date: Wed, 24 Jul 1996 23:29:39 -0500
From: ***@GATEWAY.US.SIDWELL.EDU
Subject: Re: Alot of follow up.

> Shannon's FX score was interesting since, and I don't thinkmany
> people know this, the scoreboards showed the START value for teh
> routines. It would have been interesting to have seen the actually
> score board to see what they took off for BP and where she started
> from. My guess is that she started from a 9.9.

She did, in fact, start from a 9.9. On the JumboTron thing in the
Dome, they had a closeup of the scoreboard with start value 9.9 on
it. Most people didn't get it though; a lot of people around me said
"oh, she got a 9.9?"

> 4) More comparison between Barcelona and the 'mob' in the Dome. Some
> person said that in Barcelona the crowd was like cheering a'badmiton'
> match. What earth are you on? I just rewatched the team final from the
> triple cast and the crowd roared for Milo and Bontas on FX, they
> gasped with the US vaulst and Zmeskal 's performance. They were full
> of emotion for everything Bogi did, and get this: they actually BOOED
> the FX scores for Lyssenko, Bogi, Chutsovitina, and Gutsu. This seemed
> liked a more diverse crowd, people who were cheering the performances
> of the other teams.

I attended a number of sessions that the Americans weren't in, and
the crowd was very supportive of the other gymnasts in those. It was
just very difficult during the team optional final because everyone
was just glued to the Americans. I mean, I entered the arena fully
planning *not* to watch the Americans the entire time so I could
watch some of the other gymnasts there, but the Americans were so
riveting that *I* had trouble pulling myself away. And most of the
other people there didn't even know who the other gymnasts are.

I predict you'll see a real difference in crowd response during the
all around finals and event finals. People will cheer the Americans
loudest, to be sure, but because the Americans won't be competing the
whole time, they'll have plenty of time to check out and be impressed
by the other routines.

Oh, and for people who were wondering: Mo Huilan overrotated her
dismount in optionals beam and got a 9.312. Bogy fell on her Tkatchev
on bars but I missed her score. And Kui Yuanyuan rocks! In addition
to her ff-ff-*layout* full on beam already mentioned, she also did
switch leg leap - switch leg sissone - switch leg sissone - ff -
layout - layout, all connected, all on beam. You know how they always
say that when the gymnast is on beam they should look like they're on
floor. Well, the Chinese got as close as I've ever seen to this
ideal. Too bad NBC doesn't seem to have chosen to cover them?

Lisa

P.S. sorry about the .sig on my last message -- I forgot to change it
from before the Olympics! Yes, I have figured out that the Olympics
have started :).
P.P.S. and then I promise I'll shut up: Joan Ryan is doing a talk
thing on ESPNet tomorrow (Thurs. 7/25) at 3:00. Go to
http://espnet.sportszone.com/ and look for Olympic gymnastics links.
Should be around there somewhere, along with a chapter of Little
Girls and some other stuff.

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Date: Wed, 24 Jul 1996 20:52:51 -0700
From: ***@IX.NETCOM.COM
Subject: Olympics

Hi!


I have a question about how they did the compulsory format this year.
In 1992 didn't they have the format set up so that the worst 2 gymnasts
from each country competed first and then in later competitions the
better ones competed? Why didn't they do that this year. I like it
better the way they did it this year because they were able to go out
like a team, but isn't the other way more fair?

Does anyone know if Onodi qualified for anything? Has anyone posted the
allaround qualifiers? If not, could someone do that please?

We were so thrilled with the team results yesterday! I am so happy for
the US team! I could hardly sleep! I bought 4 newspapers with Kerri on
it. It was wonderful! Gymnastics is getting so much coverage! Did
anyone catch the Today Show. We were wondering why Kerri and Shannon
didn't wear their medals and everyone else did. We were also able to
catch Talkback Live. It was interesting. Kerri was so thrilled about
the President calling her. Her parents were really proud of her. Also
her brother and best friend were in the audience. Kerri seemed
disapointed not competing the AA, but happy with what she did.

Also, living around Cincinnati we get tons of coverage on Amanda and
Jaycie. Every news station was covering gymnastics along with
interviews with "Cincinnati's Golden Girls" Also they all seem to be
into covering how the students at CGA reacted to the medals. They said
how much they are role models and they look up the them. All of them
seem to want to be the next Jaycie and Amanda.

Jaycie and Amanda's goal now is to meet the dream team. They want to
get all of their autographs. When the interviewer said that the Dream
Team probably wanted theirs too, they seemed a little shocked but the
were like, "Yeah, maybe they would!" I thought that was cute.

Well, bye for now!!

M & M :)

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Date: Wed, 24 Jul 1996 23:54:53 -0400
From: ***@KENT.NET
Subject: Re: weight

I think weight gain is almost inevitable when you reduce the amount
of exercise you are doing. Most gymnasts are used to six and seven
hours of exercise a day, six days a week. Their bodies are used
to this amount of exercise. Once they stop training so much, they
will usually gain weight even if they continue to work out.

I know what this is like. From September to June, I do ballet about
five times a week. During the summer months, however, there
are no classes available, and I always gain five or ten pounds, even
if I work out at a gymn every day. I think my body only responds to
ballet training to keep it in top shape!!!!! Once I start dancing again,
the weight I gain in the summer usually falls off.

Every person is different though. My friend who does ballet with me
usually loses weight in the summer -- she says she doesn't need
to eat as much with the lesser amount of exercise.

Jordynn

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Date: Wed, 24 Jul 1996 23:54:57 -0400
From: ***@KENT.NET
Subject: Re: The crowd at Georgia Dome (fwd) (fwd)

>I'm sorry to say the Olympic spirit ends about 1 second after the end
>of the Opening Ceremonies and everyone is very naive to think otherwise.
>
>Beth-
>
>
I disagree totally!!! Here are some examples:

1) Vitaly Scherbo and Alexei Nemov hugging after the Mens AA.

2) Jean Luc Brassard's collection of groups of people from different
nationalities singing their national anthems on SRC.

3) Young adults from the Olympic Camp in Rome, Georgia interviewed
on CBC. They said it was great to meet people from different countries
and represent Canada.

4) Almost any Canadian athlete I have seen interviewed, no matter what
their result was, said they were just trying to do their best and have fun.
If this isn't Olympic spirit, I don't know what is.

To some athletes, doing your best and having fun is more important than
winning medals.

Jordynn

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Date: Wed, 24 Jul 1996 23:48:31 -0500
From: ***@PRODIGY.COM
Subject: men's AA

Well after watching tonight, I feel the crowd was much better. I guess
the Olympics just bring out the crier in me, as I cried with Li after
he won. It was great to see other gymnasts then the US, but personally
I would have liked to see more.

A note to the CBC watchers:
My tv scheduled said there would be gymnastics from 4-7pm and so I
taped it and what I got was about 10 minutes of interviews. Is this
all, or is my tv schedule wrong?

Thanks,
Deb

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Date: Thu, 25 Jul 1996 00:19:02 -0400
From: ***@EROLS.COM
Subject: New Engl J. of Medicine

Rather than go on about my congratulations to so many of my favorite
gymnasts, just this -- during some of the fluff tonight, I switched channels
and caught a quick note on CNN or Headline News about the NEJ article; and
while they led off with comments about gymnastics, it appears that the
article is more generally about overtraining injuries in kids under 14
participating in all sorts of sports. CNN featured one boy who was on 3
baseball teams whose arm snapped messily in mid-pitch (the sore arm he'd
had turned out to have been a stress fracture), and another who'd been a
pitcher and football player and had an unspecified injury to his elbow that
would prevent his pitching again. Lots of low-key recreational gymnastics
photos, but no specific horror stories (though I'm not saying they're not in
the article -- it's hard to imagine that 40 hours a week isn't too much at
that age). Regardless of how much the NEJ article focuses on gymnastics,
of course, that won't step a lot of reporters from running with the obvious.

-- Ann.

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Date: Thu, 25 Jul 1996 00:03:52 EDT
From: ***@BWALK.DM.COM
Subject: Shcherbo's interview

Just finished watching the men's AA: Shcherbo sent his love to his wife
right there on TV in Russian - it was very touching. He said,
"Kison'ka, ya tebya pozdravlyayu" (it's her birthday).

Vitaly is such a great guy - Irina is very lucky.
Regards, Marina

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Date: Wed, 24 Jul 1996 22:06:14 -0700
From: ***@MCN.ORG
Subject: Re: Alot of follow up.

>6) The 'Mag Seven' were treated like royalty last night. They were treated to
>a party in their honor at Planet Hollywood in Atlanta, hosted by Demi
>(pronouced Dem-Me) Moore and Bruce Willis. Bela again said the same thing to
>
>reporters: It was Kerri's decision. She said she could do it.
>
>
>(Internet Poll: Do you think Demi and Bruce would have had a party if
>Romania won the Gold?)
>
>Jeff


FYI, the guests of honor the previous night were the US men, who placed fifth.

I am not as cynical as most people posting lately who seem to want to find
fault in everything. I believe the US would definitely have been guests of
honor, just like the men were, regardless of their finish.

Orion

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Date: Wed, 24 Jul 1996 22:06:16 -0700
From: ***@MCN.ORG
Subject: Re: The crowd at Georgia Dome (fwd) (fwd)

>Oops....
>
>I meant to say "Opening Ceremonies" in the message below.
>
>Beth-
>
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>Ilene said:
>
>>I just wanted to say that I, too, am disgusted with the crowd at the
>>Georgia Dome and with NBC for turning this into the "go USA" show.
>>Whatever happened to the Olympic spirit?
>
>I'm sorry to say the Olympic spirit ends about 1 second after the end
>of the Closing Ceremonies and everyone is very naive to think otherwise.
>
>Beth-

Am I the only one who's appaled by this statement? I find it viciously
cynical. To say that the olympic spirit ends at the end of the opening
ceremony? I find the olympics to be a tremendous display of honor and
sportsmanship for almost everyone involved. I don't understand people who
think that the olympics is entirely a money-making or myopically patriotic
venture. If that's all you see when you watch athletes reaching their life
goals who will never make money from their sport, then I don't get it.

Sure there's a lot of focus on the US athletes on US television, and they
are the largest delegation and are winning the most medals. Sure there's a
lot of commercialism, I don't like it at all, but that's life. You have to
look past that. There are a lot of great stories about people from all over
the world who compete in these games, and I don't think I'm "very naive" to
see the beauty in these people. Apparently some people truly believe that
the olympic spirit only exists in the opening ceremony, which means that
their idea of olympic spirit is very different from mine.

I don't mean offense to anyone, this is just my opinion,

Orion

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Date: Wed, 24 Jul 1996 22:06:18 -0700
From: ***@MCN.ORG
Subject: Re: Strug news...(yes, more!)

>Strug also was phoned in to that CNN show talkback live, which wher
>parents were on... I didn't see the show but Kerri had to take a nother
>call from Bill Blinton during the show, and the entire team was invited
>to the White House (surprise!). Clinton also asaid that he and HIllary
>would be in attendance for the AA, and Kerri said that she just wanted
>her picture taken with him!
>

Just to clarify so people don't get upset thinking the US women were invited
because of their gold medal, Kerri said that all the olympians are invited
to the White House after the games. To my understanding this is always done.
I know it was in '92.

Orion

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Date: Wed, 24 Jul 1996 18:37:45 +0000
From: ***@ALOHA.NET
Subject: US Nationals? McDonald's American Cup

Hello folks.

I just wanted to ask if some of you saw NBC's broadcast of the US
Nationals (or was it the McDonald's American Cup) last night?

With rhythmic coming up next week on August 1st, hopefully (okay,
okay who are we kidding) NBC's coverage will be much better.

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Date: Thu, 25 Jul 1996 00:35:16 -0600
From: ***@ZEPHYR.MEDCHEM.PURDUE.EDU
Subject: NBC's WWW Olympic page.

HAs *ANYONE* gotten through to this?!?!??!? i have been getting error
messages and core dumps as soon as it loads......


Jeff

Dina, Dina, Dina.


P.S. Yes, the crowd was far more friendly tonight to Li et al in the
men's final. You could here them saying 'U-S-A' but it died down tonight.
I wonder if it will be strong tomorrow. Who knows. Who cares. I've started
watching WAG FX with mute button on.

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Date: Thu, 25 Jul 1996 01:41:11 -0400
From: ***@HICOM.NET
Subject: 2 Kerri Strug Sites

Howdy, GYMNers:

Just a little note to let you folks know that I have found, using YAHOO, 2
groovy Kerri Strug sites--it didn't take these folks long...

Kerri Strug: Olympic Hero
http://fly.hiwaay.net/~cterry/kerri.html

The Kerri Strug Get Well Card (you write messages that will hopefully be
forwarded to the Strug-meister herself!)
http://vulcan.icorp.net/~nothing/strug/getwell.html

Happy surfing!

PS--Someone mentioned Shun Fujimoto, and YES, he came to my mind as soon as
Kerri landed vault #2!

PSS--Though I am a recovering John Tesh critic, I must say that after last nite,
I was/am grateful for the coverage, despite a few kinks (not showing scores
after routines is a biggie, for starters...advertising that Gymnastics will be
on from 10:00am to 1:00pm in TV Guide and other local listings and then NOT
showing it at all is another...) but thanks for the gymnastics you DID show.
What a story...

Your humble[d] servant and Fantasy Gymnastics Meister (so to speak),
Michele

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Date: Thu, 25 Jul 1996 00:38:21 -0600
From: ***@ZEPHYR.MEDCHEM.PURDUE.EDU
Subject: UB

Wow. Two healies to a release my Marinescu...cool. BTW: One cool thing
that we were shown was Khorkina's new Shaposhnikova with a 1/2 twist. That
has got to be on the coolest transitions around. Is it a D or an E? Anyone
know. Thanks for telling us about this Joy. I thought about you as
sson as I saw it since you had talked about it from podium training.


Jeff


Dina, Dina, Dina.

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Date: Thu, 25 Jul 1996 00:46:22 -0600
From: ***@ZEPHYR.MEDCHEM.PURDUE.EDU
Subject: EEUROSPORT VIEWERS.

According to cetate's WWW page (http://www.pi.net/~cetate/at_eurosport.html)
they are showing the womens' AA alive. Anyone want to tape it and
send me a copy for $$$$$




Jeff

Dina, Dina, Dina.

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Date: Thu, 25 Jul 1996 01:58:09 -0400
From: ***@AOL.COM
Subject: Re: Day and Date

Although Day and Date may have been negative, Joan Ryan was interviewed
on our local NBC affiliate(I am from the Nor Cal) and seemed to support
Kerri's decision to throw the vault. She said that her attempt at the vault
after injuring herself on the first one was strictly her decision and Bela
probably had no part in it whatsoever. She also said that Kerri is trruly
the hero of the games. I think Joan Ryan may have had a change of heart. :)


Patrice

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Date: Thu, 25 Jul 1996 02:26:39 -0400
From: ***@HICOM.NET
Subject: Re: Planet Hollywood Soiree

Re:

>>(Internet Poll: Do you think Demi and Bruce would have had a party if
Romania won the Gold?)

Yes. They had one for the US men, who came in an amazing fifth.

Your humble servant,
Michele

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Date: Thu, 25 Jul 1996 02:53:00 EDT
From: ***@PSUVM.PSU.EDU
Subject: Demi & Bruce love gymn.

Jeff asked if the US would have gotten their big Planet Hollywood bash
had the Romanians won... YES! The US Men, despite their
"Disappointing" (Note: sarcasm. I haven't been this impressed with the
Men's showing in a long time. Just noting the way NBC made it out to be
so awful...) performance, got the same exact thing the night before. It
was shown on tv (snippets) on that trashy extra show--they said "In
honor of Demi's latest hit movie, the Gymnasts decided to give her a
tribute--by taking their shirts off!" (Actually, Demi asked them to...)
Mihai seemed all to eager! Wait, isn't he ...err... Uh-oh.
(Just kidding Kris!!)

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Date: Thu, 25 Jul 1996 03:09:00 EDT
From: ***@PSUVM.PSU.EDU
Subject: Late-night shows

I remember that Kristie Phillips was on the Tonight Show when it still
had Johnny Carson as the host, and I'm sure Mary Lou might have done the
circuit. I'm not too sure, though, because I didn't have a TV until
1988--just have seen replays of the Phillips bit.

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Date: Thu, 25 Jul 1996 03:36:18 -0400
From: ***@ISMI.NET
Subject: Teams Finals (Women)

Hey all!

Wow! I just finished rewatching the women's team finals and noticed
something this time that I hadn't that first time around. I was so
impressed how Jaycie and Amanda tried to hug and congratulate everyone after
their routines, this brought a great sense of team spirit to the arena. I
mentioned earlier that I consider Kerri the greatest team player and someone
wrote me (sorry I don't remember the name) saying that she did great but
wasn't the only team player, I agree! I was so caught up in the emotion of
the moment that I was only thinking about Kerri and her vault. I have never
seen this team look so united and happy for one another, I truely am proud
to be a fan of U.S.A. gymnastics, men and women.

Okay, on to the men, just a quick note saying a huge congrats to John and
Blaine for finishing in the top ten, what a great accomplishment. These
games have gone so awesome, at this rate I can't see anyone but an American
winning the AA gold tomorrow evening, although it is gonna be tough, if
Shannon and the Dom's compete as they have been watch out, there may be more
gold around their necks. I am extremely nervous but excited, and am really
hoping that Dawes does great, she deserves it! She, as Kerri WAS, has often
times been overshadowed, and I would love to see her on the top step of the
awards stand.

Sorry for being so long, but as usual I had a lot to say!

GO U.S.A./DOM, DOM, SHANNON!!!

DEAN

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End of GYMN-L Digest - 24 Jul 1996 to 25 Jul 1996 - Special issue
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