Shawn Johnson held everyone off to win the Gold in the Balance Beam Competition....she just nudged out Nastia who took the silver, and China's Chang Fei the bronze. Again Bob Costas was looking for a conspiracy........as Nasita lost the gold in the uneven bars by a tie breaker, and Chang Fei won a bronze medal even though she fell on her knees during her vault..............but you know that all has to do with the rules......the tiebreakers are all set ahead of time....no one controls them.....but of course you can judge poorly...........that is always a problem but then if the competing country cannot judge then you must let other countries judge............we do that in wushu too...you may not judge your own students.......... , otherwise everyone would be crying unfair............everyone has the same limitations.......but, I still feel what's wrong with giving two Golds? In World Wushu Competition we give a second Gold if they are tied.............they tried so hard and it's just the judges could not find any differences. The degree of difficulty rule is what wushu borrowed to modify it's rules............you end up rewarding difficulty and not basics..........so everyone tries to do the most difficulties to win........and you might bobble or stop in your routine but if you can get enough bonus points you can still win..........in wushu this meant no one had any stances in their routines......only squats and half kneeling stances....because there were no deductions for it........whereas a horse stance had to be perfect to score...............how you set up the rules affects the quality of competition you get........maybe all this controversy is the fault of the Technical Committee(hey, isn't the US on that committee?).........let's not blame the athletes.......they practiced hard..........to get here........scoring problems are not theirs, nor does it have anything to do with a homefield advantage..........it just shows they ain't got it right yet.....no one usually complains but on a World Stage the shortcomings become obvious.
Li Xiao Peng adds another gold to China's gymnastic medals.
Also look out for He Chong considered by many to be tops in Men's Springboard competition, may mean more diving gold for China.
Christine Ohuruogu wins the Gold in the 400m sprint for Great Britain.
Still more to come as US Redeem Team........enters play against Australia next......the US has never lost to them........Jiayo USA!
In Baseball, the US Team will play for the bronze against Japan..........might make a difference if our National or American League superstars would compete in baseball..........with a lack of starpower it is being removed from the next Olympic Games along with softball....where we are too good.....US has not lost a game or given up a run........they had to use the mercy rule so the US Team would not pile on the other teams.
In Water Polo US has qualified into the semi finals and will have to meet the other world power Hungry at some point.
I also look foward to seeing ourC beach volleyball duo of Misty May/Kerri Walsh....meet the Chinese in the finals fr the gold.............and frankly, I did not even know China had a team........where do they play in China? And China will also take on Germany in Field Hockey...........interesting sport ice hockey played on grass.........
Ok, gotta go....cya!
Coming: Sept 14 Mid-Autumn Festival Sept 15 Dragon Boat Festival Oct 12 4th Annual Golden State Chinese Martial Arts Champions