It's all about me

[soup sandwich]

Originally posted by LessinSF
There is no doubt. They miscored it, thinking they should start Yang at a 9.9 instead of a 10. Kamm should give it to him. It should be like golf - score your own fuckups. Imagine the goodwill our country would earn, badly needed as I post this from the friendly confines of Vilnius, Lithuania.

Rebuttal argument to link posted earlier - http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5790612/

I disagree.

It's a tough call, but I have no problem with Hamm keeping the gold. First, this isn't just a question of simple math (i.e, add 0.1 to the South Korean's total). There is no way to know how the last rotation would have been approached by the competitors if the South Korean's point total were the highest. Would he have choked knowing he was so close to gold? Would he have played it too safe? Who knows. And this doesn't even factor in how the judges would have scored him in the final round as the "point leader".

Simply put, there is no way you can assume that the South Korean, and all the other competitors, would have received the same exact scores for their last events.

Second, the match was lost not only because the judges mis-scored it, but also because the South Koreans failed to file a protest in time. Once the athletes move to the next station no appeal can be filed. The South Korean coaches can moan and groan all they want about fairness, but if they had simply followed the proper procedures there would be no controversy.

Mistakes were made, and the judges and South Korean coaches who failed in their duties should be made to pay for their errors which may have cost this guy a gold medal. But why should Paul Hamm have to suffer? The link above suggests that Hamm should give up the medal so that the world will view the U.S. more favorably. What bullshit. It is not his responsibility or his burden.

It's unfortunate that once again it's the U.S. vs. South Korea in an olympic controversy (Roy Jones, Jr. in 1988 and Apollo Onno in 2002). I've always preferred USSR vs US controversies myself.

[Shape Shifter]

Originally posted by Hank Chinaski
Maybe. And the degree of difficulty in fighting Slave is high, but you let Penske get the final spin, and the better exit, which is just several tenths of a point off.

My dismount was flawless. But let's face it, everything was decided in advance. I had no illusions about this after I saw the judges conferring with one another at length. I practically did everything right, still they just set me up and fleeced me. Still, I want to remain involved, perhaps through the International Federation. These competitions have shown the sport needs a lot of changes.

[greatwhitenorthchick]

Originally posted by soup sandwich
I disagree.

I think both should get the gold. That's in keeping with the fine tradition most recently displayed at the 2002 winter olympics with the pairs skating judging controversy. Different controversy since we're only talking about stupid, not corrupt, judges. But same principle IMO.

[Hank Chinaski]

Originally posted by Shape Shifter
My dismount was flawless. But let's face it, everything was decided in advance. I had no illusions about this after I saw the judges conferring with one another at length. I practically did everything right, still they just set me up and fleeced me. Still, I want to remain involved, perhaps through the International Federation. These competitions have shown the sport needs a lot of changes.

WAR IS PEACE

FREEDOM IS SLAVERY

IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH

for what its worth, here is the PM that SS sent when he was explaining why he decided to come back:

HC: Glad you're back- what happened
SS: I gazed at Slave's avatar. Years it had taken me to learn what kind of smile was hidden beneath the dark moustache. O cruel, needless misunderstanding! O stubborn, self-willed exile from the loving breast! Two gin-scented tears trickled down the sides of my nose. But it was all right, everything was all right, the struggle was finished. I had won the victory over myself. I loved Slavenomore.
HC: Congrats

[NotFromHere]

Originally posted by Shape Shifter
Still, I want to remain involved, perhaps through the International Federation.

So when I first read this, I thought Star Fleet? How is Star Fleet going to help him?

Sorry, eta something to do with sex...TRENTON, N.J. - Comedian and New Jersey native Joe Piscopo says he’s being urged to make a run for the Statehouse in the wake of Gov. James E. McGreevey’s resignation and acknowledgment of a sex scandal.

Well, I guess working in television or the movies gives you instant cred to run for governor now.

[Shape Shifter]

Originally posted by Hank Chinaski
WAR IS PEACE

FREEDOM IS SLAVERY

IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH

for what its worth, here is the PM that SS sent when he was explaining why he decided to come back:

HC: Glad you're back- what happened
SS: I gazed at Slave's avatar. Years it had taken me to learn what kind of smile was hidden beneath the dark moustache. O cruel, needless misunderstanding! O stubborn, self-willed exile from the loving breast! Two gin-scented tears trickled down the sides of my nose. But it was all right, everything was all right, the struggle was finished. I had won the victory over myself. I loved Slavenomore.
HC: Congrats

Goddammit, Hank. Private messages are supposed to be private.

[soup sandwich]

Originally posted by greatwhitenorthchick
I think both should get the gold. That's in keeping with the fine tradition most recently displayed at the 2002 winter olympics with the pairs skating judging controversy. Different controversy since we're only talking about stupid, not corrupt, judges. But same principle IMO.

I hated the two golds being awarded in 2002. Was there cheating? If yes, give the gold to Canada and disqualify the Russians (yes, I know the skaters had nothing to do with the cheating, disqualifying them sends the strongest message). If there was no cheating, then let the results stand.

In the current situation, I think it's wrong to selectively apply the "no appeals once the athletes have moved to the next station" rule. I'm sure there's more than a few other gymnasts who would've liked to have something reviewed, but then didn't follow through with it because they figured the time to appeal had expired. If two golds are awarded, then henceforth everyone will realize that the rule is meaningless.

[Aloha Mr. Learned Hand]

Originally posted by NotFromHere
Sorry, eta something to do with sex...TRENTON, N.J. - Comedian and New Jersey native Joe Piscopo says he’s being urged to make a run for the Statehouse in the wake of Gov. James E. McGreevey’s resignation and acknowledgment of a sex scandal.

Well, I guess working in television or the movies gives you instant cred to run for governor now.

Piscopo has to be taken seriously... it's been at least 15 years since he said anything funny.

[Hank Chinaski]

Originally posted by Aloha Mr. Learned Hand
Piscopo has to be taken seriously... it's been at least 15 years since he said anything funny.

Cue, Thurgreed.

[Replaced_Texan]

Originally posted by Aloha Mr. Learned Hand
Piscopo has to be taken seriously... it's been at least 15 years since he said anything funny.

I used to get him and the Joe Isuzu guy mixed up. Now that I'm thinking about it, I'm not entirely clear if I remember who he was.

[Atticus Grinch]

Originally posted by soup sandwich
It's unfortunate that once again it's the U.S. vs. South Korea in an olympic controversy (Roy Jones, Jr. in 1988 and Apollo Onno in 2002). I've always preferred USSR vs US controversies myself.

All this talk of Korea reminded me of a line in the most recent Atlantic Monthly (paraphrased): "North Korea has proven to be the house cat of the Eastern Bloc: intractable, convinced of its own superiority, and never very good at feeding itself."

Oh, SNAP! Trust the Atlantic to find drollery in mass starvation! I am renewing my fake subscription forthwith.

I would have posted this on Politics but I am unable to make it relevant to Swiftboats.

[greatwhitenorthchick]

Originally posted by soup sandwich
I hated the two golds being awarded in 2002.

I hated it too. But I also hated the thought of the athletes having to pay for things that were not their own doing and I thought they should be rewarded. The two golds seemed like the best compromise - but like many compromises, not very satisfactory. I agree - rules are rules - it just seems so sad to punish the athlete for something that is not his screwup.

[NotFromHere]

Originally posted by Replaced_Texan
I used to get him and the Joe Isuzu guy mixed up. Now that I'm thinking about it, I'm not entirely clear if I remember who he was.

Funny, his agent's site shows a picture of him in a mullet. Very old pic.

Joe Piscopo

And Aloha, I was trying to remember any skits he EVER did that were funny. Turns out, his most famous character in SNL is a Frank Sinatra impression.

[Aloha Mr. Learned Hand]

Originally posted by NotFromHere
And Aloha, I was trying to remember any skits he EVER did that were funny. Turns out, his most famous character in SNL is a Frank Sinatra impression.

He did do a good Sinatra. That pretty much sums it up, though...

[greatwhitenorthchick]

Originally posted by Aloha Mr. Learned Hand
Piscopo has to be taken seriously... it's been at least 15 years since he said anything funny.

And yet he is still described as "comedian and New Jersey native". Does that mean that we can all describe ourselves on the basis of what we were doing 15 years ago?
Because "bartender/indiscriminate slut and Ontario native gwnc" sounds so much more interesting than "lawyer and Ontario native".