The college girl who needs to make an elite comeback

I've been thinking a lot about the Olympic team lately, and this morning, I realized how much stronger a potential team could be with one retired elite: Shayla Worley.

Property of Online Athens.com

As I've been watching more and more of Shayla's college work, I keep thinking that she'd be better off quitting school and competing for the USA, rather than Georgia.

As a bars and beam specialist, Shayla could fit on the team in place of Liukin, Bross or even Ross. After all, she's healthy right now, right? While Bross has been rehabbing and Liukin's been out, Shayla's been successfully competing for Georgia. As one of Georgia's most consistent gymnasts, Shayla's one of the sole reasons that Georgia's been maintaining their strong reputation over the last  few years.

Shayla maintains such strong focus when competing, that I'm really not sure why she didn't win the SEC All Around title this year. She's got wonderful skills, amazing power and never seems to miss a beat. I feel that those qualities should have earned her a spot on the 2008 Olympic Team, and should most definitely earn her a spot on the 2012 team. Maybe she could even win that AA Gold! Wieber's starting to look shaky.

To conclude, SHAYLA WORLEY FOR THE 2012 OLYMPIC TEAM! Who knows, with Shayla's history of staying healthy, maybe she could even make it to 2016!

Merry Christmas!

MERRY 

CHRISTMAS!!! 

'Twas the Night Before Christmas and all through the gym...

(Property of Paul Kim) 

‘Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the gym,

All the gymnasts were gone even little Ashton Kim.

As I sat by the beam and composed a new post,

I heard a loud sound I thought must be a ghost.

So I looked around quickly while feeling quite scared,

And jumped a whole foot when some floor music blared,

‘Twas the worst I had heard, and I let out a squeal,

I heard George of the Jungle like Jessie DeZiel’s.

Meanwhile I’m still worried, I had not a clue,

Of who was there with me or what I should do,

So I turned around swiftly and called out “Who’s there?”

And I saw an old man with some furry white hair.

He said “Merry Christmas” and laughed “Ho! Ho! Ho!”

And wore a red hat that was covered with snow,

He told me right then that he'd help me out,

And that granting my wishes is what he’s about.

So I thought and I thought and I wrote a whole list,

And checked it again to see if I had missed,

Any hopes that I had as I sat by the beam,

And I told him my wishes for our US Team:

“Why is it true that we send all our men,

To many World Cup Meets again and again,

Meanwhile all the women just sit at home here,

And only go out for just three meets a year?”

“Also,” I said, “could you maybe change,

the selection process we all find quite strange?

 Camp after camp leaves many girls hurt,

And looking like they’ve been starving in the desert.”

Then he looked at me sadly with tears in his eyes,

And said, “No, I’m sorry,” and let out a sigh.

“Why, you’re no help at all,” I said to the old man,

“Why’d you say that you’d help me? I don’t understand!”

“Well it’s not up to me, I don’t have any say,

any more than Rybacki, Chow or Brandie Jay,

it may not make sense and it may be quite weird,

but that’s how it has been since old Marta appeared.”

“But think about this,” the man said with a smile,

“We’ve medaled each year for a very long while,

While she's not understood by you and your readers,

Maybe old Marta K. is a pretty good leader.”

Though I still had some doubts, I was full of good cheer,

so I thought I’d give Marta a break this year,

After all, if Santa can give her a chance,

Maybe I shouldn’t judge her without second glance.

As the man walked away, I exclaimed “Holy Moly!

That man isn’t Santa, he’s Bela Karolyi!”

He said something then as he left in the cold:

“Merry Christmas to all and USA for the gold!” 

The Nutcracker Gymnastic Choreography Montage

I wanted to celebrate "Christmas Eve Eve" with one of my favorite traditions, "The Nutcracker". 

The US Women are Dancing to Mother Ginger's song, The Russian to the Russian Trepak and the Chinese to the Chinese Tea! Enjoy!

Eight Crazy Nights (of Gymnastics!)

Tonight marks the first night of Hanukkah. In celebration, I wanted to share a little song with you, in the stylings of Adam Sandler!

The Season for Giving

It's been said that winter is the season for giving. I thought that I could take this time to call your attention to a few good causes that you can donate your time, money or even kind words to this Holiday Season.

(Property of Larry Nassar) 

After being blessed with his own autistic daughter, Caroline, National Team doctor Larry Nassar started the "Gymnastics Doctor Autism Foundation". Their admirable mantra: "Autism is not a problem to be solved but a potential to be realized," has encouraged many in the gymnastics community, including World Champion Team Coach John Geddert to support the cause. This year Geddert's Twistars and numerous college teams are hosting invitationals for the cause which also accepts donations.

With a mission to "offset the costs of gymnastics training by offering funding to funding to underprivileged children," Flip 4 It has earned the support of gymnastics stars like Dominique Dawes. You can help a gymnast like 11 year old Deja Chambliss who describes gymnastics as "the greatest sport anyone can ever do," and sees herself on the 2016 Olympic Podium.

Likely the most well known sports non-profit is the Special Olympics. The primary goal of the Special Olympics is to "provide year-round sports training and athletic competition ... for children and adults with intellectual disabilities.  Their website encourages visitors to "get involved" in their local Special Olympic events. In my experience, just giving an afternoon can significantly influence a child's life.

There are a number of charities both related and unrelated to gymnastics. From the Children's Miracle Network fundraiser held every year by USAG to the Pink Invitational held each year, there are plenty of ways to support positive movements while strengthening the wonderful sport of gymnastics. Whether it be in or out of the sport, I truly encourage you to reach out this holiday season.

5 Eclectic Thoughts for a Chilly Saturday Afternoon

So I had some random things that I wanted to share today. Here are the 5 eclectic thoughts thoughts that I had on this chilly Saturday afternoon!

1. I spent yesterday afternoon with Gretchen Goerlitz, head coach at Lindenwood University. It really is going to be a phenomenal program which she has some magnificent plans for. I'll be covering many aspects of their program after the first of the year and will continue coverage at least through the end of their first season.

I've got to say, this is history! The gymnastics community should celebrate the fact that for the first time in 10 years, a new gymnastics program is emerging into the NCAA.

I'd love if you'd follow their Twitter & Facebook pages, so you can be part of the history that is being made! Write about it, Talk about it, Tweet about it, Blog about it! Let's celebrate the fact that there's another gymnastics program to enjoy!

2. I'm glad people liked the Test Event Video! (Yes, it was mine!) For the record, I adore Brandie Jay and all of the jokes in this video were all meant in good fun! :) I apologize if anyone was offended.

3. If you're not watching Ginnaste, you really should be. It's like Make it or Break it, but it's less awful, no one's pregnant and the show actually documents the lives of Italian National Team Members.

4. From tomorrow until January 1st, I'll be doing holiday blogs every day. Although "the best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear", I decided that blogging would be a better option. Keep your eyes out for these special blogs. All of the weekly blogs ("Day in the Life", "Fresh Face Friday" etc) will resume January 2nd.

5. You all are fabulous. I can't believe we've been live for under 2 months and the blog almost is up to 100,000 hits. Keep sending your ideas, suggestions and comments to me. Nearly all of the planned content (not news) has been influenced by your ideas. Keep on sending them, because I really couldn't do it without you. I would love to hear literally any ideas that you have.

10 Things your Favorite Gymnasts (may) be doing this Thanksgiving

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!

 

If you're not from The USA, this is the day when we celebrate killing hundreds of indigenous people... Okay, not really, but that's how it originated. We typically just eat a ton of turkey, get together with family and give thanks for the things that we have.

Here are 10 things that I think some of our favorite gymnasts may be doing this Thanksgiving: 

10. Miss Val & Rhonda Faehn give thanks for the fact that they won't even have to recruit soon; gymnasts will just come running to their teams.

9. Nastia Liukin makes a "handprint turkey" with no paint; she uses the blood from her newly formed rips.

8. Chris Burdette and Kim Zmeskal Burdette spend their day feeding an entire school of 150 displaced children. How nice! Oh wait, that's just their elite group.

(Property of Karolyi Camp Website) 

7. National Team Doctor Larry Nassar gives thanks that he won't have to set any broken bones until the next Training Camp in Early 2012.

6. Chellsie Memmel cheats her meal plan (as she stated on HBO) and eats Turkey and Fruit. 

5. Jordyn Wieber gives thanks for her spot on the 2012 Olympic Team. 

4. When Anna Liukin asks Valeri to pass the Mashed Potatoes, he becomes oddly overly protective of them and exclaims, "THESE ARE MY POTATOES, I MAKE WORLD CHAMPION POTATOES, DO NOT TAKE MY POTATOES LIKE BITCH TATIANA SCHEGOLKOVA!" 

3. Bela Karolyi attempts to "fit in with the American Traditions" and serves a thanksgiving dinner to Marta & Andrea. Bela says he never knew that stuffing paired so well with roasted camel. 

2. Jen Sey gives a press conference on how Elite Gymnastics caused Indian Turmoil, and how if the Parkettes Coaches weren't so mean, the pilgrims wouldn't have had to move to North America. 

1. Mustafina, Yao,  Komova, Iordache, Qiushang, Afanasyeva, Mitchell, Whelan, Ferrari & Grishina train, while the Americans eat turkey and stuffing!  

Of course these are jokes, thus the "(may)" disclaimer in the title. Don't take anything to heart. It's all good Thanksgiving fun.