[HPFGU-OTChatter] Re: Elimating Non-Sports (WAS Defending ice dancing, the ISU and judging)

[Andrew MacIan]

Greetings from Andrew!

"Judge me by my size, do you?"

--- cindysphynx <cindysphynx at home.com> wrote:
> Andrew wrote:
> 
> > Let me take a step or six back and offer a rather
> > radical proposal:  Any 'sport' that requires
> external
> > judging, where that judging awards/affects points
> > should NOT be an Olympic sport.  That they are
> > athletic in nature is a given.  But when the
> > subjective nature of the judging is integral to
> the
> > placements of the finishers, then the contest is
> not
> > only between the open competitors but also
> > amongst/between the judges...and the nations the
> > judges really represent.
> 
> Hold on there! :-)
> 

Oh...OK!

> Diving and gymnastics can stay, can't they?  Those
> are *real 
> sports.*  Actually, gymnasts aren't even regular
> athletes.  They are 
> like space aliens who lack proper bones or
> something.  We *can't* 
> toss them out of the Olympics.  Besides, we short
> people have to have 
> a few sports where we excel, right?  :-)

As you wish....

As for short folks, the best (or from my perspective,
worst!) fencer I ever faced was about 4'9" or so; she
had next to *zero* target for me to find.  This was
sabre, and the only way I ever scored on her was with
point...never edge.  Also the world's strongest man
(the Olympic champion in middleweight division) is
only about 5'3" or so, and he lifts about three times
his own body-mass.

> 
> Yes, there is some subjectivity.  But both sports
> have done a number 
> of things to reduce the subjectivity.  Gymnastics
> (unlike figure 
> skating) has a rigid point code.  Certain moves are
> worth a certain 
> amount, so an easy routine starts with a lower base
> mark than a hard 
> routine, and there is much less room for judges to
> cheat.  Diving has 
> the degree of difficulty (and the tell-tale splash),
> which serves the 
> same function.

Yes, but...{grin}.  There's too much potential for
'eye of the beholder' in subjective sports, no matter
the form factor IMO.  However, the points you make are
also the ones that seem to be prevailing in the ISU's
collective (not to say alleged!) mind at the moment. 
Perhaps this will save the credibility of the sport.
  
> 
> Figure skating (even ice dancing) is probably here
> to stay.  So maybe 
> they will make one small reform for me.  I'd like to
> see a round 
> called "Costume Approval."  Men would be directed to
> steer away from 
> the flashy, sequin-covered outfits that have become
> way too popular.  
> Rolled up sleeves are good and will receive higher
> marks from the 
> judges; plunging necklines will generate substantial
> deductions.  
> Under this system, Alexi Urmanov, who wore the Puffy
> Shirt from 
> Seinfeld, would have been sent home before he ever
> set foot on the 
> ice. 

{laughter}  Sometime, ask an SCA membner about the not
entirely mythical Mistress Laurel Seamchecker!
 
> 
> I hear they are considering Trampoline as a Summer
> event.  I suppose 
> they will slot it in the Circus Act division, right
> up there with 
> Rhythm Gymnastics.  I understand that there is
> actually something 
> called "Synchronized Skating."  I'm not sure I want
> to know what that 
> is.

{sigh} We live in degenerate times, Cindy.  What can I
say?

> 
> Cindy (who thinks that the fact that a male ice
> dancer wound up with 
> lipstick on his nose after his original dance speaks
> for itself)

And after the one pair totally slaughtered Bizet, I
turned off the TV....

Cheers,

Drieux


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