Paul Hamm
 

The gymnastics federation asked Paul hamm to return the Gold medal ....


what do you think should happen?

It is not Paul Hamm's fault that the judges erred in their scoring.

Therefore, he should not be obligated to return the Gold Medal they rightfully awarded him.

If the FIG wants to redeem themselves, they should issue a duplicate medal to the South Korean who would have had the most points.

No need to penalize Paul Hamm for anything he didn't do!

Exactly. At least the ice skating international organization 'fessed up and fixed its mistake. FIG is acting like an angry exboyfriend.

Isn't that what happened in the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake with ice skating couples? Because there was an error duplicate medals were awarded.

Hamm should have the only gold medal, period. If scored correctly the So. Korean actually would have been a tenth lower in scoring than he was.

Plus 1 tenth for the starting value.
Minus 2 tenths for 4 holds instead of 3.

and no, I'm not gay.:D

Yes, but since every sport has a different international governing organization, every sport deals with such mistakes differently.

I am so so glad that the USOC is doing everything they can to ensure that Hamm keeps his medal.

After reading this morning's article, I thought Peter Uebberoth's statement subtley told the FIG "Hey screw you and back off, we're not going to deliver your damn message."

Basically the FIG's to blame and they're having a hard time trying to clean up their shit. Everything they're doing seems to be pissing off people even more. And hooray for the IOC for not issuing duplicate medals!

Can you imagine Olympics of the future and countries demanding duplicate medals?

Exactly right, I feel sorry for him now that everybody thinks he didn't deserve it.

I think it's sort of hypocritical because FIG rules state that the error in starting value should be brought to the officials' attention after the event in question...not a day or two later.

Cosign. With attitude.

Wherein lies part of the problem. As I understand it, the Korean staff came to the officials immediately, and were told to come back later. Later to them was a couple of days.

Too late.

However, the real point is that no sport changes scores, winners, etc. after the fact.

The idea of the FIG trying to get Hamm to do its dirty work and penalize himself in the action is ludicrous. If they can't govern their sport, they should step aside and let someone else run it.

Hamm should keep his medal proudly. If the FIG wants to award another one, that's their business.

Dr. Jacques Rogge, the president of the IOC, basically told the FIG (diplomaticallly, of course) to take a flying f*ck at a rolling donut.

Originally, the USOC was amenable to the issuing of a second gold medal for the South Korean, but when the FIG insisted on Hamm returning his medal 'in the interest of fair play' (cough-bullsh*t-cough) that idea was swiftly thrown into the trashcan.

BTW, it's the IOC that issues the medals; the FIG administers and judges the sport in the Games. So the IOC was in the right anyway.

That's why I never understood why the FIG is still bitching and moaning. No matter what they do or say they have no control of the medals anyway!

My feelings exactly.

As someone pointed out on another board where this was discussed, did anyone else notice that the other South Korean gymnast is basically getting a free pass in all this? Shouldn't he, then, return the silver because he really didn't earn that, and take the bronze? I haven't heard anyone talk about that.

A bunch of jealous little pricks is what they are. This isn't a sport where you are allowed to go back and watch the event for scoring and corrections. If that were the case the Korean would have lost even more points. Evidently they don't want to consider that though.

I think it's fair to say that our country is standing behind Hamm on whatever he feels is right on this.

-Rudey

Very good point. He seems to be the forgotten one in all this.

In general I wasn't impressed w/ the gymnastics judges. There was another incident (I forgot who was involved, but he competed on the high bar right before one of the Hamm bros.) where the guy did an unbelievable routine and was awarded 2 scores which were insanely low. The crowd went crazy and finally they had to go back and rescore. Then the audience still wouldn't shut up and acted a fool during Hamm's routine. Some of the crap that happened there was out of line.

This is gymnastics' equivelant of the 2000 election. Both sides have LAWYERS issuing statements. Utterly ridiculous. The South Koreans need to come down off of their completely ridiculous position and admit they were wrong. If they were given what they wanted, a completely fair and accurate rejudging their man wouldn't even medal.

I'm glad that the USOC is basically giving these groups the finger. I was afraid that in light of the current world view of the USA, they'd try to be more diplomatic :D

I totaly agree with you! I can't believe even the USOC & FIG isn't bringing that up. He should take is bronze and be happy he got away with those 2 tenths.

Hamm was talking about this on David Letterman and if that's true, then why are they still whining? Hamm won it fair and square and his comeback was amazing.

When did they ask him to give the medal back?
I thought they denied the Korean's complaint...?

They asked him to give it up a few days ago. He said he'd do whatever the FIG decided was right. So they tried to send him a letter via the USOC (who wouldn't deliver it b/c it was basically a load of hooey!) saying they think it would be a great display of sportsmanship and Fair Play if he handed it over to the Korean. When he said no, they claimed he was going back on what he said originally. Hamm then explained he MEANT he would do what the FIG decided. If they decided he had to give it up, he would, but he certainly won't do it because they are "asking" him too. Good for him!

You know, how many times are football games been won and lost because of a touchdown that really wasn't over the line, or a penalty that wasn't called. They don't go back after watching the tape and say "Sorry so and so, you have to give up the National Championship b/c after some thought, we f*cked up". :rolleyes:

Ditto across the world in soccer - there are fan riots at every other game. Can you imagine the melee if a championship was stripped? Someone would wake up with their throat cut.

There's more at work here, IMHO, than a scoring error for S. Korea to get so worked up.......... I think someone's bringing regular international politics into the Olympics - again. No solid evidence, just a hunch.

--add

The only time an athlete should return a medal is if they are caught cheating.
It's not their fault the judges screwed up and shouldn't be penalized for a judges mistake.

But problems like this are why I feel that all judged sports should be taken out of the olympics. Gymnastics, synchro, figure skating, rythmic gymnastics, wrestling and boxing should all be gone. It's too subjective and every year there is controversy and corruption scandals. They need to be out because I don't think the problems can be fixed.

I agree with you on the fact that it should only be taken away if they are caught cheating or drugs.


He didnt mess with the scoring... the judging was messed up before they stepped ont he floor. The S korean team is whinny bunch of poor sports..... He w on and they awarded him so be done with it ...thats what i believe!

I watched an interview with him the other night and he is positive about the entire scenerio. I don't think he should have to give it back..PERIOD! It isn't his fault that the judges made mistakes. If he did something to unrightfully win then maybe, but he did everything he was supposed to and it was someone elses mistake.
From the interview it sounded like the FIG wanted him to just willing turn it over instead of them proving that he shouldn't have received it. STUPID!!!!

Its a shame its even an issue. Something that is usually the best moment in someones life has been made into one of the worst. Internationally (calling all Europeans, Canadians, the occasional South African ;) ) do you feel the same way as Americans do about this? Disagree? Thought about it twice?

Kudos to Alexei Nemov for calming the crowd for Hamm during the highbar final.

Off Topic...
I think Nemov should have won that special Gold sportsmanship medal, rather than the Brazilian marathon runner.

I disagree. Any gymnast could have done that to quiet the crowd.

Not everyone runs a marathon, leads most of the way, and has their gold medal hopes dashed by an overzealous religious freak, and still has the guts and strength to finish the competition.

How much did I laugh my a$$ off when the dude from S. Korea making all the fuss screwed the pooh royally on his highbar routine. First he hit the dang bar with his legs, and then he about fell on his a$$ when he landed. I was ROLLING with laughter about it. Yeah - champion....whatever!!!

And I think Nemov is absolutely precious -- he can come put those beautiful arms on my highbar anytime :D LOL!!

What the HELL is wrong with the judges - they seemed to screw up one thing after another this time.

Don't get me wrong, I think the brazilian got screwed, but I think it took a lot of class from the russian, who used to be a very arrogant jerk in his younger years, to behave in that fashion.

I also think poor Paul Hamm showed a lot of class and held up very well with all the controversy.

Really don't care either which way... after all Canada had issues with the Gymnastics as well.

We believe that yes he got screwed over big time by the judges... they tried to complain but were told basically "not now", and when the complained again were told they should have earlier... if the scoring was done correctly yes he may have got the gold, and Hamm the silver.

Now the only way that the medals would be switched is if there was evidance that the mistake wasn't a mistake, but instead something planned (ie. Salt Lake and Figure Skating fiasco). Otherwise Hamm shouldn't give up the medal, but he will most likely have the dreaded "*" next to his medal in the books.