The response from the gymnasts themselves has been very subdued, which is what I expected. Yes, Dawes came off more annoying than Maloney, but whatever.

Speaking of Maloney, I take issue with people who say (ten years later) she was the “it” girl going into the 2000 Olympics. The Mrs. probably paid them to say that. In retrospect, sane people know that Elise Ray was better — which means you can’t take stock in the “it” factor.

P.S. While we’re on the subject, someone please tell me if Parkettes is still as screwed up as it always has been.

P.P.S. I expect the Chinese to make sure He Kexin and Deng Linlin won’t let it all hang out like Dong Fangxiao did.

–where the hell was Georgia?

Nowhere to be found.

Well! So it appears that Missouri and Oregon State, who finished 1-2 at their Regionals and pipped Georgia, are almost-Davids. I say almost because the Georgia Goliath has been ill, quite ill, for some time now, and its defeat was imminent. I just did not know it would come before the Super Six.

So that’s that then. No five-peat (or whatever number they were on, ha!) this year.

I say: GO BRUINS. (Although Aunt Joyce is of the opinion that Florida is capable of the upset. But no, I can’t give Rhonda Faehn the satisfaction!)

Let us all lift our collective hands and slap the INS silly for denying Natalia Laschenova citizenship! And then subjecting her to the threat of deportation!

Of course, I have no idea what the circumstances are, but I have faith that Laschenova, my favorite Soviet,  is not some rabid terrorist who wants to blow planes up. The kind of faith that says, “She’s paying our taxes, unlike SOME PEOPLE who are already citizens.”

SAVE NATALIA LASCHENOVA!!

No, Katie. You can’t start revising history and blaming the last few meets on the judges. Your former teammates are out of shape and performing shitty gymnastics. They are a mess and don’t have Courtney Kupets to bail them out.

When Kevin says that Marcia has some of the best handstands of all time, will you please say “sure if you like bent elbows.” Weren’t you coached by a soviet genius? Do you ever wonder why Ashley Postell hated you so much?

Just because Gina does an Omeilianchik and a Double Arabian does not mean she is Courtney Kupets.

You need to get on Jay for having Marcia 5th in the bars lineup? He always likes people who are good in the gym and Marcia is the queen of hitting in the gym and being fugly in meets, but is this 1996 and is Jay Octavian Belu trying to hide Mirela Turgalan [sic] on beam in hopes that the judges will be a bit generous with her score?

I love it! I love it all!

The comments are pretty golden too.

Cut scene from NBC’s “Parks and Recreation”.

Why this guy rates Kerri “Drama Queen” Strug over Dominique “Even Bigger Drama Queen But At Least She’s Prettier” Dawes and the Soviet great Natalia Shaposhnikova, I will never, ever know.

Yesterday’s top search term to get to this blog was “bridget sloan“. Today’s (as of this posting) is “shawn johnson gymnast & difficulties“.

Another search term from yesterday is “underwear for gymnasts“. I don’t know much about that,  really, but I can connect you to the Hanes website. If it helps.

1. I do not follow Nastia on Twitter because her constant use of exclamation marks hurts my eyes.

2. Courtney Kupets should guest-star on Make It or Break It again. I would totally watch that episode. Especially if it entails her beating the crap out of those snotty little pretenders.

3. I want Utah to beat Georgia on Friday. Probably not going to happen. Utah has anointed itself my favorite team this season–without my permission. The hell, Utes.

4. Re: my previous post, it seems McCool’s routine on floor won out. Youtube here I come.

(If it’s a floor routine with booty-shaking in it, I probably won’t show it to her anyway.)

All of this is, of course, dependent on whether I can find the routine(s) on Gymnastike or Youtube. Or if you give me the links. Just kidding (not really).

While it’s not all gymnastics there–figure skating tends to hog the spotlight sometimes–dear Aunt Joyce, diva par excellence, provides me with much entertainment. Where else are you going to find artistic appreciation married to scurrilous gossip (and oh, what juicy scurrilousness it is–whoever would have thought that Nastia Liukin would have dated that figure skater Lysacek!)? I find that dear Auntie and I share the opinion that Courtney Kupets is freaking awesome, and that’s enough to keep me coming back.

So what are you waiting for? Go visit your Aunt Joyce. Dear Auntie was the one who told me Melanie Sinclair got arrested, charged with felonies and had to post bond. Now THAT was a corker, and by golly it was TRUE. There’s a lesson for you all–don’t go dating felons, and if by some chance you do end up falling for a felon, for God’s sake don’t stash his stuff in your apartment.

You say Bridget Sloan became the all-around world champion? That’s nice, but right now I’m too busy “ROTFLMAO” (as they say) at these NCAA gymnast wild children. Indeedy.