Hamm asked to give up his gold medal!

[AggieDave 6]

Well, we were waiting for this to happen and it finally did.


http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=sportsNews&storyID=6090780


I'm just quoting the first page of the article, if you want the rest, follow the link.

Quote

By Andrew Gray and Paul Eckert

ATHENS (Reuters) - U.S. Olympic chiefs reacted furiously Friday to a suggestion gold medallist Paul Hamm should give his medal to a South Korean rival under a plan floated by world gymnastics officials.

In one of the biggest controversies of the Athens Games, the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) has said Hamm placed first in the all-round event due to a judging error and bronze medallist Yang Tae-young should have been awarded gold.

The FIG has suspended the three judges involved, saying they incorrectly docked a 10th of a point from Yang's parallel bars routine in the final Wednesday last week. But it has said it has no mechanism to overturn the final standings.

The FIG has now gone a step further and written to Hamm -- one of the highest-profile members of the U.S. Olympic team -- to suggest he could return his medal, according to a letter released by the U.S. Olympic committee Friday.

"The true winner of the all-round competition is Yang Tae-young," the letter said.

"If ... you would return your medal to the Korean if the FIG requested it, then such an action would be recognized as the ultimate demonstration of Fairplay by the whole world," said the letter signed by FIG president Bruno Grandi and dated August 26.

The U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) said the letter was a "blatant and inappropriate" attempt by the FIG to shift responsibility for its mistake onto the shoulders of Hamm, 21.

"It's deplorable that they are deflecting their own incompetence and their problem to a young athlete who simply came here to compete in the Olympic Games," USOC chairman Peter Ueberroth told a news conference.

NO SECOND GOLD

USOC chiefs spoke to Hamm, who has returned to the United States, and his advisers Thursday night.

"During these conversations, the USOC expressed its unwavering support for Mr. Hamm and indicated it will aggressively resist any attempt by any party to lay claim to his gold medal," a USOC statement said.

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[cvfd1399 0]

I was wating on someone to ask myself. I did not follow the story enough to comment about it, just figured someone would ask eventually.

[SniperCJ 0]

Personally, had I been Hamm, I would have already given it up and accepted second place. thats what he really won. Why keep the tarnished medal?

[jjiimmyyt 0]

I feel kinda sorry for Hamm. He may have the medal but the whole world (apart from one country it seems) knows who 'really' won it.

However I think its like football results (soccer for everybody from that one country), if thats what the referee called then at the end of the day that is the result that stands.

"This isn't an iron lung, people. You can actually disconnect and not die." -Dave

[eeneR 3]

Personally I don't think I would want to be considered the "champ" based on technicality instead of true merit.

My .02...If someone can't add...I don't think someone should be titled the winner, and the true winner not recognized because someone else is a moron.

Having said that, it would be a show of true sportsmanship for Hamm to hand it over.

But hey, I'm an armchair olympian!

She is not a "Dumb Blonde" - She is a "Light-Haired Detour Off The Information Superhighway."
eeneR
TF#72, FB#4130, Incauto

[tigra 0]

Well, that's the problem. They won't officially do anything to correct their own mistakes, and they're dropping it all in Paul Hamm's lap. Personally, I think its BS! If the judges screwed up, they should award a 2nd gold medal, or find another way to clean up the mess they made. That's what they ended up doing with the figure skating controversy a couple of years ago!

It sucks that this whole olympics has been filled with controversy- between the gymnastics judging and all the reports of illegal doping- it takes a lot away from it!

[hipgnosis 0]

I hate how everyone wants Hamm, the guy who won the competition according to the rules that were in place, to give up the gold. Have we ever had a sports team say "You know, I'm pretty sure that was a strike, here's the Pennant" or the like?

Scoring mistakes happen. A system was in place to allow an appeal, which didn't happen. Life goes on. Pretty much every other sport that relies on a referee/umpire/judge to make a call where human error will eventually creep in just accepts it and moves on.

If this trend continues then I'm sure the next olympics will have appeals/counter-appeals/counter-counter-appeals ad nauseum until a couple of years after the competition is finished.

[Jib 0]

That's bullshit!! Hamm won!
The Korean wants to take advantage of one mistake (+.1) and ignore his other mistake (-.2).

--------------------------------------------------
the depth of his depravity sickens me.
-- Jerry Falwell, People v. Larry Flynt

[rehmwa 2]

I'm wondering if the committee also sent letters to the silver and bronze medalists, too?

...
Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

[PLFXpert 0]

Thank you! In the review of the tapes, the Korean made two other technical errors that, had the judges seen, would have counted AGAINST him, but did not b/c they did not see it.

So, either way, Hamm won. If the judge had not made an error, the Korean would have won and it would be fair and square. The judge made a mistake and thought he saw something he didn't, but in review of the tape, there were two mistakes NONE of the judges caught. That is why the judging is SUBJECTIVE. That is why they do not review tapes in gymnastics.

Hamm won fair and square based on the rules and he played by the rules. There is no reason, in my mind, he should give up his medal, especially when the Korean made mistakes that, had they been counted, would have cost him the gold anyways.

To each their own as far as opinions go. I feel terrible for a fantastic athlete such as Hamm to be put in this situation when he has done nothing wrong, yet people are boo'ing him and judges are scorning him...people just enjoy placing blame on everyone but themselves. The Korean should blame himself (for making those two errors the judges didn't catch) and the judges should blame themselves (for instead taking off points they THOUGHT they saw) and NO-ONE should be blaming Hamm for anything....IN MY OPINION

Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

[lawrocket 3]

Personally, I think he should give it back. It'll always be tarnished...

Then again, rules are rules, and the rules should be abided by.

My wife is hotter than your wife.

[tigra 0]

Not that I disagree about not wanting to be a winner due to a mistake or technicality, but to put that all in the lap of a 23 year old, when the judges who screwed up aren't willing to fix the problem themselves? The truth is, there were plenty of other irregularities and mistakes in the judging and Paul Hamm did an admirable job, coming back from a huge error while all of the other competitors made critical mistakes.

Like I said, its BS for the commitee to make this "suggestion" and ask this kid to fix their errors!

[Islandcool 0]

Quote

"The true winner of the all-round competition is Yang Tae-young," the letter said.

"If ... you would return your medal to the Korean if the FIG requested it, then such an action would be recognized as the ultimate demonstration of Fairplay by the whole world," said the letter signed by FIG president Bruno Grandi and dated August 26.

Fuck you...

Quote

"It's deplorable that they are deflecting their own incompetence and their problem to a young athlete who simply came here to compete in the Olympic Games," USOC chairman Peter Ueberroth told a news conference.

Yeppers

Ok so no wisdom in those responses but WTF? Lay it on the Hamm like that? BS.

[Jen1129 0]

It bothers me to hear people say Paul Hamm's medal is "tarnished." He did absolutely nothing wrong, and it is unheard of to ask an athlete or a team to "give up" a victory when the mistake was not theirs to begin with.

As others have said, there is no way to know for sure that the Korean would have won if the scores had been changed. He did make another error which the judges did not count - and even if he had been given the extra points he was "entitled" to, who is to say he would not have choked in the last round given the pressure of being in the lead?

It's a dangerous precedent to set to try to change results of a sporting competition after the fact. Does anyone want to see the Super Bowl results changed the morning after based on a video replay?

[turtlespeed 220]

Quote

Personally I don't think I would want to be considered the "champ" based on technicality instead of true merit.

My .02...If someone can't add...I don't think someone should be titled the winner, and the true winner not recognized because someone else is a moron.

Having said that, it would be a show of true sportsmanship for Hamm to hand it over.

But hey, I'm an armchair olympian!

It shouldn't have been an issue. There shouldn't have been any debate. The judges were the ones tasked with a fair score - they were (THREE OF THEM) suspended?

I'm STILL not clear how three judges made identicle mistakes on the same exact routine.

HOW does that happen - I think the methods and motivations should be scrutinized before someone is asked to give something back.

I'm not usually into the whole 3-way thing, but you got me a little excited with that. - Skymama
BTR #1 / OTB^5 Official #2 / Hellfish #408 / VSCR #108/Tortuga/Orfun

[Viking 0]

The Koreans were given a system to correct this mistake, but they didn't do it in time. Now they are throwing a hissy fit b/c they didn't do there fucking job!!

Hamm shouldn't give back a damn thing!! By the rules of the game he won.

I swear you must have footprints on the back of your helmet - chicagoskydiver
My God has a bigger dick than your god -George Carlin

[tfelber 0]

I heard on CNN that the reason for no second medal is because the protest was not filed in time...

Well if the protest was not files there would be no discussion AND since the protest wasn't filed in time the point is mute.

If you comitted a felony punishable by 4 years in prison yet the statute of limitations had run out before you were found would you go ahead and do the 4 years???

The rules are setup to deal with something like this. Live by the rules or change them!!!

[diverdriver 5]

Quote

That's bullshit!! Hamm won!
The Korean wants to take advantage of one mistake (+.1) and ignore his other mistake (-.2).

You beat me to it. Seems many are forgetting that this guy did not get a deduction when he should have and it would have dropped him OUT OF THE MEDALS COMPLETELY.

Hamm should not give up the medal.

Chris Schindler
www.diverdriver.com
ATP/D-19012
FB #4125

[diverdriver 5]

Quote

I'm STILL not clear how three judges made identicle mistakes on the same exact routine.

HOW does that happen - I think the methods and motivations should be scrutinized before someone is asked to give something back.

Each routine does not start out being a possible 10.0. Each routine may start below that and deductions are taken from there. The problem was that the judges started .1 lower than they should have. That was the mistake.

Chris Schindler
www.diverdriver.com
ATP/D-19012
FB #4125

[eeneR 3]

Quote

I'm STILL not clear how three judges made identicle mistakes on the same exact routine.

HOW does that happen - I think the methods and motivations should be scrutinized before someone is asked to give something back.

This brings up a very good point. And this seems to be a re-occuring theme in the olympics. Judges making "mistakes" then having to force the athletes to suffer, be it they won or lost, or the switch of the two. This is not the first time this has happend, and will not be the last. I also can pretty much guarantee that this may get blown up even further.

I just gave my opinion if I were in that position. I would know what I did in my heart, as well as the rest of the world would know. This would have been a gesture between the two athlete's...but hey this is my opinion. He should not be "Forced".

She is not a "Dumb Blonde" - She is a "Light-Haired Detour Off The Information Superhighway."
eeneR
TF#72, FB#4130, Incauto

[kelpdiver 2]

Quote

Personally, I think he should give it back. It'll always be tarnished...

Then again, rules are rules, and the rules should be abided by.

He competed in the latter events based on the score he saw on the board. Knowing and keeping your lead is part of the game. The shame of this whole event is how the appeal process failed to serve the Koreans.

[Jib 0]

Dear Korea,

We have considered your untimely appeal. Because of your protest, we have determined that two technical errors were made. As a result, you have been dropped from third place. Please return your bronze medal at your earliest convenience. Sorry for having you think you earned a medal. Let us thank you in advance for your cooperation with this tube of Astroglide.

--------------------------------------------------
the depth of his depravity sickens me.
-- Jerry Falwell, People v. Larry Flynt

[champu 1]

Hamm went to the olympics, competed, did a great job, won the all around, and impressed the athletic community. The National Anthem was played in his honor, he stood on the winner's podium, and they give him a hunk of gold on a string.

At this stage in the game, who gives a shit if they want their hunk of gold on a string back?

[turtlespeed 220]

Quote

Quote

I'm STILL not clear how three judges made identicle mistakes on the same exact routine.

HOW does that happen - I think the methods and motivations should be scrutinized before someone is asked to give something back.

This brings up a very good point. And this seems to be a re-occuring theme in the olympics. Judges making "mistakes" then having to force the athletes to suffer, be it they won or lost, or the switch of the two. This is not the first time this has happend, and will not be the last. I also can pretty much guarantee that this may get blown up even further.

I just gave my opinion if I were in that position. I would know what I did in my heart, as well as the rest of the world would know. This would have been a gesture between the two athlete's...but hey this is my opinion. He should not be "Forced".

Renee - I'm not singling you out, but as was mentioned before - if they go back to judge where they were wrong in one direction - they need to consider ALL of the judging mistakes involved.

I'm not usually into the whole 3-way thing, but you got me a little excited with that. - Skymama
BTR #1 / OTB^5 Official #2 / Hellfish #408 / VSCR #108/Tortuga/Orfun

[Zenister 0]

Quote

Personally, I think he should give it back. It'll always be tarnished...

Then again, rules are rules, and the rules should be abided by.

you can win 'by the rules' and you can win by merit... personally i'd rather earn my own medal than win on a technicality... I've declined points in fencing when i knew my attack was out of time but the director missed it (i know it doesn’t happen at the Olympic level where you are 'fencing to the directors judging style' quite often) but for me it is about honorable competition and weighing my skills against those of my opponent...

____________________________________
Those who fail to learn from the past are simply Doomed.