Monday, August 23, 2004
Hamm Stands Tall in Medal Muddle - Like 2 Feet Tall
This really surprised me, but it seems popular opinion is upholding the "right thing to do" over the "winning gold by cheating or error is just fine" attitude.
I was following the judging mess in this case at first with a suspicion for wrong doing. When many in the media started to compare the wrong Yang scoring with a football error that you cannot undo, it only made it worse. This media was much too quick to say the Hamm fiasco had nothing similar to the corrupt actions of the 2002 skating scandal. They obviously wanted to rule out the possibility by shouting it didn´t exist, rather than by investigation. If judges simply made a human error, read clean, there is no need for any of punishment, such as suspension.
I found it very suspicious that this error should happen exactly in this competition and exactly having this significant result of making Korea lose its gold and Hamm get it, after he not insignificantly fell with a thud. To make matters more suspicious, the judge responsible for the error is American. And when it couldn´t get any worse, we get reports that the other "Colombian" judge has lived and worked in Ohio for several years. One has to concur there are a lot of "coincidences" of Americans involved in the "human error" points award.
Fortunately, as in the Hamm comeback itself, several sports journalists jumped into writing some of the most get-go for ethics and sportsmanship articles and opinion pieces you´ve seen this Olympics (see links below). One surprising news report even suggested the lead came from part of the American media followed by the Koreans. I didn´t go check, but if true, kudos for those who did.
Next in the Hamm saga, the Hamm parents got protectively involved, his father stating that he didn´t know if he should warn Paul of the controversy before last night, because it might hinder his spirits, but he was afraid his son would get booed when entering the stadium. One can understand his dilemma and how he felt for his son. Then news reports came out stating Paul "bravely" said he would return his gold medal if the authorities decided he needed to do that.
So it seemed Paul was trying to do the right thing in difficult circumstances. Not only all the stress of an Olympic competition, and then this. But that was exactly before he opened his mouth and showed what an egotistical, no sportsmanship athlete he is. "This is not my issue, I won it, who cares how, and I´m upset at anyone who dares to suggest I´m not going to keep my toy. Be quiet and go away." Worse still, Paul´s mother offered a press statement defending her son, saying "he hadn´t done anything wrong, so why the big fuss with my little boy and his tarnished gold medal?"
Certainly Paul did not do anything wrong at the competition, quite on the contrary, but now that´s no longer true regarding his attitudes and actions. He didn´t ask to be thrown in this mess but he was. Now it is a different kind of meet and points are scored by honor, not petty selfishness.
As several people pointed out, he could have led the way to request Yang get a gold medal too, and he wouldn´t even lose his, even though he didn´t earn it properly. Although not the most noble, that would even spare him the sting of losing the gold he thought was his. It´s an all-around win-win solution. If he shared gold with the Korean, he would have become the symbol of sportsmanship for a lifetime. But even this has been to good for him so far. I wouldn´t want him on my Wheaties box.
What worries me, however, is that, if there was a little persuasion for such a judging mistake to occur, and Hamm is allowed to then really rob the gold from the Korean, this sends an unmistakable message to everyone: gymnastics is the sports to cheat, corrupt, and get away with it. Go for it.
Related- Greed for gold is more important:
NYPOST - HAMM STANDS TALL IN MEDAL MUDDLE (--- like 2 feet tall ---)
CNN - Back off - Despite judging error, Hamm's gold medal shows no tarnish
The right thing is more important:
MSNBC- Hamm should give up the gold - American has the opportunity to show he's true champion - COMMENTARY By Mike Celizic
USATODAY - Only one maneuver remains: Give up the gold
USATODAY - Hamm should share gold, not Wheaties box
Bob Kravitz - INDYSTAR - An American gymnast's Hamm-handed move
What's the best way to handle the scoring error that led to Paul Hamm's all-around gold medal?
25012 Votes
Give both Hamm and Yang Tae-young gold
26% 6537 votes
Give Yang gold and Hamm silver
48% 12116 votes
Change nothing
25% 6359 votes
Yahoo vote on Aug.23-04
I was following the judging mess in this case at first with a suspicion for wrong doing. When many in the media started to compare the wrong Yang scoring with a football error that you cannot undo, it only made it worse. This media was much too quick to say the Hamm fiasco had nothing similar to the corrupt actions of the 2002 skating scandal. They obviously wanted to rule out the possibility by shouting it didn´t exist, rather than by investigation. If judges simply made a human error, read clean, there is no need for any of punishment, such as suspension.
I found it very suspicious that this error should happen exactly in this competition and exactly having this significant result of making Korea lose its gold and Hamm get it, after he not insignificantly fell with a thud. To make matters more suspicious, the judge responsible for the error is American. And when it couldn´t get any worse, we get reports that the other "Colombian" judge has lived and worked in Ohio for several years. One has to concur there are a lot of "coincidences" of Americans involved in the "human error" points award.
Fortunately, as in the Hamm comeback itself, several sports journalists jumped into writing some of the most get-go for ethics and sportsmanship articles and opinion pieces you´ve seen this Olympics (see links below). One surprising news report even suggested the lead came from part of the American media followed by the Koreans. I didn´t go check, but if true, kudos for those who did.
Next in the Hamm saga, the Hamm parents got protectively involved, his father stating that he didn´t know if he should warn Paul of the controversy before last night, because it might hinder his spirits, but he was afraid his son would get booed when entering the stadium. One can understand his dilemma and how he felt for his son. Then news reports came out stating Paul "bravely" said he would return his gold medal if the authorities decided he needed to do that.
So it seemed Paul was trying to do the right thing in difficult circumstances. Not only all the stress of an Olympic competition, and then this. But that was exactly before he opened his mouth and showed what an egotistical, no sportsmanship athlete he is. "This is not my issue, I won it, who cares how, and I´m upset at anyone who dares to suggest I´m not going to keep my toy. Be quiet and go away." Worse still, Paul´s mother offered a press statement defending her son, saying "he hadn´t done anything wrong, so why the big fuss with my little boy and his tarnished gold medal?"
Certainly Paul did not do anything wrong at the competition, quite on the contrary, but now that´s no longer true regarding his attitudes and actions. He didn´t ask to be thrown in this mess but he was. Now it is a different kind of meet and points are scored by honor, not petty selfishness.
As several people pointed out, he could have led the way to request Yang get a gold medal too, and he wouldn´t even lose his, even though he didn´t earn it properly. Although not the most noble, that would even spare him the sting of losing the gold he thought was his. It´s an all-around win-win solution. If he shared gold with the Korean, he would have become the symbol of sportsmanship for a lifetime. But even this has been to good for him so far. I wouldn´t want him on my Wheaties box.
What worries me, however, is that, if there was a little persuasion for such a judging mistake to occur, and Hamm is allowed to then really rob the gold from the Korean, this sends an unmistakable message to everyone: gymnastics is the sports to cheat, corrupt, and get away with it. Go for it.
Related- Greed for gold is more important:
NYPOST - HAMM STANDS TALL IN MEDAL MUDDLE (--- like 2 feet tall ---)
CNN - Back off - Despite judging error, Hamm's gold medal shows no tarnish
The right thing is more important:
MSNBC- Hamm should give up the gold - American has the opportunity to show he's true champion - COMMENTARY By Mike Celizic
USATODAY - Only one maneuver remains: Give up the gold
USATODAY - Hamm should share gold, not Wheaties box
Bob Kravitz - INDYSTAR - An American gymnast's Hamm-handed move
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