Skating and Gymnastics Spectacular

So I guess they're doing another one of these things. I wonder who they'll get to sing? I know of a few American Idol rejects who would love the opportunity. But then, those names might be a little too big.

Sorry. I'm an ass.

Anyway. I don't care much about the skating, unless someone is being throw in the air The Cutting Edge style. That movie made my adolescent self long for my own washed up hockey player to taunt with my toepick.

But as for gymnastics, I'm in. The website is here, and it is uber-professional. Gymnasts like Nastia Liukin, Shawn Johnson (we're still calling her a gymnast, right?), Sam Peszek and Courtney "Kupet" will be performing. Yeah...it might not be a bad idea for them to hire a copy editor for their site. Jussayin'. It's being sponsored by Progressive Insurance. Maybe they ought to turn it over to Geico - they don't play around with their marketing.

Anyway, it's going to air January 10th. The live show is today, according to the crappy website. They've been rehearsing for like, a week, so I'm sure it will be truly "spectacular." Is Sam Peszek really healed enough to do this? They better not let her hurt herself, or Mama FiFo will cut someone.

Know a Coach - Marvin Sharp

Marvin Sharp

This one has been a challenge. There is a significant dearth of information available about Sharp outside of his basic coaching background. As in, personal information is scarce. Even still, I won't be deterred, because I have a few hours to kill and I'm lame. Off we go.

According to Marvin Sharp's bio on SharpsGym.com, the coach of current National Champion Bridget Sloan was born in Newport, Oregon "a long time ago..." Search as I have, I was unable to find Sharp's exact birthday, so if anyone can find this for me and provide a source, I'll let them pick the next coach for this feature. I did find out that he graduated from college in 1989, so he's roughly 42. We'll say "early to mid forties."

Despite his questionable age (vampire? immortal?), Sharp began coaching in Oregon in the late eighties at the National Academy of Artistic Gymnastics. In 1988, he was put in the position of Junior Elite Head Coach. From there, he gym-hopped for a few years, finally settling in Indiana in 1994 as the head coach at the Indy School of Gymnastics.

For seven years, he remained head coach and at times, gym manager, of the successful program. But when the program began to crumble and it became clear that an earlier agreement that he would eventually take over ownership of the gym would not come to fruition, Sharp packed up and opened Sharp's Gymnastics Academy in 2001. He didn't leave empty handed, however; five coaches and over fifty team members followed him, and the dream was born.

[click here and scroll down for pictures of Sharp's under construction]

Sharp's vision for his new gymnastics school was one of a place that would promote fun, safety and health in all situations. He wanted a facility in which top level athletes could train, but the littlest gymnasts could thrive in a warm environment, too.

"I want SGA to be a positive place to workout, while offering the highest level of gymnastics training available. I believe in a preventative style of training. We use rehabilitation and training exercises to help prevent injuries. We also spend time emphasizing good nutritional habits. I know our athletes are some of the most physically fit in the USA." - Marvin Sharp

Sharp credits much of his philosophy on coaching to his collegiate studies in child psychology and coaching. He believes that the knowledge gained through his college education prepared him to teach without instilling the fear that's become such a stereotype (in many cases, for good reason) in gymnastics. Everything he does circles back to that original mission - safety, fun and health.

A celebrated coach at both the national and international levels, Sharp has only recently stepped into the spotlight in a major way. He's often been overshadowed by some of the more sensational names in gymnastics coaching, but his successes and years of dedication have finally paid off and the accolades are many.

In addition to numerous titles and awards, Sharp holds a Master of Sports Science and is the Education Chairman for USA Gymnastics Indiana. While most noted for his success as coach of 2008 Olympic Team Silver Medalist and current National Champion Bridget Sloan, Sharp has coached athletes who have gone on to compete at UCLA, Utah and Alabama, to name a few. A few months after the Olympics, he also welcomed Sloan's teammate and co-silver medalist from the 2008 Beijing squad, Samantha Peszek, to Sharp's after her long-time coach moved home to China.

On a separate but related note, Sharp also fancies himself a gymnastics photographer, a little known but very cool fact. You can see his work here.


Sources:

http://www.sharpsgym.com/sharp.html

http://www.insidegymnastics.com/content/show/newsarticle.aspx?a=625&z=1&page=2

http://www.sharpsgym.com/story.html

http://www.usolympiccollection.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=59:bridgetsloan&catid=35:team-rings-news&Itemid=55

http://www.sharpsgym.com/sharpsimages.html

http://www.oregonquarterly.com/summer2009/class_notes.php

http://www.sharpsboosters.org/

Peszek and her cryptic Tweets

Samantha Peszek Tweeted the following last night:


samanthapeszek"when one thing ends something else begins"


I normally wouldn't read too much into it, but considering her penchant for Twitter hint-dropping, this could mean a few things. Is Sam hinting that she's decided to end her career as an elite gymnast and will now focus exclusively on the college career that awaits her? We know she's already verbally committed to UCLA's team, and I think Sam will absolutely THRIVE in a college setting.

I'd be sad to see her give up on elite altogether, but it's not an irrational option. Obviously, this is all speculation, but it's not illogical.

Regardless, good luck, Sam! We can't wait to see you at UCLA, even if it means missing you in elite competition.

Final thoughts on night one on the senior women's competition

Okay. Here goes.

I am bored to tears with Kayla Williams. She's like a Furby, or a viral video - she's growing tiresome. I know she's a powerhouse, and she truly does have some sick tumbling. But she has not changed or grown one iota since the video of her floor routine first hit the internet. I do not think Martha will make room for her at Worlds.

Bridget had a rough night, but with Rebecca Bross' similar mistakes and Ivana not being known for her consistency, she might still be a contender for the title on Saturday. But truthfully, I would be thrilled for any of the three of them.

Ivana looked MILES better than she did at Classic, but she still makes me nervous. Her beam mount didn't look quite as shaky as it did three weeks ago, but it still looks like she is fighting for it. I love her form, and I'm ready for her tkatchev to go away.

Rebecca Bross did a fine job in her senior debut - as I do not count Classic as her debut, since she was hurt and only competed a watered down bars routine. She had some nerves and mistakes, but she is a force to be reckoned with, and I can't wait to see how she grows this quad.

Nastia is not back yet. She looked tentative and nervous. But she's still a superstar, and I cannot fathom her not being on the Worlds team when she has two months to clean her routines back up. I do not think, after tonight, that she will be all around ready. Fortunately, she and Valeri are smart and will likely limit her to beam and bars. But she's got some work to do if she really wants to beat Shannon Miller's World medal record.

Sam Peszek gets better all the time. She oozes confidence and self-possession. Her skills are spot on. I still hate her form on her layout stepouts on beam, but that is honestly my one complaint. Love her, love her, love her.

Chellsie - what can I say? She looks cleaner to me, actually, though her form will never be great. She's past that point now. My real question with her is simply, what do you want from this? Is she in the hunt for more World medals and titles, or is gymnastics really just such a habit and a pleasure for her that she sticks around, even though there may not be any real hardware in her future? Is she still capable of winning medals? It's foolish to doubt Chellsie Memmel, as she has proven time and again, but at some point, life takes over and the ink stops flowing.

Jana is only getting worse, and there is no sign that this will change any time. I've said it before and I'll say it again - her silver all around medal at 2006 Worlds only means that she was slightly less good than the girl who fell on beam. It was a fucking fluke, just like Ferrari's win, and Jana's entire career. Martha despises her. No one wants to watch her. Is it bad that I was GRATEFUL not to have to watch her beam routine tonight? Also, the commentators mentioned that she said she was still taking antibiotics. For her bout with the flu. Which is a virus.

For now, those are my thoughts. Obviously there were many more gifted athletes, but I need to wait for them to make an impression on me before I start shooting off at the keyboard. I hope you all enjoyed the performances tonight, and are as excited about Saturday as I am. I hope to blog live then, too, but I make no guarantees.

Until then - sleep tight!

Sam Peszek talks about Worlds and her plans for the future

Inside Gymnastics talked to Sam Peszek about what's in store for her gymnastics future, both as an elite and as a UCLA Bruin (HOW am I going to decide whom to cheer for with all my favorite girls scattering across the NCAA spectrum?).