2008 Woodie Awards
Ambrose At Bat...Again
Kate Ambrose
Issue date: 9/15/04 Section: Sports
- Page 1 of 2 next >
Although they only come once every four years, the Summer Olympics are something that everyone seems to wait for and then watch with an incredible sense of intensity. This summer was no exception. Spectators, both in Athens and here in the USA, picked their hometown favorites and watched religiously records were made and broken. Can you say Michael Phelps?
Although the USA did not come through in all of the events there were many medals won by United States athletes. I, like most, watched as many Olympic events as I could, either before or after work. I hurried home especially to watch gymnastics or synchronized diving. Not to criticize the amazing athletes that participate in these events, but I feel that there is something lacking for both the fan and the athlete.
My problem with these events lies in the fact that they are "judged." The results of this summer showed how judging can change the lives of athletes and can change who will appear on the medal podium at the end of the week, particularly in the case of Paul Hamm. I am not saying that those who won the medals this summer did not deserve them, but I am saying that how can events that seem to be totally at the discrepancy of another person be included in the Olympics?
Most Olympic events allow for a clear discernment of whom the winner may be because the athlete either scored the most points or completed his/her events with the fastest time or his/her maximum strength was greater than anyone else is in his/her event. There is little room for a mistake when a ball passes the goal line, when a ball goes through a hoop, or when a hand touches the underwater sensor on the wall before the others you are competing against.
I understand that in every sport, there are calls to be made, however minor they may be, that will be based on someone's opinion. These include foul calls and whether the ball actually passed the goal line. A referee or judge may not be in the perfect position to see the result, so athletes sometimes lash out, feeling that the call was 'bogus' and they question the referee's eyesight and mental capacity. This reaction seems to be a normal result when a gold, silver, or bronze medal is on the line.
Although the USA did not come through in all of the events there were many medals won by United States athletes. I, like most, watched as many Olympic events as I could, either before or after work. I hurried home especially to watch gymnastics or synchronized diving. Not to criticize the amazing athletes that participate in these events, but I feel that there is something lacking for both the fan and the athlete.
My problem with these events lies in the fact that they are "judged." The results of this summer showed how judging can change the lives of athletes and can change who will appear on the medal podium at the end of the week, particularly in the case of Paul Hamm. I am not saying that those who won the medals this summer did not deserve them, but I am saying that how can events that seem to be totally at the discrepancy of another person be included in the Olympics?
Most Olympic events allow for a clear discernment of whom the winner may be because the athlete either scored the most points or completed his/her events with the fastest time or his/her maximum strength was greater than anyone else is in his/her event. There is little room for a mistake when a ball passes the goal line, when a ball goes through a hoop, or when a hand touches the underwater sensor on the wall before the others you are competing against.
I understand that in every sport, there are calls to be made, however minor they may be, that will be based on someone's opinion. These include foul calls and whether the ball actually passed the goal line. A referee or judge may not be in the perfect position to see the result, so athletes sometimes lash out, feeling that the call was 'bogus' and they question the referee's eyesight and mental capacity. This reaction seems to be a normal result when a gold, silver, or bronze medal is on the line.