[Adeniinteme]

Averaged? Who cares about averages. It's prime time. Show up or go home. Raisman dominated Wieber in almost every category so far in the Olympics -- except uneven bar -- I believe.

She showed up and had the 4th best score, but we instead get to watch the 25th best score compete for the all-around. Awesome.

[Mjyzpzph]

And to answer the question -- it's about finding the best and about international competition. The U.S. will have two representatives. Russia has to sit a girl out that finished 12th. Sure, maybe she wouldn't have medaled.

If the U.S. wanted Wieber in the finals, they could have sat Douglas on the floor exercise or Raisman on uneven bars. Or Wieber could have performed better.

Punish the best for being the best, it's what the Olympics are all about.

[ulw7A8Po]

Yea, we would much rather watch a shitty gymnast from another country than the defending world champion, greatpoint.

Defending world champion . . . and not even the second best gymnast in her country this week. Everyone falters at the Olympics.

If you want Olympic gymnastics (or any sport) to spread and get bigger, you have to allow competitors from different countries in. In the end, you will have far greater competition. So this year, you have someone deserving miss it, but maybe the girl from Sudan who somehow gets into the finals ends up inspiring a whole generation of gymnasts that eventually make the Olympics more competitive 10 years from now.

It's not a perfect rule, but there are legitimate reasons for it.

[AntonioMQ]

She showed up and had the 4th best score, but we instead get to watch the 25th best score compete for the all-around. Awesome.

That Australian chick is 28th. Must have been a few others in the same situation.

[n2Oddw8P]

If those were the rules, then it really wouldn't bother me.

Regardless, this isn't college sports. It's the Olympics. I don't think anybody wants to see the U.S., Russia, and China (or throw in whoever else you feel is appropriate) with 4 individuals each in the finals.

Yeah I do wanna see that if those are the best of the best... I dont wanna watch 8 really great gymnasts get in and then throw in 4 more that got in on technicalities (which is the case) to compete with girls that are clearly superior. IMO its fucking pity rather than top competition. If the Romanian chick didnt score more than Wieber than she shouldnt go in.. Its that simple. Where does it say in the rules that every country has to advance?

BTW i said Romania because I have no idea whos advancing.. Just saying.

[WepKeyday]

Defending world champion . . . and not even the second best gymnast in her country this week. Everyone falters at the Olympics.

If you want Olympic gymnastics (or any sport) to spread and get bigger, you have to allow competitors from different countries in. In the end, you will have far greater competition. So this year, you have someone deserving miss it, but maybe the girl from Sudan who somehow gets into the finals ends up inspiring a whole generation of gymnasts that eventually make the Olympics more competitive 10 years from now.

It's not a perfect rule, but there are legitimate reasons for it.

What a bunch of horseshit..

[Mjxhnapi]

She showed up and had the 4th best score, but we instead get to watch the 25th best score compete for the all-around. Awesome.

I don't know if it's even the 25th best. Russia will have to sit a girl out. Britain sits a girl out. China sits a girl out.

Is it only tragic because Wieber could have won gold? I don't hear anyone complaining that those countries have to sit a girl out who actually finished top 24.

[osteoftex]

Defending world champion . . . and not even the second best gymnast in her country this week. Everyone falters at the Olympics.

If you want Olympic gymnastics (or any sport) to spread and get bigger, you have to allow competitors from different countries in. In the end, you will have far greater competition. So this year, you have someone deserving miss it, but maybe the girl from Sudan who somehow gets into the finals ends up inspiring a whole generation of gymnasts that eventually make the Olympics more competitive 10 years from now.

It's not a perfect rule, but there are legitimate reasons for it.

I must have missed where they weren't allowed to suck ass in the prelims, cause I'm pretty sure they were.

[mussmicky]

I don't know if it's even the 25th best. Russia will have to sit a girl out. Britain sits a girl out. China sits a girl out.

Is it only tragic because Wieber could have won gold? I don't hear anyone complaining that those countries have to sit a girl out who actually finished top 24.

As if we, as Americans, could give two shits about those fuckers.

[gechaheritt]

I don't know if it's even the 25th best. Russia will have to sit a girl out. Britain sits a girl out. China sits a girl out.

Is it only tragic because Wieber could have won gold? I don't hear anyone complaining that those countries have to sit a girl out who actually finished top 24.

They all should be in.

[Diandaplaipsy]

What a bunch of horseshit..

You guys only care because an American girl is sitting out.

In Beijing, there was a Russian girl who placed 6th, one who placed 10th, and a Chinese girl who placed 9th. There were a number of other girls who did not qualify because of the rule.

I don't recall anyone crying back then.

[TypeTeasiaDer]

You guys only care because an American girl is sitting out.

In Beijing, there was a Russian girl who placed 6th, one who placed 10th, and a Chinese girl who placed 9th. There were a number of other girls who did not qualify because of the rule.

I don't recall anyone crying back then.

Does the fact that we are just learning about this asinine rule make it any less asinine? No.

[DumbNelmcrece]

You guys only care because an American girl is sitting out.

In Beijing, there was a Russian girl who placed 6th, one who placed 10th, and a Chinese girl who placed 9th. There were a number of other girls who did not qualify because of the rule.

I don't recall anyone crying back then.

Yeah and in your world every country should get a medal.. Just cause they are from OTHER countries..

[girlsround]

As for all the people saying that the Olympics are about seeing the best athletes perform -- how many American, Chinese, Russian, etc. athletes do you think are sitting home right now who could mop the floor with some of the other country's athletes?

There are limits on how many athletes you can even have compete for certain events. Sort of blows your whole theory out of the water.

[Trercakaressy]

Yeah and in your world every country should get a medal.. Just cause they are from OTHER countries..

Yup. That's what I said. Every country should get the chance to compete though. Shoot, why can't the U.S. field two or three olympic basketball teams. I bet our B squad would have a chance to medal. That's unfair!

[Corryikilelet]

You guys only care because an American girl is sitting out.

In Beijing, there was a Russian girl who placed 6th, one who placed 10th, and a Chinese girl who placed 9th. There were a number of other girls who did not qualify because of the rule.

I don't recall anyone crying back then.

It doesn't matter who is affected, it was dumb then and it's dumb now.

[propolo]

It doesn't matter who is affected, it was dumb then and it's dumb now.

The problem is -- it isn't that dumb of a rule. Maybe a 3-per-country rule would be better. But the purpose behind the rule is a good one.

[WrinnaArraple]

Averaged? Who cares about averages. It's prime time. Show up or go home. Raisman dominated Wieber in almost every category so far in the Olympics -- except uneven bar -- I believe.

Did you watch it? I wouldn't say dominated.

In fact, I'm sure there are conspiracy theorists who claiming that Weiber was harshly scored and/or Raisman was favorably scored so the Americans wouldn't have their top contender.

[mashabox]

Did you watch it? I wouldn't say dominated.

In fact, I'm sure there are conspiracy theorists who claiming that Weiber was harshly scored and/or Raisman was favorably scored so the Americans wouldn't have their top contender.

I saw the beam and Wieber had a really awful performance there. Not sure about the others.

[eocavrWM]

The problem is -- it isn't that dumb of a rule. Maybe a 3-per-country rule would be better. But the purpose behind the rule is a good one.

What IS the purpose behind the rule? To force participation from more countries and keep one country from dominating? Didn't realize this was Little League.