What Say You?

I can see both sides of this issue. Although it is trivial in essence, the rules are the rules. If one chooses to participate in an activity, one must abide by the rules, and one should be aware of all the rules. As the saying goes, ignorance of the law is no excuse, I guess.

Pole vaulter disqualified for wearing bracelet

Yahoo!Xtra Sport - May 13, 2010, 1:03 pm

An American high school pole vaulter has had a title stripped because she was wearing a friendship bracelet.

Competing for South Pasadena High in a Californian track meet last month, Robin Laird had looked to seal victory for her school when she took out the girl's pole vault event.

However the coach of another school quickly pointed out that a friendship bracelet around her wrist counted as jewellery which is banned from all competition.

Laird's winning vault didn't count and the complaining coach's school Monrovia High went onto the take out the title.

Mike Knowles, who made the protest, was adamant he made the right decision, SI.com reports.

"This is my 30th year coaching track," Knowles said after the track meet. "I know a lot of rules and regulations."

Knowles said it was unfortunate that Laird was disqualified but she had to learn a lesson.

"It's unfortunate for the young lady. But you've got to teach the kids that rules are rules."

"I didn't notice the bracelet until after she cleared the height and walked by," he insisted.

"[I had] a sinking feeling for her. I didn't want to have to do it. But it's a real rule - it's in the book - not something I made up. About 10 years ago, I had a girl who wore an earring in the 4x400 relay and it ended up costing us a CIF title. I feel bad for what happened, but I guarantee you she'll never wear jewellery during a track meet again."

South Pasadena coach P.J. Hernandez was shocked by the move.

"I said, 'Coach [Knowles], you really want it to come down to this?'" he said.

Laird was left in tears after the disqualification ripping the bracelet off her wrist.

"As of right now, I am not wearing one," she said. "Although I do still have a tan line on my wrist. That's my scarlet letter."

If you read any of the comments, notice how so many people advocate making exceptions to the rule or try to rationalize and justify breaking the rules. I feel bad for the girl not winning the title based on a technicality that does not seem to have any bearing on how high she vaulted, but, again, the rules are the rules - and there is (or was at one time) a reason for having this particular rule.

The thing about holding fast to the rules is that it discourages future infractions from occurring, while making exceptions will achieve the opposite.

You make the call.

Sports: Olympics, Tri-Nations and High School Rugby

The Olympics: Swimming and Track & Field

First up, Michael Phelps won a record 8 gold medals in Beijing, breaking Mark Spitz's record of 7 set in the 1972 Munich Olympics (which were marred by the tragedy of the Black September terrorist assassinations of 11 members of the Israeli weight-lifting team).

Cheering from the pool deck, Michael Phelps won his record eighth gold medal of the Beijing Games on Sunday to become the grandest of Olympic champions.

Jason Lezak held on to the lead Phelps gave him, anchoring the United States to a world record in the 400-meter medley relay against an Australian team that did its best to spoil history.
(snip)
"The Beijing Olympics has witnessed the greatest Olympian of all time - Michael Phelps of the USA," the announcer said as Phelps posed on the deck with his teammates, yet another gold around his neck.

All three medal-winning teams were under the world record, and 7 of Phelps' 8 medal wins were record-breakers as well.

Congratulations to Phelps and the rest of the US Swim Team!

In Track and Field, it was not so good for American sprinter Tyson Gay who, despite being a former record holder in the 100 meters, didn't make it to the finals. His main competition rival, Usain Bolt of Jamaica, literally cruised to victory, taking the gold and setting a new world record of 9.69 seconds, 0.03 seconds quicker than his previous record.

BEIJING - Usain Bolt capped his stunning rise to stardom with an Olympic 100m title overnight setting a world record in the process.

With world champion Tyson Gay out in the semifinals, the 21-year-old Jamaican seemingly only had Asafa Powell to beat, but when he looked around and realized he was all clear with 30 metres to go, he coasted and still set a world record of 9.69 seconds.

Well behind, Richard Thompson of Trinidad and Tobago took the silver medal in 9.89, and Walter Dix of the United States was third in 9.91.

Powell again crumbled under the pressure of a big competition and finished fifth.

"Usain was spectacular," Powell said. "He was definitely untouchable."
(snip)
With a third of the race to go, Bolt had the luxury to look right, realize he was in a class all his own, outstretch his arms, and pound his chest as he crossed the line, slicing .03 off the record he set earlier this season.

Congratulations to "The Bolt" for a job well done!
*************************************************************************************

Rugby - All Blacks Win Over Springboks and Reggie's School Beat Long Bay

Each year the national rep teams from New Zealand, Australia, and South Africa - arguably the three best rugby teams in the world - duke it out for the Tri-Nations Cup. Early Sunday morning was a classic battle as the All-Blacks fought their way to a 19-0 win over the 2007 World Cup Champion South Africa Springboks on their home turf in Cape Town. It was the first time in history that the All Blacks have held the 'Boks scoreless at home. Perhaps they had a bit of extra motivation.

New Zealand's medal rush at the Olympics helped inspire the All Blacks to their 19-0 Tri-Nations rugby test win over the Springboks in Cape Town early this morning, coach Graham Henry said.

New Zealand won five medals on "Super Saturday", including golds to defending double sculls champions Caroline and Georgina Evers-Swindell and shot putter Valerie Vili.

The Evers-Swindells' final was rowed before the test at Newlands, and the All Blacks were able to watch it on television before heading to the ground.

The game started about 1 AM here in NZ, and Mae and I watched it right as she returned home from work. One thing the South Africans are known for is their physicality, and the first half was no exception. They came out hitting hard, but the All Blacks, also known for their own hard-hitting style, also combine that with a lot of flair and skill and seem to always have an edge in fitness that shows itself in the last 20 minutes of a game when other teams tend to fade and fizzle. It was worth staying up until 3 AM to watch these two great teams play a great game.

And while we're on the subject of rugby, our boy Reggie played the final game of his team's season against Long Bay at Long Bay, a school with a lot of South African players. After last week's debacle, Reggie's team won in a hard fought victory with Reg having possibly his best game of the season. He set-up their first try with a nice 30 meter run to about the 5 meter line, ultimately being stopped (but not tackled) while dragging two opposition players on his back and fending off a third from the front with a vicious stiff-arm that sent the guy on his ass - before off-loading to Troy, our #12, who took it in for the score. Reg then sealed the victory with a try of is own, bowling over several would-be tacklers on a nice 5 meter power run, scoring on his feet. That was his 8th try of the season, making him the lead-try scorer for the team this year. His defense was superb, also, with multiple tackles, steals and turn-overs going to his credit.

Oh, and it was also his 15th birthday! Happy Birthday, Reg!

Not Just Another Saturday

Our boy, Reggie, plays rugby, and he plays the game well. He'll be 15 next week, and he's already 5'11" and 89kg (about 195lbs.), so he plays with kids older than him on the under 18 year old, open weight team at his high school. He's built like a brick with very little body fat, and he's strong as an ox. On top of that he's quite a fast runner, turning in 40 meter sprints under 5 seconds. He plays all "loose forward" positions (#6, #7, #8), but his specialty is #7, open side flanker, which means he's "in the thick of the shit" most of the time. He gets bashed about quite a bit, but he gives as good as he gets. He's everything you would want at that position. He rarely loses his cool, which is a bonus for his team; he just waits to make a legal tackle or a power run with the ball and usually leaves the other guy laid out.

Yesterday began like most other Saturdays this time of year. We woke up at 7:00 and got ready to go to his rugby game. It was a typical, cold, grey winter morning - about 10 deg. C. (50 deg F.) and raining. I dropped Reg off for team warm-up at 8:30 and stopped at the Wild Bean Cafe at the BP gas station to get Mae and I our mochas (using real, moo-cow fuck milk; no soy juice in our house). I returned home to get Mae and we were off to the game. That's where any similarity with other Saturdays ended.

With our team having only 14 (instead of 15) players, we were down by two "tries" at halftime.
At the beginning of the second half our winger, Tyler, took a late hit after he had kicked the ball down-field. It wasn't two minutes before he set his sights on the opposition player that laid him out, and it was on, an all-in "punch-up." Reggie's mate, Arden (our usual #8 playing #6 today), a big, strong Maori boy nailed one of their players (the one who laid Tyler out) with a solid elbow, knocking him right the fuck out, leaving him in a gusher of blood from what was only seconds earlier a properly positioned nose. Arden got a yellow card, which results in 10 minutes in the "sin bin" (the penalty box in ice hockey terms). Our boys, despite being now down TWO players, had managed to get a try with a phase of play that began with Reg making about a 40 meter sprint down the sideline to within 5 meters of scoring, ultimately with our center going in for the score on the other side. Things were looking up; apparently the head coach's pep-talk at half-time put a fire in their asses. When Arden came back on, we scored again and were now within one try of taking the lead; a win was actually on the table. Things looked really good. Then it went to custard. Arden put a solid, legal tackle on one of the other boys, and another brawl ensued.

Let me stop here and say that while I do not encourage fights, I realize boys will be boys, and rugby is a tough game; it ain't soccer or chess. Shit happens, and when it's on, it's on. There is a point of no return, and, regardless of who starts what, you just gotta get on with it. When the fists start flying, reason and discussion are out the door. It's survival of the fittest.

A lot of this could have been avoided were it not for the touch judge on the other side of the field. There is one referee from the union, who is usually an impartial enforcer of the rules of the game. At this level, however, the touch judges - one on each side-line - are usually a members of the coaching or manager staff, one from each team. They are there solely to mark where the ball goes out of bounds (or "into touch"). Unlike in professional rugby, they are not "assistant" refs from the same sanctioning organization. The other team's touch judge, however, was lobbying the ref, getting in his ear, reporting what he saw as violations (only by our boys, of course). I was on our side of the field when the brawl broke out, but Mae had wandered over there just prior to the melee to investigate what this guy was doing.

I just stood there and watched; the boys will sort themselves out. The ref and, if necessary, the coaches will try to break things up. I didn't see all that went on, but according to Mae and others on that side of the field, including Reg and some of his team mates, the touch judge and some of the parents and supporters of the other team were actually striking our players; not trying to separate players - hitting them. That is unacceptable. Had I been on that side of the field, I would probably not be here tonight writing this. I would probably be in jail because I would have put at least one person in the hospital with some very serious, probably permanent injuries. Those of you from back in the States who know me personally know that.

Like I said, regardless of what is going on out on the field, I don't get involved. I have watched Reg take a lot of hits - legal and cheap shots (hell, he took a head stomp earlier in the game) - and I tell him (and he knows it already) that it's part of the game; he shakes it off and gets on with business. But when parents get involved by hitting kids, that is just wrong. There a few folks from the other team's supporters who should consider themselves very lucky people tonight.

Anyway, the game was called with about 20 minutes left to go, and, as a result, we lost by 3 points. Ricky, our halfback (#9) will probably be banned for the rest of the season for coming in from the rear of the pack and throwing what I have to admit was an impressive haymaker - right in front of the ref. Reg got in a few good licks (on the guy who head-stomped him earlier in the game) and is otherwise no worse for wear. One of his team mates, Danny, got an ambulance ride to the hospital for a possible concussion he received when a punch that was meant for Reg hit Danny when Reg ducked. Good for Reg. Bad for Danny, but he was conscious and knew where he was afterward; so I'm sure he'll be fine.

Not just another Saturday, indeed.