Tom Farden on paid admin leave

Carly Dockendorf has agreed to be interim head coach of the Red Rocks.

From the statement:

“This action comes after recent conduct and actions by Coach Farden not related to student-athlete welfare, which simply do not align with our values and expectations.”

Russians can return to FIG Jan 1, 2024

As expected, FIG will allow Russian and Belarusian athletes and their support personnel into FIG sanctioned events listed on FIG Calendar starting January 1, 2024.

I hope it works.

Sadly, I anticipate FIG regretting this decision as it will generate public protests against Putin everywhere Russians compete. I expect negative headlines every day during the Paris Olympics.

Of course there are athlete safety issues, as well. IOC already has to protect Palestinian and Israeli athletes going forward.

It would have been better to continue the ban through the Paris Olympics.

Next best would have been to allow Russian and Belarus to compete without the complications stipulated.

  • No link with the Russian or Belarusian military or with any other national security agency
  • No communication associated with Russia or Belarus
  • No support for the war in Ukraine

All gymnasts/athletes of Russian or Belarusian sporting nationality must comply with all anti-doping requirements applicable to them, in particular those set out in the FIG Anti-Doping Rules.

Russia has already been found guilty of systematic doping. How is it fair that their athletes have not been subject to testing over the ban so far?

Read the FIG decision for yourself:

Note:

Nikita Nagornyy is Chief of the Main Staff of the All-Russia “Young Army” National Military Patriotic Social Movement Association. He’s instantly banned.

quarterback Caleb Williams on mental health

A powerful moment.

The Heisman Trophy winner 2022 was devastated after a 52–42 loss.

He went directly to the stands to sob in his mother’s arms.

Asked about his reaction after the Washington loss, Williams said it’s important to be himself. 

“I’ve been an advocate for mental health, trying to show your emotions and express yourself, things like that,” Williams said to the Orange County Register’s Luca Evans.

“It’s something I’ve been doing since I was young and now, being on the national level, being able to try and share that awareness with the public.” …

Sports Illustrated

Concussion Ball is rife with toxic masculinity.

Caleb Williams is the opposite. Confident enough not to hide his emotions.

He was criticized by some dinosaurs. But I call Caleb a winner. Like Simone in Tokyo.

should Palestine or Israel be banned by IOC?

A good question.

The International Olympic Committee should be specific on what causes a nation to lose membership.

In the case of Israel, there is the additional issue of safety of their team at the Paris Olympics.

3-in-1 Adjustable Handstand Canes

About $240 in 2023.

I really like this product for keeping the wrists healthy while training handstands.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Ukraine’s case against Russia at the Olympics

IF Russian athletes are allowed to compete Paris, I predict almost 100% of the headlines will be negative.

How does BAD PRESS further the Olympic cause?

The ethical decision, too, is to keep the pressure on dictator Putin. If he is successful in a war against Ukraine, it will embolden China and others to invade neighbours. Putin is a danger to the entire world.

The best decision is to continue the ban — at least until after Olympics 2024.

Sportswashing – Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan is an oil rich semi-dictatorship under ‘President‘ Ilham Aliyev.

Capital Baku — which hosts many FIG competitions — can be accused of sportswashing, trying to improve their international reputations tarnished by wrongdoing.

In fact, the first usage of the term “sportswashing” may have been applied to Azerbaijan hosting the 2015 European Games in Baku.

September 2023, Azerbaijan launched a large-scale military offensive against Armenians in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh — internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan, but populated by Armenians.

Human rights organizations and experts in genocide prevention issued multiple alerts, stating that the region’s Armenian population was at risk or actively being subjected to ethnic cleansing and genocide.

I post this information here because the world seems to have mostly ignored the most recent attacks on Armenians. We should be aware of the situation every time we talk about the World Cup in Baku.

And every time we talk about Artur Davtyan, 2022 World Champion on vault.  From Armenia.

Lukas Dauser on the Russia ban

The world P Bar champion is dubious about reasons to reintegrate Russians — especially those who represent police or military.

It’s Movember …

Movember is an annual event involving the growing of moustaches during the month of November to raise awareness of men’s health issues, such as prostate cancer, testicular cancer, and men’s suicide.

It is a portmanteau of the Australian-English diminutive word for moustache, “mo”, and “November”. …

One spokesperson for men’s mental health is our own Nile Wilson.

He’s been very open about his own personal struggles with mental health issues and gambling addiction.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube. (2022)

mental health for COACHES

One legacy of the greatest of all time, is Simone normalizing gymnasts talking about their mental health.

Still little discussed is the importance of mental health for coaches.

It can be a very stressful job. But in 2023, most coaches want to hide any anxiety.

That should change.

TrueSport is offering an online event on the topic Nov. 6th.