Gymnastic news #22 - Tokyo or bust

[canbelto]

I really needed to see Simone apply bronzer.

 

[centerstage01]

I've lost track of the number of times I've said DAMN tonight watching Simone.

Also: Laurie Hernandez is really good on camera and if she decides to not try for 2024, she really should pull a Tanith White and do commentary.

 

[bardtoob]

Skinner is a full-on Monet. She looks okay from far away but up close it's all messed up.

 

[FiveRinger]

I really needed to see Simone apply bronzer.

Personally I preferred when they showed her lotioning her legs. We can't be ashy out there...lol

 

[skatfan]

Skinner is a full-on Monet. She looks okay from far away but up close it's all messed up.

Yeah, it's hard because I like that she came back, bringing her NCAA energy and all. But the form breaks are noticeable even to me.

 

[Aceon6]

I’m liking Grace for the #4 slot. Such improvement since Nats.

 

[canbelto]

So Kara Eaker is going as a beam specialist right?

 

[Aceon6]

So Kara Eaker is going as a beam specialist right?

Toss up for me between Kara on beam and Riley on bars.

 

[Rukia]

Yeah I feel like Riley on bars might be the choice but idk

 

[Debbie S]

I feel like Riley McCusker/bars is the better bet for the specialist spot.

 

[canbelto]

Great, now we get to see Simone chilling in her track suit.

 

[skatfan]

So Kara Eaker is going as a beam specialist right?

I think Riley on bars might be a better bet unless Eaker improves her standing on the 2nd day. Riley was 2nd on bars after Suni Lee, while Eaker came in 3rd on beam after Biles and Lee. Only two from each country can go to the finals, so Riley's a better pick from that standpoint.

 

[Debbie S]

I'd be happy if the top 4 from tonight (plus Riley and Jade) were the team. (Gymnastics Gods, you did not hear that!)

 

[nickp]

If I had to pick tonight my team would be Biles, Lee, Skinner, and Chiles

 

[skatfan]

Biles, Lee and Chiles for the team. #4-7 tonight are within a point of each other. It's gonna be hard (and not that important) to choose the 4th member.

 

[dramagrrl]

I do not want Skinner on the team and I'm not a McCallum fan, either, so I guess I have to cheer for DiCello to have a spectacular night 2, or for Wong to make a huge comeback.

 

[just tuned in]

From the shallow end of the pool... so glad that Chile's eye makeup looks normal.

Laurie Hernandez has a great commentator voice. l am ready for her to replace Nastia right now. BTW, did any of you see the Trulicity commercial featuring Laurie and her dad? It was bizarre. Her dad is diabetic, apparently, but the fine print in the commercial stated that he does not take Trulicity.

ETA: I wonder if the judges are low-balling Carey.

 

[canbelto]

Nastia's voice sounds like the "blah blah blah" teacher voice in CHarlie Brown. I'm sure she has intelligent things to say but the voice drones.

 

[just tuned in]

If I had to pick tonight my team would be Biles, Lee, Skinner, and Chiles

I think the team should be Biles, and we let her choose three of her besties to join her.

 

[VGThuy]

I think if Wong hits beam on day 2 and scores what she potentially should score with a hit routine, she’ll be on the team. She beat MyKayla Skinner on bars and floor and had a freak beam performance. She needs to hit on day 2 though.

 

[ryanj07]

I would go Biles, Lee, Chiles, and McCallum for the team. I’d be totally fine with DiCello in the 4th spot too…. anyone but Skinner really lol.

 

[just tuned in]

Here are Carey's scores on events other than vault:

Bars 11.300 (17)
Beam 13.266 (10)
Floor 13.133 (13)

So low. 13th on floor?

Grace was 2nd in floor with 14.166

Skinner had "the meet of her life" and was still only in 4th place in the AA. She did not score higher than 5th in any event (except maybe vault).

 

[Rob]

Last year, I wanted Biles, Lee, Hurd, Wong, but I’d have been happy with McCallum especially since Wong didn’t make a worlds. Chiles is undeniable, Hurd is gone. I think McCallum is more consistent than Wong. I just can’t deal with Skinners form, but she can chuck some and stay on. I like DiCello too. Not sure she or Malabuyo has the consistency.

 

[4rkidz]

Come on people. Do you seriously think this isn't the Simone Show?

I actually thought they did a decent job tonight showing most events of the top 6, even though it was the Simone Biles show ( she is amazing though). I like the top group as team but switch Skinner for McCalum, she has more potential and nice lines.

 

[danafan]

This was one of the best gymnastics broadcasts by NBC in terms of routines in a long time. They showed many important routines on replay after the fact and even showed Shilese Jones at the end who is not really a contender. I mean it's easy to rip on them for their coverage (2016 was pretty bad) but this was a very good telecast.

 

[BaileyCatts]

Maybe they been reading this thread.

 

[Jayar]

I am totes on team Skinner.

 

[OlieRow]

My pre-night 2 predictions for the team would be Biles, Lee, Chiles, and Wong with Carey & Riley as the +1's. McCusker gets the nod over Eaker because she's been more consistent on her event and it'd potentially be a 2nd athlete into the EF if she and Suni were to hit. Not sure if McCusker is really a medal threat though unless there are errors elsewhere. Skinner isn't a factor as she'd likely miss on EF's because of Biles and Carey.

In terms of the team, averaging scores from Classics to now Biles, Chiles, and Lee are 1st/3rd/10th on VT, 2nd/3rd/4th on UB, 1st/2nd/4th on BB, and 1st/4th/5th on FX. Wong is 6th on VT and 3rd on FX bumping Lee from both for TF which would add 0.41 to the team score. DiCello would fit in very similarly to Wong adding 0.52 with VT/FX and stronger on UB but doesn't have the international experience. If she had hit at Championships, I might give her the edge? Although she did hit VT/FX there. That decision could go either way for me, let's see who hits on Sunday when all the pressure is on... Skinner adds 0.61 on VT but hasn't been as consistent on floor and her average is lower than Wong/DiCello and she's not really usable at all on UB/BB whereas Wong/DiCello have more upside on those events in a pinch. McCallum has shown steady improvement but not sure she'd add anything in TF to the other 3 likely members. Taking McCusker as #4 for bars is I guess an option (adds about 0.53 over Simone) but that's suuuper risky and won't happen.

As long as it's not Skinner, I'll be happy but I really like Wong's lines and elegance whereas DiCello just doesn't excite me as much. I do have to give Skinner credit for having a solid meet tonight even if she's not my cup of tea.

 

[Karina1974]

Laurie Hernandez has a great commentator voice. l am ready for her to replace Nastia right now. BTW, did any of you see the Trulicity commercial featuring Laurie and her dad? It was bizarre. Her dad is diabetic, apparently, but the fine print in the commercial stated that he does not take Trulicity.

How about the GEICO commercial with Maroney? I've seen that one at least twice.

 

[Carolla5501]

I very much need NBC to dump Tim Daggett I needed them to do it decades ago

Compared to what we get for figure skating Daggett is great. Since somebody at NBC seems to be deathly in love with the sideshow act if they dumped him they probably put in Johnny and Tara there because they need something to do in the summer.l
NBC’s standards are pathetic