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april 18, 2008: Archaic Spanish Dynamite

We all have our guilty pleasures. For me, it's Gemma Paz on floor exercise 1995. The routine is stocked full of fast-paced, energetic dancework, as well as a barrage of tumbling passes that would seem a lot cooler had they been done now. Anyways, I wanted to share the routine with you; I dug it out of my DVD collection today, much to my delight (I'm capping vids for a montage).

When I first saw the routine when I was an early teenager, I was blown away by its spasmodic arm movements and tight music, which always had me begging for more. I thought I'd go without the music my whole life, but a friend found it and sent it to me. :)

Watch an enjoy. What a total opposite from what we see today. She couldn't nearly fit any of that choreo in the new set of rules. This is why I search back in time for gymnastics gold that might have slipped my mind back then when it was so easy to take it for granted.

She just never stops. Another trademark of Spanish gymnastics throughout the years (remember Rebeca Toledano's snappy set?)

Well, I'm still capping.

Love,
Aleksas

april 17, 2008: Unfinished Business

The full size hefty and high quality version of my Strug montage is now available. Go here: http://www.sendspace.com/file/nqsqp2

april 15, 2008: An attempt at something big

What can be said of Vanessa Ferrari's new floor routine? Can it be said that it is a splendid, classic work of art, molded just rightly with all the right dance moves and flash and panache to take on the world over? No. Can it be said that it is a little unsettling, yet intriguing all at once, and that the dance doesn't meet the eyes of scrutiny because it somehow... works... against its freakshow music? Closer. Can it be said I'd really like to see a Beijing crowd react to this Sci-Fi hoo-hah/nonsense? Yes.

Here you go. 2008 Europeans, Team Competition:

Ah, what a result we get when the artist involved is the choreographer, not the performer, and that his or her aptitude isn't... let's say... up to par with what it should be.

I must "simma-don" with some nice Shantessa Pama after that.

Now that's how a floor routine SHOULD look (minus all the jumps she's supposed to do and will add to her routine this year).

Peace'mz,
Aleksas

april 11, 2008: A New Montage

I finished the Strug montage.

Let me know what you think.

Download here:
WMV version
MPG version 36.3 MB
Full size MPG via Sendspace

Peace,
Aleksas

april 7, 2008: I'm Back

Here I am! And I can give you anything... good song. Alright, guys, I'm back from Florida. I had an killer awesome time hanging out by the pool, relaxing under the sun, and drinking iced tea just about everyday. Good times, those were. It sucks to be back. But being back brings about new opportunities, and new obligations to attend to. Such as my new Kerri Strug montage, which is in the making. I like it. I really like the song I'm doing to it, and it should be one of my more meaningful montages. I'm just waiting for the 1996 American Cup to capture from a tape trade... :)

New default photo. Like the shirt? I got it in Florida. Mmm I want a coffee. Snaps, I just had one. I'm so addicted. I won't even lie to you. Coffee and me, we be buddies, rhyming free... I think they beguile my senses or something. I'm looking into it.

Alright, updates later. Meanwhile, check out Sandra Izbasa's AWESOME FLOOR from Europeans, event finals. Dayamn!!!! I love the part when she starts clapping. It's so uber cute; I can't get enough. She's my favorite Romanian and has been throughout this entire quad. This routine is perfect for Beijing. Now we need some good American routines to follow.

And from team finals:

Peace & love,
Aleksas

march 21, 2008: An Update

There are some new videos (huh??? it's about time) up. Not a whole lot, just a taste of what you were missing from ABC's broadcast of the 1995 World Championships, as far as the Americans go. Mary Beth and all them.

Meanwhile, I am going to Florida for ten days. Ciao.

-Aleksas

march 20, 2008: Some Great Routines

I thought I'd share with you this touching tribute to Dominique Dawes by Dick Enberg. It occured during the women's compulsories of the centennial Olympic Games. I just capped it today.

Download

Love,
Aleksas

march 15, 2008: A Great Tribute

Once again, the lovely and talented Tabitha Yim. This time her routine from February 24, 2008. She showed improved dance after the tuck jump double full:

And her hip sidekick, Weedge, Ms. Allyse Ishino:

Two of the most soulful and flashingly wicked floor routines of 2008. That, and Anna Li's routine, of course.

But that's aside the point. Just wanted to share those with you. And I loved the leos. The girls looked very trim.

-Aleksas

march 9, 2008: Kupets Injured

So her new floor exercise music was called "Do It Again," and Courtney Kupets has successfully done it again – torn her achilles tendon. What a shame. They should have been more careful when selecting her floor music, lol. Audio voodoo.

Anyways, it happened during a dual meet with Arkansas a few Saturdays ago, and what this means in the grand scheme of things is she will not be returning to elite this year, as anticipated by many fans. Many had wondered whether Kupets, who goes above and beyond the call for difficulty required in NCAA, would swoop in "save the team" in Beijing. Not that Team USA needs any saving, but she could have factored in as a serious threat on uneven bars, balance beam, and maybe the floor exercise (thus making Chellsie Memmel's spot, for example, even the more precarious).

Team USA could have used her abilities and experience for sure in China. Kupets has been a gem of USA Gymnastics since her win on bars at the 2002 World Championships. But all this speculation of her returning back to elite is to no avail... From the moment this season began, until now, all this "talk" of her coming back under Martha's wing has been merely that: talk.

Interestingly enough, Kupets never committed to the idea of returning to elite for another Olympic run. Just her fans kind of hoped she would change her mind with the way she's been doing in NCAA. On the contrary, even, she gave the impression in interviews that her entire focus and drive was on what she could still do for Team Georgia (upgrading her routines), not Team USA. Despite all that, many believed she was leaving the door open for another shot at making the Olympic Team, since she competed in Athens on a bad hip, which hindered her performance at those Games.

Kupets looked great on beam this year against Florida:

Because of Kupets' illustrious career as an NCAA athlete, she was vying for even more prestige later this year. But her torn achilles ruins any hope of her becoming the three-time NCAA all around champion, which she was striving for, with successful victories in '06 and '07.

So while many wondered whether Courtney Kupets would "Do It Again" and make her second Olympic Team, she'll have to sit on the sidelines for now... in both venues.

-Aleksas

P.S. Can I get a little Shake Break Bounce action?

march 7, 2008: The American Cup

So the American Cup came and went, and what a competition it was. I was amazed with Nastia Liukin's resilience in her bar routine... roaring and rampaging after a cover-up to a 16.6 (an impossible score, but whatever). She looked mighty good in NYC. And a floor routine from her that didn't wreak havoc! Sure, she went out of bounds, but at this stage in the game and with her track record of fumbles on floor, she did a pretty good job. Better than I expected, actually. I thought she would give it away on her last event.

Nastia's bars:

To me, she looked BIGGER on TV than I was expecting... she certainly has grown into being the Svetlana Khorkina of this quad. The British commentators were calling her that at last year's Worlds. And how strange for her to have grown into that role after being such a tiny tyke in the past. She's such an elegant performer, though. Everything she does she still performs with the greatest of amplitude, and now it just looks even bigger with her larger body.

Girl has grown.

I think I was most impressed with Sam Peszek, actually. I love a good case of the underdog. The girl has some new exciting choreography, much improved form, and a vast array of skills that just SCREAMS "I wanna be a star." She took out her double arabian dismount from her balance beam routine, but once she includes it, that routine will be legendary. I was so impressed with the way she attacked her skills on all of the events. She really went after her landings on floor exercise, and had wonderful music (sounded like something from The Gotan Project... very popular nowadays in the gymnastics world).

Sam's balance beam. That first combo was rock solid:

And her floor exercise:

Shayla Worley disappointed. I mean, the girl oozes with personality, spunk, and style, but she didn't bring it to the floor mat this time. For whatever reason, she underperformed. I know there were some rumors that she wouldn't even be performing in the American Cup, but I knew that was just speculation. I thought her new floor exercise was decent. Not as lively as her one from Cirque, but ample choreography and still that Shayla charm. It's nice to see. It's a shame she had to vice here, because she's one of those "bubble stars" that really needs to be 100% in competition everytime. She needed the competition Sam Peszek had. So looking far out into the distance for Beijing, Shayla has some work to do. Sam proved her case in New York. She looked solid, looked spectacular. To hell with inexperience. She showed she has the skills and the consistency to get the job done. Most importantly, she showed she has a strong head for competition. I see her being one of Martha's favorites already. If Martha had a Myspace with a Top 8, Sam would for sure be on it, lol.

Shawn Johnson looked FABULOUS. Her beam routine was a thing of absolute power and beauty. Perfection in motion, actually, aside from that one bobble on her back tuck. Other than that, and that biffed vaulting attempt of hers, she was flawless. I mean, she messed up her Yurchenko 2.5 twist, but it is evident she's ready to handle that vault; that was just an off performance. She gave it her all, and still, she came up short to Nastia (woohoo, Nastia's back in the game! How exciting!)

In conclusion, Shawn looked fab. Nastia looked amazing. Bigger, but amazing nonetheless. Shayla underperformed. And Sam looked spunky and fresh. It's so exciting to see USA Gymnastics nowadays. I mean, you add in a little Chellsie Memmel and Alicia Sacramone, and you got yourself a team! Watching this meet did make me feel gymnasts like Ivana Hong have no chance to make Beijing. The bar has been raised for all six spots. I think it will be very hard for Ivana to combat the likes of Sam Peszek, who is more powerful on vaulting and floor exercise, and has a high degree of difficulty in her balance beam routine. Even higher than Ivana's. Ivana better have something cooked up by the time Nationals come, because based on her routines from last year, and the fact she didn't break a 15 once at Worlds, she has no shot to make the team now.

Love,
Aleksas

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