aleksas.com

february 23, 2008

MONTAGE TIME! This time I have a few great ones.

First off, an Amy Chow montage to a song I LOVE. It's called "El Tango de los Exiliados" by the ever popular Vanessa Mae (remember "Destiny"?) This montage has passion, drive, and showcases Amy's best points. It also showcases her less than glamorous form on some of her elements... like her piked full and Rulfova on beam (much messier than I remembered). Either way, Amy Chow was a trooper, and we'll remember her for who she was: the silent rock on Team USA who had a barrage of cool skills. And who other than Amy Chow could make a straddled Pak salto on bars look elegant?

Secondly, a montage made of the women's competition from Athens. This one's just marvelous. So driving is the beat, with neat hi-def camera angles... the whole deal. A neat song, too, called "Pass The Flame." I like how it highlights the women's all around competition as well. It was dramatic! Makes me want to watch it right now and hear some more of Sveta's nasty words, hehe.

Thirdly, one on Jiang Yuyuan, one of the darlings from the competition in Stuttgart last year. And one of my faves. She really can dance, and really has a high degree of difficulty on each event. This montage goes on to prove that. The montage itself is to a very thrilling, driving tribal beat, which fits the mood perfectly of "Can you believe this?" in terms of how fast our sport is progressing. Jiang Yuyuan's gymnastics is poetry in motion, most notably on the floor exercise.

Lastly, a random montage called "I Want More." It shows everything from Elena Zamolodchikova to Hollie Vise's once performed straddled/laid out Jeager from around 2000 or 2001. Gael Mackie is featured here, too. This montage is really varied in content, and I jut love that. You know me... I love diversity.

Alright, peace out, guys.
-Aleksas

february 18, 2008

So they did it. They took my suggestion. They changed the American Cup into the 2004 format of four American athletes vs. four international ones. Good. The only problem is this year the international stars aren't stars at all. Looking down the list of names, Alyssa Brown is the only one I recognize.

From USAG's website:

Alyssa Brown, Canada
Xiao Tingting, China
Natalia Sanchez, Colombia
Joeline Moebius, Germany
Shawn Johnson, USA
Nastia Liukin, USA
Samantha Peszek, USA
Shayla Worley, USA

I don't think it mattered who they invited to face the Americans. This is the American Cup, and I don't think they expect anyone to rival the Americans here. I'm delighted to see Sam Peszek on the roster. She has power and spunk and a youthful exuberance I really like. Her floor music, to "Number One," is awesome and so fun to dance to. Too bad there's very little dancing involved in her exercise, however.

I'm excited to see Shayla Worley's new floor routine, and to see if Nastia Liukin can combat the darkness which threatened to swallow her whole last year again this year... the possibility that her age may be catching up with her. With her ankle in better position now, we'll for sure see a fresh Nastia Liukin ready to shine. But she still has Shawn Johnson to compete against, and in all their duels, she's never won. Nastia needs to distance herself at this competition if she wants to have that all important TYSON American Cup Champion title heading into Nationals, and of course, the all important Olympic Trials (what gets decided there, anyway?). I guess I'll answer my own question. It's just another chance for the girls to compete in front of the judges and the crowd and prove their consistency under pressure. That, if Martha hasn't decided her choices already.

Anyways, I can't believe the lack of depth on the international side of things. Well, actually, I CAN believe it, I just never thought USAG would pull it through to fruition. As I have said before, the American Cup is a national meet cleverly disguised as an international one to boost American morale and gain spirit and momentum heading into the Olympic Games. It's made for TV. It's perfect. All they need is a champion to win, and here this year, they have four gamers ready to shine.

It's remarkable. Last year, Natasha Kelley was Shawn Johnson's American counterpart. This year, she's not even on the map. I am really wondering what's going on with her. She showed a lot of prowess and technical difficulty as a junior and again in 2006 as a senior. Her form, however, was like Kristen Maloney's in '98. Not good enough. And so it's back to the drawing board for her. Maybe Martha sent her there. I did hear she switched coaches, so maybe we'll see a makeover by the time the Trials process begins.

Not that she was one of my favorites, but I did enjoy seeing her in the floor finals in Aarhus. And I do think that purple V-neck leo was MADE for her. It absolutely looked perfect on her, and bland and boring on everyone else.

Wow, I certainly took a detour. Since when did this become the Natasha Kelley Show?

Okay, so in closing, I am happy the American Cup is four American athletes vs. four non-American ones, but am disheartened that the international field is so lackluster. What a bummer. It was such a delight to see Dasha Joura last year. And Daria Zgoba! Man, were we really spoiled, lol.

Love,
Aleksas

february 14, 2008

So I found out today that my site was rated 8.5 out of 10 by Blogged.com in the gymnastics category. Good times. I'm inspired. I haven't updated this page as much as I'd like, so I lost out on the Frequency of Updates section in my evaluation. Drats. Oh, well. I'll just have to update this site more often. =) I need to get back to my apartment before I can change the layout again, though. I should be there in a few days.

Peace,
Aleksas

february 13, 2008

Ugh. Tomorrow's Valentine's Day. I am reminded by my bitter past. Anyways, I encountered this montage today and all I can say about it is that it is just wonderful... and I am glad I supplied them with many of the clips to do it. :) (So all this site isn't just done in vain!)

Speaking of illumination, which is the title of the music used in the montage, I miss being illumintated. It's so tough when you feel your world caving around you in darkness. Damn.

But, oh! What another wonderful montage! This one by the same person (Lilia96) to one of my favorite songs! Gymnastics Is Magic. It's so poetic.

Once again, I see that the clips I uploaded here on this website were used, which makes me happy that people are using them in montages! And I love Kaitlin White's 2001 floor routine (OMG) and I'm glad someone else feels the same. Because that routine was so underrated and so overlooked. The dancework told a story... of illumination, ironically, and of being discovered, doing hard work, defiance, individuation, and shutting out the rest of the world... closed doors. It's one of my favorite routines to weave a story into. In the end, she finishes with clenched fists raised in a fighting position. That symbolizes strength in the fiercest of ways, almost mocking the illuminator for having put her on that journey in the first place. But that's just what I feel...

Here it is:

Yes, I am obsessed. Gymnastics, my love.

Peace,
Lex

february 2, 2008

What a surprise! Check out this vid of Allyse Ishino's new floor exercise from this season I found. The choreography is AMAZING. It's really energetic and engaging as well. Much better than her old routine. Allyse is a very clean dancer, and I appreciate that. Very, very cool. This routine is innovative and interesting to watch. Don't take your eyes off her for a second.

This is the coolest routine in NCAA this year thus far. Head coach Kristen Smith deserves an award for creating such a beautiful routine. And I thought Dasha Joura's routine had character. THIS ROUTINE HAS CHARACTER! Damn... I am taken away. I didn't think anyone could outdo Tabitha Yim's new floor routine, but Allyse Ishino's done it and upstaged her. This is really brilliant work. Character, style, pizzazz. This routine has it all. I love it!

-Aleksas

february 2, 2008

Another one of Tabitha Yim's floors from the UCLA/Stanford Meet. Not as nicely performed as it was against Georgia, but I'll take whatever I can get from her. I just love her YimtasticNESS.

And here we have The Chemical Brothers (again) inspired Courtney Kupets floor, performed against Utah. I'm just in love with the beginning. I have to laugh everytime. It's so cute. They're so creative with her. I have so much fun watching her routines. She's the perfect girl to project your imagination on, and I'm sure that's why she's had a barrage of styles over the years. I love how in the beginning she's waking up to the beats... that pulsating rhythm that matches her body's movements. I'd go straight for her.

Here, Kupets has some minor problems (goes out of bounds on her second pass, not so sure of a landing on her first) but let's just hope she's getting those kinks out of her system early, or else Ashley Postell will woop her ass come Nationals. I'm serious. This is Miss Postella's time to shine (back in the day, some of us referred to Postell as "Postella" to give her that Russian flair).

Ashley's watered-down floor... with MUCH IMPROVED choreography. She needs to quit it with those gymnastics wrists some of the time, though:

Well, aside from those three, I'd have to say Courtney McCool has given me the biggest scare this season. Her new music. Hideous. It's just not her type. I mean, techno on Miss Prima Ballerina USA? I don't think so. She will go down in history as being one of the most poised, graceful, and elegant gymnasts to ever walk this planet, and in college they are just messing with our minds because they don't know that. Please, next time, people, go with something classier than this techno shit/trash:

The only song that was good in that was "Adagio For Strings" by Tiesto, a remake. But it still didn't do her justice. That said, I'm off! I'm going skiing on Tuesday with my boyfriend. It shall be good times. I look forward to the snowy slopes, candlelit dinners, and warm fire places... oh yes.

Love,
Aleksas

january 31

There's something funny in the air of USA Gymnastics, and it has to do with Jana Bieger. Yes, our favorite Aarhus runner-up has been busy... being absent from the world. Just what is going on? Many questions arise. Dodging glances, interviews, even appearances at Martha's religious training camps has been her story. Last it was confirmed, she was not at Camp Karolyi's during their latest ritual gathering. It seems some dissention has grown between her and USA Gymnastics since Martha decided to leave her off the 2007 World Championship Team. From that point on, she's pulled out of a few international assignments she was given, including the Glasgow Grand Prix, a personal favorite of mine (aww, the days of Allana Slater in '99).

I think inviting her to Glasgow was Martha's way of throwing a dog a bone after not using her in Stuttgart. But she opted not to go. In my opinion, she was totally passed over last year for the team in favor of two youngsters who really didn't impact the competition too much (Peszek and Hong). Not to say that Bieger had an illustrious showing at Nationals or anything, but I was surprised she wasn't made at least alternate.

Gymfans are now wondering if she's switching countries to represent Germany at next year's Olympic Games. Could be. But the IOC says you have to wait three years to represent your new country at the Olympics if you've already competed at a Worlds under a different flag (as Jana did in Aarhus). But, Jana was born in Germany, her mother competed in the Olympic Games and is her coach... maybe there's some talk about ways to get around the IOC's request.

You never know.

And you can't deny that it's strange not having her around. So, speculation aside, let us have a nice reel of Jana Bieger:

First of all, let me say I just love how she mounts the beam here. That cast to stag position is so clever. And that aerial to backhandspring to one knee, immediate front somersault to one knee! One of the coolest combos ever done! I know the choreography is lacking, but whatever. We don't watch Jana Bieger for good choreography. We watch her for her big skills and innovative spin on things.

Here we see her playing to the crowd the first time. The National Staff really prepared our athletes for this competition, and Jana made great strides in her performance ability. Usually, we see an introverted and mechanical Jana "dancing" out there. But here, she seems more alive. Reminds me of Elena Shushunova back in the day, and the great transformation she had from being completely robotic in her dance, to becoming more elegant, dramatic, and crowd appealing. I was sure back then in 2006 we would see an even bigger improvement from Jana in the coming years.

But...

A not so good showing of Jana from last year. The gains she made in performing her routine are gone. But I'm in love with the front LAYOUT full through to double pike. The dance and music, however, do nothing for me. If she's gone pro, they should be hiring better choreographers for her. Someone from Broadway, or a dance company. I think it was a bad choice to include a running rudi. First of all, that's a hard pass to land anyways. And secondly, her chest is always low (like on her triple twist) so there's a built in deduction. BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD, LADIES!

So, we're all waiting to see just what she decides. Or if fleeing to Germany was ever a possibility in the first place. She might just be injured. Still, it'll be interesting to see where Jana and Mommy make their next move. Either around the gym, or around the planet.

-Aleksas

january 18

Oh my yes. I have a new reason for being.

Her name is Tabitha Yim, and you will love her or hate her. Either or. There's nothing in between with this girl; and that's how I like it. It's a shame we'll never see this on a world stage, because I think all the international judges would just cream their panties all over the place. Her new floor routine is THE SHIT. Now, I normally don't curse in my periodikums, but I assure you, I do mean that in due reference.

Now, she walks onto the floor like a jungle cat, ready for war. Ready to Exhibit A a breath of fresh air (I proposed to this girl at Olympic Trials, by the way, and she said afterward that she accepted). She's such a diva. I can't get over it. An uncontrollable DIVA.

I feel like I should smoke a cig after that routine.

But strangely enough... over and over again in my head these last few nights I've been hearing the song "Apologize." It's been keeping me up at night. Blazing its haunting rhythm. Causing my psyche to shatter and forcing me to pick it up piece by piece in grueling agony. Now I know why. Clearly, I was picking up on the fact that one of my gymnastics heroines would be using it this year.

It could be.

Well, I'm not a fan of the backless leotards, but whatever. I'm excited to see her settle into this routine so she can really show it off by the time NCAAs come around.

In other news, I am visiting the folks at home this weekend. Ra ra. I miss my apartment. But whatever. I'll make do. Oh, and I stopped the Chellsie Memms montage. It was just too slow. I'm looking for a song to use now for another random 'tage.

Peace,
Aleksas

january 9

I wanted to share with you this awesome montage Penguin888 made. I LOVE the song. It's so tight. And the clips are fresh and so fun to watch. I especially love when Allyse Ishino stomps her way in. The beginning is cool, too. And Yvonne Tousek in a random montage not done by me? Ohh snap! Haha. :)

Um, I'm working on a Chellsie Memmel montage. It tells a story. I wonder what her next chapter will be. It'll be interesting to watch what other international assignments Martha gives her. I want her and Shantessa Pama competing in the "USA" colors of pink and purple this year. How prim and proper of USAG. Femme and royal.

Well, I have nothing more to say, other than I am saddened by this sudden news that Hollie Dykes has retired. Tear. Her double turn leg horizontals were so pretty to watch. Oh well.

~Aleksas

december 23

Thanks to the man who made one of my favorite montages this year, Nastiafan101, I found out that Chellsie Memmel is changing her floor music! WAHOO!!! I guess The Secret really does work.

Love,
Aleksas

P.S. Everybody enjoy your Christmas!

december 21

This is old news. But I haven't been up on gymnastics lately. I've been comparing Chellsie Memmel's floor routine with Bridget Sloan's from the 2007 December Good Luck in Beijing Test Event Meet. Good times. Well, funk times is more like it. Because there's something funky in the air of USA Gymnastics, and I don't like it. It's bad choreography, uninspired dance, and a complete miscalculation of what routines should look like.

THESE ARE NOT ROUTINES, PEOPLE! Gymnastics routines should be comprised of more than just hard skills and athletic ability. They should form a balance between grace and power, elegance and strength, and from it, create something beautiful, original, and artistic. Or at least a final product that warrants an opinion other than "so what?". That is what a gymnastics routine should be. It's what it used to be, at least. Now we have this taxing Code of Points, which, granted, does make it difficult to achieve all that I said, but it doesn't make it impossible! With the likes of Dasha Joura, Alina Kozich, and Jiang Yuyan this year, we have seen that it is indeed possible to satisfy the Code while still creating some ACTUAL GYMNASTICS on the floor exercise mat.

I could've wept watching Jiang Yuyan's floor routine the first time in Stuttgart; it was so joyous! Such a break from the bleak setting of most floor routines nowadays. That is something special. Let us watch:

Now that we have seen brilliance in action, let us get back to the Memmel and Sloan, or the Moan and Groan, as I say, campaign, lol. Let me first begin by championing Bridget's attempt over Chellsie's for actually including some choreography in it! Woohoo! We actually see some interesting dance here. Granted, these dance maneuvers are just poses, and just a few flutters here and there, but it isn't an entire routine stocked of staccato hand jestures and uninspired back arching (what is that?) like Chellsie's.

I love how Bridget uses the pose she does after her full-in pike throughout the entire routine, making it the theme. It brings the routine closer, targeting home each time. Unlike Chellsie's routine, Bridget's has a dramatic change in tempo. This makes it interesting. And landing on her toes after her Popa is just lovely to watch. I do like the movement of the routine heading into the corner as the new tempo gets heavier, but it becomes quickly flat and dead; there's no smile. If not a smile, there's no Life or any expression on her face. This imprints much into a routine. Ask Daria Joura, whose routine is delightful and personal, as she injects her personality and substance into the matter. What I am saying in so many words is that the Americans need to EXPRESS themselves on their faces, like in the days of Tasha Schwikert and Tabitha Yim. Ah, what a pair. Tasha, the sass and diva. Tabitha, the powerful window piece into the imagination. There was just so much more to their routines back then. So much more than anything we see now from their successors. And Alicia Sacramone's pole dancing slide down doesn't count. Tabitha and Tasha had character. They expressed themselves convincingly to the judges, to the audience, and to our hearts.

But this periodikum is not about them. It is about the lack of them. Which, in other words, means the presense of the build up of these BLAH routines I'm talking about. I read a comment on one of the videos on Youtube that the U.S. girls are very mechanical. I couldn't agree more. They are powerful, useful, bits of gymnastics chrome. But they are hard and lifeless. Did you think anything to yourself during Chellsie's floor ex routine other than, "What is she doing?" I mean, really. There's just nothing to watch because her routine isn't saying anything.

Chellsie's event finals routine:

To sum it up, USA floor routines are disjointed. They lack rhythm, fluidity, and most of all, artistry. Nastia's routine has gone down hill, but I won't even get into that with her ankle. Her excluded, most everyone else is in the same boat. It just isn't good enough. This is supposed to be the greatest country in the world, with the greatest imagination, the greatest resources, and we can't come up with anything worth saving to show our children! We can't just be content with creating floor routines that hit the Code A to Z, touch all four corners, and happen to have background noise. No! Coaches should be inspired to create routines that are special, worth watching, and a joy to watch. I mean, Dasha is no dance goddess, but she gets away with her "Assassination Tango" in the greatest of ways because she follows her heart throughout the exercise, and the dance is very charming. She's alluring. The Americans are not. They are very dead. Mechanical. Like trucks. They should be vehicles of something greater.

I said it before and I'll say it again: Chellsie cannot show up to Beijing with that trash as her music. I don't care if she does surpass Shawn this year somehow and knocks everyone's socks off with it. It is just GARBAGE and does not belong in anyone's floor routine. Not even Jana Bieger's.

Thus concludes my rant. Goodnight,

~Aleksas

december 11

I finally finished my new montage. It's called "Toy Soldier" and I recommend you download the WMV version, because on Youtube, the timing is always different from what the actual video looks like. Anyways, here you go. I hope you like it.

- Toy Soldier Montage - WMV

- Download the MPG: Sendspace link

Peace!

-Aleksas

november 30

I'm sitting here trying to understand Chellsie Memmel's new floor routine. It is SO bad. I can't get over it. WHAT THE FUCK? This isn't world material. This isn't even national material. The routine looks like it was choreographed for a Rock 'n Roll exhibition like the Mag 7 would compete in back in the late 90s. The only thing that would make it better is if she would smile in it, like a playful Moceanu, because she never does smile, and never does look like she is having a good time.

She needs to CHANGE that attitude before Beijing. She just seems so unpleasant now that she's with her father. I know Jim Chudy was probably vicariously living through her. But now... No smiles, no smirks, so sparks, no hair glitter. And frankly, with Shawn Johnson being the savior of the American team now, Chellsie Memmel is no longer seen as being The Rock she once was. She's been replaced. Done did it! That sucks for her, and for me, too, since I am pulled along for the ride because I am such a Chellsie Memmel fan.

Love her.

Babygirl, just smile more. Please, pull us into the routine! It's not so much to ask! Here's the set from the Good Luck in Beijing Test Event:

It intrigues me how awful it is, but, like I said, it does have potential if she can sell it a bit. Then, it would look like a purely American floor routine. I mean, the old fashioned kind. The Sabrina Mar 1985 kind. One of my favorite All American floor routines:

So if she can transform it into something nicer like that, then I think the world can accept it as something good. But they really need to change the opening pose (dock the old one) and find something flashier to do in each of the corners before her tumbles. Enough of this swishing arm movements back and forth. This is the 21st century, folks! If we can send men to the moon, we can surely choreograph a decent floor routine for former World Champion Miss Chellsie Memmel and make it glorious and fun to watch.

Please, Lord.

And this is not sarcasm. We do need a miracle here. I do not want to watch this shit in the team finals in Beijing.

Love,
Aleksas

november 26

I promised I'd deliver Katie Perret's 2002 Elite Podium Meet balance beam routine, and here it is. Check out the pony! She actually reminds me a lot of a mini Atler appearance-wise.

I really miss all of Tom Forester's athletes. Powell, Kulikowski, Thompson, Foley... they all had that signature calm, sweet panache that I really liked watching. They weren't outwardly bubbly or anything, but you could tell they had a nice balanced program that encouraged personal growth along with adhering to the rules and standards of the sport.

A video reel:

Kristy Powell's bar routine from the 1995 American Cup, her coming out party. She tied for the gold at Nationals two years later, but this meet was certainly the standout on her r�sum�.

Theresa Kulikowski's 1997 ITC balance beam performance. This routine was almost an eyesore of a highlight from that competition; the meet was filled with lots of mediocre gymnastics in comparison. This hit set provided a ray of hope to the American team, which, though comprised of many talented stars, was truly embryonic and abysmal at the time. Watch her clean precision and nice technique. I know the routine is rudimentary by today's standards, but one can't deny the difficulty of her running mount (which we rarely see nowadays), and her lofty flic-flac lay.

Doni Thompson's swift, high-action bar routine from the 1994 U.S. Jr. National Championships. She certainly had the knack for release skills. And what elevation on her dismount! This was definitely a standout bar routine back then... for a junior... 13 years ago.

Natalie Foley's infamous 2001 U.S. National Championships bar routine, where she came to grief when her grip came undone mid-routine. How awful is that? You really have to give her props for not blowing a fuse up there. And she should have been allowed to go back up and repeat the exercise, but she wasn't a man, so... Anyway, you can see her trademark Colorado Aerials full-twisting Tkatchev, which Katie Perret performed as well. And I like the full-pirouette which came before it, and the tempo of her exercise.

So, that is what I wanted to share with you.

~Aleksas

november 22

I love Mary Lee Tracy. But she has nothing to do with this post. I've always wondered what happened to Katie Perret of Colorado Aerials after her debacle at the 2002 U.S. Classic. Well, here you go. She's in college now at Penn State University and she's a junior. A JUNIOR. Man, how time flies. It seems just yesterday that she giving one of the best balance beam performances until her dismount at the 2002 Elite Podium Meet, with the biggest hair on any gymnast I have ever seen sans the 1960s, because that shit was wack. Anyways, I loved her curly, crazy, pony-do, and now I bet she adds ribbons to it (I'll get a video of that routine, which included a wonderful Kotchekova-ff-layout flight series).

Anyways, I discovered some gold from Miss Katie this afternoon while on Youtube. Thanksgiving can be so good. And I made a pie! My first pie! But I will get to that later, because, like Mary Lee Tracy, that has nothing to do with this post, either.

Katie Perret is the first gymnast I have seen to do a "Khorkina" release from inverted giants. How tight is that!? I mean, I can't even imagine the leverage she needs to hold support over the bar in order to push off for that skill with her hands twisted backwards. But she does it! That's so impressive. I can't get over it. I shall have to get around it instead. With a nice slice of Lexness pumpkin pie. Mwaha.

Here's the video. She falls off trying to go over the bar on her amazingly EARLY Higgins roll at the beginning. But when she gets back up, watch out!

There. I love it. Go Katie. Kick some tail this year. Use that hair... like you know you should. I love it, I love it, I love it!

Peace out, and Happy Thanksgiving,

Aleksas

november 21

So I updated my videos with some nice stuff from the 2002 U.S. Classic. Good meet. Man, I really miss the good old days when Tasha Schwikert was all diva at every meet (her lip gloss is cool, her lip gloss be poppin') but I know that is all in the past. Tear. But what is in the current is a flood of amazingly talented gymnasts, in elite and NCAA, and I'm thankful to be apart of this generation to see them in action. I mean, things were so different just four years ago with the absense of Youtube. And now, everything is streaming, pulsating, rolling waves of gymnastics energy... college, WCSN, AT&T Blueroom, everything! It's so awesome. Loves it.

I uploaded some of the vids onto my Youtube account, and one of the highlights is Chari Knight-Hunter's beam routine. I forgot how beautiful it was. She really was a gem back in the last quad to have. And to have stayed around for so long... how admirable. I admire her devotion. What a champ.

Her beam routine: (Check out the Yang Bo!)

Alright, guys, time to jet! Peace!
~Aleksas

november 16

So, 2008 is coming up, and I thought I'd pay gymnastics a little visit. USA Gymnastics rocks. We are set. But here's a little of what I think...

The so-called "most prestigious event held on American soil" is coming to town once again in New York City on March 1st. That said, we can expect Al Trautwig to glam up the American athletes, whilst finding ways to punish the foreign ones for even showing up to the event. "One tenth here, another hop there! The American's still got the lead!" Yeah, we'll surely see the same. And for the brave souls from outside the U.S. who dare to even compete on American soil, in its most historically biased international competition, good luck. You'll need it.

If I may get a little philosophical for a moment, let me bring things to a grander scale. In a nation which believes it deserves to toot its own horn, his commentary caters to the lowest of American audiences, the people who like to see Americans win at whatever they are doing. You know the type. "I want the American girl to win!" you may have heard at some point while flipping through the TV and catching a sporting event. I'm so glad most gym fans are not this way.

But anyways, I have a few gripes about the event this upcoming year. News has filtrated throughout the web that Martha will be choosing Shawn and Nastia. No. Dare I say, NO! They should make the American Cup like it was in 2004, when four American girls got to compete. I'm getting tired of the same Nastia vs. Shawn story, even though Shawn has won everytime. And to call the American Cup an international event is an injustice is its own right. Who are they kidding? Oh, right. No one. This is purely a national meet cleverly disguised as an international one to boost American morale and gain spirit and momentum heading into the Olympic Games. The event NEEDS an American winner in order to do what it sets out to do each time: add some hardware to one of the girls so she is in the position further down the line to live up to the standard established at "that big meet she won" earlier in the year. Not to say Carly Patterson didn't deserve her 03/04 wins, but that is how it works.

Tim, Elfi, and Al pimp a speech the whole time trying to prove its validity and importance ("Many an Olympian got their start at the American Cup" - Tim). And they're right about one thing: many of the American athletes who competed in the American Cup did make their ways onto Olympic Teams. Mary Lou Retton, Kim Zmeskal, Shannon Miller, Amanda Borden, Kerri Strug, Kristen Maloney, Morgan White, Tasha Schwikert, Courtney Kupets, Annia Hatch, Terin Humphrey, and Courtney McCool each made it onto the Olympic Team after enjoying American Cup exposure. The glamour of the event cannot be denied. It gives you wings to fly... like Redbull, lol.

But back to the present. Nastia needs less competition, a change in the arrangement of her routines (i.e. remove the aerial before her flight series on beam), and a REST from her injuries. REST IT, NASTIA! Do it today, girlfriends! I know, I know, it seems like you won't be going anywhere for a while, but it'll pay off, I promise! She already has tons of experience. In spite of that, though, she remains painfully inconsistent on floor. I think they need to work new passes with her. The double front was BRILLIANT out of her 2nd pass (the dance was so gorgeous), but it looks absurd as an opener. No one mounts with a double front anymore. That is so 2003. Time for her to bring back the front full-punch double full and the triple twist from outside her closet. She also needs a double pike to be considered a respectable tumbler. Here's why. Without any double saltos in her exercise, she appears somewhat feeble in relation to her competitors. It's almost embarrassing, because she is so strong on the other events. 16+ on bars and beam, but barely scraping a 15 solid on floor? Something needs to be done.

Though it's almost impossible to design a floor routine for Nastia that she can hit everytime, I think that adding a 1.5 twist through to a 2.5 twist would be code savvy. She is capable of so many different twisting combinations, it's almost hard to choose from! She could maybe do a "triple twist with a bounce in between" (credit for calling it that: Kathy Johnson), which is a back 1.5 twist punch rudi (like Sandra Isbaza and Daniela Druncea). I don't know. It's really up to her and her father, but I think he needs to calm her down before she does any more damage to her ankle. I've had ankle injuries before, and Nastia is totally right, you are never 100% after sustaining a major one. That said, I'd like to think they are focusing on basic tumbling at the time being.

Go Nastia. A great montage of her:

I do not like Shawn Johnson, so I will not speak of her. What I will say is that if she does win in Beijing, I will not buy her album. I do not need to hear the endless parade of "It's such an honors" set to electronic slapping.

Love,
Aleksas

november 5

I've been on a Geralen Stack-Eaton kick lately. I know, most consider her to be on the "B" USA team right now, but things could change. My opinion of her sure has.

I remember back in 2003 when I saw her in Milwaukee. She was one of only few who could dance in that venue � The Junior Nationals. Her floor routine was something of fun, flash, and spunk. And on top of it, it was very well choreographed. She had relatively big skills for a girl her age, and, if Parkettes could manage not to break her, she had a bright future, too.

We hadn't seen much from "Lou," as they call her, since those Nationals. She's competed at her club's Parkette Invite many times, but she missed out on the 2005 National Championships due to injury after placing 8th at the U.S. Classic. At that competition, she showed some great polish in her dance work on the floor exercise. One thing I like about her is how she carries her hands. Her wrists aren't limp or bent. She presents herself in a very dainty way, and I like that. It makes her lines look more fluid � they continue past her fingertips, not stopping short at flexed or bent wrists.

Her 2005 U.S. Classic routine:

In 2006, she placed 17th in both days of the Nationals, and she wasn't called to any international assignments. That would all change this year, where recently, after placing a strong 6th at Nationals, she was called to Stuttgart for the 2007 DTB Cup. Though she struggled to an abysmal 8.775 on bars, I love to watch her bar swing. It's very controlled and fluid. I also like how she lands her Pak salto appropriately in handstand, as the skill should be performed. And, on top of all that, it's neat to see a Nicole Harris style to her swing. Parkettes is doing something right on bars.

She brings back Kristen Maloney's unique front sole circle from '99-2000, this time doing it on the low bar into an immediate pirouette, straight into a toe-on Maloney shoot to the high bar! Very cool! Her bar routine from the 2007 U.S. Classic:

And from this year's Nationals:

Thank you to whoever posted those videos on Youtube!

Back at the DTB Cup, Geralen qualified 3rd going into the beam finals with a 15.075. In the finals, however, she awkwardly left out a jump element in the beginning of her routine, and appeared visably flustered as she tried to pull herself back together. Nevertheless, you can see what I mean about her finger and wrist line throughout the routine. I really enjoy her carriage. For a Parkette, she's quite polished.

Her beam routine from the DTB Cup:

So, that is Geralen Stack-Eaton. I wish her all the best in the future, as I think she has what it takes to be a "bubble person" next year for Beijing. I know a lot of people count her out, but a lot can happen leading up to the Games, as we've seen in the past with Allyse Ishino from '03 to '04 � her rise to the top was meteoric.

Thus concludes my Ode to Geralen Stack-Eaton.

Peace!

~Lex

november 1

I'm here to post about something big. Few floor routines have made me want to get up and dance, and it's pretty funny when I start to. I'll admit Alicia Sacramone's current routine ignites something in my senses a bit. But what I've got for you here is something absolutely wonderful. The music is something genius. Sophisticated, classy, dignified. The choreography, almost French inspired (Pop-esque?). Her name is Hallie Mossett and she's from All Olympia Gymnastics.

I came across her floor routine on Youtube last night. Youtube rocks. Anyways, I've watched it probably four times since then, and it's got me tapping my feet and shaking my head. It's goodness. Check it out for yourself. And what an ending!

Brilliance! That's what we need on a world stage! And her leaps were great for a junior. Dang, I really like this routine. It's so much better than the filth we saw in Stuttgart.

Alright, peace,
Aleksas

october 30

Lots of new videos. I'll blog later.

october 29

I really like this gym montage. I think everyone should see it. Check out the girl who does the standing fulls into back pikes on beam! How outrageous is that? But the whole montage is great. It is cleverly done, in a subtle way, showcasing some of modern day's gymnastics' most earnest moments. Our sport truly is the "prettiest" in the whole world, as the song goes on to say. And I say aside from all the fame and glory and all the prestige and long hard hours put into the gym, the final product, the art, is what makes gymnastics stand out from among the rest. Gymnastics is art. Is is beautiful. Watch and see:

Peace,
Aleksas

october 27

Well, another update on luck number 27. I decided to put up this video of Britney Houston performing "Colors Of The Wind" from that Disney movie Pocahontas. Ahh, Pocahontas. What a show. Disney pillages the minds of youngsters around the globe and steals the hearts of little children, leading them far astray from reality and into a life of sheer vanity and make believe. Sorry. A vent. Anyways, this biotch is funnier than anything I've seen on TV as of late. Well, other than reruns from The Golden Girls. But that show is legendary. Anyways, watch this!

She also "remade" Rihanna's "Umbrella" music video. It's pretty funny, too. I love Rihanna, by the way...

So I'm getting an apartment. Good stuff. It's gonna be all decked out all *chillsplendor* and all. Word. Aww jeeze... the 1/4 black in me is so strong today. I better cool it down with... this episode of Golden Girls I am currently watching. Seriously, I am so white. It's pretty sad. I don't know why. I was born this way.

Anyway, I also wanted to share with you Terin Humphrey's floor ex routine from Athens. It's not from NBC, it's from KBS, Korean Television. The angles are different and the routine looks SO much better. Check it. It's so elegantly done.

I really miss Terin's gymnastics in the elite world. What is this Vanessa Ferrari shit!? Sure, she can do a double-double. But can she carry herself with such dignity and poise, likening herself to a ballet dancer on point shoes with a vast array of tumbling runs, all landed effortlessly? And I'm sorry. A 1 1/2 twist punch front layout in elite is NOT a tumbling pass. I really hate those foolish tumbling runs... even if they do meet the code requirements. They just seem so out of place in women's gymnastics. They are not world class. I'd rather see a clean front double twist. Case in point:

Well, I'm out. Peace.

~Aleksas

october 19

New current pic, and this site is back up. I discovered some gold in one of my old videotapes today. Here are some outstanding performances I capped from the 1997 East Asian Games:

Mo Huilan's jazzy and seldom seen Peter Gun floor routine. Check out that dance before the third pass!

Ji Liya's floor routine, which includes a perfect whip-double arabian and exciting choreography.

And finally, Zhou Duan's amazing bar set, which includes an arabian double flyaway release skill over the bar, immediately into an back uprise pirouette, Gienger, into a Pak!

Hope you liked it. Check out My Youtube Page for more routines from that competition.

Love,
Lex

september 14

New men's gymnastics montage.

- Download WMV
- Youtube Link

Love,
Aleksas

september 6

Big size montages available on sendspace:

- Cemetary Drive
- Taj Mahal

Love,
Aleksas

september 4

Made some funky images:

Love,
Lex

september 3

So I've been watching some of the 2007 Worlds prelims coverages that's been on the web, and I am absolutely in love with Jiang Yuyan's floor routine. Man, I thought I knew what beauty was until I saw it. Absolutely divine. Especially the choreography @ 55 secs. Here you go:

And Nastia's bar routine! Woo hoo!!! I still don't know what went on there � like, the results or anything � but I heard Spain was a mess and the Aussies didn't deserve their team finals placing. The Romanians didn't look as absolutely flawless as they usually do on beam, but two girls do this awesome step into front somersault that lands on leg into a scale! Dang! I love the innovation of gymnastics nowadays. You wouldda thought it'd have disappeared with a more strict judging system.

But it hasn't. :)

Love,
Aleksas

august 31

New videos of Dave Durante. He better woop ass in Germany. I am such a dreamer...

Meeting adjourned,
Aleksas

august 29 #2

More videos as promised. I've been listening to a lot of Muse lately. It's really negative music. But hey.

Love,
Aleksas

august 29

New videos from the 2002 U.S. Jr. Nationals. More to come.

Love,
Aleksas

august 28

This is the best montage I have seen in a while. I can't get the song out of my head. Not even Rihanna can possess me enough to get this rhythmic melody out of my head.

august 26

What I really like at the moment is this floor routine by Marcia Newby. Check it out, girlfriends! I'm so glad I finally found it. It's her Ponor music inspired crazy-ass diva routine � very crowd pleasing, if you are a white person who likes to watch black people dance. And, I have to say, one of the best opening poses I have ever seen.

Long-legged pride!

Love,
Lex

august 24

So, check this out. It's hilarious. I love gymnastics parodies. Before, they used to piss me off because I'd hate how they'd get gymnastics so wrong. But here, the finger flicking action seems to be just right.

Hahahahha!!! I love it!

Awww, I really love Kristen Maloney. Still capping her now... I wish she'd come back for Athens along with Mohini. That would have been stellar. Maloney improved so much at UCLA. Take anyone away from the clowns at Parkettes and see what happens? A gymnast. A balanced gymnasts sends forth from the clouds. Oh well, maybe that's too much to ask.

But back to me. Check out these new pictures.

Loves them.

Alright, and I am out.

Love,
Aleksas

august 21

New videos from various meets � mostly from the 1994 Goodwill Games. Today was a pretty bullshit day. I'm waiting for my bf to come tomorrow. I got into a fist fight last week and hurt my thumb, so I can't tumble or anything. Damn. What else is the summer for? That, and wasting time... wasting time... wasting time...

But I digress. What do I know?

Okay, so I love this new montage by GymJenny. It's to the Chemical Brothers (whom I LOOOOOOOVES) and their song "Shake Break Bounce," which is used in Courtney Kupets' famous 2006 floor ex routine.

That is that. And that was wonderful.

Love,
Aleksas

august 20

Welcome to my new page. It's new. Likes it? You gotta loves the Nastia, besides her subpar performance at Nationals this year. What's up with that? Well, I hope a minor hitch in her grand scheme of things, hopefully surmounting in a gold medal flourish at next year's Olympic Games. I watched Nationals (taped it!) and was majorly impressed with Shawn Johnson's consistency under pressure. I don't care much for Ivana Hong, but I do like her name and her floor exercise music. I miss Samantha Sheehan's chin pose, which alas never made an NBC broadcast. But I am dealing with it by taking it one day at a time.

Love,
Lexness

P.S. Here's one of the highlights of Nationals for me � Alicia Sacramone's floor routine from day 2. Go her. And I'm glad she survived her first year at college.

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