WAG Gabby Douglas and Chow split again

[gymdog]

I guess I just can't help thinking of John Orozco, who has never had a single negative word to say about World Cup, and indeed still seems to have a good relationship with them.

Indeed, they appear to be on great terms, but that is a very different situation. USOTC isn't exactly another private gym.

 

[Deleted member D3987]

COULDN'T or WOULDN'T?

wouldn't...had plenty of money after the Olympics to do so. still hasn't been paid.

 

[Deleted member D3987]

That still doesn't make sense. It would not hurt Chows for them to collect money that is owed, nor would it show bad will toward the Olympics or gymnastics. I understand what you are saying that sometimes it is a business decision, just trying to figure out why it would be better for their business not to try to collect. Exactly HOW would it hurt their business?

it has to do with timing. timing was poor at both gyms. i know, it's hard to understand why and how this all works if your not in gymnastics. as i've said, it's dysfunctional.

 

[Deleted member D3987]

Most "mysteries" in business can be solved by following the money trail and understanding when incentives are aligned and what happens when they get out of alignment between business and customer. we are missing the filling in the pie here.

the filling is her mother...

 

[Deleted member D3987]

Indeed, they appear to be on great terms, but that is a very different situation. USOTC isn't exactly another private gym.

absolutely. he left no debts at home. the USOTC is like being on scholarship at Uni.

 

[Deleted member D3987]

OK I will just say it, though I probably should not since it is pure speculation on my part. is it a situation where legally they cannot collect, but morally it might be the right thing to do to pay? Or is it a PR situation where it's better for the gym to not have the whole story come out?

How long did she get carried while the rest of us with less talented kids would have been out on our behinds??

that's a part of it. like i said, timing. the mother sucked everyone in.

 

[happychaos]

That still doesn't make sense. It would not hurt Chows for them to collect money that is owed, nor would it show bad will toward the Olympics or gymnastics. I understand what you are saying that sometimes it is a business decision, just trying to figure out why it would be better for their business not to try to collect. Exactly HOW would it hurt their business?

First, I think Chow is taking the highroad. Gabby is morally and legally in the wrong, and there is no disputing that. Why would Chow want to invest the effort and money needed to collect? It's just not worth it. And then the PR issues....Chow sues the poor, minority young girl and her single mother....it's just a no-win for him.

As to your other comment about athletes seeking to cash in, I have no problem with a few endorsements, and if she were my daughter, I would probably encourage her to do some as well. What gets most people irritated is the bad-mouthing and the unpaid bills.

I LOVE that gymnastics is a sport that is relatively unadulterated by the "show me the money" attitude that many sports have. I can't think I've ever heard a little gymnast talk about how her goal was to get rich and drive an Escalade, and have a mansion. Even 7 and 8 year-olds on the basketball court and football field carry on about how rich they're going to be when they play for the Lakers or the Vikings. I love that gymnastics is NOT about the money. Gymnasts, coaches, and parents are all involved because of a love for the sport, not a desire to get rich. There is sense that Olympians should give back to the sport, and be good examples, good leaders, and good ambassadors. Gabby has shown no desire to do any of those things.

 

[mpkbt]

My issue with her is that SHE (not her mother) threw her teammates under the bus. Whether or not a stupid racist comment was made can not be proven on either side. She said that the other girls at Excalibur were mean and racist on NATIONAL TV...when would they ever get to tell their side of the story. They are just kids and now labeled as racist. They can't even say where they trained or be proud of their gym because now people will think they are racist. I know some of those girls and I seriously doubt that they made racist remarks. I know the coaches at Excalibur and they are NOT racist. Gustavo is a hard working, talented coach and his wife is sweetheart. However if they tried to say anything at all they were picking on poor Gabby but she could say anything she wanted and everyone believed it. Imagine how hurt those teammates were after supporting her during her time there and after she left to find out they were racist and she felt bullied by them. After watching her behavior during the Olympics, I am more inclined to believe SHE did not want to belong in the group and set herself apart from the team. Watch her demeanor during the games...she is always away from the rest of the team.

Whew....I have been holding that in for a couple of years...

 

[kecks]

this is a kid. a kid who did something really great and then perhaps made mistakes, i don't know. obviously the family is a big part of all this mess. just leave her alone. you would want your daughter talked about like this (no matter what she did or didn't do)? be gracious. the girl did not commit a crime.

 

[Gymkateer]

I don't like the publicity stunt of "oh I'm training for Rio" . . .what person in their right mind thinks that a gymnast who takes multiple years off and is older and more injured could possibly compete with the fresh, new gymnasts coming up who have NEVER taken a day off???

Well, this has happened before so you don't really have to be crazy to think it can happen again.

 

[Gymkateer]

???

Stay healthy.

 

[thepenguin]

Well, this has happened before so you don't really have to be crazy to think it can happen again.

Yeah, but the difficulty keeps rising and the US talent pool is so deep. The last time it happened was with Memmel in 2008. She was an alternate in 2004 though.

 

[Terry]

I love that gymnastics is NOT about the money. Gymnasts, coaches, and parents are all involved because of a love for the sport, not a desire to get rich. There is sense that Olympians should give back to the sport, and be good examples, good leaders, and good ambassadors. Gabby has shown no desire to do any of those things.

I believe you have hit on the heart of the matter -- the love so many of us have for this sport and the fact that there are so many girls who have risen to the top and become true role models. You do not have to look far to find them. Aly, Kyla, Jordyn. Of the current girls, Simone -- who is clearly a uniquely outstanding gymnast, a powerhouse, good enough to be a vault or floor specialist, but a very solid AAer -- behaves in a way that just makes us proud. She is unfailingly sweet, kind and a true team player -- I recall the interview she had after I think it was nationals in 2013 (maybe classics) and they asked her how she felt and if she was proud and she said something like "look, at this level we are all really good gymnasts. I'm just glad all the girls did so well." And Simone had a tough tough family situation. We never hear about that though.
While there is some money to be made (not a huge amount but some) for those very few girls who make it to the Olympic team, it is true that generally that is not the motivating factor, if only because it is so unlikely it will happen to any one girl. What is valued in this sport is love of gymnastics, dedication, hard work, a good work ethic, and good behavior and a desire to give back. Violation of those values is unusual and it hurt to watch it happen. So many of us are having strong reactions. We are reacting for love of the sport and love of the vast majority of gymnasts.

 

[Seeker]

Yeah, but the difficulty keeps rising and the US talent pool is so deep. The last time it happened was with Memmel in 2008. She was an alternate in 2004 though.

Chellsie didn't take time off to go to relax and go to Hollywood though...sure, she may have needed some time off, but she also had a major shoulder injury that required surgery and I believe something foot/ankle related shortly after her return. To my knowledge, Gabby was not injured during her off-time and kept in a reasonable level of shape during it (working out at Waller's gym in LA).

If she committed herself to the comeback and worked consistently hard in the run-up to Rio, Gabby would have as good a chance as anyone at getting there. I don't think that she had hit her peak in 2012, so in the right circumstances (all drama aside), she could be a real contender with some new skills (a sneak peak of those were shown in the USAG video from Chow's gym).

But these are far from the 'right' circumstances at this point....so who knows.

 

[Deleted member D3987]

 

[flippin out]

Endless bad behavior , towards virtually everyone. Some of it can be attributed to her mother -- the unpaid bills for example. But Gabby is at least in part responsible for much of it, like the accusations about Excalibur. And Gabby is solely responsible for some of it -- ex -- the shabby treatment of Chow in Round One (allowing him to find out she was leaving his gym via the grapevine and only saying a hasty "goodbye" the last day when Chow wasn't even there), the recent catty remark about Jordyn.

The lack of especially good behavior -- I cannot think of one moment in the 2012 Olympics when gabby stands out as offering support to her teammates. She accepts it from others, but does not seem to ever offer it.

The bad behavior is consistent. It goes to character. Her decision not to do anything of any substance after the Olympics (no real training, no continued education) and to simply ride the fame train and play "celebrity" rubbed many people the wrong way, but ultimately gets chalked up (pun intended) to bad judgment and failure to understand that the money train stops running pretty quickly in this sport. But mostly it is the bad behavior towards others -- I do not think there is a bridge that girl has not burned at this point -- that has led to the criticism.

I have only had one personal experience with Gabby, and I found her rude and full of herself. She was at the same event as my daughter and myself and happened to be sitting in the same aisle for a period of time. When Gabby wanted to exit the aisle she quite literally climbed across my dd to do so.....no "excuse me", "pardon me"....nothing! When my dd looked up and said "hi Gabby" Gabby looked directly at her, and did not even respond! I get that you can be in a hurry to escape......but geesh! a polite 'excuse me' or even ANY acknowledgement of the kid saying hi to you as you literally climb over top of her would've been appreciated! RUDE! That's what I think of her. After that, Gabby went to a box seat (could see her). I just think she was very full of herself. I mean really, who does she think pays for her books, leos designs, posters.....etc. Well I can tell you NOT my kid! She was totally unimpressed! Since then, she has refused to purchase any leotard with Gabby's name attached to it, or any other product for that matter. Hope that GK drops her soon, as it limits which leotards my kid will wear lol

 

[flippin out]

I believe you have hit on the heart of the matter -- the love so many of us have for this sport and the fact that there are so many girls who have risen to the top and become true role models. You do not have to look far to find them. Aly, Kyla, Jordyn. Of the current girls, Simone -- who is clearly a uniquely outstanding gymnast, a powerhouse, good enough to be a vault or floor specialist, but a very solid AAer -- behaves in a way that just makes us proud. She is unfailingly sweet, kind and a true team player -- I recall the interview she had after I think it was nationals in 2013 (maybe classics) and they asked her how she felt and if she was proud and she said something like "look, at this level we are all really good gymnasts. I'm just glad all the girls did so well." And Simone had a tough tough family situation. We never hear about that though.
While there is some money to be made (not a huge amount but some) for those very few girls who make it to the Olympic team, it is true that generally that is not the motivating factor, if only because it is so unlikely it will happen to any one girl. What is valued in this sport is love of gymnastics, dedication, hard work, a good work ethic, and good behavior and a desire to give back. Violation of those values is unusual and it hurt to watch it happen. So many of us are having strong reactions. We are reacting for love of the sport and love of the vast majority of gymnasts.

LOVE Simone! Such a sweetheart! She always has time for her fans....even when she's in a hurry

 

[Deleted member D3987]

i know her (Gabby). she is overtly socially awkward. that might explain. not excusing.

i know Simone also. very humble and she loves the athletes around her and being with them.

 

[flippin out]

i know her (Gabby). she is overtly socially awkward. that might explain. not excusing.

i know Simone also. very humble and she loves the athletes around her and being with them.

I get that she may be socially awkward.....but she should still have enough manners to say "Excuse me"....I mean really, it takes no social skills for that. It's not like a conversation, it's just good manners....which I find her lacking in. Sorry, but don't find that a good enough explanation for her bad manners. --btw, this was a year after the O, so plenty of time for some PR guy to teach her rudimentary manners.

 

[Deleted member D3987]

as i said, no excusing.