Paul Hamm - Give it to Korea?

[Maleficent13]

My apologies if this was already a thread...I haven't been able to DIS since last Friday. Now, my question isn't should he have to give up the gold, but should he give it up of his own accord?

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5790612/

eta: FYI, I'm not asking if he should be allowed to keep it. I am asking if he, as a personal decision, should make the gesture to Korea, or not. Just clarifying! Thanks!

 

[decker96]

He should keep it. How is it his fault that the judges did not score the other guys routine correctly? I read an article last night on MSNBC about this and it said that there was a deduction that the judges didn't take off the South Korean's routine. Even if they had given him the right start value, with that deduction, Hamm still would have won. I agree with the article I read that once the routine has been scored, it's over. It's unfortunate, but stuff like that happens. Think of how many missed calls and misktaken calls are made every day in other sports, baseball, basketball, etc.
If there had been any impropriety like in the winter olympics where that judge was bribed or threatened or whatever so the Russians could win instead of the Canadians, that would be a different story, but this was simple human error. If they want to award another gold to the South Korean gymnast, fine, but you can't take away Hamm's gold and he shouldn't give it up. And yes, I would be saying this even if the situation was reversed and an American hadn't won the gold.

 

[gometros]

He shouldn't give it back, but he should be willing to share it. Why should the South Korean gymnast be faulted for a judges error? Anyone remember what happned when the shoes was on the other foot?

In Salt Lake City, a Canadian couple was awarded a share of the figure skating gold won by the Russian pair. This decision was made by the International Olympic Committee on the recommendation of the International Skating Union, and enforced before an investigation of judge Marie-Reine Le Gougne's conduct was complete.

The IOC needs to step in for the South Korean like it stepped in for Jamie Sale and David Pelletier in Salt Lake, and like it stepped in for Canada's Sylvie Frechette in 1993, one year after she was denied the gold in synchronized swimming because a judge mistyped an 8.7 score into her computer when she meant to give Frechette a 9.7.

American Kristen Babb-Sprague was allowed to keep her gold then, just as Paul Hamm should be allowed to keep his gold now.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

I had already read the article the OP posted.

Last night I was thinking, WOW what a classy thing it would have been for Paul Hamm to present to the South Korean his gold medal (you know he STILL would have ended up with a gold medal). Instead he sounds a bit like a spoiled brat.

I wonder how he, and other Americans, would feel if the shoe was on the other foot.

Share the Gold, and Paul, you need to suggest it yourself, and get the USOC to agree.

 

[Kallison]

No WAY -- it's just like a football or baseball game. Sometimes you have bad calls tough luck. I've heard that Hamm and his coach are looking at the tape and have found certain deductions that should have been taken for the South Korean and were not. This was not a case of cheating or being in cahoots, it was human error. I'm sure errors have been made in the South Koreans favor also, that is life.

 

[disykat]

Paul Hamm would be stupid and egotistical if he gave away his medal. It is not HIS decision to make - taking that decision upon himself would be the ultimate in arogance. He should sit back and accept whatever the powers to be decide.

 

[manchurianbrownbear]

I know there are different ways to look at this situation, but I think it would be like if, a day after the Super Bowl, the losing team files a protest based on an unquestionable official's error that resulted in the winning touchdown for their opponent. The losing team absolutely has the right to ask for a review at the time the error was made, but not after the competition has ended!

 

[disney4us2002]

In this poll I voted Keep It but I think it is just a sad turn of events all the way around. If Hamm keeps it, people like someone noted above will think he didn't really deserve it and should offer it up. It's sad for South Korea who probably would've taken gold and puts a black mark on Hamm's performance as well. I don't think there is a win-win situation here. Perhaps the best thing would be for the IOC to award a second gold to the South Korean.

 

[Maleficent13]

Originally posted by disykat
Paul Hamm would be stupid and egotistical if he gave away his medal. It is not HIS decision to make - taking that decision upon himself would be the ultimate in arogance. He should sit back and accept whatever the powers to be decide.

Could you please explain this a bit further? I'm confused about how offering to give his medal to someone makes him stupid and egotistical. Arrogant how?

 

[palmtreegirl]

No, it's not his fault that the Koreans didn't follow the standard protocal for reporting disputes of a starting score. Other countries followed the protocal that night with no problems, they made a mistake and they neeed to own up to it, not try and blame everyone else.

 

[workinggal]

How about a face off? Those two against each other for the medal? Winner gets gold, loser gets silver.

 

[Rajah]

There's a big difference between sharing it and keeping it.

Paul earned that gold. Maybe it was because of a scoring error, but that kind of thing happens. He should be allowed to keep it.

At the same time, if the IOC comes back and wants to award the Korean a second gold, that I think would be the right thing to do.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

The South Koreans said they tried to file a protest then, I am not sure what the real story is.

AGAIN, how would you all feel if this had happened to an American?

I believe the IOC WANTS to award another gold but the USOC is trying to block it.

 

[theSurlyMermaid]

It might be a very nice gesture for Paul Hamm to give up the gold medal. It's up to him...if I were him, I would. It would certainly reflect very well on him and America and take back the spotlight that has now been shifted to the South Korean gymnast.

HOWEVER. I KNEW what was going to happen after the Sale and Pellitier decision....absolutely everyone is protesting scoring now. You have S. Korea now, obviously. The Bulgarians are now filing a protest to the gold medal won by the Greek athlete on still rings last night (why else? scoring). Everyone is complaining about judging favoritism to the Americans in gymnastics (though I don't exactly know why....it's not like the U.S has the grand gymnastics tradition of Russia or Romania), and now the Americans are saying the S. Koreans and Russians (in the case of Khorkina) were overscored as well. It's a ugly mess and thanks to the Sale/Pellitier precedent it's only going to get worse.


eta: If Paul Hamm were to give up his gold medal, I wonder how many South Koreans would call on the silver medalist to give up his silver medal to Hamm....after all, he didn't earn that silver either. My guess is none.

 

[palmtreegirl]

Originally posted by Miss Jasmine
The South Koreans said they tried to file a protest then, I am not sure what the real story is.

AGAIN, how would you all feel if this had happened to an American?

I'd feel bad that it happened but I think the rules are there for a reason and should be inforced. If this happened to us I wouldn't expect another athlete to give up his medal because we made a mistake and didn't follow standard protocal. No competition is perfect and if anyone is allowed to successfully protest a result after the event is finished it could open up a HUGE can of worms, people could protest things days, weeks or even years later, where would it stop? They new the rules and didn't catch the mistake in time, it's a huge bummer and a lesson learned but as I said before the protocal is there for a reason and should be followed by all.

 

[disykat]

Originally posted by Maleficent13
Could you please explain this a bit further? I'm confused about how offering to give his medal to someone makes him stupid and egotistical. Arrogant how?

It is not his decision to make. Assuming it was his decision to make would be arrogant - assuming he has power that he doesn't have. IMO winning a contest doesn't give you authority over the rules of the contest and the ability to manipulate changes.

It would be stupid to give away a gold medal, yet still be on record as the gold medal winner. Sure, he can do anything he wants with the actual medal - but HE can't change who the winner is.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

Okay, I was wrong, the USOC is trying to work something out (the IOC would have to approve).
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5784651/

Funny enough, in that article it says the IOC does not intervene in ranking issues.

 

[Maleficent13]

True; his giving the medal away won't change the winner of record, but it might show other nations that we as a society aren't just out for money and glory at the expense of everyone else.

I'm not saying he should give it up. I really don't know how I feel. I do think, however, that he wouldn't be losing anything to offer it...in fact, I think he'd be gaining alot.

 

[CookieGVB]

If Paul Hamm gave up his gold medal, what would happen to the bronze medalist?

Sharing it for a mistake that wasn't his fault is one thing, giving it up is quite another.

 

[snoopy]

I think he should share it, but not give it up. Why on earth should he give it up? He won it fair and square, according to the judges on that night. They are already bending the rules to allow this protest to come in after the fact when it was supposed to have happened before they moved to the next aparatus. And I'm o.k. with that. But to suggest he should give up the Gold medal that he was already awarded, nope, don't agree with that.