Zmeskal outdone by znumbers...Daly's a big daddy now...Bubka shatters Nurmi's record
Upset
By Shannon Miller and a Byzantine scoring system at the U.S. Olympic Gymnastics Trials in Baltimore, reigning world champion Kim Zmeskal. The preliminary selection for the women's Olympic team was made using scores from May's national championships, which would count for 30% of a competitor's qualifying score, and the trials last week (70%). The top six scorers and two gymnasts who did not compete in Baltimore because of injuries will now battle at a pre-Olympic training camp for the seven spots (including an alternate) on the team. Because Miller, who finished sixth at the worlds last year, withdrew from the nationals last month with an elbow injury, full weight was given to her marks at the trials. In the compulsories Miller beat Zmeskal for first place by .26 of a point. Zmeskal rallied during the optionals to score two 10's in the vault, but she was done in by an uncharacteristically wobbly balance-beam routine that gave her a nationals-trials total of 78.916 points to Miller's trials-only total of 79.056. But in the trials alone, Zmeskal narrowly outscored Miller. Although the world champion was upset, she wasn't particularly angry. "None of this is going to matter in a month," Zmeskal said with a shrug. "What people are going to remember is who won the Olympics, not who won the Olympic trials."
Born
Shynah Hale Daly, a six-pound girl, to golfer John Daly and his new wife, Bettye Fulford. Months before they married, Fulford filed a palimony and paternity suit against Daly, contending that he had promised to many her and support their child after she had talked him out of quitting golf. But they patched up their differences at this year's Masters and quickly tied the knot. The proud father, perhaps a little distracted by the new arrival, missed the cut at last week's St. Jude Classic in Memphis.
Entered
By University of Utah basketball coach Rick Majerus, the running for a position on the 15-member state board of education. If elected, Majerus would help oversee the annual $1.2 billion budget for elementary and secondary schools in Utah. A former high school history teacher and coach, Majerus makes a reported $400,000 a year in salary, endorsements and appearance fees. He says he would donate the annual $1,200 board stipend to his Reading Utes program or the university library.
Broken
By Ukranian pole vaulter Sergei Bubka, two world track and field records, with a vault of 20'½" in Dijon, France. In topping the 20-foot standard he established last year, Bubka outdid not only himself but also distance runner Paavo Nurmi, the Flying Finn, who set 29 world marks in the 1920s and '30s. Bubka has established 30 since '84. What's more, he set the records record on the 95th anniversary of Nurmi's birth.
PHOTO
JOHN IACONO
Miller was on the beam, even when off it.