05-29-2008, 02:15 AM
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#1 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2001
Posts: 1,478
| Women's Saber Tianjin, China
The last Grand Prix before Las Vegas is this weekend in Tianjin China for Women's Saber.
Elimination to the round of 64 is May 30.
64 through the finals is May 31 and the team competition is June first.
Hang in there girls!! There is some of the worst pollution in two years presently in Beijing, China due to a sandstorm from Mongolia. http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/new...ters&type=lgns
The Momster
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Last edited by Mo; 05-29-2008 at 02:19 AM.
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05-29-2008, 10:28 PM
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#2 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: West Coast
Posts: 2,338
| The air in Beijing last night was very...thick. It was also quite windy. I'm not sure if it was the local air, or just our bus, but the entire 3-hour ride to Tianjin, it smelled like there was an open barrel of diesel oil slopping around in the bus.
It was a pungent end to a very long travel day. The air actually looks pretty good this morning in Tianjin, though, so maybe it blew some of particles away.
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“Obedience to lawful authority is the foundation of manly character.” Robert E. Lee
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05-30-2008, 12:20 PM
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#3 | | Just Joined
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 4
| Is there a website for this tournament anywhere? | |
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05-30-2008, 01:44 PM
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#4 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 715
| Quote:
Originally Posted by Capt. Slo-mo  The air in Beijing last night was very...thick. It was also quite windy. I'm not sure if it was the local air, or just our bus, but the entire 3-hour ride to Tianjin, it smelled like there was an open barrel of diesel oil slopping around in the bus.
It was a pungent end to a very long travel day. The air actually looks pretty good this morning in Tianjin, though, so maybe it blew some of particles away. | It's not to late to do an open air training camp in LA or Houston. I wonder if Jason Rodgers is still in smog shape 
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Go to the well until the well is dry. When the well is dry find a new well.
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05-30-2008, 03:24 PM
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#6 | | Senior Member
Join Date: May 2008 Location: Kaperna
Posts: 323
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Originally Posted by notalent It's not to late to do an open air training camp in LA or Houston. I wonder if Jason Rodgers is still in smog shape | IMHO it is Rogers as in Leonard Franklin Slye "Roy" Rogers
__________________ I'm free to say whatever I
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05-30-2008, 04:00 PM
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#7 | | Have Blazer, Will Travel
Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 9,756
| Carbon footprint doesn't align precisely with respiratory difficulty, which is the important thing in athletic performance. | |
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05-31-2008, 03:44 AM
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#8 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: West Coast
Posts: 2,338
| The carbon footprint of the air today was a size 3 billion. Dense, fumy and hot.
The USA women put four in the top 16, 3 in the top 8 and 1 in the final four.
Dagmara Wozniak gets the touch of the day in the 32 against the Russian Sophia Velikaia. Down 12-14, Dagmara ties it at 14-all. On the next action Dagmara leaps in the air to try her patented jumping 2-parry. She misses, but still in the air, cuts backhand at Velikaia. She misses, but STILL in the air, cuts the last leg of the "Z" and hits for a one lighter against the stunned Russian.
Sada Jacoboson and Becca Ward make the eight, but Sada falls to Nakayama of Japan, and Becca drops a heartbreaker to Bao of China. Down 11-13 and 13-14, Becca rallies to 14-all, then locks overhead blades with Bao. They both get a light after wrestling, and more than five minutes of review time ensures. Eventually Bao gets the parry-riposte call.
Mariel Zagunis prevails of Netchaeva of Russia to advance. She'll meet Bao in the semis, while Nakayama faces off against home town hero Tan Xue in the other semi.
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“Obedience to lawful authority is the foundation of manly character.” Robert E. Lee
Last edited by Capt. Slo-mo; 05-31-2008 at 05:45 AM.
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05-31-2008, 05:53 AM
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#9 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: West Coast
Posts: 2,338
| And in the final:
Best action of the night: a 30-piece drum and bugle corp of 10 year olds in blindingly bright red and white striped outfits opens the show with a spiffy march.
Then, the fencing.
Mariel faces off first against Bao. Mariel has an 8-6 lead at the break, but can't hold it once Bao picks up the pace in the second half. Mariel takes 3rd 10-15.
In the other semi, Japan's Nakayama has China's Tan Xue on the ropes, leading by as much as three late in the match. Nakayama, clearly the more animated fencer, then gets conservative down the stretch and quits attacking. Tan comes roaring back to take a three point victory.
The all-China final between Bao and Tan quiets the local crowd. An oddly listless Tan surrenders meekly to Bao, who hooks her first Grand Prix win.
The all important team competition starts in the morning...with Poland the likely second round bout for the 2nd ranked US squad.
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“Obedience to lawful authority is the foundation of manly character.” Robert E. Lee
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05-31-2008, 10:37 AM
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#10 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 988
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05-31-2008, 01:44 PM
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#11 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: I have no home
Posts: 1,844
| Quote:
Originally Posted by Capt. Slo-mo And in the final:
Best action of the night: a 30-piece drum and bugle corp of 10 year olds in blindingly bright red and white striped outfits opens the show with a spiffy march.
Then, the fencing.
Mariel faces off first against Bao. Mariel has an 8-6 lead at the break, but can't hold it once Bao picks up the pace in the second half. Mariel takes 3rd 10-15.
In the other semi, Japan's Nakayama has China's Tan Xue on the ropes, leading by as much as three late in the match. Nakayama, clearly the more animated fencer, then gets conservative down the stretch and quits attacking. Tan comes roaring back to take a three point victory.
The all-China final between Bao and Tan quiets the local crowd. An oddly listless Tan surrenders meekly to Bao, who hooks her first Grand Prix win.
The all important team competition starts in the morning...with Poland the likely second round bout for the 2nd ranked US squad. |
Wow...I remember when the girls from the Japanese team were in ATL for the Nellya camp and Seira was easily the weakest of their 4. That's a great result for her, it's good to see that she's stepping it up so close to the games.
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I now dangle to the left....my tassle. Get your minds out of the gutter.
"Martin was not an optimist; he was a prisoner of hope." Optimism is about assuming there's evidence that justifies your outlook while hope is about creating the evidence and procuring your own happiness or vision of the world. - Professor West
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05-31-2008, 02:05 PM
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#12 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,151
| What scares the hell out of Fatfencer
I remember the Seoul Games. Do you wonder just how much bias there will be in THESE games?
I remember one Korean gettting beat pretty badly in boxing and still winning.
Juan Moreno in TKD lost a bout through what the world called a case of bad referree-ing. I mean it was really horse****.
There were several more cases of obvious referee bias. What is being done, if anything to protect our medal contenders from being hornswaggled?
No Chinese refs!!!!!
Fatfencer | |
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05-31-2008, 03:16 PM
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#13 | | Senior Member
Join Date: May 2008 Location: Kaperna
Posts: 323
| My apprehension has always been that Chinese will peak in August, let's hope that this is not a forbearing of such.
As always thank you so much for such an absorbing commentary.
__________________ I'm free to say whatever I
Whatever I like
If it's wrong or right it's alright oasis - whatever
Last edited by Mr.MightyMouse; 05-31-2008 at 03:47 PM.
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05-31-2008, 08:25 PM
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#14 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: West Coast
Posts: 2,338
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Originally Posted by fatfencer What is being done, if anything to protect our medal contenders from being hornswaggled? | Why, simply the presence of our Quad Captain, the Honorable Jeffrey Bukantz.
He is tasked to do nothing else but stride the piste, ensuring that fair play is granted to all.
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“Obedience to lawful authority is the foundation of manly character.” Robert E. Lee
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06-01-2008, 04:00 AM
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#15 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: West Coast
Posts: 2,338
| And, in the team event:
The day starts with a bang for the Italian squad, who knock off the #1 French WS team. They lead by as much as 12 before some drama at the end, but prevail handily. The #4 Ukrainian team also drops out in the first round.
#2 USA has a hard but winnable bout against Poland in the 8, leading from the first bout all the way to the end. The US squad goes up by as much as 7, and sees the lead shrink to as little as two, but finishes with a 45-40 win.
Next come the #3 ranked Russians in the semis. Netchaeva puts the US in an early hole with a 5-2 win over Sada Jacobson. Becca Ward faces off against the new member of the Russian team, Ekaterina Diatchenko. Becca evens the score at 7,then rips off three straight one lighters with a combination of stop cuts and attacks in prep. Mariel Zagunis then comes up against Sophia Velikaia. They battle to 13 all, with Velikaia seeming to pull off a series of lunges just a bit deeper than Mariel is expecting. On the next point, Mariel challenges a simultaneous call, and gets a point. One gutsy parry at the end line from Mariel, and it's 15-13 USA.
Sada gives Diatechenko another rough introduction to the team event, and the US lead is up to 6, 20-14. Mariel and Netchaeva duel to a 5-5 tie, 25-19.
Becca steps in against Velikaia, and uses the whole strip to her advantage, making the Russian chase her through a series of exchanges. 30-20 and the US is cruising. Mariel comes in for her last bout and gets the lead as high as 12 before settling for maintaining the 10 point lead, 35-25.
8th bout. Sada and Velikaia trade a point, then the bottom falls out for the US squad. Suddenly, Sada can't buy a point. Velikaia begins using that long lunge, coupled with a series of quick attacks, and Sada is caught off guard repeatedly for one light scores. Before the carnage is over, 11 points have vanished from the US tally.
Now trailing 39-40, Becca confronts the Russian veteran Netchaeva. Becca scores first to knot it at 40-all. Netchaeva counters with an overhead wrestling match for a one-lighter. On the next advance, Becca catches Netchaeva in stutter step on the approach, and gets the call for an "initial attack no, counter arrives." It's 41-all. The next two actions are carbon copies, but this time, the ref sees no undue hesitation in Netchaeva's advance. The US is down 43-41. Becca misses a skyhook at the end of the strip and it's now match point. On the next action, Becca gathers in the Russian's blade at a full sprint backwards, and spears the advancing Netchaeva. 42-44. A parry-riposte off the on guard line tightens it to 43-44.
The final action seals it for the Russians. Going back the length of the strip looking for Netchaeva's blade, Becca retreats a step too far. The bout ends 45-43 for Russian, who will face China in the final.
For the bout, Becca finishes 17-8 (+9), Mariel is 15-16 (-1) and Sada is 11-21 (-10)
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“Obedience to lawful authority is the foundation of manly character.” Robert E. Lee
Last edited by Capt. Slo-mo; 06-01-2008 at 07:09 AM.
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06-01-2008, 07:34 AM
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#16 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: West Coast
Posts: 2,338
| In the bronze medal match, the US gets a chance for payback against the Italian squad that surprised them at last year's World Championships in the round of 8.
Becca opens against Gioia Marzocca, who has been missing much of the season with a nagging foot injury. Marzocca goes up 5-4, but injures her hand during a clanging riposte by the American. She is subbed out for Loretta Gulotta.
Mariel faces Ilaria Bianco next, and also falls 5-4. The US trails by 2. Alternate Dagmara Wozniak begins the match in place of Sada, and ties up Vecchio 14-all before losing the last touch. Mariel greets Gulotta with a 6-4 streak to bring the US the first lead of the bout. Becca and Vecchi tie it at 20, then the US goes on a 4-1 tear to lead 25-21.
Sada bops Bianco 5-2, and the Americans are up by 7. Mariel begins rushing a bit aginst Vecchi, and gets caught short repeatedly. Vecchi closes the Italian squad to 30-33, until Mariel finds a quick parry and a long swiping attack to end the bout with the US up 35-30.
Sada comes in for her last bout of the day. She loses the first two points, and the Russian bout can't help but be on her mind. She recovers to go up 36-34, but the plucky Gulotta closes to 36-37 and a single digit lead for the US. The veteran US fencer then pulls the move of the day on the hard-charging Italian. Three times, the two exchange a pair of attacks, with the defender leaping back each time to cause the action to fall short. Then, on the fourth exchange, Sada shows Gulotta the exact same preparation for the leap back, but this time bounces forward off her rear foot and catches Gulotta coming in with a high arm in preparation. It's a beautiful veteran move to make it 38-36 USA. Gulotta will not score again, and Becca inherits a 40-36 lead.
She drops the first two points to Bianco, then strings off 5 straight touches to seal the bronze medal 45-38.
For the bout, Becca is 14-9 (+5) Sada is 10-8 (+2) Dagmara is 6-5 (+1) and Mariel is 15-16 (-1)
After the bout, Bianco is chosen for drug testing. She enters the room, but asks for a delay. Does she need water? A monitor? No, the Italian anchor asks to go outside for a cigarette before performing her drug test.
You gotta love the Italians....
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“Obedience to lawful authority is the foundation of manly character.” Robert E. Lee
Last edited by Capt. Slo-mo; 06-02-2008 at 08:12 PM.
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06-01-2008, 07:56 AM
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#17 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Boston, MA
Posts: 4,269
| I need to spread some rep around, but these descriptions are pretty awsome. Thanks a ton! | |
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06-01-2008, 08:54 AM
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#18 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Amarillo, TX
Posts: 103
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Originally Posted by telkanuru I need to spread some rep around, but these descriptions are pretty awsome. Thanks a ton! | Yes, awesome commentary! Thanks a bunch!
Rep for you!! | |
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06-01-2008, 01:41 PM
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#19 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: near Boston
Posts: 3,034
| Have to ask, can you remember it all or do you make notes or do you work from a scoresheet?
I have been fortunate enough to go to 2 Vets Worlds gold matches. I certainly could not have related as much of the details afterwards. Although I will never forget a semifinal 9-9 touch and a Gold 9-9 touch.
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06-01-2008, 02:15 PM
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#20 | | Have Blazer, Will Travel
Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 9,756
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Originally Posted by description of Semi-Final vs Russia Becca retreats a step too far. | Am I correct to read this as she went off the back of the strip? Those always feel rough.
Great descriptions. | |
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