News just in is that Biles and Iordache have both withdrawn. Gutted.
Scam having a weak international field is nothing new, indeed I’ve often said it functions best when it’s a US intrasquad and nobody tries to dress it up as anything else. 2008 boasted a really unimpressive non-US lineup, and yet it was one of the more interesting competitions of recent years. And that’s fine.
Plus, you can’t blame Iordache for not coming after she got so thoroughly hosed in 2012. Maybe she thought it wasn’t worth whatever the prize money for third place is: one assumes she wasn’t labouring under the delusion that she would be allowed to come any higher.
But it’s pretty disappointing that we won’t be seeing any of the Americans who recently dominated worlds. We’re not greedy, it didn’t have to be all three. One would have been good though. I don’t mind Price, she has a great Amanar and swings some nice bars so why not? And Dowell’s improvised bars sets are always interesting- there’s the potential for a totally barnstorming set in there, if only she was coached by someone more sensible than Al Fong. Incidentally, am I the only one who’s shocked to see her get anywhere near an assignment again after Al’s post worlds strop? The obvious conclusion to draw is that the US don’t really have anyone worth seeing in the AA at the moment.
So really, I can’t help feeling a bit underwhelmed. It seems a bit like the main entertainment is going to consist of watching Ferlito and Price interact, and perhaps taking bets on whether she says anything racist after she gets her arse handed to her by yet another black girl.
Let’s hope I’m wrong.
By Clara
STOI! 
February 28th, 2014 at 11:20 am
Ebee’s swing on bars is excellent, can’t fault her there. Unfortunately for her, Donna seems to be having greater input into her work.
C
February 27th, 2014 at 10:18 am
The only thing I am looking forward to from this scam will be reading your post-mortem of Brenna Dowell’s floor routine.
February 27th, 2014 at 9:06 pm
Or Ebees leaps on beam. I like Ebee but her beam is just …. I can only watch Ebee on bars where she actually moves pretty fluid. It never looks labored.
February 27th, 2014 at 9:15 am
Hehe. But actually, Scam occasionally holds up the visiting athletes too. In 2011, Aliya got some ludicrous scores. The only remotely realistic number put up for either of the top two was her bars. Everything else was ridiculous, I felt for the rest of the field. But you know, its Scam. Everyone knows the deal by now. The scores and placements aren’t really the point, and both competitors and viewers know what they’re signing up to.
C
February 27th, 2014 at 6:41 am
I’d rather watch the American cup then some European meet were lord ache gets completely overscored or a Russian girl getting inflated scores. See it doesn’t just happen in the usa
February 27th, 2014 at 2:51 am
So are Aly Raisman, Gabby Douglas and Sarah Finnegan really back in training?
Will they be competing anytime soon?
February 26th, 2014 at 7:17 pm
I think this a good test for Brenna to see if she can handle the pressure. If she chokes Marta might not be very forgiving.