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Post by klazk on Jul 15, 2015 17:00:05 GMT -5
I can't imagine USAV NOT finding a way to let a healthy-by-Rio Kerri play. She's just too famous. I remember Michelle Kwon getting a special injury dispensation. Maybe award 1 slot via FIVB points and give out the 2nd based on an as-late-as-possible qualifier tournament (plus they could televise that). Someone will make something happen - and if it's controversial - great for ratings!!!!! They could do this. But the irony is that in 2012 when trials were brought up, supposedly a number of high profile players (including Walsh) lobbied very hard against them. This is all hearsay from me, but I believe GLM can confirm. The other issue is that an athlete has to have participated in 12 FIVB events during the qualification period (even to get awarded a spot by their federation). At this point not sure that will happen. In my mind this is horrible for Walsh, but even worse for Ross. She could dump Walsh and likely qualify with a lot of other players. But chances of a medal obviously drop. But if she holds out and waits for Walsh she could end up missing out on Rio completely.
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Post by klazk on Jul 15, 2015 17:02:37 GMT -5
Anway, klazk, Isn't the Kerri-April team STILL playing (READ: April plays and gets 1/2 points toward their eventual partnership as Kerri rests?). I would assume if April does well this year, with 1/2 the points going toward the Kerri-April partnership, all might be good No. A team has to participate in at least 12 events together during the qualifying period to be eligible to earn a spot through the Olympic Rankings.
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Post by FOBRA on Jul 15, 2015 17:30:18 GMT -5
Can Kerri enter and withdraw for a couple of tournaments this year to tack on to her number?
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Post by haze on Jul 15, 2015 17:51:59 GMT -5
Does USAV keep some kind of ranking for the Olympics for the teams so that we can see where everyone stands throughout the qualification process, or is there a place somewhere that would have them?
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Post by johnbar on Jul 15, 2015 18:15:16 GMT -5
I'm afraid I am still confused, too. Suppose an American team "A" (Jane Doe and Jill Schmoe) participated in 12 FIVB Olympic qualifying events and earn (say) a #10 world ranking. They earn the USA a slot in the Olympics. Can USOC/USAV award that slot to American team "B" (Jackie Coe and Janet Moe), even though team "B" only appeared in (say) six FIVB events?
Or are there minimum requirements for the players who will actually represent the USA in the Olympics?
Of course, even with my scenario above, we would still need a stable pair to play 12 events and earn that ranking.
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Post by geddyleeridesagain on Jul 15, 2015 23:22:01 GMT -5
I can't imagine USAV NOT finding a way to let a healthy-by-Rio Kerri play. She's just too famous. I remember Michelle Kwon getting a special injury dispensation. Maybe award 1 slot via FIVB points and give out the 2nd based on an as-late-as-possible qualifier tournament (plus they could televise that). Someone will make something happen - and if it's controversial - great for ratings!!!!! They could do this. But the irony is that in 2012 when trials were brought up, supposedly a number of high profile players (including Walsh) lobbied very hard against them. This is all hearsay from me, but I believe GLM can confirm. The other issue is that an athlete has to have participated in 12 FIVB events during the qualification period (even to get awarded a spot by their federation). At this point not sure that will happen. In my mind this is horrible for Walsh, but even worse for Ross. She could dump Walsh and likely qualify with a lot of other players. But chances of a medal obviously drop. But if she holds out and waits for Walsh she could end up missing out on Rio completely. Yeah, Kerri and Todd were the vanguard of the "No Trials" group. I don't know if I see any way USAV/USOC holds out a spot for Kerri if she's unable to play until 2016. And April is between a rock and a hard place right now - but if Kerri is sidelined for the rest of the season, I don't see April having much other choice than going full time with Kessy (assuming Jen is ready and willing) - they'd be pretty much a lock as USA #1 and have at least a fighting chance for the Olympic podium. If April waits too long, she's pretty much screwed.
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Post by johnbar on Jul 16, 2015 0:44:47 GMT -5
Yeah, that is a tough spot for Ross. Given the arithmetic of qualifying, and the deadlines for registration, she may have to make a decision pretty soon, right?
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Post by haze on Jul 16, 2015 14:33:27 GMT -5
I don't see any way how or why USAV would boot an earned team out of Rio to give to Walsh. That just isn't how USA, our entire Olympic committee, or our country culture works.
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Post by guest2 on Jul 16, 2015 14:36:52 GMT -5
I don't see any way how or why USAV would boot an earned team out of Rio to give to Walsh. That just isn't how USA, our entire Olympic committee, or our country culture works. To have a chance at winning? Our country's culture wouldnt subvert an unfair qualification process in order to have the best team go to Rio and try to win a medal for us.
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Post by haze on Jul 16, 2015 14:45:36 GMT -5
I don't see any way how or why USAV would boot an earned team out of Rio to give to Walsh. That just isn't how USA, our entire Olympic committee, or our country culture works. To have a chance at winning? Our country's culture wouldnt subvert an unfair qualification process in order to have the best team go to Rio and try to win a medal for us. I highly doubt that. I can't think of one time that has ever happened. When Michelle Kwan was given her medical excemption the figure skating cmmittee made that clear during their US trials.
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Post by guest2 on Jul 16, 2015 14:52:16 GMT -5
To have a chance at winning? Our country's culture wouldnt subvert an unfair qualification process in order to have the best team go to Rio and try to win a medal for us. I highly doubt that. I can't think of one time that has ever happened. When Michelle Kwan was given her medical excemption the figure skating cmmittee made that clear during their US trials. So if the selection committee made it clear they were giving Kerri a medical exemption now it would be different? Various committees award wild cards into trials for those that have not earned them (swimming and wrestling for example) Some just pick without any explicit criteria deadspin.com/the-real-reason-ashley-wagner-made-the-u-s-olympic-fig-1502787187Allowing Kerri in would not be unprecedented or close to the most unfair thing a selection committee did in the last few years.
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Post by haze on Jul 16, 2015 14:59:55 GMT -5
I think if they made it clear now then there would be no issue. It would be up to the upper teams to decide if they wanted to put all the time and money into qualifing for the US and then have a good possibility of not even going. Would be interesting to see what would happen.
I think if it did happen I would have a hard time cheering for Walsh in that circumstance.
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Post by klazk on Jul 16, 2015 20:43:22 GMT -5
There are a number of issues. First is that the 12 event rule is a FIVB rule, not a US one. So the exemption would have to come from FIVB, not a theoretical "selection committee" (which I don't think technically exists).
Second, the US would have to have two quota spots earned. Which means two teams not named Walsh/Ross would have to finish top 15 in FIVB Olympic Rankings or the US has to get a spot through a continental cup. Neither of those are close to a given at this point.
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Post by johnbar on Jul 16, 2015 21:49:02 GMT -5
There are a number of issues. First is that the 12 event rule is a FIVB rule, not a US one. So the exemption would have to come from FIVB, not a theoretical "selection committee" (which I don't think technically exists). Second, the US would have to have two quota spots earned. Which means two teams not named Walsh/Ross would have to finish top 15 in FIVB Olympic Rankings or the US has to get a spot through a continental cup. Neither of those are close to a given at this point. Sorry, Klazk, I am still confused. First, does the 12-event rule apply to the team that earns the Olympic spot, or the team that goes to the Olympics; or both? (This is sort of reiterating my earlier question.) Your statement seems to imply the second or third. Secondly, I don't understand your statement about having to earn two spots. Are you saying that if a country only earns one Olympic berth, it has to go to the team that earned it? The national organization has no say in that case?
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Post by klazk on Jul 17, 2015 16:09:25 GMT -5
I've been on vacation so I'll give a better response over the weekend, but my two team comment was more based on the absolute ststorm that I believe would occur if the US only earned one berth and the federation took it away from the team that earned it and gave it to Walsh.
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