Friends, fans, loyal readers, and, especially, visitors to our site who are fans of other teams, you are all most welcome. We hope that you will find our site enjoyable, informative, and that you will visit us often (and patronize our sponsors!). However, we would like to take a few moments of your time to clear up a few misconceptions about us, or, better yet, to give you a little information that might keep us from being misunderstood. First, a few definitions:

• Booster : one who boosts, an enthusiastic supporter.
• Editorial : 1) a newspaper or magazine article that gives the opinions of the editors; 2) an expression of opinion that resembles such an article (an editorial online)
• Perspective : a particular way of considering something.
• Fan : someone who admires and supports a person, sport, sports team, etc.

The next thing we should make clear is that this website, GymTide.com, is nothing more or less than the online face of The Medalist Club, the booster club for the University of Alabama women's gymnastics team. We are all, indeed, enthusiastic supporters of the GymTide. Our purpose, our goal - in truth, our whole reason for existing - is to give fans of Bama gymnastics a positive, and proper, way of showing their support.

All of us here at GymTide.com are completely committed to the ideal of providing only positive, up-lifting, and - except where it concerns the Crimson Tide - completely objective content on our website. For you see, we make no pretense at objectivity in our support for Bama gymnastics, at least, not complete objectivity.

Having said that, we also believe that you can't build yourself up by tearing others down. We try hard to avoid negative characterizations of judges, and of the fans, gymnasts, and coaches of other teams. Note that we said we try. We're only human, after all, and we do have occasional lapses. But, our official, vigorously enforced policy is to be fair to other teams and to the judges.

As stated above, it is our intent to promote the GymTide in every possible positive and proper way. We are unabashed in our admiration of and affection for the outstanding young women who make up our current team, and all of those who have preceded them. We believe that the GymTide need take a backseat to no-one in any aspect of the college gymnastics experience, be it athletic, academic, community outreach, or fan loyalty - and we don't mind pointing that out in our commentaries, articles, and editorials.

It is never our intention to offend anyone. We apologize if our occasionally effusive praise of the Crimson Tide gymnasts and coaches is a little hard for fans of other teams to take. However, please try to keep in mind that we're not just here to print the facts, we're here to raise the Tide!