TIME was, when you WATCHed Bama play LSU, you could set your CLOCK on it, Bama could expect a real STEMWINDER. I couldn't tell you how many TIMEs I said to Salsa, "STOP, WATCH how close this meet turns out!"...OK, OK, I know, enough with the 'time' puns, already! I guess I'm just not ready to 'let it go' after last year's 'Nightmare on the Bayou', when Bama lost to LSU due to a phantom 'time penalty' on Lissy Smith's beam routine. The equilibrium of the universe was restored Friday night, however, with Bama winning the meet and Lissy winning the beam.

It's early for signs of spring, but I saw one Friday night on the way into the meet. The lights were on at beautiful Sewell/Thomas field (Bama's baseball stadium). Regrettably, we came too late to watch the team practice. The familiar (to college baseball fans) ping of the bat and popping of ball on glove are usually enough to give me an attack of 'Spring fever'. (My friends will tell you, no one hates winter more than me!) If it's been a while since you last took in a baseball game at the Capstone, try to attend one this year. The improvements to the stadium (and the program thanks to the tremendous efforts of Coach Wells and his staff) will make for a most enjoyable outing.

There are some similarities between baseball and gymnastics. Now, this is hardly an original thought, but it is interesting to consider. In baseball, the real struggle is a personal one - hitting the ball, fielding the ball, throwing the ball - a series of individual actions. Even with the obvious difference between the two sports, namely that there is no 'defense' in gymnastics, there is a odd correlation. Neither sport is true to its 'type'. In baseball (and its related sports: cricket, softball, etc), even though it is a 'ball' sport, the offense doesn't have 'possession' of the ball. This puts the offense at the mercy, not only of the defense, but of the umpires. (SEC baseball fans are vigorously nodding in agreement with this statement!) In gymnastics (and other 'acrobatic' sports: trampolining, figure skating, diving, etc.), even though it is an 'Olympic' sport, scores are not determined by an empirical measurement of 'stronger, farther, faster', but rather by judges. (I had a gratuitous remark here about 'empirical measurements' in Baton Rouge, but I took it out after learning a valuable lesson on the 'Message Board' this weekend on the benefits of my engaging in a more 'civil' public discourse.)

Wise coaches will always downplay the part they play in the outcome of a baseball game, or a gym meet; but we know better. The abilities to 'judge the judges', to know and apply the rules of the sport, and to react to the unexpected are the hallmarks of a good coach. Bama's coaches received a most unwelcome and untimely opportunity to prove this axiom when Katie Hornecker sustained a season-ending injury to an Achilles tendon during the pre-meet warm-ups. Now, a great deal of thought and preparation goes into determining which gymnast will compete in a given rotation and in what order. So, it was no mean feat for coaches to shuffle things around, no doubt make adjustments here and there, and still come out with the season's highest score. The team couldn't help but be inspired, as well, by Robin Hawkins' return to competition and by Katie's return to the sidelines to cheer them on, despite her injury. There seemed to be 'upgrades' and personal bests with every routine. The last two weekends, if nothing else, have shown the tremendous potential and depth Bama has.

I mentioned the inspiration that Robin and Katie brought to the meet. They really are emblematic of the inspiration that Alabama gymnastics has always supplied, at least to me and my family. Bama gymnasts have a remarkable record of sacrifice, of striving for excellence (in the gym, in the classroom, and in person), of overcoming adversity; in short, of being real 'role models'. When I face adversity or disappointment, especially in myself, I really do 'take a lesson' from the example these gymnasts provide. The sad part is, even without the injuries that are all too common in this difficult and demanding sport, we get the privilege of having these fine folks as part of our immediate 'Bama family' for far too short of a time.