> SOUTHERN INDIANA — Mike Massek, Circulation Manager



1. What are your feelings on gymnastics (or any sport) limiting the competition for a medal to no more than two competitors in the all-around, thus excluding the reigning world champion and the fourth-best scorer in the preliminaries? I’m not sure if I fully understand the reasoning behind limiting the competitition to no more than two competitors in the all-around. And I certainly disagree with excluding the reigning world champion or the fourth-best scorer in the preliminaries.



2. Which sports do you believe simply don’t belong in the Olympics, and why? When I think of the Olympics, my thoughts turn to track and field events with athletes who have worked hard to develop their muscles, as well as their skill levels. I enjoy watching skeet shooting, but I don’t see what physical endurance these competitors have had to strive for in order to compete.



3. Is there a sport you’d like to see added? There are so many sports that could be added that I hate to suggest any one sport. But I do enjoy a fierce game of badminton.



4. Which sports or events look like they would be the hardest for a novice to attempt, and why? I can’t imagine a novice trying to attempt any of the Olympian sports without some degree of professional guidance. Take weightlifting, for example. Aside from strength training, pressing 400 pounds above your head is not something you should try without technique coaching.



Chris Morris, Assistant Editor



1. What are your feelings on gymnastics (or any sport) limiting the competition for a medal to no more than two competitors in the all-around? I really think that is a stupid rule. You should not be penalized just because your team is loaded with talent. The best should compete for the all-around, no matter where they are from.



2. Which sports do you believe simply don’t belong in the Olympics, and why? Tennis. Why do I want to see a bunch of pros play when they just competed at Wimbledon? I have no interest in watching them. I would much rather see college tennis players get a chance to compete in the Olympics. Pros get enough ink.



3. Is there a sport you’d like to see added? I would like to see baseball added. It would be competitive and would give our college stars a chance to shine.



4. Which sports or events look like they would be the hardest for a novice to attempt, and why? I would have to say gymnastics. I am amazed by their athleticism.



Greg Mengelt, Sports Editor



1. What are your feelings on gymnastics (or any sport) limiting the competition for a medal to no more than two competitors in the all-around? It’s completely PC. If the three best Olympians are from one country, those three should compete for the all-around title. Same goes for swimming. It would be like the NCAA tournament not allowing more than two teams from the Big Ten — even if three of the best four teams in the country are from the conference — just to make things “fair.”



2. Which sports do you believe simply don’t belong in the Olympics, and why? A bunch of them: equestrian, trampoline, beach volleyball, tennis, synchronized swimming, rhythmic and artistic gymnastics and almost every team sport. I’d like to see the smaller sports get most of the attention that the “Dream Team” is currently taking.



3. Is there a sport you’d like to see added? Nope. There are already too many.



4. Which sports or events look like they would be the hardest for a novice to attempt, and why? No doubt, it’s gymnastics. Those guys and girls simply amaze me.





Matt Koesters, News Reporter



1. What are your feelings on gymnastics (or any sport) limiting the competition for a medal to no more than two competitors in the all-around? Don’t know, don’t care.



2. Which sports do you believe simply don’t belong in the Olympics, and why? This might aggravate a few of my co-workers, but I’ll go with equestrian. Let me know when they start putting the medal on the horse.



3. Is there a sport you’d like to see added? Baseball. It’s a big sport throughout the Americas, Japan and several parts of Europe. I don’t see why it can’t become an Olympic sport, although I’m sure the gnashing of teeth would begin the moment the tournament format was revealed. I think the Olympic Committee is worried that they’d just be handing the United States another gold medal.



4. Which sports or events look like they would be the hardest for a novice to attempt, and why? Kayaking has got to have one of the steepest learning curves out there.