Organization: University of Maine System
Date: Tuesday, 28 Jul 1992 00:51:02 EDT
From: <IO20008@MAINE.MAINE.EDU>
Newsgroups: rec.sport.olympics
Subject:    USA/Japan Volleyball Dispute


Before I start,I'd like to say that I'm very impressed with all of
the posts I've been reading.  I'm working two jobs and taking a summer
course,and have little time to watch the Games.  Now I can get all of
news in a few minutes.  Thanks,and keep up the good work.

But,I have to throw my two cents in on the Volleyball situation...
I was just returning from the lab,and was able to watch most of the
match on NBC(despite the constant interruptions).  In my view,the
officials made the correct call from a moral point of view,but in doing
so,broke their own rules.  The official protest was not filed until after
the US had completed their unbelieveable comeback to win the match.
The game was as one poster put it "royally fouled up" by the refs.  Of
course,thats the problem you face when the chair umpire is from onenation
and the other officials are from other nations...total confusion!
It looked to me that the ref was trying to say that he was not going to
give Samuelson a card after all(because he did notrealize that he had
already received one{which he should know because he IS an official})
but the chair umpire would not(could not?) allow this,or simply could
not understand the point the ref was trying to make.  At one point the
NBC commentators asked "Where are the translators?"  They said this in jest,
but it is a valid point,why couldn't someone had made sure the situation
was cleared up before continuing the match.The refs proceeded to blow
two other critical calls,and the US won the 4th Game(note: one of thebad
calls worked in favor of the US,one against,so they "balanced out")
As for the time of protest,I never saw the coach of either team approach
the chair or scorers' table until AFTER the match,when the Japanese officials
went to the scorers' table. (then again,I WAS watching NBC,so they may not
have seen the coach go to the chair at the time of the incident.)

As for the US team's response,(that it wouldn't matter because they would
still qualify for the next round),that dosen't sit well with me for a few
reasons:
1) If this happens in the next round,the US(or any team is out)
and after not fighting this decision,the US would have no grounds to fight
such an occurance.
2) If I'm Samuelson,Timmons or any other US Volleyball player,I
would seriously doubt the support I was receiving from the coaching staff
and officials of the US(especially after playing so hard to come from
match point against,to winning the match in the 5th set.)  However,these

men have put a lot into preparing for this competition,and I don't think
they'll let it bother them...right now the main concern is trying to find
someone to replace Brian Spivey in the middle(BTW,ant update on his status?
Its kind of been lost in the shuffle amid all of this debate).
         3) As a fan of Team USA in all sports,I am disappointed that our
victory was taken away,and the USA representitives took it lying down!
Then again,as odd as it may sound,they may actually be doing the right thing.
I know,I'm shockedto be writing that,but it *might* be true.  If the
yellow card was officially given to Samuelson(which is still in debate,as
it does not appear in the scorecard,as I have heard it{anyone know for sure?}
then Japan should have won the match,and justice is served.

Well,I'm about to fall asleep at the keyboard,and I have a half-
mile walk across campus in the rain awaiting me,so I'll end now.  Keep
up the good work on the posts,it is a great study break to be able to
read about the games.

John Forsyth

University of MaineHockey:

       1992 Hockey East Champions
            1992 Hockey East Tournament Champions
1992 NC$$ Quarterfinalists
1992Mike Dunham- US Olympian
Class of 1992 The all-time winningest class in NC$$
Hockey History
1992 Senior Scott Pellerin- Hobey-Baker Award winner
Newsgroups: rec.sport.olympics