The Art Neuro Weblog

All Quiet On The Space Front
I know I've been rattling on about Olympic Baseball of all things, and not done updates on the space topics, but it has simply been very quiet. They do have these lulls where nothing happens; progress, whether technological or policy-wise happens in fits and starts.
In the mean time I will probably continue to indulge in the 'bread & circuses' of sport.

The Mental Game
The Australian Press is hounding rower Sally Robbins for her quit-in-the-race non-effort that let down her team mates. Everybody has gone mental about the girl who went mental in the big race and 'quit'.

Last night Robbins told Channel Seven that she had previously broken down while racing, without detailing any event. "Suddenly fatigue sets in and I just can't move, you know. It's a feeling of paralysis where you just hit the wall," she said.

Taylor described Robbins as "an awesome chick", "an amazing technician", and "one of the most physically impressive athletes I've ever come across", but compared her quitting on Sunday, and in 2002, to an Olympic swimmer stopping mid-race in a final. "There is no doubt in my mind that Sally Robbins quitting on Sunday was a repeat display of complete mental weakness, not 'physical exhaustion' as the media is reporting."

Taylor said that no rower at Olympic level should stop mid-race due to pain. "I know first hand exactly how exhausted you get in a rowing race, and let me tell you, the thought of stopping is very tempting when you are burning up in pain and under the extreme pressure that international competition produces."

It's not hard to imagine the pressure; it's not hard to imagine hitting the wall; it's not hard to imagine a team placing trust in a suprememly gifted athlete with a mental problem; it's not really suprising it came apart in the race that matters the most. She's not to blame, it's the idiot selectors who put her in the boat who are to blame. They set her up to fail without thinking about it.
Meanwhile, AOC boss John Coates has told the rest of the rowing crew to not discuss it in the press:

"Basically in our team you do not slag off your mates," said Coates's spokesman, Mike Tancred.

"Well, yes mate. But she quit on the team and you don't do that either," say the pundits.

Baseball Career, Not Eve Was Created From a Removed Rib
In other odd news, it has been reported that Criag Lewis of Australia's baseball team once had a rib removed and ever since then he's been healthy as a ballplayer.

- Art Neuro