Posted by Mez on 24/6/2007, 6:01 pm

Hi folks. Just a little note to say that anyone interested should keep their eyes peeled for NCAA gymnastics on ESPN (cable). I know the discussion has been raised here before that on the several occasions Women's NCAA finals have been scheduled, they don't get broadcasted. I found myself shouting at the television about 3 weeks ago, because the scheduled (in the Foxtel mag AND blue onscreen info bar) NCAA women's finals weren't shown, vetoed instead for basketball. Not for the first time. About a week ago I was randomly flicking through channels and found, when I stopped on ESPN, that 2007 NCAA finals were again scheduled in the blue programming bar despite not being listed in the Foxtel mag. Lo and behold, when the allotted hour actually arrived... it was the 2006 finals! Two nights ago, surfing again in the evening, I landed on ESPN in the first ten minutes of the 2007 finals *finally* being shown. Mind you it wasn't listed in the guide anywhere. So, in short, ESPN by way of Foxtel... - often doesn't show gymnastics competitions despite the fact that they are scheduled in the magazine and/or onscreen - broadcasts the wrong year's competition - screens gymnastics that isn't listed in the Foxtel guide. I've phoned Foxtel about it before but they said it's all ESPN's doing. I tried the ESPN website to find an email address or contact line [for Ausralia at least] but to no avail. I already knew who won the finals, both years, before seeing any routines from them. But that notwithstanding, it was frustrating not knowing when they were going to show stuff that I wanted to tape! I am grateful, in the end, that I got to see it at all. But overall I don't like that my favourite sport plays second-fiddle to competitive eating, spelling bees and darts. This is just a warning to any other NCAA fans- be vigilant. Keep your eyes on ESPN because they sometimes slot the gym in there without us realising.