Uneven Bars: Three Gymnasts Kept Off "GMA" By Federation

Patterson Among The Gymnasts Barred From ABC Appearance

While a group of U.S. gymnasts were invited to perform on ABC's "GMA" May 17 while participating in the USOC's media summit in N.Y., the group did not include Paul and Morgan Hamm or Carly Patterson "because NBC's `Today' show asked USA Gymnastics to hold them off," according to David Barron of the HOUSTON CHRONICLE. "Today" is "working on profiles on the Hamms and Patterson to air [this past Monday] and June 21, respectively. Until then, the three gymnasts are not yet Official Olympic Personalities and thus must be held off competing networks until [NBC] has its say." But Barron wrote NBC Sports and Olympics officials, who "had nothing to do with the request, were stunned." One NBC official told USA Gymnastics, "We need to be building name recognition with these guys, not keeping them off the air" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 5/30).