This is a serious quest. All my life - well, at least since I've been 12 - I've wanted to do a back handspring. And I've been paralyzed with fear. It's time to face that fear. (More after the video.)
Be sure to check out my interview with that other Olympic hopeful, Michael Phelps.
Mo Rocca has appeared on a bunch of shows, including 'The Daily Show,' 'I Love the 80s,'...
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My Olympic Gymnastics Quest: The Back Handspring
Posted Aug 16th 2008 12:00AM by Mo Rocca
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Mo Rocca appears on a bunch of shows, including CBS News Sunday Morning (with the indescribably wonderful Charles Osgood), The Tonight Show on NBC, and NPR's Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! He's a sometime judge on Iron Chef and was featured on Telemundo's Amore Descarado. Last year he starred on Broadway in the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. His expose "All the President's Pets" was published by Crown in 2004.
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Reader Comments ( Page 2 of 2)
16. Hi Mo, all my life, I've always wanted to do a backhandspring too! My goal was just the same...RO-BHS! I also came close, but suffer the same fear. I've stopped gymnastics for approx. 2 years now and occassionally stretch and do some handstand push-ups. But...still chicken. I hope your "one day" will come soon...and mine too! I'll pray our goal.
Wannabe gymnast at 8:34PM on Aug 18th 2008
17. You actually had really good form. You'll have it soon by yourself.
Missy at 9:09PM on Aug 18th 2008
18. Who knew that Mo was so athletic! I am impressed.
Dan at 9:29PM on Aug 18th 2008
19. 12. Nice job, Mo! you could give those underaged Chinese girls a run for their money.
xxxx
that scooter libby book was fiction, right? the part about the bears, I mean.
For john giza, the second part of handwich's message just came through - sorry, we still use the steam computers.
part 1 was 'let's do lunch'
part 2: you hold its head.
he's an addams, what can I tell ya...
Clif Kuplen at 10:58PM on Aug 18th 2008
20. I'll be doing back flips too, if Biden is Obama's VP!
Judgement/Experience = Kick-Ass! '08
giftedgirl at 7:43PM on Aug 19th 2008
21. JG:
Juggle? Much easier than a back-flip, I'd think. Of course that's because I can do the former and not the latter. Get a bean-bag, hacky-sack or an old tennis ball.
* practice tossing single ball to eye-level, catching with the same hand, until you've got muscle memory to consistently toss & catch without looking.
* toss a single ball to eye-level from one hand to the other and back. Again, consistent trajectory until your muscles remember the proper force and angle.
* with one ball in each hand: first toss the right to left; when the first ball is at the apex of the arc, toss the left underneath, to your right, then catching the first toss with your right hand. Repeat, lots. Then try the same exercise but starting with the left (then right).
* hold two in your right, one in your left. Then toss right, left, right, catching each.
I had LOTS of spare time back in college when I worked in the university box office.
Kozz at 4:31PM on Aug 20th 2008