Low-rent scandal hits all levels of rhythmic gymnastic judging

There are sophisticated cheating scandals, and then there's the one currently consuming the world of rhythmic gymnastics.

The New York Times is reporting on a scandal that's consuming more than 60 individuals all across the judging ranks of rhythmic gymnastics, including both hopefuls seeking to become judges and proctors administering their tests. There is, however, no indication that the cheating in any way affected actual competition; this involved people hoping to become judges for events such as the 2016 Summer Olympics.

The International Gymnastics Foundation, or FIG, compiled accounts of the cheating, which the Times then obtained. Check this report from the Times, and see if this sounds like a far-reaching international conspiracy or a bunch of nimrods in high school:

The documents showed that in Bucharest, Romania, test takers clearly copied answers from one anothers’ papers, including the mistakes. In Moscow, 114 answers were changed on dozens of tests; in Alicante, Spain, 257 answers were changed.

The exam sheets themselves served as evidence of the suspected cheating — crude markups, blatant copying, unexplained bonus points — that proved as clumsy as a botched rhythmic routine.

One test clearly had been touched by more than one person — it was filled with at least two different handwriting styles, the report said. The documents provided no evidence that the suspected cheating had affected any results in athletic competitions.

Rhythmic gymnastics, while admittedly athletic, has more in common with dance than most other Olympic events. (Best not to let fans of wrestling, which has been removed from the Olympic slate, even know that it exists.) As such, judging is of paramount importance.

But this is just a few bad apples, right? A few folks trying to get an edge on the competition? Happens everywhere, right? The sport as a whole is healthy ... right?

"This sport is very ill," said Erik Moers, a judge of long standing who has not been connected to the cheating. "It’s poisoned from head to toe." Oh. All right. But that's just one judge. Maybe an athlete, like the recently-retired Janine Murray of Australia, who competed in the London Olympics, might have a more positive perspective?

"Judging issues in rhythmic gymnastics are almost as prolific as doping issues in cycling," Murray said. Hmm. That's pretty much the exact opposite of a ringing endorsement.

FIG is taking steps to contain the crisis, suspending many involved with the scandal and preparing to conduct tests in a far more secure location. But the cloud remains ... and as long as individual judgment is the standard for awarding medals, it always will.

The Wayne Rooney transfer saga has entered a state of ridiculousness

Whew, this Wayne Rooney transfer saga has entered a state of total and utter ridiculousness.

By now you know all the pertinent facts of Wazza’s situation:

• Benched by Sir Alex Ferguson in the semi-finals of the Champions League against Madrid and other key matches including the final match of the 2012-13 Premier League season;
• Verbally requests a transfer from Fergie;
• Linked with a number of big clubs across the globe from PSG to Barcelona to Chelsea;
• Heads to Asia with United in the best shape he’s been in “for the last five years” only to discover he has a hamstring injury and is immediately sent home;
• Learns from manager David Moyes that he is surplus goods to Robin van Persie;
• Becomes reportedly “angry and confused” at Moyes’ soundbite;
• Is the subject of a $30 million (£20m) bid by Chelsea with manager Jose Mourinho claiming Rooney is his only target
• Is further linked with Arsenal after Wenger notes he can afford Rooney

So what, exactly, does all the aforementioned drama end up doing?

Drives more drama, naturally.

Even when drama isn’t there.

And so now, for every finger that Wayne Rooney lifts until this mind-numbing process finally comes to a close (fingers crossed it will drag out until the final day of the transfer window!) we, the good people in love with this glorious league will have to deal with ridiculous updates.

Like today, Sky Sports is reporting – now, hold onto your hats, people – that Rooney has arrived at Manchester United’s training ground.

Astonishing, isn’t it?

The thought that a player would actually show up to the club that employs him in order to treat a bum hamstring. Truly remarkable stuff!

So stay tuned! Word has it Rooney will be eating tuna fish for lunch.

Is Going Braless a Do or a Don't? Miley Cyrus Left Hers at Home!

Ladies, we know it's summertime out there--and sometimes, especially when it's sweltering hot and humid, putting on a constrictive bra is the last thing we want to do in the morning! And, while going bra-free might be de rigueur on balmy weekends lounging around the house or by the pool, is it ever really OK to go out in public all fancy-free? 

See more: 10 Wardrobe Essentials Every Woman Should Own 

Miley Cyrus definitely thinks so! The gorgeous star popped by the set of Good Morning America in New York City--where weather-people estimated it felt like nearly 100 degrees yesterday!--wearing a chic V-neck short-sleeve body-skimming Chanel dress...and no bra. 

What do you think about her look? Maybe it's the fabric of this particular dress, but going braless in this case seems to not be leaving very much to the imagination. 

See more: 15 Hair-Color Makeover Ideas to Try in 2013 

 Later on, Cyrus appeared on set with Ryan Seacrest and Keith Urban wearing a super-cute crop top and skirt outfit. No bra required with this look, though, right? 

Checkout: Miley Cyrus best looks

15 Hair-Color Makeover Ideas to Try in 2013

Texas Hotel Fulfills Guest's Ridiculous Request

When Dustin Wray booked a room for himself and his girlfriend at the Woodlands Resort near Houston last month he decided to test the resort's customer service.

When he came to the "special requests" section of the online reservation form, Wray, 28, requested that the resort provide him with three red M&Ms and a picture of bacon.

"Three red M&Ms on the counter. Not packages, just three single M&Ms. One for me, one for my girlfriend and one to split if we get hungry late at night. And a picture of bacon on the bed. I love pictures of bacon," he wrote in his request for the nearly $200 hotel room.

  

 "I figured real bacon would be too hard to come by," Wray, an account manager for a cloud computing company, told ABCNews.com. "I wrote it so that if they saw it they would laugh because it was stupid but also make it feasible if they actually wanted to fulfill it."

When Wray, of New Braunfels, Texas, arrived at his room at the 440-room resort with his girlfriend, Lauren Taylor, last Friday night, the joke was on him.

"I saw the three red M&M's there and it honestly confused me," he said. "I was staring at them thinking this is weird. And then Lauren started laughing at the picture on the bed [of bacon] and I turned around and looked and that's when it all clicked."

"We celebrated by eating a very small amount of M&Ms," he said. "We laughed about it a bunch and thought it was absolutely cool."

 Wray was so surprised that the hotel had matched his request down to the last detail that he didn't bring it up to the hotel staff at the time and didn't even leave a tip when he and Taylor checked out the next day.

"As we were driving home I felt like a jerk," Wray said. "I definitely have to go back to right my wrong."

Wray will have a chance to redeem himself very soon thanks to his decision to share the hotel's good deed on Reddit.

Wray posted photos of his request and the bacon and M&Ms in his hotel room on the social sharing site Monday and identified Woodlands by name in hopes it would generate some well-earned good publicity for the resort.

In just four hours, Wray's Reddit post generated 80,000 views and led to coverage on local Houston radio shows and in local blogs and newspapers.

 As a thank you, an official from Woodlands reached out to Wray and offered him another stay at the resort, this one on the house.

"I'm definitely going to be going back and I'll right my wrong in the tip department," Wray said. "I included the name of the resort hoping if people saw it they'd think, "I want to stay there.'"

"You never expect something like this to come of it," he said.

The resort's general manager says that guests' special requests tend to center more around marriage proposals than funny whims like Wray's, but that the hotel staff are happy to fulfill them all.

"We want the staff to have fun with the customer," the manager, Greg Parsons, told ABC News.com. "It keeps us on our toes and if we can bring joy to somebody, why not. We have bacon and we have M&Ms in-house."

"I'm glad he didn't ask for us to wrap the bacon around the M&Ms," Parsons joked.

Wray says he will not make Woodlands go through the hoops again with another special request because, "they've already proven their merit."

But other hotels who see Wray pop up on their reservation list, be warned.

"I might do it a little bit," he said. "It's kind of a gauge whether or not the hotel, or any company, cares about you."