Three-time Olympic diver Laura Wilkinson and her diving partner, Jessica Livingston have failed in their appeal to overturn the decision to keep them from competing in synchronized platform at the Olympic Games in Bejing.

Wilkinson and Livingston, both from the Woodlands, appealed the decision by the USA Diving selection committee to the American Arbitration Association.

Wilkinson, a gold medal winner in the 2000 Olympics, is already on the team and will  compete in Bejing in 10-meter platform.

Livingston's father, Bob, was present at the hearing in Los Angeles which was Friday, with the arbitrator rendering a decision Saturday.

"We lost," Livingston said in an interview with FOX 26 Sports. "It's a bad decision but I think it was worth the try.

"The ruling is such that the arbitrator decided the governing body can have an open discretionary solution process and not be held accountable to weighting the measures."

Livingston's daugher is equally dissappointed.

"Obviously I think it's the wrong decision," Jessica Livingston said. "We came out here for a reason and I'm glad that we did all that we could."

The elder Livingston said their request in the appeal was two-fold.

"We asked the arbitrator to do one of two things," the elder Livingston said. "Replace the currently nominated synchro team with Jessica and Laura.

"And if they didn't want to do that, within the procedures, add a competition, whether you want to call it a dive-off or continuation of camp."

The selection committee chose a pair of 15-year old divers to represent the United States, Haley Ishimatsu and Mary Beth Dunnichay.

The two teams split the competitons at the select camp with Wilkinson and Livingston owning a higher average. However, Ishimatsu and Dunnichay were chosen because they had the best individual score during the competition and because they had a higher score under a system known as projected competition score.

"Laura and Jessica were denied the right to compete even though they won the competition," said Bob Livingston. "That is why we filed the appeal.

"The procedures used were not followed as they should have been."

Wilkinson has already said, at age 30, she will retire from the sport after the Olympics. Bob Livingston said her daughter will no longer work toward making Team USA. The elder Livingston said, Jessica, who is 22, will leave the sport after completing her eligibility at the University of Texas next year.

Wilkinson believes some good will come from the appeal even though they lost.

"It's not just that my teamate and I can't go, but we had to drag another team in and we like those people," said Wilkinson. "Now I don't know if that's going to break our friendship.

"I hope not but if we can advance the future of the sport and make it better, then it's worth it."

Wilkinson believes the selection process used is flawed.

"It's good but it's not being implemented correctly," said Wilkinson. "There are a lot of problems with it.

"We've tried to discuss it with USA Diving but we just hit a brick wall. We're hoping this (appeal) will bring it to light and we'll be able to change things from here."

I went to bed Tuesday night with the National League leading the American League 3-2 late in the MLB All-Star game.  As a National fan, I just didn't feel like staying up to watch what I KNEW would happen... the American League would come back to win.  I thought it was a sure thing.

Okay, I didn't think it would take 15 innings.  Even so, the AL's comeback 4-3 victory seemed pre-destined.  I don't believe it had anything to do with Yankee Stadium.  The game could have been played in any NL park and the result would have been the same.  Let's face it, the NL hasn't won a mid-summer classic in more than a decade.  Maybe it's in the stars... or in the heads of the National League players.

The bright side of another dark NL night, at least for Astros fans, was that Lance Berkman drove in a run and Miguel Tejada scored another.  That's two-thirds of the Nationals runs accounted for by our Houston guys.  Could it be a sign of good things to come in the second half?  Well, I wouldn't go that far, but maybe, just maybe.......

As I watch professional sports, I wonder about where they are taking us.

I used to spend 5.00 to go see a game, featuring AMERICAN "Team bound" players who I could depend on seeing for their entire career!

Now, afer the "Curt Flood ruling", players name their own price--play for who they want--& it costs you $100-150.00+ to see a game!

Where I respect "individual rights"--I have never agreed with this ruling!

Team announcers "SELL" the sport--worse than car salesmen!

I saw where "one" player paid $20,000.00 & got on a boat "ILLEGALLY entering the US--signed a multi-million dollar contract to play--get US citizenship--?

THIS is becoming common!

Several  things bother me--

Does ANYONE deserve more than a million dollars a year salary?

There are VERY "INTELLIGENT" professionals  who work for $50,000-100,000.00 per annum!

Just because you have a talent, does that entitle you to enter OUR Country --ILLEGALLY--& participate in our culture?

If your interest as a sports fan (& your personal amusement)  is greater than your patriotic obligation, perhaps you are wrong?

As you scan the stands at a ballgame, it appears that over half the patrons are of latino descent--?

I "can" afford to go to a ballgame, but would NEVER pay those prices!

How are "they", (working for minimum wage --usually) able to afford the prices?

Maybe-- if you utilize OUR credit system, you can afford it till the bills come in--then others will take your place!

After you buy everything on credit--when you receive the bill--you can say "No Hablo Engle"-------- & take the items back  to Mexico & live like a king!

Geez!

Houston Astros catcher Humberto Quintero will be home for the Fourth of July and nothing could make him angrier. Quintero was placed on the 15 day disabled list Tuesday after he was hit on the head by the backswing of Los Angeles Dodgers shorstop Luis Maza.

Quinterto suffered a concussion and spent one night in the hospital. Quintero still has a headache. His eyes still bother him, and he's still a little dizzy, but the only place he wants to be is with his team. For the moment that's not possible.

"I have never come out of a game before and I feel bad about that," Quintero said in an interview with FOX 26 Sports. "I don't want to sit at home and watch the game but there's nothing I can do about it."

Quintero said he is slowly recovering.

"I am feeling better but I still have a headache and its hurts a lot." Quintero said. "I am still a little dizzy too, but the doctors say that is normal."

The fact that Quintero cannot remember what happened bothers him a great deal.

"I don't remember anything," Quintero said. "It's scary, man. After they told me what happened I said, Wow.

"He didn't hit me hard, but he hit me in the right spot."

Maza called Quintero to apologize and, while the Astros catcher said it wasn't necessary, he appreciated the gesture.

"Luis called me on my cell phone," Quintero said. "He called to tell me he didn't mean to do it and that he didn't want to hit me.

"It means a lot. We've been friends for a long time. He thought (calling) was the right thing to do."

Quintero, who recently shook off getting hit in a bad place to stay in a game, said he'll be back in the Astros lineup as soon as possible.

"I've been working hard and calling the game good and my swing is good," Quintero said. "I am going to forget about what happened, work hard, and do what I have to do."