Fourth rotation, ups and downs

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PHILADELPHIA -- If there is an emotional favorite among gymnastics fans it is Raj Bhavsar, 27, of Houston. Bhavsar was devastated when he was only named an alternate on the 2004 Athens Olympic team. He didn’t compete and quit the sport for nearly two years. Bhavsar said his love of gymnastics crept back slowly. He competed at the 2006 nationals and put his mind into making the 2008 team. Bhavsar’s emotions play on his face, so the crowd knows by each grimace, groan, grin and fist pump whether things are going well or poorly.

UP: Things went well on his parallel bars routine, well enough that after finishing with a stuck landing that would help him score 15.700, Bhavsar made his hands into binoculars, gazed into the crowd and then applauded for them.

Jonathan Horton, hoping to be a U.S. all-around representative in Beijing put up a big rings score, 15.950.

Justin Spring worked the parallel bars with the enthusiasm of a 10-year-old in his backyard. He got a huge hug from coach Jon Valdez at the finish and a score of 15.550.

DOWN: Cal’s Tim McNeil nearly sat down on his parallel bars landing. It is hard to be the guy who felt he had to be perfect to have an Olympic chance.

-- Diane Pucin