Nastia Liukin is in the house

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Gymnastics nationals are on Universal Sports right now. You’ve got to love it when former Olympic gold medalist Carly Patterson is sitting on press row next to USA gymnastics president Steve Penny and just when the TV cameras catch Patterson she is diligently applying lip gloss, applying it, applying it, talking to Penny, still applying.

And I love the sport but it’s not good when two would-be contenders (both from Los Angeles), Mattie Larson and Samantha Shapiro, are on the sidelines being interviewed by Andrea Joyce about the injuries that have them as very sparkly spectators (just because you can’t compete doesn’t mean you can’t wear sparkly makeup).

But Chellsie Memmel is on the balance beam now. As recently as Tuesday Memmel wasn’t sure if she’d compete. She’s looking pretty fierce right now on that beam. Not very smooth but pretty fierce. It’s apparently going to be her only event appearance but she’s clearly not retired. Nastia Liukin still to come.

-- Diane Pucin