Gymnastics keeps tour promoter scrambling

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When Mike Burg began promoting the 2008 Tour of Gymnastics Superstars back in July, Paul Hamm was still planning on competing at the Beijing Games. So Hamm was listed as a headline act in early promotional material for the post-Beijing Games gymnastics tour that will touch down in 36 cities.

Hamm withdrew from the Olympics on July 28, so Burg quickly substituted his brother, Morgan, and added a stronger emphasis on Shawn Johnson and Nastia Liukin.

Then Morgan Hamm withdrew from the Olympics, and Burg’s team began to push the women’s combination of Shawn Johnson and Nastia Liukin. Then Liukin finished with gold (and Johnson with silver) in the Beijing Games’ women’s all-around.

‘It’s been really interesting with all the activity,’ Burg said. ‘Paul Hamm did call [on Thursday] to say he’s excited about doing the tour.’

Burg plans to keep the advertising folks on his speed dial because the Beijing Games gymnastics competitions won’t end until Aug. 24. ‘Who knows what’s going to happen,’ Burg said.

-- Greg Johnson