Pentathanerd Cubed: Day 3 – Rubix Cube
“Rubixgate” is what some have dubbed a somewhat controversial Day Three of Pentathanerd, as five competitors squared off to solve the Rubix Cube.
“Winning isn’t everything; it’s the only thing.” – Vince Lombardi
Judge for yourself, sports fans.
Pentathanerd Cubed from The Nerdery on Vimeo.
Congrats to the Rubix Cube medalists: Mark Seemann is Golden; Matt Tonak takes Silver; and Chris Black wins a Bronze medal.
High horse commentary:
As a lifetime sports fan, I thought I’d seen everything when it comes to bending the rules. The New England Patriots gleaned intelligence by secretly recording the practices of other NFL teams. Rosie Ruiz, doused in fake sweat, got off the subway a few blocks from the NY Marathon’s finish line. Back in the good ol’ pre-steroid days, Pete Rose bet on baseball (and several years prior I dressed as him for Halloween; had the hair and everything – he hurt me the most).
Even though Justin had earlier told Inside The Nerdery (see yesterdays report) about his fiendish plot/faux-finished Rubix cube, it was still shocking for this reporter to see him try to put a fast one over on the wide world of sports. Kids look up to their Pentathanerd heroes, and it’s a shame so many of them had to see such a nerdy icon engage in behavior unbefitting of a Pentathanerd competitor. It sets us back as a people.
Should Inside The Nerdery have blown the whistle before he was allowed to “compete” in the Rubix Cube event? Perhaps. However, we made the editorial decision to let it play out. Perhaps he wouldn’t go through with it, we hoped. Perhaps he’d think about the kids. Perhaps history will absolve him.
Where have you gone, Joe DiMaggio?
5 Responses to “Pentathanerd Cubed: Day 3 – Rubix Cube”
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Justin Hendrickson on July 16th, 2009
As many of you have learned, on Tuesday, July 14th, during the Rubix Cube stage of the Pentathanerd, I was accused of violating a number of International Rubik’s Cube Committee rules. I was immediately disqualified by the judges and was escorted from the competition area. I have subsequently filed an official complaint and I am currently appealing to our highest governing body. Because this matter is still under review, I am not at liberty to speak about the specifics of the allegations.
However, I would like to respond to Mark Malmberg’s July 16th article, in which it was insinuated that I had let down the children whom look up to Pentathanerd competitors and set us back as a people.
I am very disappointed in Mr. Malmberg’s willingness to publish rumors and gossip as fact. His readiness to circulate these outright lies make me question the journalistic integrity of him and his publisher. In this country, guilt is not determined by circumstance and knee-jerk reactions. They are determined by the facts and only when it is proven beyond a reasonable doubt is guilt attributed, not before.
More over, if Mr. Malmberg had done any investigation prior to publishing his inflammatory article, he would have uncovered a history of abuses by contestants. Nearly every year, allegations of doping, real or not, have plagued the Pentathanderd. I am not the first to be accused of improprieties and I won’t be the last. I will not name any names, but I know for a fact that the commission possess a list of competitors that have failed drug tests. And these tests don’t even cover the legal, but socially unacceptable drugs, such as beta blockers and dietary supplements.
While I agree with Mr. Walmberg’s general assessment of the state of the league, I would hope that, in the future, he would refrain from unfounded accusations and focus on the facts.
Mark Malmberg on July 16th, 2009
Rather than dwell on matters that divide us, let’s focus on that which we can all agree: The Pentathanerd represents all that is good, honorable, decent and Nerdery. For several days now it has transcended sports and brought people together.
But today it’s turned at least partly cloudy, as Mr. Henrickson has said that he knows for a fact that the commission is silently aware of the infractions of other competitors. A smokescreen? If this is true, I applaud him for helping bring these matters to light. If it is as false as his faux-finished Rubix Cube, he should be stripped of his Bronze medal from Day One’s Chess competition.
As for my assailed journalistic integrity, I abided when the publishers and editors of this esteemed publication insisted that I not only flag my two cents as “commentary” – they insisted on the “high horse” prefix, too.
A few readers have pointed out to me that there are segments of my own video when it appears I’m amused by Mr. Hendrickson’s actions – and that perhaps I even goaded him further down his dark path. If I’m guilty of anything, it’s the wide-eyed wonder and star-struck awe with which I view the legendary figures competing in the Pentathanerd.
The world needs heroes. Say it ain’t so.
Ken Sykora on July 16th, 2009
#savetheperfectionists http://twitter.com/kensykora/status/2675694470
Justin Hendrickson on July 17th, 2009
Since you insist on continuing your assault on my good character, my only recourse is to take my case to the good people of our office. A formal petition to “Save the Perfectonists” has been started and prominently placed next to the leader board to bring attention to the travesties that have been leveled at me. Additionally, I’m calling for a boycott of this publication until a formal apology is published. Further displays of civil disobedience are not out of the question if this apology is not delivered in a timely fashion.
Theresa Dahlberg on July 17th, 2009
As one of the not-so-esteemed judges of the highly-acclaimed and highly-criticized Pentathanerd, I must be forthright to all participants by stating that any and all complaints must be filed with the Pentathanerd Review Committee. Complaints will be summarized, published, and ultimate blame will be laid upon the 4th judge.