The Opening Ceremonies for Rio 2016 are still more than 24 hours away, but the competition has begun. Yes, for those of you not completely tuned into the Olympic watching experience (such as The Wife), some of the action begins before the opening ceremonies. Most notably, soccer, which started yesterday.
The US Women's Team began defense of their gold medal from 2012 with a game against New Zealand. They won 2-0. I saw about 15 minutes of the game. After 15 minutes of Olympic observations this year, I already feel like this is going to be an unusual Olympic viewing experience.
I missed most of the game. I am not in full watching mode, yet, and I have a job and a family and obligations, so I didn't get to spend the entire day yesterday watching Women's Olympic Soccer, which, to be fair, would be a FANTASTIC way to spend the day. The first thing I noticed, other than the score, was that every time US Goalie Hope Solo touched the ball, the crowd booed. I love Hope Solo. I have loved her since her fantastically inappropriate and wildly entertaining press conference during the 2007 Women's World Cup. Clearly, Hope Solo is not immune to controversy, so I assumed she did something during the game.
NOPE. Hope had posted some pictures of bug repellent and a mosquito net mask thing, due to concerns over Zika. This is not the first time she had expressed concerns over Zika. Several months ago, she was one of the US athletes who stated she would need to seriously consider whether she would participate in the Olympics this year, because of concerns over Zika.
The Brazilians reacted to this by booing Hope when she touched the ball. Then, as the game progressed, and just to make sure everyone, including Hope, knew why they were upset, the Brazilians started yelling ZIKA! when she kicked the ball. That'll show her.
I guess the Brazilians want to make sure people remember why everyone is coming into this year's Olympics holding there breath. As Bob Costas said in an interview yesterday, every Olympics in recent memory had concerns as the Opening Ceremonies approached, but Brazil has so many more concerns. The list is endless:
Sewage in the water where the long distance swimmers are supposed to swim. Come on!! It is bad enough to ask people to row or sail in water that may make them sick, but these people have to swim, and drink and eat while still in the water. Try to swim 25 meters without getting at least a little water in your mouth. Unless you can do that 25 without breathing, you can't keep water out of your mouth. Even if you can, try to eat and drink without getting a little of the water in your mouth. This is laughable.
Dead bodies on the beach just yards away from the beach volleyball venue. You can't make this up.
The potential for the ocean to wash up on the beach volleyball court. If there is one thing the Brazilians should not have screwed up, it was beach volleyball. But no, they missed on at least two counts.
Robberies. The Australian team had to evacuate their lodgings a couple nights ago and were robbed. Seriously? This stuff is unreal.
Political unrest. This is nothing new. I am not a particularly political person, so I admit I don't really know that much about what is going on, but the current President of Brazil, Dilma Rousseff, is on trial in the Senate and has been stripped of her power. The acting President, Michel Temer, is apparently not exactly innocent either. Regardless of how all this plays out, thing's don't look too good.
Doping. Yes, this is a concern every Olympics and in every sport. However, usually we don't have people calling for the expulsion of the entire delegation from one of the largest countries at the Olympics. The stories of Russian state sponsored doping sound like a bad movie. As an example, in Sochi, Russian officials allegedly cut a hole in the wall, so they could pass "dirty" urine through the hole and have it replaced with "clean" urine. This sounds like something Dan Akroyd and Chevy Chase would have come up with in Spies Like Us.
Being Ready. Apparently, on Wednesday you could still hear hammering and sawing at several of the venues. I am not a construction expert. However, the sawing kind of concerns me. If you are still cutting the pieces to build the structures, it seems to me you are REALLY FAR BEHIND.
And there's more. But I am an Olympics optimist and apologist, so I don't want to keep going.
Back to the fans booing Hope. (I smiled a little when I thought of Brazilians booing hope. Who can be against hope?) Sorry, blog hijack there. Hope didn't create Zika. Hope didn't bring Zika to Brazil. So why are you booing her? And why are you yelling Zika? Are you trying to warn her? Her Instagram photo made it clear she is aware of the threat. Are you trying to throw her off her game? If so, you may be knowledgeable about soccer, but you know nothing about Hope. She thrives on crazy. Do you want to make sure the 37 people watching on NBCSN still remember Zika? That is understandable. Brazil is reportedly doing well with Zika, so they may want to emphasize that to drown out the bodies on the beach and the sewage infested long distance swimming waters. Still seems like not the best idea.
With all this, even I am a little concerned. I am a firm believer that the Olympics finds a way. Kind of like life, Dr. Malcom. (Who gets the reference?) Brazil will have great competition, compelling stories, beautiful scenery and Matt Lauer. That is a lot of good to overcome. But that is quite the list above. The potential for disaster is real. I'll keep a happy face on for you, but we can't ignore something if it happens.
Over the next two weeks, I will be here, for good or bad, giving my thoughts and observations. We will return to the sections from previous Olympics. To give you a little preview, here they are:
Today's Olympic Story Line - good v. bad. See above.
Reflections on What Has Happened (Focus for this will be on US sports and medals, but we will touch on other stuff as time permits) -
1. Michael Phelps was selected as the flag bearer for the US Team. This is a well deserved honor. However, I wish they gave it to someone else. I love Phelps and what he has accomplished. I am one of 9 people not related to Phelps or Tom Malchow who can tell you who won Olympic gold in the first Olympic event Phelps ever swam. (OK, that number just went up.) However, Phelps will get a ton off publicity in Rio. I think the honor of carrying the flag should go to someone a little less known.
Predictions Wrap Up -
1. I haven't made any predictions, so no wrap up, yet.
What to Watch For -
1. Opening Ceremonies.
2. My predictions.
3. Kier Simmons.
4. Most importantly, tomorrow I will review the rules for the Olympics.
Predictions -
1. We'll wait a day to begin predictions.
Fat Old Man Update -
We'll bring this back, and explain it at some point.
I can't promise daily posts. I can promise I will be back, regularly over the next couple of weeks. I will be funny sometimes, informative sometimes, and will try to let you know something you didn't already know sometimes. I am already getting input from my Volleyball Insider. I need to touch base with my Baltic States Insider, Anti-Diving Insider and all those people who boo hope. Hopefully we can get to the bottom of things, especially about hating on hope.
So come back. Enjoy. Tell your friends.
Thursday, August 4, 2016
Friday, July 1, 2016
Saturday Morning Ritual
Tomorrow morning, after watching the Trials on the tele tonight (I'm trying out being British - in my head this whole post is in a terrible British accent) and perhaps getting a shag (had to do it, you know, because of the British thing), I will head to a swim meet.
This is a common Saturday morning event for me. I went to a Saturday morning swim meet, as a swimmer, every Saturday for 6 weeks from age 6-18. I did it as a coach at ages 19, 21 and 25. I am now on my 6th year as a parent. That is 22 of my 45 years. In the next 2 years, I will have spent more than half my summers on this Earth going to summer league swim meets on Saturday mornings.
A few days ago, my father told me a story about attending a summer swim meet to watch my niece and nephew. While there, he started talking with another gentleman who was also there to watch his grandchildren swim. The other gentleman told my father that he was attending his first ever swim meet and asked my father how many swim meets he had been to. My father estimated about 500. Realistically, I have attended probably an average of more than 10 meets each of those 22 summers discussed above. So that is 220 meets. Add in about 10 meets per year for 4 years of high school and 4 years of college, and I am over 300. Add in maybe 7-9 per year as a year round swimmer from age 6-18, and I am well over 400. With the winter meets my boys have swum the last 5 years, and the random meets I have attended, because I am a crazy person who likes to watch swimming in any and all forms, and I am getting pretty close to 500 meets. The two Masters meets I swam in the last 6 months may put me over 500. (Shameless plug that I am actually swimming meets again.) If I am close to 500, my father, who for about 20 years attended two meets every Saturday, and was a swimmer himself, and had 3 boys swim summer, year round and high school, is well past 500 and probably approaching 1,000. That is a lot of bloody swim meets.
Today, I received an email from an old friend about a meet he attended last night in Delaware. I also saw a FaceBook post from an old teammate about his daughter's meet in North Carolina. I have seen other posts about summer meets in Ohio and Southern Virginia. Everywhere you look in the summer, someone is swimming a meet.
Tomorrow we return once again to our Saturday ritual. We wake, we eat breakfast, we swim (or the boys swim and we watch and work the meet - you need to volunteer at a swim meet), we sometimes go to lunch. There are literally thousands of people doing the same thing in Fairfax County Virginia, and probably hundreds of thousands across the country, every Saturday morning in June and/or July. Summer swimming.
What is the point? Well, many of those people you see on NBC this week started out in summer leagues just like the one I swam in, the one my children swim in and the ones my friends children swim in. I swam in the NVSL, which believes itself to be the largest community swim league in the country. Over 100 teams and 15,000 swimmers are in the NVSL. One of those swimmers is Cassidy Bayer, who finished 3rd in the Women's 200 butterfly last night. NVSL alums include gold medal winner Edwin Moses and silver medal winner Marcus Rogan. I know for a fact that I am missing other Olympians from the NVSL.
My Boys swim in the CSL. A couple nights ago, John Shebat finished 6th in the Men's 100 Back. Last summer, I watched John Shebat win 3 events at the CSL All Star Meet.
A couple summers ago, Katie Ledecky, fresh off breaking multiple world records, returned to her old summer league pool, in Maryland, to swim one more meet. Despite being the dominant female swimmer in the world, she wanted that summer league experience, just one more time. She didn't go to break records or crush other swimmers (even though she did just that.) She went because summer league swimming is fun. I tell people who are interested in ramping up their swimming experience to keep in mind that year round swimming is work. It is early mornings, long practices, longer meets, exhaustion and then all of those over again. It can be fun, and great and lasting friendships are made, but it is not summer swimming. There is something magical about summer swimming that no other swimming experience can match. High school comes closest, but also, not the same. Summer swimming is what made most of the great swimmers fall in love with the sport. Without this gateway, we wouldn't be the dominant swimming nation we are.
So wake up with pride on Saturday morning, knowing that, in some small way, you are contributing to the continued future dominance of US Swimming. I'll do it tomorrow, and next Saturday, and the next Saturday...
A few Random Thoughts:
1. Seems I jumped the gun with that whole Poland thing. I should stick with swimming.
2. Rowdy Gaines Complaint of the Day - Rowdy, I appreciate the shout out to my old swimming coach last night, but his name is JEFF King, not Jack King. I realize he doesn't have the coaching record of Bob Bowman, but he is Cassidy Bayer's coach. He also coached the butterfly leg of the 1996 gold medal winning 400 Medley Relay and the 2004 silver medalist in the 100 and 200 Backstroke. Let's try to get this right.
3. Alas, Jeff King's most recent Olympic hopeful fell short, finishing third in the Women's 200 Fly. She went for it, though and gave us all a little hope through 150 meters that, at 16 years old, she could pull it off.
4. The NVSL has several current and former swimmers at Trials this year. Tonight, Andrew Seliskar, former NVSL swimmer, has a chance to make the Olympics in the Men's 200 IM.
5. Josh Prenot's last 50 in the 200 breast was a sight to see. And I hate breaststroke.
6. It is a lot of fun to watch 34 year old Anthony Ervin fly through the water with that sleeve of tattoos. He hung on to make the 400 Free Relay last night and has another chance in the 50 (semis tonight.) Another old guy trying to hold off Father Time and youth (although Caeleb Dressel did his part for youth.)
7. I love watching swimmers who have great under water kicks. Natalie Coughlin didn't qualify for the finals in the Women's 100 Free, but watching her go 14 meters under water and pop up in the lead is just fun.
8. Congratulations to the qualifiers from yesterday - Prenot, Cordes, Adams, Flickinger, Adrian Dressel.
What to Watch For:
1. Anthony Ervin. I was not married when he tied for gold in the 50 Free in Sydney. Yes Sydney. And he has a chance to get back in the 50 free.
2. Ryan Murphy - the next great US Backstroker. I love great US Backstrokers. The shot of Aaron Piersol and Lenny Krayzelburg sitting together last night was a backstrokers wet dream.
3. Lochte - Phelps. 1-2 in the 200 IM. Is this the showdown NBC is begging for? Or will someone new sneak in to ruin the last US race between these two long time rivals? And can Lochte prove me wrong and make it in an individual event? He looks pretty good so far.
4. Lilly King is back in the 200 Breast. Again, I am not a breaststroke fan, but she is fun to watch.
5. Big Meet for the Earle boys tomorrow. Middle has 2 close races. Eldest should win 3 easily. Youngest in a weekly battle for top 6 year old.
Predictions Wrap Up:
1. Men's 200 Breast - Cordes, Prenot - Correct two, WRONG order!
2. Women's 200 Fly - Adams, Bayer. (Yes, I am being a homer.) - Correct and WRONG! But I give myself a pass for picking the local girl coached by my old coach and going to my old high school. She was 3rd.
3. Men's 100 Free - Adrian, Dressel - Nailed it.
4. 8 x 100 backstroke for me tonight will hurt. And I will mutter "Damn you, Rich Williams" at least once. - Yes and NO! Hurt a ton, but I crushed it, and focused my energy on working hard, not complaining about my awesome coach.
Predictions:
1. Women's 200 Breast - King, Lawrence
2. Men's 200 Back - Murphy, Pebley
3. Men's 200 IM - Phelps, Lochte
4. Women's 100 Free - Manuel, Weir
5. Middle wins 3 events tomorrow. Eldest will, too, but that is kind of like predicting Ledecky to win the 800 free tomorrow night (which I will do.)
This is a common Saturday morning event for me. I went to a Saturday morning swim meet, as a swimmer, every Saturday for 6 weeks from age 6-18. I did it as a coach at ages 19, 21 and 25. I am now on my 6th year as a parent. That is 22 of my 45 years. In the next 2 years, I will have spent more than half my summers on this Earth going to summer league swim meets on Saturday mornings.
A few days ago, my father told me a story about attending a summer swim meet to watch my niece and nephew. While there, he started talking with another gentleman who was also there to watch his grandchildren swim. The other gentleman told my father that he was attending his first ever swim meet and asked my father how many swim meets he had been to. My father estimated about 500. Realistically, I have attended probably an average of more than 10 meets each of those 22 summers discussed above. So that is 220 meets. Add in about 10 meets per year for 4 years of high school and 4 years of college, and I am over 300. Add in maybe 7-9 per year as a year round swimmer from age 6-18, and I am well over 400. With the winter meets my boys have swum the last 5 years, and the random meets I have attended, because I am a crazy person who likes to watch swimming in any and all forms, and I am getting pretty close to 500 meets. The two Masters meets I swam in the last 6 months may put me over 500. (Shameless plug that I am actually swimming meets again.) If I am close to 500, my father, who for about 20 years attended two meets every Saturday, and was a swimmer himself, and had 3 boys swim summer, year round and high school, is well past 500 and probably approaching 1,000. That is a lot of bloody swim meets.
Today, I received an email from an old friend about a meet he attended last night in Delaware. I also saw a FaceBook post from an old teammate about his daughter's meet in North Carolina. I have seen other posts about summer meets in Ohio and Southern Virginia. Everywhere you look in the summer, someone is swimming a meet.
Tomorrow we return once again to our Saturday ritual. We wake, we eat breakfast, we swim (or the boys swim and we watch and work the meet - you need to volunteer at a swim meet), we sometimes go to lunch. There are literally thousands of people doing the same thing in Fairfax County Virginia, and probably hundreds of thousands across the country, every Saturday morning in June and/or July. Summer swimming.
What is the point? Well, many of those people you see on NBC this week started out in summer leagues just like the one I swam in, the one my children swim in and the ones my friends children swim in. I swam in the NVSL, which believes itself to be the largest community swim league in the country. Over 100 teams and 15,000 swimmers are in the NVSL. One of those swimmers is Cassidy Bayer, who finished 3rd in the Women's 200 butterfly last night. NVSL alums include gold medal winner Edwin Moses and silver medal winner Marcus Rogan. I know for a fact that I am missing other Olympians from the NVSL.
My Boys swim in the CSL. A couple nights ago, John Shebat finished 6th in the Men's 100 Back. Last summer, I watched John Shebat win 3 events at the CSL All Star Meet.
A couple summers ago, Katie Ledecky, fresh off breaking multiple world records, returned to her old summer league pool, in Maryland, to swim one more meet. Despite being the dominant female swimmer in the world, she wanted that summer league experience, just one more time. She didn't go to break records or crush other swimmers (even though she did just that.) She went because summer league swimming is fun. I tell people who are interested in ramping up their swimming experience to keep in mind that year round swimming is work. It is early mornings, long practices, longer meets, exhaustion and then all of those over again. It can be fun, and great and lasting friendships are made, but it is not summer swimming. There is something magical about summer swimming that no other swimming experience can match. High school comes closest, but also, not the same. Summer swimming is what made most of the great swimmers fall in love with the sport. Without this gateway, we wouldn't be the dominant swimming nation we are.
So wake up with pride on Saturday morning, knowing that, in some small way, you are contributing to the continued future dominance of US Swimming. I'll do it tomorrow, and next Saturday, and the next Saturday...
A few Random Thoughts:
1. Seems I jumped the gun with that whole Poland thing. I should stick with swimming.
2. Rowdy Gaines Complaint of the Day - Rowdy, I appreciate the shout out to my old swimming coach last night, but his name is JEFF King, not Jack King. I realize he doesn't have the coaching record of Bob Bowman, but he is Cassidy Bayer's coach. He also coached the butterfly leg of the 1996 gold medal winning 400 Medley Relay and the 2004 silver medalist in the 100 and 200 Backstroke. Let's try to get this right.
3. Alas, Jeff King's most recent Olympic hopeful fell short, finishing third in the Women's 200 Fly. She went for it, though and gave us all a little hope through 150 meters that, at 16 years old, she could pull it off.
4. The NVSL has several current and former swimmers at Trials this year. Tonight, Andrew Seliskar, former NVSL swimmer, has a chance to make the Olympics in the Men's 200 IM.
5. Josh Prenot's last 50 in the 200 breast was a sight to see. And I hate breaststroke.
6. It is a lot of fun to watch 34 year old Anthony Ervin fly through the water with that sleeve of tattoos. He hung on to make the 400 Free Relay last night and has another chance in the 50 (semis tonight.) Another old guy trying to hold off Father Time and youth (although Caeleb Dressel did his part for youth.)
7. I love watching swimmers who have great under water kicks. Natalie Coughlin didn't qualify for the finals in the Women's 100 Free, but watching her go 14 meters under water and pop up in the lead is just fun.
8. Congratulations to the qualifiers from yesterday - Prenot, Cordes, Adams, Flickinger, Adrian Dressel.
What to Watch For:
1. Anthony Ervin. I was not married when he tied for gold in the 50 Free in Sydney. Yes Sydney. And he has a chance to get back in the 50 free.
2. Ryan Murphy - the next great US Backstroker. I love great US Backstrokers. The shot of Aaron Piersol and Lenny Krayzelburg sitting together last night was a backstrokers wet dream.
3. Lochte - Phelps. 1-2 in the 200 IM. Is this the showdown NBC is begging for? Or will someone new sneak in to ruin the last US race between these two long time rivals? And can Lochte prove me wrong and make it in an individual event? He looks pretty good so far.
4. Lilly King is back in the 200 Breast. Again, I am not a breaststroke fan, but she is fun to watch.
5. Big Meet for the Earle boys tomorrow. Middle has 2 close races. Eldest should win 3 easily. Youngest in a weekly battle for top 6 year old.
Predictions Wrap Up:
1. Men's 200 Breast - Cordes, Prenot - Correct two, WRONG order!
2. Women's 200 Fly - Adams, Bayer. (Yes, I am being a homer.) - Correct and WRONG! But I give myself a pass for picking the local girl coached by my old coach and going to my old high school. She was 3rd.
3. Men's 100 Free - Adrian, Dressel - Nailed it.
4. 8 x 100 backstroke for me tonight will hurt. And I will mutter "Damn you, Rich Williams" at least once. - Yes and NO! Hurt a ton, but I crushed it, and focused my energy on working hard, not complaining about my awesome coach.
Predictions:
1. Women's 200 Breast - King, Lawrence
2. Men's 200 Back - Murphy, Pebley
3. Men's 200 IM - Phelps, Lochte
4. Women's 100 Free - Manuel, Weir
5. Middle wins 3 events tomorrow. Eldest will, too, but that is kind of like predicting Ledecky to win the 800 free tomorrow night (which I will do.)
Thursday, June 30, 2016
Revenge of Experience
So far, the US Olympic Swimming Trials has been the emergence of a new group of Olympians, and a young group. I think you may have heard this from me. Probably from others as well, if you cheat on me and go to other sources for Olympic Swimming news and commentary.
As we watched experience fall, in the faces of Ryan Lochte, Natalie Coughlin, Missy Franklin and Matt Grevers, we were lulled into the false expectation that this year would be a great transition in US Swimming. Well, at least I was. Of course, Michael Phelps is the exception that proves the rule. The GOAT can't be dethroned. He must step down. Yes, Father Time will win eventually, even over the great Michael Phelps, but not now. Not this day. Phelps aside, and perhaps a couple other exceptions (Hi, Dana Vollmer), youth and inexperience were being served. Where we once had Missy Franklin, we now have Olivia Smoliga. Where we once had Ryan Lochte, we now have 19 year old Townley Haas. Where we once had Matt Grevers, we now have Ryan Murphy.
These young'uns didn't just replace former champions, the dethroned them, right there in Omaha. In my house it is impossible to not scream "OMAHA!" a la Peyton Manning whenever Omaha is mentioned by anyone. Is it just my house? OMAHA!! They stepped up to the blocks and reminded everyone that the US Swimming Trials are the ultimate meritocracy. You have to earn your position. Even Katie Ledecky, the returning champion and dominant swimmer of the day, is only 19 years old. Youth is served, even if it has a little experience.
However, as soon as we see a trend, the fates throw us a curveball. I was convinced Missy Franklin was done. I was wrong. Last night, she dug into that well of desire, guts and willpower to earn her way into the 200 free. I expected (and predicted) her to qualify for the 800 free relay. I never expected her to finish top 2. Even off the last turn, in what was almost as exciting a race as the Men's 200 Free, you know except for that 19 year old dominator crushing dreams all over the world, I expected Missy to falter. I should have had more faith. A champion is a champion for a reason. Missy is a champion. She also really isn't that old. She has something I don't have (OK, she has a lot of things I don't). She reached down deep and found it, to get to the wall second.
Tomorrow night, Ryan Lochte has a chance to do the same thing. I have counted him for dead. He made the 800 Free Relay. He may be hoping to be selected for the 400 Free Relay (although at this point, that is doubtful), but I don't see him making it in an individual event. I may be wrong. I was wrong with Missy. In a way, I hope he's wrong. In a way, I hope a 19 year old from Northern Virginia takes that spot away from him, just like Ryan Murphy did to Matt Grevers. Either way, and there are several other people who could take that second spot in the 200 IM, it sure is fun to watch.
A few Random Thoughts:
1. How about that Poland-Portugal match in the Euros? If Poland pulls this out, The Wife will go crazy. With Polish-American Olivia Smoliga not only being a phenomenal backstroker, but also a bubbly person and a good interview, it is good to be of Polish heritage right now. Of course, I fully expect Ronaldo to ruin this little dream. He always does that.
2. It can't be said enough. Phelps looks really good. Can't wait to see what he does in Rio.
3. It can't be said enough. Ledecky is the best in the world at what she does. Two gold medals is almost definite. Three is probable. Four is possible. Five not out of the question. This from someone who only swims freestyle. Ridiculous.
4. Rockville Maryland's Jack Conger finished 3rd in the Men's 200 Fly. This was his second 3rd place finish this week. He is in the 800 Free Relay, but that has got to hurt.
5. Caitlin Leverenz missed qualifying in the 200 IM by .05 of a second. Try to start and stop a stopwatch in .05 seconds. You can't do it. In less than the amount of time you can push a button twice, her dreams of going to Rio this summer ended. Brutal. Kind of makes me happy I was never good enough to have my Olympic dreams crushed by a fingernail. My Olympic dreams were crushed by a mile.
6. Congratulations to the qualifiers from yesterday - Katie Ledecky, Missy Franklin, Michael Phelps, Tom Shields, Maya DiRado and Melanie Margalis.
What to Watch For:
1. Less than 3/4 of a second separates the 2nd qualifier in the Men's 100 free from the 8th qualifier. More people are going to have their dreams crushed by tiny, tiny amounts of time. This is also a great youth v. experience race, with Caeleb Dressel going up against the long time great, Nathan Adrian.
2. We know Katie Ledecky is 1500, 800 and 400 dominant. We know that Katie Ledecky is 200 great. Tonight, we learn what she is in the 100. Is she an Olympian? Or a relay swimmer?
3. No World Records so far in the Trials. Kevin Cordes made a run in the 200 Breast semifinals. Gets another chance in the finals.
4. Cassidy Bayer, from West Potomac High School (alma mater of yours truly) goes for her dream in the 200 Fly tonight.
Predictions Wrap Up:
1. Women's 200 Free - Ledecky, Smith (Schmitt, Franklin) - Right four, wrong two. Missy proves me WRONG!
2. Men's 200 Fly - Phelps, Clark - Yes and WRONG! Tom Shields was the one to keep Jack Conger out...again.
3. Women's 200 IM - DiRado, Leverenz (bucking the trend of new Olympians) - Yes and so painfully WRONG!
4. Middle crushes his 25 fly tonight. - Nope. Not bad, but not a crushing.
Predictions:
1. Men's 200 Breast - Cordes, Prenot
2. Women's 200 Fly - Adams, Bayer. (Yes, I am being a homer.)
3. Men's 100 Free - Adrian, Dressel
4. 8 x 100 backstroke for me tonight will hurt. And I will mutter "Damn you, Rich Williams" at least once.
As we watched experience fall, in the faces of Ryan Lochte, Natalie Coughlin, Missy Franklin and Matt Grevers, we were lulled into the false expectation that this year would be a great transition in US Swimming. Well, at least I was. Of course, Michael Phelps is the exception that proves the rule. The GOAT can't be dethroned. He must step down. Yes, Father Time will win eventually, even over the great Michael Phelps, but not now. Not this day. Phelps aside, and perhaps a couple other exceptions (Hi, Dana Vollmer), youth and inexperience were being served. Where we once had Missy Franklin, we now have Olivia Smoliga. Where we once had Ryan Lochte, we now have 19 year old Townley Haas. Where we once had Matt Grevers, we now have Ryan Murphy.
These young'uns didn't just replace former champions, the dethroned them, right there in Omaha. In my house it is impossible to not scream "OMAHA!" a la Peyton Manning whenever Omaha is mentioned by anyone. Is it just my house? OMAHA!! They stepped up to the blocks and reminded everyone that the US Swimming Trials are the ultimate meritocracy. You have to earn your position. Even Katie Ledecky, the returning champion and dominant swimmer of the day, is only 19 years old. Youth is served, even if it has a little experience.
However, as soon as we see a trend, the fates throw us a curveball. I was convinced Missy Franklin was done. I was wrong. Last night, she dug into that well of desire, guts and willpower to earn her way into the 200 free. I expected (and predicted) her to qualify for the 800 free relay. I never expected her to finish top 2. Even off the last turn, in what was almost as exciting a race as the Men's 200 Free, you know except for that 19 year old dominator crushing dreams all over the world, I expected Missy to falter. I should have had more faith. A champion is a champion for a reason. Missy is a champion. She also really isn't that old. She has something I don't have (OK, she has a lot of things I don't). She reached down deep and found it, to get to the wall second.
Tomorrow night, Ryan Lochte has a chance to do the same thing. I have counted him for dead. He made the 800 Free Relay. He may be hoping to be selected for the 400 Free Relay (although at this point, that is doubtful), but I don't see him making it in an individual event. I may be wrong. I was wrong with Missy. In a way, I hope he's wrong. In a way, I hope a 19 year old from Northern Virginia takes that spot away from him, just like Ryan Murphy did to Matt Grevers. Either way, and there are several other people who could take that second spot in the 200 IM, it sure is fun to watch.
A few Random Thoughts:
1. How about that Poland-Portugal match in the Euros? If Poland pulls this out, The Wife will go crazy. With Polish-American Olivia Smoliga not only being a phenomenal backstroker, but also a bubbly person and a good interview, it is good to be of Polish heritage right now. Of course, I fully expect Ronaldo to ruin this little dream. He always does that.
2. It can't be said enough. Phelps looks really good. Can't wait to see what he does in Rio.
3. It can't be said enough. Ledecky is the best in the world at what she does. Two gold medals is almost definite. Three is probable. Four is possible. Five not out of the question. This from someone who only swims freestyle. Ridiculous.
4. Rockville Maryland's Jack Conger finished 3rd in the Men's 200 Fly. This was his second 3rd place finish this week. He is in the 800 Free Relay, but that has got to hurt.
5. Caitlin Leverenz missed qualifying in the 200 IM by .05 of a second. Try to start and stop a stopwatch in .05 seconds. You can't do it. In less than the amount of time you can push a button twice, her dreams of going to Rio this summer ended. Brutal. Kind of makes me happy I was never good enough to have my Olympic dreams crushed by a fingernail. My Olympic dreams were crushed by a mile.
6. Congratulations to the qualifiers from yesterday - Katie Ledecky, Missy Franklin, Michael Phelps, Tom Shields, Maya DiRado and Melanie Margalis.
What to Watch For:
1. Less than 3/4 of a second separates the 2nd qualifier in the Men's 100 free from the 8th qualifier. More people are going to have their dreams crushed by tiny, tiny amounts of time. This is also a great youth v. experience race, with Caeleb Dressel going up against the long time great, Nathan Adrian.
2. We know Katie Ledecky is 1500, 800 and 400 dominant. We know that Katie Ledecky is 200 great. Tonight, we learn what she is in the 100. Is she an Olympian? Or a relay swimmer?
3. No World Records so far in the Trials. Kevin Cordes made a run in the 200 Breast semifinals. Gets another chance in the finals.
4. Cassidy Bayer, from West Potomac High School (alma mater of yours truly) goes for her dream in the 200 Fly tonight.
Predictions Wrap Up:
1. Women's 200 Free - Ledecky, Smith (Schmitt, Franklin) - Right four, wrong two. Missy proves me WRONG!
2. Men's 200 Fly - Phelps, Clark - Yes and WRONG! Tom Shields was the one to keep Jack Conger out...again.
3. Women's 200 IM - DiRado, Leverenz (bucking the trend of new Olympians) - Yes and so painfully WRONG!
4. Middle crushes his 25 fly tonight. - Nope. Not bad, but not a crushing.
Predictions:
1. Men's 200 Breast - Cordes, Prenot
2. Women's 200 Fly - Adams, Bayer. (Yes, I am being a homer.)
3. Men's 100 Free - Adrian, Dressel
4. 8 x 100 backstroke for me tonight will hurt. And I will mutter "Damn you, Rich Williams" at least once.
Wednesday, June 29, 2016
Did You Really Make the Olympics?
Every sport selects their representatives to the Olympics in a different way. I don't have the time, and I barely have the interest, to figure out each sport's unique method. I know a little. Basketball has something to do with a committee. Gymnastics I think is the same. Marathon was selected about 2 months ago through a qualification race. Golf has something to do with world rankings (and a break in the schedule and facing Zika head on with no fear.) That's about all I can think of off the top of my head. The interesting thing is that none of these are as simple as they look on their face. Well, at least most aren't.
In swimming, it seems simple, and in reality, it is simple. The top two finishers in each individual event qualify for the Olympics. There are 13 individual events for men and 13 individual events for women. This all seems very simple. Except there are three relays for men and three relays for women. And the US is only allowed to bring 26 men and 26 women to the Olympic for swimming. So, if 26 different women finished first or second in the 13 individual events, USA Swimming would have to decide whether to bring those 26 women, or drop a few of them to fill out the relays.
Technically, at this point in the Trials, only 5 men and 5 women have qualified for Trials. That would be the winners of each event. The second place finishers are probable. This is why it is complicated.
The process is simple, because this is only technical. In reality, Conor Dwyer has already taken two of the 26 available positions (200 free and 400 free). Tonight, Katie Ledecky will probably take a second position, as will Maya DiRado. Leah Smith might do the same as well. I feel pretty confident that Michael Phelps is going to eventually take more than one position. Ryan Murphy may as well. Chase Kalisz can do it tonight. Ultimately, the US has enough swimmers that qualify in more than one event, allowing them to bring relay only swimmers (like Ryan Lochte after last night), without telling some second place finisher, "I know you finished second in the 200 breast, but we need a 4th 200 freestyler for the 800 freestyle relay, so you're out. Sorry." Man, that would suck.
So, there is my brief explanation of the technicalities of US Swimming Trials. I have much to do today and my own swim meet to attend tonight, so today will be brief. And boring. I promise to make it up tomorrow. Or Friday. Or at least by the weekend.
A few Random Thoughts:
1. The differences in celebrations are fascinating to watch. Olivia Smoliga and Kathleen Baker acted like they just qualified for the Olympics, fulfilling a life long dream. They hugged, they cried, they screamed. Katie Ledecky, who everyone in the world knew was going to qualify turned to Leah Smith after the Women's 400 free and yelled what appeared to be "We're going to the Olympics!!" This is the excitement you expect. In contrast, Townley Haas seemed like he wasn't sure what just happened. And Ryan Murphy gave a slight fist shake, as if he just got that full house in Yahtzee to fill up his scorecard.
2. After last night's swim and post-race interview by Olivia Smoliga, The Wife is now a huge fan. Olivia does represent the best of Olympic qualifying. She was bouncing off the walls last night.
3. So far, this is the year of new Olympians. The defending gold medalist in the Men's 400 IM, the Women's 100 Back and the Men's 100 Back are all not returning. In the Women's 100 Back, the gold medalists from 2004, 2008 and 2012 were trying to qualify again. They finished 7-8. Townley Haas just finished his freshman year at Texas. When his friends ask how his summer was in the fall, he can say, "Well, I went to Rio." Lilly King is also only one year into college. Maybe this always happens, but right now, it feels like a major turnover is happening in US Swimming.
4. Michael Phelps is really, really good.
5. I love Lilly King. She swims like it is the most important thing she could possibly do, and no one, NO ONE, is going to beat her. Can't wait to see her take on Ruta Meilutyte and Yuliya Yefimova in Rio.
6. The Men's 200 Free was one of the most exciting races I have ever watched.
7. Katie Meili is quite the cutie. So is Conor Dwyer.
8. Did I mention that Phelps guy is really good? He may have a future in this sport.
9. Congratulations to the qualifiers from yesterday - Townley Haas, Conor Dwyer, Olivia Smoliga, Kathleen Baker, Ryan Murphy, David Plummer, Lilly King, Katie Meili.
What to Watch For:
1. Men's 100 Free - Caeleb Dressel did some amazing things at the NCAA Championships this year. Can he pull a Townley Haas and turn college domination into Olympic dreams fulfilled? Will Nathan Adrian buck the new Olympian trend to qualify in an individual event? Will Anthony Ervin, who won gold in the 50 free in 2000? What of Ryan Lochte?
2. Can Missy do something, anything, in the 200 Free? With Katie Ledecky and Leah Smith in the middle of the pool, I don't like anyone's chances of doing anything other than qualifying for a relay.
3. Really, how good is Katie Ledecky? How good is Leah Smith?
4. How good is Maya DiRado? Can she set herself up as a medal favorite in both IMs?
5. Is Michael Phelps human? I say no.
Predictions Wrap Up:
1. Men's 200 Free - Dwyer, Haas (Conger, Smith, Lochte, Clary) - Nailed the first two, but WRONG ORDER. One of two for the relay swimmers.
2. Women's 100 Back - Smoliga, Baker - Correct and WRONG! Happy for Kathleen Baker.
3. Men's 100 Back - Murphy, Plummer (knocking out yet another defending Olympic Champion) Nailed it!
4. Women's 100 Breast - King, Meili - Nailed it!
I don't mean to brag, but...I did pretty well yesterday.
Predictions:
1. Women's 200 Free - Ledecky, Smith (Schmitt Franklin)
2. Men's 200 Fly - Phelps, Clark
3. Women's 200 IM - DiRado, Leverenz (bucking the trend of new Olympians)
4. Middle crushes his 25 fly tonight.
In swimming, it seems simple, and in reality, it is simple. The top two finishers in each individual event qualify for the Olympics. There are 13 individual events for men and 13 individual events for women. This all seems very simple. Except there are three relays for men and three relays for women. And the US is only allowed to bring 26 men and 26 women to the Olympic for swimming. So, if 26 different women finished first or second in the 13 individual events, USA Swimming would have to decide whether to bring those 26 women, or drop a few of them to fill out the relays.
Technically, at this point in the Trials, only 5 men and 5 women have qualified for Trials. That would be the winners of each event. The second place finishers are probable. This is why it is complicated.
The process is simple, because this is only technical. In reality, Conor Dwyer has already taken two of the 26 available positions (200 free and 400 free). Tonight, Katie Ledecky will probably take a second position, as will Maya DiRado. Leah Smith might do the same as well. I feel pretty confident that Michael Phelps is going to eventually take more than one position. Ryan Murphy may as well. Chase Kalisz can do it tonight. Ultimately, the US has enough swimmers that qualify in more than one event, allowing them to bring relay only swimmers (like Ryan Lochte after last night), without telling some second place finisher, "I know you finished second in the 200 breast, but we need a 4th 200 freestyler for the 800 freestyle relay, so you're out. Sorry." Man, that would suck.
So, there is my brief explanation of the technicalities of US Swimming Trials. I have much to do today and my own swim meet to attend tonight, so today will be brief. And boring. I promise to make it up tomorrow. Or Friday. Or at least by the weekend.
A few Random Thoughts:
1. The differences in celebrations are fascinating to watch. Olivia Smoliga and Kathleen Baker acted like they just qualified for the Olympics, fulfilling a life long dream. They hugged, they cried, they screamed. Katie Ledecky, who everyone in the world knew was going to qualify turned to Leah Smith after the Women's 400 free and yelled what appeared to be "We're going to the Olympics!!" This is the excitement you expect. In contrast, Townley Haas seemed like he wasn't sure what just happened. And Ryan Murphy gave a slight fist shake, as if he just got that full house in Yahtzee to fill up his scorecard.
2. After last night's swim and post-race interview by Olivia Smoliga, The Wife is now a huge fan. Olivia does represent the best of Olympic qualifying. She was bouncing off the walls last night.
3. So far, this is the year of new Olympians. The defending gold medalist in the Men's 400 IM, the Women's 100 Back and the Men's 100 Back are all not returning. In the Women's 100 Back, the gold medalists from 2004, 2008 and 2012 were trying to qualify again. They finished 7-8. Townley Haas just finished his freshman year at Texas. When his friends ask how his summer was in the fall, he can say, "Well, I went to Rio." Lilly King is also only one year into college. Maybe this always happens, but right now, it feels like a major turnover is happening in US Swimming.
4. Michael Phelps is really, really good.
5. I love Lilly King. She swims like it is the most important thing she could possibly do, and no one, NO ONE, is going to beat her. Can't wait to see her take on Ruta Meilutyte and Yuliya Yefimova in Rio.
6. The Men's 200 Free was one of the most exciting races I have ever watched.
7. Katie Meili is quite the cutie. So is Conor Dwyer.
8. Did I mention that Phelps guy is really good? He may have a future in this sport.
9. Congratulations to the qualifiers from yesterday - Townley Haas, Conor Dwyer, Olivia Smoliga, Kathleen Baker, Ryan Murphy, David Plummer, Lilly King, Katie Meili.
What to Watch For:
1. Men's 100 Free - Caeleb Dressel did some amazing things at the NCAA Championships this year. Can he pull a Townley Haas and turn college domination into Olympic dreams fulfilled? Will Nathan Adrian buck the new Olympian trend to qualify in an individual event? Will Anthony Ervin, who won gold in the 50 free in 2000? What of Ryan Lochte?
2. Can Missy do something, anything, in the 200 Free? With Katie Ledecky and Leah Smith in the middle of the pool, I don't like anyone's chances of doing anything other than qualifying for a relay.
3. Really, how good is Katie Ledecky? How good is Leah Smith?
4. How good is Maya DiRado? Can she set herself up as a medal favorite in both IMs?
5. Is Michael Phelps human? I say no.
Predictions Wrap Up:
1. Men's 200 Free - Dwyer, Haas (Conger, Smith, Lochte, Clary) - Nailed the first two, but WRONG ORDER. One of two for the relay swimmers.
2. Women's 100 Back - Smoliga, Baker - Correct and WRONG! Happy for Kathleen Baker.
3. Men's 100 Back - Murphy, Plummer (knocking out yet another defending Olympic Champion) Nailed it!
4. Women's 100 Breast - King, Meili - Nailed it!
I don't mean to brag, but...I did pretty well yesterday.
Predictions:
1. Women's 200 Free - Ledecky, Smith (Schmitt Franklin)
2. Men's 200 Fly - Phelps, Clark
3. Women's 200 IM - DiRado, Leverenz (bucking the trend of new Olympians)
4. Middle crushes his 25 fly tonight.
Tuesday, June 28, 2016
Too Much Time (Off)?
It seems I took too much time off. With each passing day, there is more news related to the big quadrennial event in Rio this summer. Most of it is bad news. Most of it isn't breaking news, just more to add on the already bad news.
Today, the #1 ranked men's golfer in the world, Jason Day, withdrew from the Rio Olympics, citing concerns about the Zika virus. Day is simply the latest golfer to withdraw. Setting aside, for the moment, that golf shouldn't be in the Olympics, this is not a good trend. About every three days another golfer withdraws for one reason or another. Zika is, of course, only one problem Rio faces. We'll touch on those problems at another time. They are far too extensive to squeeze into the limited time and space we have during the Trials.
Rather than dwelling on the problems of Rio today, I would like to praise Leah Smith and dwell on the problems of Ryan Lochte and Missy Franklin.
Last night, the most dominant athlete in the world failed to dominate. If you scroll ahead of this post, you will see that I give myself a WRONG on my Women's 400 Free prediction. Katie Ledecky won, so I got that, but someone snuck onto the screen with her at the 400th meter. As a matter of fact, Leah Smith, of UVA fame (OK, maybe not fame, but she is a Cavalier), was tickling Ledecky's toes at the end of the race. No one else was in the screen with Ledecky and Smith, but Smith had the most impressive swim of the night. We are used to seeing Ledecky destroy the hopes and dreams of distance swimming women across the Universe. And I mean Universe. Those Venetians can swim some distance, but they can't touch Ledecky. Smith touched Ledecky. The race was never in doubt, but when someone shows that the GOAT is almost mortal, you stand up and take notice. I love watching Ledecky swim. I love watching Ledecky dominate. Last night, I loved watching Leah Smith show the world that the US is going to crush them with two women in the 400 free, not just one.
On the other side of the coin, we have Lochte and Franklin. I am now greatly concerned that these two swimming superstars are going to find themselves on the outside looking in, as far as individual events are concerned. Lochte has already missed the Olympics in one event. Tonight he tries again in the Men's 200 Free. This event looks like a complete crapshoot. Less than a second separates 1st and 8th place. Remember, only two of these people make it in the individual 200 Free. Someone is going to miss making the Olympics in an individual event by less than .2 of a second. And someone else is going to miss being on a relay by the same amount. I fear Lochte is going to find himself on a relay, and not in the individual event. I feel like Conor Dwyer is going to make this event his and the other 7 guys are fighting for second.
This may be why Phelps didn't swim the 200 Free. He saw the demolition derby this event was going to be and said, "I'll wait for the 200 fly." Not a lot of people make that decision, but hey, he's Michael Phelps. He has more Olympic gold medals than the number of push-ups I can do. Who am I to argue?
Missy Franklin faces her own challenges in her first event. After last night's semifinals in the 100 Back, she is 7th. Olivia Smoliga has a Conor Dwyer look about her. It is her time and her event and everyone else can fight for the second spot. She isn't dominating. She just looks a little better than everyone else. And as a child of Polish immigrants, she has a new biggest fan in The Wife. Missy has done what she needed to do. Survive and Advance. But now is go time, and to throw in another cliché, I'm not sure she has that second gear.
Looking ahead, after this morning's Women's 200 Free prelims, Katie Ledecky and Leah Smith are the top two seeds. Remember that 400 free? I wouldn't want those two in my way for anything right now. The only thing they can't stop is Middle going for a donut. This is also not a good sign for Missy.
In other news, England seems to be self destructing. I realize the weather in England isn't that good, but how hard is it really to beat a country that literally has ice in the name in a game played on grass. This was the biggest sporting achievement for Iceland since the 12-1 drubbing of the US Junior Hockey Team at the Junior Goodwill Games in 1994.
A few Random Thoughts:
1. The Wife loves Moms who achieve great things, so was very happy to see Dana Vollmer finish 2nd in the 200 Fly.
2. Sad day in sports. Rest in Peace Pat Summit and Buddy Ryan. The pain they have been living with is gone, their contributions to basketball and football continue.
3. Congratulations to the qualifiers from yesterday - Kelsi Worrell, Dana Vollmer, Katie Ledecky, Leah Smith, Kevin Cordes and Cody Miller.
What to Watch For:
1. Is Lochte, at 31 years old, done?
2. Is Missy, with too many injuries in the past couple years, done? (At least for this Olympic cycle)
3. Is Natalie Coughlin, at 34 years old, done? (Take a moment to appreciate her amazing swimming career if the answer is yes.)
4. Is Michael Phelps, at 30 years old, going to win one for the 30 somethings?
5. Who will win the battle of youth v. experience in the 100 back?
6. Can I be more entertaining and less newsy tomorrow?
Predictions Wrap Up:
1. Women's 100 Fly - Worrell, Vollmer - Correct
2. Men's 100 Breast - Cordes, Prenot - Correct and WRONG! Prenot gets 3rd.
3. Women's 400 Free - Ledecky and no one else will be on the screen when she touches. - WRONG! Leah Smith, I have never been so pleased to be wrong.
4. 10 x 75 free with paddles is going to hurt tonight. - Not as bad as I thought, actually.
Predictions:
1. Men's 200 Free - Dwyer, Haas (Conger, Smith, Lochte, Clary)
2. Women's 100 Back - Smoliga, Baker
3. Men's 100 Back - Murphy, Plummer (knocking out yet another defending Olympic Champion)
4. Women's 100 Breast - King, Meili
Today, the #1 ranked men's golfer in the world, Jason Day, withdrew from the Rio Olympics, citing concerns about the Zika virus. Day is simply the latest golfer to withdraw. Setting aside, for the moment, that golf shouldn't be in the Olympics, this is not a good trend. About every three days another golfer withdraws for one reason or another. Zika is, of course, only one problem Rio faces. We'll touch on those problems at another time. They are far too extensive to squeeze into the limited time and space we have during the Trials.
Rather than dwelling on the problems of Rio today, I would like to praise Leah Smith and dwell on the problems of Ryan Lochte and Missy Franklin.
Last night, the most dominant athlete in the world failed to dominate. If you scroll ahead of this post, you will see that I give myself a WRONG on my Women's 400 Free prediction. Katie Ledecky won, so I got that, but someone snuck onto the screen with her at the 400th meter. As a matter of fact, Leah Smith, of UVA fame (OK, maybe not fame, but she is a Cavalier), was tickling Ledecky's toes at the end of the race. No one else was in the screen with Ledecky and Smith, but Smith had the most impressive swim of the night. We are used to seeing Ledecky destroy the hopes and dreams of distance swimming women across the Universe. And I mean Universe. Those Venetians can swim some distance, but they can't touch Ledecky. Smith touched Ledecky. The race was never in doubt, but when someone shows that the GOAT is almost mortal, you stand up and take notice. I love watching Ledecky swim. I love watching Ledecky dominate. Last night, I loved watching Leah Smith show the world that the US is going to crush them with two women in the 400 free, not just one.
On the other side of the coin, we have Lochte and Franklin. I am now greatly concerned that these two swimming superstars are going to find themselves on the outside looking in, as far as individual events are concerned. Lochte has already missed the Olympics in one event. Tonight he tries again in the Men's 200 Free. This event looks like a complete crapshoot. Less than a second separates 1st and 8th place. Remember, only two of these people make it in the individual 200 Free. Someone is going to miss making the Olympics in an individual event by less than .2 of a second. And someone else is going to miss being on a relay by the same amount. I fear Lochte is going to find himself on a relay, and not in the individual event. I feel like Conor Dwyer is going to make this event his and the other 7 guys are fighting for second.
This may be why Phelps didn't swim the 200 Free. He saw the demolition derby this event was going to be and said, "I'll wait for the 200 fly." Not a lot of people make that decision, but hey, he's Michael Phelps. He has more Olympic gold medals than the number of push-ups I can do. Who am I to argue?
Missy Franklin faces her own challenges in her first event. After last night's semifinals in the 100 Back, she is 7th. Olivia Smoliga has a Conor Dwyer look about her. It is her time and her event and everyone else can fight for the second spot. She isn't dominating. She just looks a little better than everyone else. And as a child of Polish immigrants, she has a new biggest fan in The Wife. Missy has done what she needed to do. Survive and Advance. But now is go time, and to throw in another cliché, I'm not sure she has that second gear.
Looking ahead, after this morning's Women's 200 Free prelims, Katie Ledecky and Leah Smith are the top two seeds. Remember that 400 free? I wouldn't want those two in my way for anything right now. The only thing they can't stop is Middle going for a donut. This is also not a good sign for Missy.
In other news, England seems to be self destructing. I realize the weather in England isn't that good, but how hard is it really to beat a country that literally has ice in the name in a game played on grass. This was the biggest sporting achievement for Iceland since the 12-1 drubbing of the US Junior Hockey Team at the Junior Goodwill Games in 1994.
A few Random Thoughts:
1. The Wife loves Moms who achieve great things, so was very happy to see Dana Vollmer finish 2nd in the 200 Fly.
2. Sad day in sports. Rest in Peace Pat Summit and Buddy Ryan. The pain they have been living with is gone, their contributions to basketball and football continue.
3. Congratulations to the qualifiers from yesterday - Kelsi Worrell, Dana Vollmer, Katie Ledecky, Leah Smith, Kevin Cordes and Cody Miller.
What to Watch For:
1. Is Lochte, at 31 years old, done?
2. Is Missy, with too many injuries in the past couple years, done? (At least for this Olympic cycle)
3. Is Natalie Coughlin, at 34 years old, done? (Take a moment to appreciate her amazing swimming career if the answer is yes.)
4. Is Michael Phelps, at 30 years old, going to win one for the 30 somethings?
5. Who will win the battle of youth v. experience in the 100 back?
6. Can I be more entertaining and less newsy tomorrow?
Predictions Wrap Up:
1. Women's 100 Fly - Worrell, Vollmer - Correct
2. Men's 100 Breast - Cordes, Prenot - Correct and WRONG! Prenot gets 3rd.
3. Women's 400 Free - Ledecky and no one else will be on the screen when she touches. - WRONG! Leah Smith, I have never been so pleased to be wrong.
4. 10 x 75 free with paddles is going to hurt tonight. - Not as bad as I thought, actually.
Predictions:
1. Men's 200 Free - Dwyer, Haas (Conger, Smith, Lochte, Clary)
2. Women's 100 Back - Smoliga, Baker
3. Men's 100 Back - Murphy, Plummer (knocking out yet another defending Olympic Champion)
4. Women's 100 Breast - King, Meili
Monday, June 27, 2016
And We're Back
Approximately four years ago I sent emails to a select few people who I thought needed to be more informed about the US Olympic Swimming Trials. I doubt they agreed that they needed to be more informed, but I think they enjoyed the random bits of information and occasional style-stealing emails they received. From those few emails, this blog emerged.
I was pretty active then. I wrote just about every day during London 2012 and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It gave me incentive to watch more Olympic broadcasts and to explore sports I never watched before. It also made me feel like a writer for a few weeks.
After the 2012 Olympics ended, I continued the blog. The subject matter was inconsistent, as was the timing of posts. Sometimes I would write on back to back days; sometimes I would take several months off. There was no rhyme or reason to it, it just kind of happened as it happened.
In the Winter of 2014, I was back in full force. Again, the Olympics provided me inspiration and an imaginary deadline. I wrote just about every day during Sochi 2014 and enjoyed it just as much. Many of the Winter Olympic sports are more fun to watch than the Summer Olympic sports, because I don't watch them as often. I am the type of person who loves to watch almost any athletic endeavor, at least for a little while. That includes Cross-Fit competitions, American Ninja Warrior, football, Olympics, softball, golf, cycling, and even the occasional X Games competition; plus a whole lot more. If I have the time, and it is on, I will gladly watch people physically challenge themselves, even in some crazy ways.
However, the swimming is really the thing for me. I love swim meets. I love summer swim meets, winter swim meets, high school meets, college meets and international meets. I love watching the 6 year old girl, almost in tears, grab the lane rope 5 times while trying to finish 25 meters of freestyle (and truly demonstrating that freestyle means "free" style), while everyone there cheers her on as much as I love watching Katie Ledecky dominate an international competition. I love watching 25 heats of the boys 50 fly, just to see boys I don't know, boys I do know, boys I have never heard of and boys who's names I have seen several times in other meet sheets try to do better than they did last time. I love watching swimming so much I will go to cheer on my teammates in a 2-mile open water swim, when I can't even tell who they are, except Kyle in his bright orange suit. And I love the Olympic Trials.
I have complained about Rowdy Gaines a few times in this blog, and I will probably do it again. Today, I am going to praise Rowdy. Rowdy loves swimming. He says some things way too much, he sometimes discusses the race he was expecting rather than the race that is occurring, and he has tried to take credit for things he didn't do, but his passion for the sport and the people participating in the races is true. He also gets a lot right.
Rowdy says the US Olympic Trials has more pressure than the Olympics and I agree. There are over 100 competitors in just about every event competed at US Olympic Trials. Two will go to the Olympics. Two. And Katie Ledecky will be one of those two for at least three events. Missy Franklin, Ryan Lochte, Michael Phelps, and a few others are also likely to take more than one spot. The third place finisher at US Olympic Trials in most events would probably make the finals at the Olympics and have a chance to medal. But they finished 3rd, so they are going home to watch on TV, just like me. And it doesn't matter who you are. Finish top two or you are out, regardless of the name on your sweats, the Olympic Rings tattooed on your body or the number of Olympic medals you have at home. That is pressure.
Yesterday, Townley Haas missed qualifying in the 400 free by less than half a second, after racing for nearly 4 minutes. In the next 7 days, several people will miss their dream by less time. Yesterday, Ryan Lochte, winner of 11 Olympic medals, five gold, finished 3rd in the 400 IM. Thanks for trying, but not this year Ryan. Lochte will likely qualify in at least one event, but with every third place finish, the pressure for the next swim gets a little higher. Lochte is 31 years old. This is probably his last rodeo. Townley Haas is young. He will be swimming other events this year, and will certainly have a chance in 4 years, probably in eight. But there are no guarantees. You have to perform and you have to perform now. Previous swims, World Records, Olympic Championships, ridiculous times swam at an international meet last year or just a few months ago at the NCAA Championships mean nothing. Do it now, or go home. Even Katie Ledecky must do it this week. That is pressure.
In case you didn't know, the US Olympic Swimming Trials started yesterday. So I am back on. I have thought about writing about other things, such as the last play, game tying goal scored against Eldest's soccer team in the championship game of an all star soccer tournament a few weeks ago. They lost in extra time. I thought about writing about eldest getting a phone. I thought about Middle's basketball season. I thought about writing why I haven't written, which has a lot to do with Rich Williams, my decision to be coached as a Masters swimmer, and the ensuing exhaustion and pain. (Damn you, Rich Williams.) I thought about the beginning of Kill the Family Tour v.3. None of this got me to sit in front of a computer and write. But, Trials? That did it. I owe that to my six loyal and dedicated readers. Hopefully a few others will enjoy my contribution to the next week as well.
A few Random thoughts:
1. The random connections to me from just yesterday are staggering. Staggering I tell you. Six people technically qualified for the Olympics (more on the technical part of this later.) Of those six, one grew up in the same unheard of town as my wife (Go Chase Kalisz, from Bel Air, Maryland!!) and one grew up in the same little town as my mother (Go Elizabeth Beisel, from Saunderstown, RI!!) That's 1/3 of Olympians. I must be good luck. Well, OK, the women in my life must be good luck.
2. Two of the eight finalists in the Women's 100 Fly attended the same high school. One of them is still in high school. And that is the same high school I attended. Two of eight. Go West Potomac!! Go Cassidy Bayer!! Go Helen Moffitt!! See, I am good luck.
3. Lochte must really be questioning his decision to swim the 400 IM.
4. Congratulations to the qualifiers from yesterday - Chase Kalisz, Jay Litherland, Connor Jaeger, Conor Dwyer, Maya DiRado and Elizabeth Beisel.
What to Watch For:
1. Showdown between Kelsi Worrell and Dana Vollmer in 100 Fly, and will either put a scare into Sarah Sjostrom.
2. Men's 200 Free - Michael Phelps begins his quest again; Lochte tries again, Townley Haas tries to do it in the big pool, the mid distance swimmers come down from the 400, can Jack Conger qualify for the Olympics after never winning an NCAA title. Relay spots on the line as well. A lot of story lines in the 200 free.
3. Katie Ledecky swims. The world should just stop when this happens so we can all appreciate the most dominant athlete on the planet. NBC should allow all other networks to do a live look in. Really, watch and appreciate. Even if you don't enjoy distance swimming, you must appreciate dominance on this level.
4. Men's 100 Back - Youth v. Experience.
5. Missy Franklin, the darling of London 2012.
Predictions:
1. Women's 100 Fly - Worrell, Vollmer
2. Men's 100 Breast - Cordes, Prenot
3. Women's 400 Free - Ledecky and no one else will be on the screen when she touches.
4. 10 x 75 free with paddles is going to hurt tonight.
I was pretty active then. I wrote just about every day during London 2012 and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It gave me incentive to watch more Olympic broadcasts and to explore sports I never watched before. It also made me feel like a writer for a few weeks.
After the 2012 Olympics ended, I continued the blog. The subject matter was inconsistent, as was the timing of posts. Sometimes I would write on back to back days; sometimes I would take several months off. There was no rhyme or reason to it, it just kind of happened as it happened.
In the Winter of 2014, I was back in full force. Again, the Olympics provided me inspiration and an imaginary deadline. I wrote just about every day during Sochi 2014 and enjoyed it just as much. Many of the Winter Olympic sports are more fun to watch than the Summer Olympic sports, because I don't watch them as often. I am the type of person who loves to watch almost any athletic endeavor, at least for a little while. That includes Cross-Fit competitions, American Ninja Warrior, football, Olympics, softball, golf, cycling, and even the occasional X Games competition; plus a whole lot more. If I have the time, and it is on, I will gladly watch people physically challenge themselves, even in some crazy ways.
However, the swimming is really the thing for me. I love swim meets. I love summer swim meets, winter swim meets, high school meets, college meets and international meets. I love watching the 6 year old girl, almost in tears, grab the lane rope 5 times while trying to finish 25 meters of freestyle (and truly demonstrating that freestyle means "free" style), while everyone there cheers her on as much as I love watching Katie Ledecky dominate an international competition. I love watching 25 heats of the boys 50 fly, just to see boys I don't know, boys I do know, boys I have never heard of and boys who's names I have seen several times in other meet sheets try to do better than they did last time. I love watching swimming so much I will go to cheer on my teammates in a 2-mile open water swim, when I can't even tell who they are, except Kyle in his bright orange suit. And I love the Olympic Trials.
I have complained about Rowdy Gaines a few times in this blog, and I will probably do it again. Today, I am going to praise Rowdy. Rowdy loves swimming. He says some things way too much, he sometimes discusses the race he was expecting rather than the race that is occurring, and he has tried to take credit for things he didn't do, but his passion for the sport and the people participating in the races is true. He also gets a lot right.
Rowdy says the US Olympic Trials has more pressure than the Olympics and I agree. There are over 100 competitors in just about every event competed at US Olympic Trials. Two will go to the Olympics. Two. And Katie Ledecky will be one of those two for at least three events. Missy Franklin, Ryan Lochte, Michael Phelps, and a few others are also likely to take more than one spot. The third place finisher at US Olympic Trials in most events would probably make the finals at the Olympics and have a chance to medal. But they finished 3rd, so they are going home to watch on TV, just like me. And it doesn't matter who you are. Finish top two or you are out, regardless of the name on your sweats, the Olympic Rings tattooed on your body or the number of Olympic medals you have at home. That is pressure.
Yesterday, Townley Haas missed qualifying in the 400 free by less than half a second, after racing for nearly 4 minutes. In the next 7 days, several people will miss their dream by less time. Yesterday, Ryan Lochte, winner of 11 Olympic medals, five gold, finished 3rd in the 400 IM. Thanks for trying, but not this year Ryan. Lochte will likely qualify in at least one event, but with every third place finish, the pressure for the next swim gets a little higher. Lochte is 31 years old. This is probably his last rodeo. Townley Haas is young. He will be swimming other events this year, and will certainly have a chance in 4 years, probably in eight. But there are no guarantees. You have to perform and you have to perform now. Previous swims, World Records, Olympic Championships, ridiculous times swam at an international meet last year or just a few months ago at the NCAA Championships mean nothing. Do it now, or go home. Even Katie Ledecky must do it this week. That is pressure.
In case you didn't know, the US Olympic Swimming Trials started yesterday. So I am back on. I have thought about writing about other things, such as the last play, game tying goal scored against Eldest's soccer team in the championship game of an all star soccer tournament a few weeks ago. They lost in extra time. I thought about writing about eldest getting a phone. I thought about Middle's basketball season. I thought about writing why I haven't written, which has a lot to do with Rich Williams, my decision to be coached as a Masters swimmer, and the ensuing exhaustion and pain. (Damn you, Rich Williams.) I thought about the beginning of Kill the Family Tour v.3. None of this got me to sit in front of a computer and write. But, Trials? That did it. I owe that to my six loyal and dedicated readers. Hopefully a few others will enjoy my contribution to the next week as well.
A few Random thoughts:
1. The random connections to me from just yesterday are staggering. Staggering I tell you. Six people technically qualified for the Olympics (more on the technical part of this later.) Of those six, one grew up in the same unheard of town as my wife (Go Chase Kalisz, from Bel Air, Maryland!!) and one grew up in the same little town as my mother (Go Elizabeth Beisel, from Saunderstown, RI!!) That's 1/3 of Olympians. I must be good luck. Well, OK, the women in my life must be good luck.
2. Two of the eight finalists in the Women's 100 Fly attended the same high school. One of them is still in high school. And that is the same high school I attended. Two of eight. Go West Potomac!! Go Cassidy Bayer!! Go Helen Moffitt!! See, I am good luck.
3. Lochte must really be questioning his decision to swim the 400 IM.
4. Congratulations to the qualifiers from yesterday - Chase Kalisz, Jay Litherland, Connor Jaeger, Conor Dwyer, Maya DiRado and Elizabeth Beisel.
What to Watch For:
1. Showdown between Kelsi Worrell and Dana Vollmer in 100 Fly, and will either put a scare into Sarah Sjostrom.
2. Men's 200 Free - Michael Phelps begins his quest again; Lochte tries again, Townley Haas tries to do it in the big pool, the mid distance swimmers come down from the 400, can Jack Conger qualify for the Olympics after never winning an NCAA title. Relay spots on the line as well. A lot of story lines in the 200 free.
3. Katie Ledecky swims. The world should just stop when this happens so we can all appreciate the most dominant athlete on the planet. NBC should allow all other networks to do a live look in. Really, watch and appreciate. Even if you don't enjoy distance swimming, you must appreciate dominance on this level.
4. Men's 100 Back - Youth v. Experience.
5. Missy Franklin, the darling of London 2012.
Predictions:
1. Women's 100 Fly - Worrell, Vollmer
2. Men's 100 Breast - Cordes, Prenot
3. Women's 400 Free - Ledecky and no one else will be on the screen when she touches.
4. 10 x 75 free with paddles is going to hurt tonight.
Wednesday, March 30, 2016
Fat Old Man Update
I did it.
If you are one of my five original readers, or you have looked back on old posts on this blog, you have been blessed with several things. First, and most importantly, you have been blessed with my unique insight into the 2012 Summer Olympics. While getting this unique insight you were also blessed with fun human interest stories, occasional commentary on the boys, excellent predictions and the "Fat Old Man Update".
I'll get to the Update in a second, but I have to say my predictions were great. I think they were great because I have an excellent brain. I'm very smart. And insightful. People like me. All sorts of people like me. If you look at other people's predictions during the 2012 Olympics, they were terrible. Just horrible. Mine were great. Their's weren't. You can look it up.
...Back to our regularly scheduled programming...
The Fat Old Man Update was a result of my motivation to exercise. While watching the greatest athletes in the world, and particularly the greatest swimmers in the world, I was inspired by dreams of glory that will never come and delusions of grandeur concerning abilities I will never have to get in the pool and swim. This wasn't the first, or the last, time I was inspired by such dreams and delusions. It was, however, the only time I publicly discussed them. During the 2012 Olympics, I swam a few times a week and posted to my readers a minimal amount of information on my workouts. I called these the "Fat Old Man Updates" because I am fat (obese if you look at any old BMI calculator, but not really if you look at me), I am old (meaning I am not young) and I am male (whether I am a "man" is up for discussion.)
After the Olympics ended, I made several promises. I am fairly certain I have kept none of those promises. The only thing I can say is that I picked up for Sochi 2014, right where I left off after London 2012, except, perhaps, the Fat Old Man Update. One of those broken promises was to keep the Fat Old Man Update, if for no other reason than to publicly acknowledge when I exercise and, more importantly, when I don't, and theoretically publicly shame myself into exercising more regularly. For you grammar police out there, the number of adverbs in that last sentence must have made you cringe.
I didn't keep up the Fat Old Man Update. Let the public shaming commence. It is not that I gave up exercising, I just do it when I can. It is safe to say I don't prioritize it. Basically, I swim when my kids swim and nothing else is going on. I am fairly certain I have written about this at least once. Something about a driving desire for a bacon cheeseburger comes to mind. Regardless, I have fairly consistently jumped in the pool to swim twice a week during the AGAD practice for the past 3 years. That covers October through May. Summer exercise has taken a hit because of Kill the Family Tour 2014 and Kill the Family Tour 2.0.
Recently, I added two new twists to the exercise routine. First, I joined what a friend called "The Fun Challenge". The Fun Challenge was a challenge to do 100 push ups, 100 sit-ups and 100 squats every day for 30 days. I haven't done anything like this in decades. It was not "fun". Despite some real pain, and having to shovel during and after a historic snowstorm in the middle of the 30 days, I managed to do this. Since the 30 days ended, I have missed a few days, but am continuing to do "the 100s" on a fairly consistent basis.
The second twist was joining a Masters Swim Team, Club Tribe Alumni. The team is sporadic, geographically, so initially, all this meant was I registered with US Masters Swimming and spent about $50.00. Ultimately, it meant I registered to swim in a meet, my first real swimming competition in 22 years. I learned shortly thereafter that it also meant I could get workouts from a coach. The coach is a teammate, who writes workouts for the swimmers on the team. We briefly discussed catering the workouts to my needs, but haven't finalized that step.
So, I did it. I swam in a Masters Swim Meet, the Inaugural Club Tribe Alumni Masters Classic. Prior to swimming in the meet, I started the new swim workout routine from the team coach/team member mentioned above. The workouts are a little different than I am used to, because they use high intensity/high rest sets, something I wasn't doing. The first time I did one of these workouts it kicked my ass. Several others have, as well. I have settled in though, and am enjoying the new workouts, even though I sometimes feel a little weird resting for more than minute during a set of 25s. Just hanging out, by myself, at the end of the pool.
The meet was fun. I didn't know what to expect, but I am not surprised to have enjoyed myself. Swimming people are good people. William and Mary people are good people. Put them together and you have really good people. The meet was held at my old pool, the W&M Rec Center. The meet was worked by the W&M Swim Team, coming off conference championship seasons for both the men and the women. There was some very fast swimming. Not by me, but very fast swimming by other people.
I enjoyed competing. I enjoyed being part of a team. I enjoyed seeing an old, dear friend I hadn't seen in over 20 years. I enjoyed seeing a couple of other old, dear friends who I had seen, just a couple years ago. I enjoyed meeting a few new people. I look forward to meeting more, competing more and being part of a team again. And I enjoyed watching some fabulous swimming by people ranging in age from 24 to 90. Yes 90.
Mostly, though, I hurt. Wow! Have I forgotten how to race. Regardless, though, I showed the boys that their old man does know how to swim. I think I impressed Eldest, as well as a few other younger swimmers, who all seemed impressed that their parents and their parents' friends could still get it done.
If you read this blog almost 4 years ago, you know I thought about doing this. I am not sure why I waited, but I am glad I did. I did this at the right time. Circumstances and opportunity collided in a perfect storm. You also know that I publicly stated one goal if I ever did this. I did that, too.
If you are one of my five original readers, or you have looked back on old posts on this blog, you have been blessed with several things. First, and most importantly, you have been blessed with my unique insight into the 2012 Summer Olympics. While getting this unique insight you were also blessed with fun human interest stories, occasional commentary on the boys, excellent predictions and the "Fat Old Man Update".
I'll get to the Update in a second, but I have to say my predictions were great. I think they were great because I have an excellent brain. I'm very smart. And insightful. People like me. All sorts of people like me. If you look at other people's predictions during the 2012 Olympics, they were terrible. Just horrible. Mine were great. Their's weren't. You can look it up.
...Back to our regularly scheduled programming...
The Fat Old Man Update was a result of my motivation to exercise. While watching the greatest athletes in the world, and particularly the greatest swimmers in the world, I was inspired by dreams of glory that will never come and delusions of grandeur concerning abilities I will never have to get in the pool and swim. This wasn't the first, or the last, time I was inspired by such dreams and delusions. It was, however, the only time I publicly discussed them. During the 2012 Olympics, I swam a few times a week and posted to my readers a minimal amount of information on my workouts. I called these the "Fat Old Man Updates" because I am fat (obese if you look at any old BMI calculator, but not really if you look at me), I am old (meaning I am not young) and I am male (whether I am a "man" is up for discussion.)
After the Olympics ended, I made several promises. I am fairly certain I have kept none of those promises. The only thing I can say is that I picked up for Sochi 2014, right where I left off after London 2012, except, perhaps, the Fat Old Man Update. One of those broken promises was to keep the Fat Old Man Update, if for no other reason than to publicly acknowledge when I exercise and, more importantly, when I don't, and theoretically publicly shame myself into exercising more regularly. For you grammar police out there, the number of adverbs in that last sentence must have made you cringe.
I didn't keep up the Fat Old Man Update. Let the public shaming commence. It is not that I gave up exercising, I just do it when I can. It is safe to say I don't prioritize it. Basically, I swim when my kids swim and nothing else is going on. I am fairly certain I have written about this at least once. Something about a driving desire for a bacon cheeseburger comes to mind. Regardless, I have fairly consistently jumped in the pool to swim twice a week during the AGAD practice for the past 3 years. That covers October through May. Summer exercise has taken a hit because of Kill the Family Tour 2014 and Kill the Family Tour 2.0.
Recently, I added two new twists to the exercise routine. First, I joined what a friend called "The Fun Challenge". The Fun Challenge was a challenge to do 100 push ups, 100 sit-ups and 100 squats every day for 30 days. I haven't done anything like this in decades. It was not "fun". Despite some real pain, and having to shovel during and after a historic snowstorm in the middle of the 30 days, I managed to do this. Since the 30 days ended, I have missed a few days, but am continuing to do "the 100s" on a fairly consistent basis.
The second twist was joining a Masters Swim Team, Club Tribe Alumni. The team is sporadic, geographically, so initially, all this meant was I registered with US Masters Swimming and spent about $50.00. Ultimately, it meant I registered to swim in a meet, my first real swimming competition in 22 years. I learned shortly thereafter that it also meant I could get workouts from a coach. The coach is a teammate, who writes workouts for the swimmers on the team. We briefly discussed catering the workouts to my needs, but haven't finalized that step.
So, I did it. I swam in a Masters Swim Meet, the Inaugural Club Tribe Alumni Masters Classic. Prior to swimming in the meet, I started the new swim workout routine from the team coach/team member mentioned above. The workouts are a little different than I am used to, because they use high intensity/high rest sets, something I wasn't doing. The first time I did one of these workouts it kicked my ass. Several others have, as well. I have settled in though, and am enjoying the new workouts, even though I sometimes feel a little weird resting for more than minute during a set of 25s. Just hanging out, by myself, at the end of the pool.
The meet was fun. I didn't know what to expect, but I am not surprised to have enjoyed myself. Swimming people are good people. William and Mary people are good people. Put them together and you have really good people. The meet was held at my old pool, the W&M Rec Center. The meet was worked by the W&M Swim Team, coming off conference championship seasons for both the men and the women. There was some very fast swimming. Not by me, but very fast swimming by other people.
I enjoyed competing. I enjoyed being part of a team. I enjoyed seeing an old, dear friend I hadn't seen in over 20 years. I enjoyed seeing a couple of other old, dear friends who I had seen, just a couple years ago. I enjoyed meeting a few new people. I look forward to meeting more, competing more and being part of a team again. And I enjoyed watching some fabulous swimming by people ranging in age from 24 to 90. Yes 90.
Mostly, though, I hurt. Wow! Have I forgotten how to race. Regardless, though, I showed the boys that their old man does know how to swim. I think I impressed Eldest, as well as a few other younger swimmers, who all seemed impressed that their parents and their parents' friends could still get it done.
If you read this blog almost 4 years ago, you know I thought about doing this. I am not sure why I waited, but I am glad I did. I did this at the right time. Circumstances and opportunity collided in a perfect storm. You also know that I publicly stated one goal if I ever did this. I did that, too.
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