Wasn't impressed

RE: Wasn't impressed

Former Member — Fri, 16 Jul 2004 13:11:02 GMT

FYI, he did and he is a giant! Not to mention a great guy, sorry you have so much trouble with him.

RE: Wasn't impressed

Former Member — Thu, 15 Jul 2004 11:00:56 GMT

Why didn't Sabir flex his muscles and strike a pose at the trials? Sorry, but after his little demonstration at our Nationals in Indy, it was hard for me to root for him. On the other hand, congrats to Gary Hall. 3 Olympics in a row, and he was nothing but class at Nationals.

RE: Wasn't impressed

pmbchill — Wed, 02 Jun 2004 06:08:03 GMT

I've been to many National meets in my swimming years and the Race Club is another exciting piece of the big picture. How can we NOT be thrilled, inspired, proud and impressed by people in our sport who have great swims. A big reason for going to Nationals for me is to watch great swims and to see the people who inspire me. My #1 hero is Edith Glusac from Michigan. She's 85 and she won 5 events including the 100 fly. Good luck Race Club members and same to you, Edith. Watching anyone who puts their heart into a race is an inspiration to me.

RE: Wasn't impressed

Former Member — Mon, 17 May 2004 12:48:32 GMT

Originally posted by JRidge Just as Masters does not exclude the slowest out there, neither does it exclude the fastest. The fact is, as fast as the members of the Race Club, swam others have swum faster or nearly as fast. In the 50 free Sabir Muhammad was the only one to break the national record; Aaron Ciarla, Gary Hall and Nadine Rolland did not. In the 100 free both Sabir Muhammad and Gary Hall broke the record, but Aaron Ciarla (took 4th) and Nadine Rolland did not. In the 50 fly Nadine Rolland and Sabir Muhammad each broke the record (Sabir by .01), Aaron Ciarla did not. The 100 fly no record, the 100 IM no record (and a DQ). 74 individual national records were broken at Nationals and I only count 5 of them from the Race Club. Why are making such a big deal of the The Race Club then if they aren't even as fast as other masters swimmers?

RE: Wasn't impressed

JRidge — Mon, 17 May 2004 08:08:12 GMT

Just as Masters does not exclude the slowest out there, neither does it exclude the fastest. The fact is, as fast as the members of the Race Club, swam others have swum faster or nearly as fast. In the 50 free Sabir Muhammad was the only one to break the national record; Aaron Ciarla, Gary Hall and Nadine Rolland did not. In the 100 free both Sabir Muhammad and Gary Hall broke the record, but Aaron Ciarla (took 4th) and Nadine Rolland did not. In the 50 fly Nadine Rolland and Sabir Muhammad each broke the record (Sabir by .01), Aaron Ciarla did not. The 100 fly no record, the 100 IM no record (and a DQ). 74 individual national records were broken at Nationals and I only count 5 of them from the Race Club.

RE: Wasn't impressed

Paul Smith — Sun, 16 May 2004 08:58:20 GMT

Some of te best swimmers in the world show up for a meet in one of the fastest pools in the world as a tune up for Olympic Trials that is open to them and you feel something was taken away for you? I assume by your argument you also felt the same way (in regards to making money) about the meet hosts wanting to make money, the vendors selling t-shirts, the massage therapists, the concession workers, the parking lot attendents.................... ANY money coming into ANY area of swimming is a good thing, our sport needs pools, coaches, etc. etc. More power to those guys and hopefully they fill their camps up with USMS swimmers!

RE: Wasn't impressed

Brian Stack — Sun, 16 May 2004 06:48:18 GMT

I agree with Paul, all USMS sanctioned meets are open to anyone with a valid USMS membership. The Race Club members certainly qualified. I did not attend the Indy meet, but our swimmers who attended were unanimously happy that the Race Club showed up and swam fast. This isn't the first time that elite level swimmers have attended USMS championships. Jon Olsen and Gary hall have attended USMS Nationals at Santa Clara in the past, Olsen in '99 and I can't remember Hall's dates maybe early 90's. I recall that every time GH stepped to the blocks there was a ripple of excitement through the crowd. I also remember the 200 Free race('99) with Jon Olsen, who was preparing for Olympic Trials, and John Keppler, a former Olympic Trials participant went head to head with Olsen swimming a 1:38.03 to Keppler's 1:40.54. Folk's were 10 deep around the pool, and everyone was screaming encouragement as the race proceeded. I still get goosebumps just picturing it. There was similar support for non elite swimmers in all the age groups. I can't total all the Nationals I've attended in nearly 14 years of coaching Masters Swimmers, but I've never heard anyone complain after watching a fast swim. Go to www.theraceclub.net/column_usmsnationals.php to read what the Race Club swimmers thought of the meet. Just an after thought; Trina Radke a former and maybe future Olympian has been training with Ross Geary at Foothill Jr College, and has swum in a number of Pacific Masters Meets this past season. I know some very competitive swimmers in her age group who had no problems being knocked down a place in many events because of Trina's participation. Not one swimmer felt diminished by her presence.

RE: Wasn't impressed

Former Member — Sun, 16 May 2004 05:44:09 GMT

What exactly is the difference between masters and senior nationals or Olympic Trials? I am not saying there should be a time limit, but there is a sort of unspoke consideration. Why don't you see Michael Phelps at USMS meets or Ian Crocker, Eric Vendt, Chad Carvin or Jenny Thompson? I understand why the Race club is trying to make money...it's definitely hard to come by in swimming. It just seems to me that there was something taken away from the masters national meet by them being there (to make money).

RE: Wasn't impressed

Former Member — Sat, 15 May 2004 14:16:01 GMT

So making money to continue what you want to do is a bad thing? Am I missing something here or is that logic totally ridiculous?

RE: Wasn't impressed

swimr4life — Sat, 15 May 2004 11:39:06 GMT

I agree with you Sam. As to the topic of the Race Club not belonging at USMS Nationals... Masters is open to everyone. Are we going to have "maximum" time requirements?....If you swim faster than this time, you can't compete? Go to the Race Club website and read their writeup on our Nationals. They say nothing but good things about Masters swimming. If they can bring more swimmers into USMS, their involvement can be nothing but a positive influence! I don't see how it can be seen as a bad thing for Masters!:confused:

RE: Wasn't impressed

Susan — Sat, 15 May 2004 08:50:43 GMT

They may have been there to make money, and they certainly were nice. So? I thought it was great that they recognized USMS as significant enough to warrant their attention. After all, we all love swimming, don't we? If you can make money on it, all the better. Judging from the response they received, I'd guess most swimmers were glad to have them there. Sorry you didn't see it that way.

RE: Wasn't impressed

Former Member — Sat, 15 May 2004 08:09:12 GMT

I have been meaning to post my opinion on the Race club appearance at Nationals, but it appears someone beat me to it. After reading the many opinions I can say I don't think there will be any long lasting effects on kids everywhere. However, I felt like their swimming at USMS nationals took something away from masters swimming. Masters is supposed to be about people who love to swim AND have lives too. People that swim USMS have jobs and families. These are guys who may swim at the Olympics in a couple of months and that is ALL THEY DO..IMO they had no buisness swimming competitively at USMS Nat. They were there for one reason.....to make money$$$$. Of course they were so sweet and nice and hamming it up. USMS is full of swimming junkies who will eat it up all the while throwing money at them. It's one thing to have some fun at meet, but about doing it with a little class.

RE: Wasn't impressed

Former Member — Sat, 08 May 2004 16:29:43 GMT

Have not heard of that pool...I swim at the Y here....

RE: Wasn't impressed

Former Member — Sat, 08 May 2004 16:28:23 GMT

Paul... I went to CU and lived in Breckenridge, CO after I got out....You just traded one wild place for another wild place....I loved the Colorado Mtns...and the people that lived there....Boulder is one of my Top Ten places on earth...Go Bufs...

RE: Wasn't impressed

Former Member — Sat, 08 May 2004 15:37:37 GMT

Originally posted by mattson Originally posted by Paul Smith Sorry, but I'm only a "pool predator"! Sorry Paul, that makes you a "stairwell predator". You can upgrade to "pool", if you caught Connie in the diving well, like I did. ;) (Closest thing there, to a hot tub.) Yes, and it was a very memorable meeting :)

RE: Wasn't impressed

Former Member — Sat, 08 May 2004 15:35:58 GMT

Originally posted by Paul Smith Connie: On a serious note it was nice to meet and put a face to the fastest typer on the web! Same here Paul. Very good to meet one of the fastest swimmers out there.

RE: Wasn't impressed

Former Member — Sat, 08 May 2004 15:32:53 GMT

Originally posted by gull80 There you have it, another cautionary tale about an Internet predator. Is there internet in staiwells? Why... Who knew!

RE: Wasn't impressed

Former Member — Sat, 08 May 2004 12:33:26 GMT

Originally posted by Conniekat8 But, but... He seemed like such a nice guy... At first... ;) There you have it, another cautionary tale about an Internet predator.

RE: Wasn't impressed

mattson — Sat, 08 May 2004 12:28:06 GMT

Originally posted by Paul Smith Sorry, but I'm only a "pool predator"! Sorry Paul, that makes you a "stairwell predator". You can upgrade to "pool", if you caught Connie in the diving well, like I did. ;) (Closest thing there, to a hot tub.) Tom, I remember an age-group meet in Rome during the summer, where families pitch tents next to an outdoor pool. (This was 20 years ago. :p ) Is that the pool where you are training?

RE: Wasn't impressed

Paul Smith — Sat, 08 May 2004 09:45:08 GMT

Tom, sorry but you can't lay the Vail thing on us anymore as we just relocated to Boulder! Going to be interesting having a real team to train with for the first time in years! Gull80: Sorry, but I'm only a "pool predator"! As an internet predator I'm lost (can't spell, or type) and God knows I couldn't catch a snail on foot! Scansy: The flashes we're actually from a late bloomer stalking us both attempting to find the secret of VO2Max! Connie: On a serious note it was nice to meet and put a face to the fastest typer on the web!

RE: Wasn't impressed

Former Member — Fri, 07 May 2004 13:15:01 GMT

I agree. Swimmer you should not be sorry at all. I will be happy to read your views on other topics!!

RE: Wasn't impressed

Former Member — Fri, 07 May 2004 13:10:53 GMT

Originally posted by swimr4life You should not be sorry. You have every right to post your opinion. Thats why it's called a discussion forum. We don't all have to agree on every topic. I enjoy hearing different opinions on topics. Often we can learn from each other by hearing different points of view. Please don't hesitate to post your opinion! Pool temp...now that is something we can all agree on!:D You're right. I'm slightly sorry about some of the direction it went. Not that I wasn't in the majority. If we were all in the majority then life would be pretty boring.

RE: Wasn't impressed

Former Member — Fri, 07 May 2004 12:57:32 GMT

Originally posted by Scansy Those "flashes" of light you kept seeing weren't lightning! Uh, oh... And I thought all superstars had that kind of a glow around them! Well, it's a rough world out there for innocent little girls like me, all alone.

RE: Wasn't impressed

Former Member — Fri, 07 May 2004 12:53:45 GMT

But, but... He seemed like such a nice guy... At first... ;)

RE: Wasn't impressed

Former Member — Fri, 07 May 2004 12:50:18 GMT

Originally posted by Paul Smith Mark, I just sent you a PM on this. I also want to be clear, my message about being "very" dissapointed in his being banned is in no way a defense of his actions. I never want to see anyone banned, I hope people are strong enough or smart enough to ignore those types of attacks. I can understand and accept that others don't agree, just sharing my opinion. Originally posted by mattson I don't know any of the details, but I am going to take an educated guess: Ion was not banned for his ideas on swimming or his passion for the sport. It was for the contempt he expressed for the majority of USMS swimmers, and the personal attacks (that he sometimes resorted to) when his ideas were challenged. (Some of his responses were provoked, but most were not.) I'm not saying I would banned him, but I am not disappointed with the outcome. Paul, if you are dissatisfied by that response, send me a PM. You may have missed the 1-day thread with my name in it. We can debate the right/wrong of Ion being banned in another thread if anyone really wants to go there and if it would even be allowed. There were also threads started with his name in it and it took numerous people to argue his points and as far as I can tell he is the only one gone even though others certainly broke the Forum Etiquette. He may have been the worst but he wasn't the only. Paul and Tom, the names people use on the site are completely irrelevant. We can't really know who anyone is. We don't really know you are Paul Smith or which Paul Smith. Based on signature, we don't know Conniekat, rafa, swimmy jimmy, susan, swim53, or nyswim and that's just in this thread. I'm the dissenting opinion here and I know that but that doesn't mean I should be held to a higher standard than others who've posted. If you ask for mine then ask for all. I'm slightly sorry to have caused this much of a discussion. Only slightly though. Isn't it about time for the yearly discussion of pool termp and noodlers?