Michael Andrew goes pro at 14

RE: Michael Andrew goes pro at 14

sunruh — Thu, 27 Jun 2013 09:38:04 GMT

It also seems premature from a financial standpoint. Suppose he has a massive breakout year this year and storms on the the world scene. you have to look at it from 2 aspects: kids and sponsors. sponsors are thinking this could be the next phelps lets get in at the beginning and ride the kid to the top kid is thinking i am the next phelps and i am going to ride the sponsors to the top

RE: Michael Andrew goes pro at 14

Former Member — Wed, 26 Jun 2013 14:05:20 GMT

OK, I see what you're saying now. I don't remember Hoff's deal, but you probably remember correctly. Found it: sports.espn.go.com/.../story 10 year deal with Speedo paying her college tuition

RE: Michael Andrew goes pro at 14

Former Member — Wed, 26 Jun 2013 14:03:18 GMT

May I suggest that we unhijack this thread and return to discussing “Michael Andrew goes pro at 14”. If you wish to get into a theological debate, please re-read our forum rules before you start a thread about religious observances. Thank You Rob Copeland I wonder, as others already mentioned, how much money can this one sponsorship really be? Also, how much value can Andrews be to the sponsor? No one has heard of him outside the swimming community and even then not all of us. I would never have heard of him outside this board.

RE: Michael Andrew goes pro at 14

Former Member — Wed, 26 Jun 2013 13:51:11 GMT

I have to feel sorry for any swimmer who has to choose between being a breaststroker or a distance swimmer. Choosing to be a breaststroker is like choosing to be gay -no such thing, you're born that way. Hey Rob, how's that for a threadjacking? :anim_coffee:

RE: Michael Andrew goes pro at 14

Former Member — Wed, 26 Jun 2013 12:39:28 GMT

RE: Michael Andrew goes pro at 14

sunruh — Wed, 26 Jun 2013 12:03:40 GMT

B I N G O!!! i did not go to world champ trails at age 14. because they were not that year! but i did at age 15. i remember it very vividly. sitting in the stands for finals (nope didnt make consoles either) and watching Craig B. put a whooping on the field and set a new WR. i also vividly remember saying to myself how someday i was race against him. took almost 2 more years. nowadays, i dearly look forwards to seeing Beards at convention in the Swim Across America booth and the two of us old, fat guys, chatting and having a beer in the evenings talking about butterfly.

RE: Michael Andrew goes pro at 14

knelson — Wed, 26 Jun 2013 10:27:48 GMT

RE: Michael Andrew goes pro at 14

Former Member — Wed, 26 Jun 2013 09:36:58 GMT

Why not? Wasn't the tuition portion of the contract part of the incentive to get her to give up her eligibility? I could be remembering things wrong. He certainly could still get a Speedo contract, but it seems like he'd have one less bargaining chip.

RE: Michael Andrew goes pro at 14

Former Member — Wed, 26 Jun 2013 09:19:31 GMT

If you look at the psych sheet for the World Champs trials meet going on this week in Minneapolis you'll notice that Michael Andrew is not swimming. This is because he has not achieved any of the time standards yet. So I agree with the others who have mentioned that he's great (for his age), but he's not at the elite level in the sport yet. It seems very premature for him to go pro right now. It also seems premature from a financial standpoint. Suppose he has a massive breakout year this year and storms on the the world scene. He's already given up his college eligibility so he's not going to get a Speedo contract like Katie Hoff's that includes college tuition, etc. It seems like waiting might have been more prudent. :dunno:

RE: Michael Andrew goes pro at 14

Former Member — Wed, 26 Jun 2013 08:13:47 GMT

If I formerly held a NAG record I would probably bring it up 3-4 times in one thread too : )

RE: Michael Andrew goes pro at 14

__steve__ — Wed, 26 Jun 2013 06:24:36 GMT

Has anybody seen Time Bandits?

RE: Michael Andrew goes pro at 14

knelson — Wed, 26 Jun 2013 05:49:33 GMT

OK, I see what you're saying now. I don't remember Hoff's deal, but you probably remember correctly.

RE: Michael Andrew goes pro at 14

knelson — Wed, 26 Jun 2013 05:29:58 GMT

He's already given up his college eligibility so he's not going to get a Speedo contract like Katie Hoff's that includes college tuition, etc. Why not?

RE: Michael Andrew goes pro at 14

aloha — Tue, 25 Jun 2013 09:45:48 GMT

again, why do you care that this kid and/or his family use his platform (if thats what you want to call it) to preach (did the kid preach to you in that interview?)? does that honestly bother you? does Tim Tebow bother you? really? all the nonsense going on in this world and this stuff bothers you? if you dont care for Tebows "platform" dont listen or watch it. quite simple actually. you used the words arrogant, silly, obnoxious. mighty big of you. and exactly what are you doing to feed the millions of starving children of the planet?

RE: Michael Andrew goes pro at 14

gobears — Tue, 25 Jun 2013 09:31:41 GMT

@ aloha - I hardly think my comment qualifies me as a "tough internet assassin." Speaking as a former die-hard evangelical, I have come to realize over the years just how crazy it sounds to many people when you use your sports platform as a place to preach. It comes off as arrogant and silly, really. As if the God these people believe in is invested in imbuing these athletes with spectacular athletic ability so they can preach to the world, while he/she is not managing to do anything about millions of starving children. If you don't understand how obnoxious that is, I don't know what to tell you.

RE: Michael Andrew goes pro at 14

Chris Stevenson — Tue, 25 Jun 2013 09:01:29 GMT

Wunderlich could have been a GREAT distance swimmer. He was up until he started specializing in breastroke. I have to feel sorry for any swimmer who has to choose between being a breaststroker or a distance swimmer.

RE: Michael Andrew goes pro at 14

aloha — Tue, 25 Jun 2013 08:40:51 GMT

why do you people care if athletes speak about God, or Jesus? why would something like this bother you? do you think Tim Tebow or Kurt Warner care what you think? starving children have absolutely nothing to do with their faith. just because they outwardly thank God doesnt mean that they or God dont care about starving children. why does the mention of God outside of a church function offend people? has zero to do with you. I am not a super Christian but i certainly have no issue with folks voicing their faith. all you tough internet assassins - go voice your displeasure regarding this to their face in person. dont hide behind your keyboards. do you folks feel big ripping on this kid and his family? he is a swimmer. hes just a kid.

RE: Michael Andrew goes pro at 14

Former Member — Mon, 24 Jun 2013 15:34:18 GMT

I remember going to a U of Michigan meet against Stanford in 1990 and seeing Chas swim against Erik Namsnik and Eric Wunderlich and being soundly beaten. The whole point of this is just because you are a great age group swimmer, it does not translate to being a future Olympian. Chas placed top 6 in 3 out of 4 years in the NCAA and won the 200 *** at USA Nationals and was a great swimmer in his own right, he just never made it to the Olympics. Chas was a GREAT swimmer. He's actually on my Facebook and doing well with a beautiful family. I remember being at some of the same meet and being in awe of him, especially when we were young teens. I swam with Wunderlich at Dynamo here in Atlanta and his name caught my attention in your post. Wunderlich was also could have been a GREAT distance swimmer. He was up until he started specializing in breastroke. Some of the other age group "freaks" I remember is Leif Winnerstrom, Tripp Schwenk, and Joey Hudepohl.

RE: Michael Andrew goes pro at 14

Elaine Krugman — Mon, 24 Jun 2013 09:44:58 GMT

just once I would like to see a sports star harangue god for not supporting them when they lose. :lmao:That's EXACTLY what my husband keeps saying! I couldn't agree more...

RE: Michael Andrew goes pro at 14

Former Member — Mon, 24 Jun 2013 09:17:39 GMT

May God help him. :cool:

RE: Michael Andrew goes pro at 14

gobears — Mon, 24 Jun 2013 06:14:42 GMT

just once I would like to see a sports star harangue god for not supporting them when they lose. lol. Because sports performances must be a high priority when there are (low priority) starving children in the world...

RE: Michael Andrew goes pro at 14

Patrick W. Brundage — Mon, 24 Jun 2013 06:07:47 GMT

Agreed! It has become THE thing in all sports, these days- and, one of the things that drives me away from watching many sports interviews on TV (especially Tim Tebow).just once I would like to see a sports star harangue god for not supporting them when they lose.

RE: Michael Andrew goes pro at 14

smontanaro — Mon, 24 Jun 2013 03:41:07 GMT

That's another thing I like about hockey. Not a whole lot of turning the other cheek going on. :-) (That said, I'm no fan of the fighting.)

RE: Michael Andrew goes pro at 14

Elaine Krugman — Mon, 24 Jun 2013 03:04:04 GMT

I've been watching track nationals and there is much talk of "god" as well. I wish they'd just stick to discussing the training that got them there. Agreed! It has become THE thing in all sports, these days- and, one of the things that drives me away from watching many sports interviews on TV (especially Tim Tebow).

RE: Michael Andrew goes pro at 14

The Fortress — Mon, 24 Jun 2013 02:33:09 GMT

Impossible to know for sure if he would have more or less success with a traditional training program, but he's certainly having a ton of success with pure ultra-short race pace training. Fort, I would think you'd love this kid for his training method no matter what else he wants to use his "fame" to preach. I don't do ultra short training. I'll occasionally do an ultra set like 30 x (12.5 AFAP + 12.5 EZ kick w/fins) @ :30. But generally, I focus on high intensity/race pace training with maximum rest. The ultra rest intervals are fairly short. Now, I'm all for something different than just grinding out yardage and it's possible that the ultra short sets, which do focus on the aerobic energy system, could replace conventional aerobic sets. And who really needs to do lactate tolerance sets? :bolt: I've been watching track nationals and there is much talk of "god" as well. I wish they'd just stick to discussing the training that got them there.