The award for the most ridiculous, self-absorbed, overzealous all sports entertainment network in the world goes to...
ESPN, for the 10th year running.
They have once again proven that outside the 4 major sports, Tiger Woods, and the Williams sisters, you're really not much of an athlete. Unless you count token consideration of Cael Sanderson and -ahem- Sarah Hughes (don't even get me started on figure skating).
No offense to college athlete of the year Sue Bird (UConn BB) but a certain swimmer from Cal who set at least 6 AR and 1 WR over the short course season would have had my vote.
Anyone else? Natalie Coughlin, female college athlete of the year as awarded by the USMS discussion crew?
-RM
I don't know why we worry so much about these other sports. Swimming will be around forever. With the way the so called four sports are headed with salary caps, owners, cost of tickets... they will all end up just like "Enron". It is going to take a couple of decades and it will happen.
Stop being like the Jones. Focus on what we can do for swimming, not what we don't have. Determine our path and follow it.
Lets see how well ESPN does this time around for the US Nationals which will be broadcast next Wednesday/Thursday around 2pm (EST). If they blow it and received a few hundred angry emails from the folks on this forum asking for better coverage you think anyone would listen?
PS: I'm looking forward to watching Natalie go under 1:00 in the 100m backstroke AFTER kicking the bottom of the pool several times!
Originally posted by aquageek
I would challenge you to name one single baseball position player that is out of shape. I've seen a pitcher or two that could shed some pounds but never a position player.
Since you asked: I saw the Mets-Giants game Wednesday night at Pac Bell Park. For a player out of shape, how about Mo Vaughn of the Mets - Listed as 6' 1" 275 pounds. (I would guess he weighed more). Good home run hitter, but I dont think he has two many doubles.
michael
Originally posted by aquageek
I would challenge you to name one single baseball position player that is out of shape. I've seen a pitcher or two that could shed some pounds but never a position player.
Since you asked: I saw the Mets-Giants game Wednesday night at Pac Bell Park. For a player out of shape, how about Mo Vaughn of the Mets - Listed as 6' 1" 275 pounds. (I would guess he weighed more). Good home run hitter, but I dont think he has two many doubles.
michael
Former Member
Way to go Ion. I don't know where I heard she was a backstroker. She was a top freestyler back in 1940. I need to read that autobiography.
Former Member
Originally posted by cinc310
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The Esther Williams story is another one that could have been done.
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I just finished reading 'The Million Dollar Mermaid', an autobiography by Esther Williams.
She qualified in the 100 meter freestyle for the 1940 Olympics that were canceled, then pioneered synchronized swimming through a Hollywood movie career that included non-swimming movies too, drama movies.
At the beginning of the book, she chooses partially by instinct her path in life, like young people do.
At the end of the book, in philosophical retrospective after 60 years of life, she writes:
'To my surprise, the women who were waiting to talk to me were gold medalists from all different sports, not just swimmers. They didn't want my autograph; they wanted to thank me for what I'd said to them.
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We can't all win Olympic gold medals. Even I never won one. But the message applies to all of us because each of us in our own way has races to run and swim. And with sufficient endurance and courage, we all can achieve some kind of victory in our lives.
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Before the plane began to move toward takeoff, the flight attendant said, "Are you really Esther Williams?"
"Yes," I said. "I really am. Thank you for asking."'.
