Enjoyed the articles about us ordinary people

I was very sad to hear the news about Phillip Whitten having Parkinsons. His book was the first book on swimming that I ever bought and reading it has helped me to rekindle my interest in the sport. I hope that he can continue to swim. I am not sure how much Parkinsons stops swimming. I suppose it depends on the severity. Personally I think that 'Swim' magazine is a good publication. You are lucky in the US to have 3 titles to choose from. There is only 1 title in the UK, 'Swimming', which is improving, but has few articles of the scope and depth that appear in 'Swim' and 'Swimming Technique'. The masters swimmers in the UK and in Canada have a small newsletter. A good UK magazine on swimming was launched last year but the backers pulled support after only 3 issues. It seems that swimmers in general don't buy magazines aimed at them. Is there no interest, or do masters swimmers feel that they have little new info to learn ? My favourite publication in recent years was " Fitness Swimmer". This was excellent, with in depth articles, loads of photos, lots on technique and strength development etc. This folded after a few years as not enough swimmers bought the publication. I wonder if 'Swim' magazine could have some of the ideas and content that was in 'fitness swimmer' combined with the Masters results and meet info that it already has. The result would be a very good publication indeed !

Originally posted by laineybug ... Despite his limited time, C J is saying he is still better than Ion who has more time to practice. ... You see, what I said and what I say is that: 1.) as a late bloomer, my times stand out amongst late bloomers; 2.) as a late bloomer, my times are good amongst lifelong swimmers; I am in the top 10% in every Masters club I have been across U.S., and in meets I overtake plenty of lifelong swimmers who are already a small percentage of the people who dare to compete. What I do in training must be good to achieve 1.) and 2.). 1.) and 2.) are cj's, laineybug's and others' ignorance. Experiment with this: .) take a fast twitch track star -say Tim Montgomery-, put him in the water, and ask cj and laineybug to develop the track star from the age 28 upwards, better than Gary Hall in order to make the U.S. Olympic Team; .) because this is unheard off in swimming, there is a physical limitation in being a late bloomer in swimming. With this perspective, I would like to see cj's name, times and background as lifelong swimmer against my times and background as a late bloomer: it will display my competitiveness and show that cj's "...I've actually felt sorry for you after reading your crap for a couple of years and seeing you at Nats...." is stated by a null.

I hate to jump into something (other than the pool) but a few people in particular should figure out that the time for scholarships to college is well gone. As adults we swim for our own enjoyment and enrichment. We don't have to prove ourselves to one another by showing that we are lifetime competitive swimmers or are recent arrivals to the swimming scene. I swim because I LIKE to swim. I try to make time for it in my day but I don't live and breathe swimming. I don't keep meticulous records on my computer or log so that I can prove that I've improved from one year to the next. Or that I swam on a particular day in a certain suit with a number of people in my lane or the outside temperature was X. People, and some of you probably recognize yourselves,--Get a life!!! Meet people other than swimmers! Read a book--and not about swimming or swimming methods! I LIKE to see articles in Swim that show the differences in the people participating. I did like to read Fitness Swimmer and was sorry to see it go. BUT--I don't dwell on each issue of Swim and pick it to pieces. Someone else pointed out--you don't like EVERYTHING in a magazine--you read what you want and just leave the rest. If you don't like the editorial content--then don't read it or purchase it!

I think this is for me: Originally posted by msgrupp ... People, and some of you probably recognize yourselves,--Get a life!!! Meet people other than swimmers! Read a book--and not about swimming or swimming methods! ... To which I respond, that you have a life, when: a.) you speak four languages like I do; b.) you make 100% of your living in the third language, not in your native, not in a second, but in a third; c.) the I.N.S. brings you in U.S. because there are not enough qualified local scientists at the level of your work; d.) you are a late bloomer in swimming, training to fit among the top 10% anywhere in U.S.; e.) you follow the sport, in order to excel. Now, I meet a.), b.), c.) and d.) which is not ordinary, and I bet that you don't meet them. Do you think that I don't have a life but that you do? It is the other way around...

Ion, what about our challenge? Your fault? Ducking me? How bout justifying your attack on SWIM and overweights? I'm waiting eagerly for that explanation, as what you said earlier is nonsensical. MSGrubb was right on. Absolutely right on. And Ion, just to satisfy you, top ten (not %) in various years in three strokes. With some years on you. (Bet that'll keep ya busy!) And, best of all, I'm not obsessed. I have a life outside the pool (which I've seen very little of this year). Hell, my kids don't even know what an individual sport is. You're WAY out there . . . further than I thought after seeing your latest.

So, to begin: 1.) what's your name, cj? 2.) when did you start swimming, cj? 3.) what are your times -that I can check under your name- in 2003?

I was saying that single people are sometimes busy too. Oraph Windrey who never married or had children is very busy with her TV production and is the wealthest black person in the United States. In Ion case maybe he should have other interests besides the swimming. Believe me as a teenager the swimming almost crush my spirit and maybe this its doing the same to Ion as an adult since he has to swim against many guys that swam either age group or college swimming when they were younger. The women have less of that problem because college programs for them were not as a able in the 1970's as they were for the guy swimmers. I'm glad Ion came to the US legally. The state of California has too many people that immirgated illegality and I'm not just talking about Mexicans.

Ion, you could redeem yourself by admitting occasionally (or even once) that you are extreem and wrong. Here, I'll put a challenge to you (which I know you won't pass up). I'll admit my own fault if you can admit yours: You correctly pointed out that I really didn't identify myself well. You're right. I know too many people who monitor this site, and I'm frankly embarrassed that I spoke up so strongly about you. There you have it. I'm hiding, but nevertheless had a worthy contribution to this site as noone else was really calling you to task on your BS. I see your reply. Is that the best you can do? Address what I really said, Ion. However, your reply does prompt one of my own. I will give you a couple of hints. I'm older and much faster than you, even in your strong events of middle distance free. I also have a life (wife and kids and demanding job) outside of swimming. You should seek your own life to get some perspective. That's as far as I'll go. Now, what's YOUR shortcoming, Ion?

You missed my point. Now you're obsessed with me and overlooking our issue at hand. I'm not goin' there with you, as there's no purpose. Again, get OFF the swimming and address why you attack SWIM magazine and overweight people who try to better themselves by choosing to exercise. Sorry Ion, as I've said before, I have long admired your spirit, knowledge and accomplishments. You've done well. You just need to tone it down a bit. You manage to offend several people about once a month. You could bring so much more to the table by sensing when to relax and respect the way others choose to live and think. You don't need to go out of your way to piss people off and take the value and enjoyment out of a message board intended to be constructive. It's OK to disagree without being disagreeable. Take a break from this obsession called swimming. It's healthy.

It's been half an hour since I posted this: Originally posted by Ion Beza So, to begin: 1.) what's your name, cj? 2.) when did you start swimming, cj? 3.) what are your times -that I can check under your name- in 2003? Any problem with you giving me your identity cj, for the purpose of me verifying you? Because without me verifying you, cj, your claims of achievements in swimming are baseless, including yesterday's: Originally posted by c j ... Ion acts elite and above us all, but his times in the pool are nothing to get excited about. ... I've actually felt sorry for you after reading your crap for a couple of years and seeing you at Nats. ... In your vein so far, I would claim that I am f e and that I make top 4 in an USMS age group.