Call me an old fashioned cynic, but Gary Hall's oh so exclusive "Race Club" seems to generate more amusement than intimidation. To review the bidding for those with real lives, Mr. Hall announced a few months ago his intent to form his own club dedicated to elite swimming. It has a fabulous location and training facility in the Florida Keys. It will cover travel, training and living expenses. (I'm tempted to ask who is fronting the money, but I won't denigrade Mr. Hall's ability to raise funds.) If you want to join them, send in a resume; don't call us; we'll call you. Let us look over your accoplishments and decide whether you are worthy.
Hmm, great facilities, don't have to share pool time with the non-world class members (i.e. 99%) of a Swim Club, just about all expenses paid. Unless you have your own lucrative endorsement deal, what swimmer wouldn't want to join this team?
Well, the initial members of the "Swim Club" were announced last week. www.swiminfo.com/.../6097.asp Eight Olympians sounds real impressive. But then you look at the list a little more closely. Eleven swimmers, and although I have not googled everyone of them, all of the ones I have googled are in their late 20's or older. Or in other words, 3 of the 11 swimmers are chronologically at the back end of their careers, and they have not yet made their nation's Olympic Team. Closer scrutiny reveals 10 of the 11 are men. Just about all of them swim the 50 free or 50 fly, and few of them seriously compete in anything other that the 50 or 100 free or fly. In contrast to the lack of age, gender and event diversity, the team does have members of many nationalities and ethic backgrounds. However, the most telling stat of all is that roughly half of the members I checked are not currently ranked in the World Top 20 Rankings, LCM or SCM, in any event.
Overall, the "Swim Club" sort of reminds me of the kind of team a rookie fantasy league coach would assemble--there are a lot of names you would recognize, but their most productive years may be behind them. To be fair, all of these folks are amazing, world-class swimmers. Their careers to date have been awesome, and they remain extraordinary today by any standard, except arguably World Rankings. In contrast, I am an opinionated loud mouth. I would be delighted to see them find new speed and light up the scoreboards next year with medals and records, and make a complete monkey of me. As of right now, I think may the "Swim Club's" gloss may have exceeded its actual capabilities.
Matt
Former Member
THANK YOU! I am so glad I am not the only one who sees this as possibly an end around to traditional hard work as part of a larger team. The "elitest camp" atmosphere will certainly not endear (sp) these folks to their national teams though a cursory glance reveals what Matt already mentioned: these folks probably won't be taking up too many spots on the medal stand in Athens. Good luck and more power to them for taking a shot, though.
Hall Jr has made some money in endorsements but he is the grandson of Charles Keating. Charles Keating has a lot of wealth but had to spent some time in prison over a saving and loan scandal. Hall Sr also has a pretty luracrative eye business in the metro Phoenix area. Hall Sr is an eye doctor. Hall Jr's relatvies live in Paraside Valley which is the wealthest neighorhood of Arizona. Probably Hall came from the wealthest family background of any swimmer outside of Dara Torres. But probably he has made money on his own investing it.
I see this as an experiment -- let's see how it works. If it helps some elite (or not) swimmers extend their professional careers, great. If not, no harm done.
Well, I have nothing against Hall Jr, I casually knew his father back in 1972 and 1973 when he workout with Huntington Beach swim club. And his father was one of the nicer people toward me. I just was explaining that the family has money.
I don't understand the fuss. Seems like this is a fairly decent thing to do with no bad motives involved. Who cares how it is funded or who his grandaddy is? This is good publicity for swimming and Hall is quite popular.
I wasn't aware that all swimming items were subject to the scrutiny of USMS. Just let 'em swim.
Why so cynical? Based on what I've read, the "Race Club" is designed to help older swimmers extend thier careers.
Here is a quote from the Miami Herald Article about the "Race Club"
''The only reason many swimmers are forced out of swimming is because of the funding,'' Hall said Friday. ``I think we've demonstrated in the past that you don't have to stop swimming when you turn 21 years old.''
The club funding is coming from a foundation Hall and his father created to support swimmers. Hall and his father recently sold the Phoenix Swim Club and used that money to start the foundation.
''It's kind of like a scholarship to bring in swimmers who under other circumstances couldn't continue swimming,'' Hall said.
I don't care for the name "Race Club" but I wish Gary Hall and company the best of luck as they work together to prolong their swimming careers.
Michael
Here is a link to the original article I referenced.
www.miami.com/.../6768338.htm
Matt - You don't have to "denigrate" Gary Hall by asking him who is funding his swim club. It is spelled out in Black and White.
Bert: Are you out of your mind. Gary Hall, Mark Foster and Roland Shoeman could go 1,2,3 in the 50 free at Athens. This team is beyond incredible. So much talent will be left in the pool everyday they should bottle the water and sell it on Ebay.
And the team was specifically designed for sprinters. To complain about that is like saying the Yankees don't have a decent bowler on the whole squad - WHO CARES!
This is a great idea, and great for swimming. Any swimmer who complains about Hall clearly doesn't understand that having the World Championships relegated to ESPN 2 on tape delay is a BAD thing.
Like I said in my first post, the money is not the issue. I don't care how he pays for it. I do think, in a friendly sibling kidding kind of way, that this team's gloss exceeds its potential.
But hey, I would be DELIGHTED to find out that I am completely wrong, and this setting really does generate world and olympic medal winners...potentially for the first time in their swimming careers for some (but clearly NOT the first time for others).
BTW, concerning the Yankee analogy, this is NOT the same as the Yankees having no bowlers. This is like the Yankees having 20 power hitting outfielders, and a middle infielder, a catcher, and three pitchers, all with a good stick. If there was truth in advertising applied to the team name, it would be called "The 50 Free and 50 Fly, over 25 Club." Someone with the inclination could do the math, but I'd guess that if these folks swam a dual meet against a Top-20, Div I college team (we'll even leave the divers at home), they'd lose.
Matt
