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
Parents
Former Member
Hello Lobster Haters!,
I totally agree with you guys! Yeah, so I guess "the Race Club" is taking their breath control techniques to the beautiful southern florida key waters...what IDIOTS! I think they should ignore the wonders of the world and stay in that square tub of water with the lines on the bottom that they have been up and down for the good part of their lives!.....So just to make this clear:
Lobster Haters...puh leaaaase puh leaaaaaaase? Puh lease what? Puh lease open your eyes! What is the big joke about diving 35 feet and peeping into the coral for some lobster. I have been snorkeling in 15 feet and had a difficult time staying under for 30 seconds, these guys are diving twice as deep and staying under for 2-3 minutes! But since they are having fun while expanding their lung capacity it becomes a joke??? I guess you Lobster Haters would stop saying puh leaaase, if they posted that for their breath control sets involved them taking a deep breath, sinking 6 feet to a cement bottom, staying their for 2-3 minutes. I've had to do this in breath control sets, and let me tell you the whole 1:55 I was down there I was imagining that I was swimming in the ocean diving and checking out the sea life that flourishes in the coral rock of the bahamas and southern florida!
SO! ONE MORE TIME, puuhh lleaaaaaase get whatever chips off your shoulder and open your minds, you might be able to see that the sport can be fun while productive at the same time. These "old timers" as you seem to think of them, are more accomplished swimmers than "99%" of swimming. It seems as if though that 99% could look up to these heroes of the sport instead of criticizing their attempts to prove that the "back half" of the swimming career can be the strongest. I know that if I was a world class athlete, I would continue doing it as long as I could...I'm sure you all have your reasons for still swimming as well.
So why dont you guys stop with the stupid little chat conversations, about how big of a joke it is or whatever you think. If you are going to write something that isn't in support why dont you write what "The Race Club" is doing to hurt the sport or the careers of swimmers? Otherwise, keep your negativity to yourselves. Maybe check out their new website, you at least could stop making outragous allegations and exaggerations. You might even find out that "the Race Club" is going to recruit ALL swimmers in ALL events.
I remember seeing a bunch of Olympians in 1997 in some Phx meet, I saw all the kids running to get their T-shirts signed and I can still see the huge grins on their faces (oh yeah the kids were smiling too). I saw that and wished there could be more meets like that one, unfortuneately I havent seen of or heard of one since...
"the Race Club"? yes puh leaaaase
Hello Lobster Haters!,
I totally agree with you guys! Yeah, so I guess "the Race Club" is taking their breath control techniques to the beautiful southern florida key waters...what IDIOTS! I think they should ignore the wonders of the world and stay in that square tub of water with the lines on the bottom that they have been up and down for the good part of their lives!.....So just to make this clear:
Lobster Haters...puh leaaaase puh leaaaaaaase? Puh lease what? Puh lease open your eyes! What is the big joke about diving 35 feet and peeping into the coral for some lobster. I have been snorkeling in 15 feet and had a difficult time staying under for 30 seconds, these guys are diving twice as deep and staying under for 2-3 minutes! But since they are having fun while expanding their lung capacity it becomes a joke??? I guess you Lobster Haters would stop saying puh leaaase, if they posted that for their breath control sets involved them taking a deep breath, sinking 6 feet to a cement bottom, staying their for 2-3 minutes. I've had to do this in breath control sets, and let me tell you the whole 1:55 I was down there I was imagining that I was swimming in the ocean diving and checking out the sea life that flourishes in the coral rock of the bahamas and southern florida!
SO! ONE MORE TIME, puuhh lleaaaaaase get whatever chips off your shoulder and open your minds, you might be able to see that the sport can be fun while productive at the same time. These "old timers" as you seem to think of them, are more accomplished swimmers than "99%" of swimming. It seems as if though that 99% could look up to these heroes of the sport instead of criticizing their attempts to prove that the "back half" of the swimming career can be the strongest. I know that if I was a world class athlete, I would continue doing it as long as I could...I'm sure you all have your reasons for still swimming as well.
So why dont you guys stop with the stupid little chat conversations, about how big of a joke it is or whatever you think. If you are going to write something that isn't in support why dont you write what "The Race Club" is doing to hurt the sport or the careers of swimmers? Otherwise, keep your negativity to yourselves. Maybe check out their new website, you at least could stop making outragous allegations and exaggerations. You might even find out that "the Race Club" is going to recruit ALL swimmers in ALL events.
I remember seeing a bunch of Olympians in 1997 in some Phx meet, I saw all the kids running to get their T-shirts signed and I can still see the huge grins on their faces (oh yeah the kids were smiling too). I saw that and wished there could be more meets like that one, unfortuneately I havent seen of or heard of one since...
"the Race Club"? yes puh leaaaase
