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
I'm pretty sure I saw Gary in street clothes about 2 or 3 heats before. That would have given him only about three minutes to change.
How tall was the person you saw? Hall is about 6'6" or 6'7." (I know that because I stood next to him on Saturday and I'm 6'1" -- I never really thought of myself as little guy before. :p)
Yeah it was Hall, tatoo on the left shoulder, and around the right ankle. He walked right by me with his full body suit only partially on(to the waist guys, keep it clean!).
I am only 5-4, EVERYBODY at this dang meet was taller than me!
Hall was behind the blocks at least 2 heats before theirs, so it does make me wonder who you saw.
I know what he looks like, because after the 50 free, I was in one of the early heats of 200 IM. I had to step around the admiring throngs of people behind lane 4 to get to lane 6. I watched in amusement as the timer in my lane could not keep her eyes off of Gary. I even teased her about it, and she just said, she did not care, he was just too good to look at! It provided entertainment to watch Gary and Sabir shake hands, sgn autographs and get their picture taken. I swam my race, got out and they were still there!
They sure looked like they were having a good time.
I might have seen him earlier than I thought, but I'm sure it was Hall that I saw (and, yes, I was wearing my glasses). :confused:
Maybe he has super powers we haven't imagined.:p
The 100 fly has a *possible* explanation, but maybe someone else knows for sure.
The meet format was that the names of the swimmers did not appear on the scoreboard until the heat started. It appears that some people did not realize this, and were waiting until they saw their name/heat on the board. There were announcements, but those could be missed if you were sleeping in, warming up, etc.
(Personally, I think this is a good way to do it. I've been the last swimmer in a heat :D, and it stinks to not be able to see your final time if they are busy putting up the names of the next heat.)
Anyways, Neil (in that exact 100 fly heat) said he saw the Race Club members on deck, so was surprised that they scratched. It may be that they were waiting for the next heat info (which was too late).
I agree Hall is probably about your height, Mark, and Sabir is much taller. Good I am glad someone else saw him swimming the relay so I know I was not hallucinating at that point!
Originally posted by Tom Ellison
Naaa. you did not see Elvis..he works in a Burger King here in Rome, NY....;)
Hey - I can hallucinate however I want.
Weren't you just in Wyoming? Or are you goofing with us?
-LBJ
