If I am reading this right, Swiminfo.com is reporting that Craig Stevens is indeed going to back out of the 400 and leave it up to Australia Swimming to "pick another member of the Olympic Team" to swim that race in Athens. If I am ANY other country, swimmer, the 3rd place finisher at the Trials or an organization interested in ethics, then I am raising a stink on this one!!!! Thorpe DQ'd and the Aussies are going to skirt the rule and get him in anyway. They would be relegated to the status of Ben Johnson, Rosie Ruiz, and the 60+% of MLB who are on steriods! This is FREAKIN' UNBELIEVABLE. I have no respect for any of the aforementioned and if this happens, none for Ian Thorpe and the Australian swim federation (or whatever official name they hide behind) are in that seeming, stinking pile.
Former Member
Originally posted by swimmer
I think he should take the 75k to go on the air and announce he is swimming the 400.
That would be interesting.
Originally posted by Karen Duggan
Originally posted by aquageek
...
And I'm not sure (not that my understanding is necessary!) what you were talking about with vets, Southerners, etc. I probably missed something. However, if you are speaking about the NY Yankees (!) I'm happy to bash them with you! (My father-in-law is a HUGE fan and we tease each other constantly; I like the SF Giants.)....
The vets, southerners etc. was from a previous post concerning VO2 max. 'Nuff said.
As for the Yankees, I agree. Can't stand them. I'm from Pittsburgh originally. Let's Go Bucs.
Originally posted by kaelonj
I can see the new mastercard commercial now:
Swim Cap - $3.00
Goggles - $8.95
Hi-tech swim Suit - $250.00
Spot on the Australian Olympic swim team $75,000
Olympic Gold medal - Priceless
Some things can't be bought for everything else there's mastercard.
:D :D :D :D
Technically he false started, but in reality he simply fell off the block. This was not the Olympics but the Olympic trials, held for the sole purpose of selecting the Olympic team. Both Thorpe and Stevens made the team, the question was which events they would swim. Stubbornly upholding Thorpe's DQ would have done a service to no one (but would have been consistent with the philosophy of the DMV as Shaky suggested).
Originally posted by Karen Duggan
This is becoming an Ion-esque discussion that I'm almost done with (after this thread unless I'm directly addressed).
I believe the correct term is "Ionic," or alternatively "Ionian."
Ooooh, now you're getting nasty, Shaky. You are on shaky ground! Pun intended ;)
Seriously though. By all means I would love to see Thorpe swim. I truly would. I am happy for him. You are right, it is the AOC's decision and they will do what they will do. They did.
But, it still doesn't take the stinky fish smell away. This has been handled badly.
Oh, and why I said you're getting nasty... I HATE those people that go way too far to get their kid "what they deserve" when in fact they don't DESERVE anything that they haven't worked for.
I teach 6th grade in a more affluent area and you'd be amazed at the entitlement around there... it drives me batty. (Not a long trip for me ;) ) Parents are so concerned that their child didn't get an A and it not only won't get them into college, it will scar them for life! This is how these nuts think. Mind you, we've had former students who committed suicide in college because it was the first time they failed and couldn't handle it. Don't get me started, although I think you already did. :p
One of my former student's dad writes for the SF Chronicle and he wrote about this very thing. It can be found on-line. I'll find it later and attach it here. It's an amazingly accurate article, sadly.
THORPE FALSE STARTED.
I think I've mentioned that once or twice.
(This is a running joke with my students. Often 11 year olds don't listen very well, so when I really want to make sure they'll do something I'll repeat it 6 or 7 times in a row, until they roll their eyes and say, "You said that already!" then I'll say it again and say, "Did I mention that yet?" They have fun with it and they do what they're supposed to.) Hey, should I try that with the AOC? Nah, it's none of my business. But if I had to grade them, I'd give them an F for this assignment and it doesn't mean fail!
Originally posted by aquageek
I think everyone on this thread recognizes he false started so not sure what your point is by repeating it. The only point is that Australia is allowed to interpret and implement THEIR rules as THEY see fit.
I repeated it as an attempt for humor for Karen. I know everyone knows he false started.:)
I wonder if Australia will change their procedures in the future to allow for this. I don't think Thorpe will be the one and only outstanding athlete to do this.
Quance was not as outstanding as Thorpe, so it is not as good of a comparison, but Phelps is. What if he false starts on something he would win hands down? Hope it does not happen, but would be interesting to see what USA would do, especially after Australia doing this.
Whoops thunder, don't want my modem zapped, so gotta get off!
Geek, I agree with ya on that one!:D This has been a rather decent discussion on this topic! Nice to know that people can disagree without being mean about it! I really appreciate a good discussion! Thanks to all of you Pro and Con!:D
Originally posted by aquageek
If Stevens is on the team, will make money from this (talk about shady), Thorpe swims and the Australians have done absolutely nothing wrong, what do you do-gooders have left to claim, other than he false started?
But the Rules! The Rules! What about The Rules?! If we don't stick to The Rules no matter what, chaos will ensue! Grown men will then steal candy from children and laugh at their crying! Young thugs will beat up old ladies for their purses and get away with it! Lawyers and accountants will be out of business! Once you let one Rule slide, all of them are sure to follow! Anarchy! Chaos! The ruin of civilization!!!!
