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.
Originally posted by tjburk
By the way Geek, in another thread, it seems that 53 out of the 66 people that voted agree with me on this one! We think Stevens should keep his spot! He earned it!
Can't stop myself...
I would imagine that 53/66 Australians probably feel differently and since it's THEIR rules, THEIR swimmer and THEIR Olympic cmte I suggest that carries a whole lot more weight than what 53 Masters swimmers in the US think.
And, tjburk, Stevens might have a modicum of respect if he wasn't peddling his story for $75K across Australia with his agent.
Call me a purist but I still think people can follow their own rules.
Originally posted by aquageek
In the hope of not gaining a disparaging description for my own ramblings, I think I will let this go and have enjoyed the lively debate.
I wouldn't be adverse to a swampoid.
Also, I was not referring to the NY Yankees. The War of Northern Aggression is still well remembered down here. Maybe I should get over it, huh?
Yeah, we (or at least I) knew that you were talking about those of us north of the Mason-Dixon line - but that could open a can ov worms that none of us wants to get into!:(
I am sure the network will do one of those glossy stories about the trauma and despair of Thorpe and Stevens, and hype it all up, and stir it all up again.
Never said that I was better suited to judge swimming. He broke a rule at a qualifying meet and was disqualified. Nothing else needs to be said. He shouldn't swim! If he wins he will forever be in that category of...should it have been? IMHO no!
By the way Geek, in another thread, it seems that 53 out of the 66 people that voted agree with me on this one! We think Stevens should keep his spot! He earned it!
I think that Stevens earned his spot and should not be pressured to step down. Thorpe would earn a lot of respect if he came out and supported Stevens. If Stevens is being forced to step down then this is just wrong.
On the other hand if something would happen that Stevens could not swim then I think that Australia has the right to pick a replacement of thier own choosing.
I agree with Geek about the asterisk. I don't think Stevens should step down and even if he does, the #3 swimmer (I don't even know his name!) should be picked. But no matter what happens, please no asterisk.
I was hoping to see Ian Thorpe attempt to be the first man to win 3 straight 400 Free titiles in the Olympics. But I knew that might not be a possibility because in the last year he has hinted that he just wanted to swim the 100 and 200 Meter Free events. The only other person besides Ian to win two straight 400 Free titles is Murray Rose. I never expected him to retire before 2008 Olympics. I brought back this post from long ago because a lot of people thought that he should not have swam the 400 Free in the first place.
