Breakfast at the Long Beach Cafe

RE: Breakfast at the Long Beach Cafe

Former Member — Tue, 20 Jul 2004 08:45:34 GMT

Awesome stories, thanks for sharing. I feel privileged just about every morning our Masters group shares the pool with a part of our national team... I get to see Chad, Justin and Larsen a few times a week. :D It's awesome to watch them practice.

RE: Breakfast at the Long Beach Cafe

Former Member — Tue, 20 Jul 2004 06:58:37 GMT

Here's the picture taken by Rich Abrahams at the Long Beach Cafe. Pictured (left to right) Daniel Di Toro (finalist in 100 fly), Aaron Piersol, Ian Crocker, and Brendan Hansen. I ran into Daniel Di Toro at the Race Club party a day or two later, and it was his 21st birthday -- so he was celebrating. Great guy -- and he got 5th in the finals of the 100 fly. Anyway, enjoy the picture (and thanks Rich for capturing the moment)!! :) Swimmer Bill

RE: Breakfast at the Long Beach Cafe

Former Member — Wed, 14 Jul 2004 16:46:59 GMT

Swimmer BillI was carded at Hooters today (I'm 38!). Who did you pay off:p You may look 30, but no way should you have been carded:D :D I had to work and could not come to the finals today, looks like both Phelps and Ian swam great. A new world record in a slow pool is impressive. Also the Race Club did well, with Gary Hall winning in a very fast time.

RE: Breakfast at the Long Beach Cafe

Former Member — Wed, 14 Jul 2004 11:06:39 GMT

I had a conversation with Aaron Piersol during the Race Club party last night. The party was held on the roof of Smooth's Sports Grill, and it was like an Oscar party for swimmers. It was simply unreal!! Packed house, hip-hop music, down and dirty dancing, free Coronas, the "Corona Girls", and many Olympians (past and present). The people who managed the grill got a crash course in partying last night. In fact, they had to kick us all out at the end when it was time to close down -- and the party moved down the street to the Dubliner. I walked to the Dubliner with none other than Beth Botsford on my arm, and we had a memorable conversation about a lot of things, including an article she had recently written for Swimming World. Anyway, I found out what Aaron Piersol had at the Long Beach Cafe the day he set his world record. It was a grilled chicken cobb sandwich with bacon, crumbled bleu cheese and avocado. He wasn't sure if it was the reason for his record, but he did enjoy it. ~Bill

RE: Breakfast at the Long Beach Cafe

Former Member — Wed, 14 Jul 2004 06:42:55 GMT

Gary was it then? Ciarla was in the 50 final as well but didn't make it. Was there anyone else from the race club at the trials?

RE: Breakfast at the Long Beach Cafe

Former Member — Wed, 14 Jul 2004 06:36:07 GMT

Sabir (Race Club) came in 3rd place for the 50. Missed the 2nd place time by 8/100ths.

RE: Breakfast at the Long Beach Cafe

Former Member — Wed, 14 Jul 2004 05:29:57 GMT

Other than Gary Hall, how many other American swimmers did the race club place on the team?

RE: Breakfast at the Long Beach Cafe

joy — Wed, 14 Jul 2004 04:47:17 GMT

I only saw 4. 3men & 1 women. Gary, I think, was the only one to make the cuts. I was hoping Sabir would make it also. What a nice person. Met all of them at Nats last spring.

RE: Breakfast at the Long Beach Cafe

Former Member — Tue, 13 Jul 2004 16:49:54 GMT

Kalifornia has Arnold, nuff said. Too bad the swimming olympics are not in the USA or Australia in a fast pool. Greece will be Hot Hot Hot. There was a reason they went to wars for 10 years or more, to get a cool breeze.:D You won't find that in any of Homers writings, but it is the truth

RE: Breakfast at the Long Beach Cafe

Former Member — Tue, 13 Jul 2004 16:17:59 GMT

Who here DOESN'T like Swim Fever? I know I have a BAD case of Swim Fever and it's the best feeling in the world!

RE: Breakfast at the Long Beach Cafe

Former Member — Tue, 13 Jul 2004 15:23:47 GMT

I would like to share a couple of stories about Ian Crocker. I have the good fortune of swimming at the UT Austin pool. A while back I decided I would ask Ian to autograph a cap for a friend of mine who lives in Maine. I asked him one day and he said, "of course." I told him I needed to buy the cap and would catch up with him with it soon. He said, "I've got a spare cap," and proceeded to autograph one of his own. I got not just an autographed cap, but HIS autographed cap! Another time I was having breakfast with some non-swimming friends. We walked out of the restaurant and were standing outside chatting when the loud noise of a car, lets say, 'enthusiastically' taking off at a green light caught everyone's attention. My friends' responses were mostly, "What an a***ole!", but when I looked up and saw the unmistakable burnt-orange Buick, I exclaimed, "That's Ian Crocker, that's Ian Crocker!" like a star-struck fan! I tried to impress upon my friends the significance of their brush with greatness (world record holder, gold medal Olympian...), and to chalk up the admittedly questionable driving behavior to youthful exuberance, though I'm not sure I succeeded.

RE: Breakfast at the Long Beach Cafe

Former Member — Tue, 13 Jul 2004 10:57:55 GMT

So, the car is very much like the man. The car is awesome and so is Ian!

RE: Breakfast at the Long Beach Cafe

Former Member — Tue, 13 Jul 2004 10:43:43 GMT

Swimming in chlorinated pools keep us looking young, brother! If you get carded, it just means you look young for your age.

RE: Breakfast at the Long Beach Cafe

Former Member — Tue, 13 Jul 2004 10:32:25 GMT

So, the car is very much like the man. Already a classic before leaving Maine, Crocker really souped-it-up in Texas! One more highlight to report: I was carded at Hooters today (I'm 38!). Gotta love Masters swimming!! :) ~Bill

RE: Breakfast at the Long Beach Cafe

Former Member — Tue, 13 Jul 2004 08:39:13 GMT

It's a souped-up 1971 Riviera muscle car. Does that sound more like it?

RE: Breakfast at the Long Beach Cafe

Former Member — Tue, 13 Jul 2004 08:24:41 GMT

Ian is from Maine and lives in Texas. Are you really shocked?? ;)

RE: Breakfast at the Long Beach Cafe

Former Member — Tue, 13 Jul 2004 05:13:16 GMT

They make a great Greek omelette at the Long Beach Cafe. So, it looks like today's "breakfast of champions" worked for Aaron Piersol. Piersol blew Michael Phelps out of the water in the 200 back, and he blew us all away by lowering his world record in the 200 back from 1:55.15 to 1:54.74. What an awesome evening of swimming!! Amanda Beard defiantly snatched back her world record in the 200 *** (2:22.44) after losing it to Aussi Liesel Jones three days ago. And Caroline Bruce, grand-niece of our own Jeff Farrell, stunned the crowd and the other swimmers by sneaking into second, ahead of Kristy Kowal, Tara Kirk, Megan Quann, and Staciana Stitts! WOW-WOW-WOW!! I wonder if she ate at the Long Beach Cafe too.... One other highlight: Brian Goodell was hanging around in our box, and we all got to meet him. Gail Roper was sitting with us, and Brian honored Gail with an originally unscheduled trip to the awards podium to present the awards for the 200 ***. Gail was thrilled! And we were thrilled for her. She was as giddy as a little girl. ~Bill

RE: Breakfast at the Long Beach Cafe

knelson — Tue, 13 Jul 2004 04:59:15 GMT

OK, I guess I can live with that...

RE: Breakfast at the Long Beach Cafe

knelson — Tue, 13 Jul 2004 03:58:34 GMT

Originally posted by Kim Tarnower but when I looked up and saw the unmistakable burnt-orange Buick, I exclaimed, "That's Ian Crocker, that's Ian Crocker!" like a star-struck fan! Ian Crocker drives a Buick?!! Frankly, I'm shocked. :D

RE: Breakfast at the Long Beach Cafe

Former Member — Mon, 12 Jul 2004 15:43:59 GMT

Thanks Bill, great story. I bet some of them thought "could I still swim a 48 when I'm 55"! I really should have worn more Masters Swimming stuff. Bill and I were talking to a lady who looks like she could swim a 52 second hundred, she was close to 40 and wants to get into Masters swimming in Southern Kalifornia. And don't forget next year Southern Kalifornia will host USMS Long Course Nationals.

RE: Breakfast at the Long Beach Cafe

Former Member — Mon, 12 Jul 2004 14:41:26 GMT

Bill - Awesome post. I'll have to try and get over to that diner. All - USA cable network is also showing some of the final swims during the Track & Field coverage. If tomorrow (Tues) USA is covering more T&F, I would expect them to cut in again with the mens 50 free final and 100 fly final. I think NBC realized after the very positive reaction to Friday and Sunday's coverage, they decided to get in some more!

RE: Breakfast at the Long Beach Cafe

NKMD — Mon, 12 Jul 2004 11:50:18 GMT

Swimming Fever has caught on. Go USA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Mission Viejo has the SPMA Zone meet July 30-Aug 1. great tune-up for nexts years Nationals. Great pool. Yes, those Kalifonians are awesome. BUT, Hawaiians are mo' betta. :-)

RE: Breakfast at the Long Beach Cafe

Former Member — Mon, 12 Jul 2004 10:23:53 GMT

Yes, never disturb hungry swimmers! What a wonderful post! I wish I were there right now, but I'm getting ready for my workout with my LMSC's team. Either way I'm still getting exposed to swimming! As for the trials on TV, they were AWESOME!! I was like my dad on Monday night football... I get a little crazy when I see swimmers on TV racing in a competition. I just wished that NBC had more live coverage of the swimming trials. ME WANT MORE! ME LIKE SWIMMING!

RE: Breakfast at the Long Beach Cafe

knelson — Mon, 12 Jul 2004 06:11:46 GMT

And they are making me very sorry I didn't go! Why the heck didn't I go? :mad:

RE: Breakfast at the Long Beach Cafe

mattson — Mon, 12 Jul 2004 05:40:04 GMT

Hey Bill, great post. Between you and Wayne, it is nice to get some of the back story behind these Trials. Originally posted by Swimmer Bill ... we all thought we probably shouldn't bother the swimmers while they were eating. I'm guessing you were too polite to say: you would have lost a limb if you put your arm (holding an autograph book) in front of a feeding swimmer. :D