michael phelps--how many thing he will do it?

Emmett, I completely understand your point about NBC's coverage, and I think it is valid. Clearly, we in the swimming world would like to see our favorite sport get more exposure, credit, money for the pros, etc. Moreover, we are, or we should be, OK with seeing it morph into a bit more of a spectator friendly spectacle, and not be such purists about covering a meet just the way we want it. I agree this is a trend in the direction where we want to go. However, you can overdo it. Everyone would like to take college courses where the instructors are lively, interesting and humorous where appropriate, but there comes a point when a lecture ceases to be an educational presentation and turns into a stand-up routine. Everyone would like a little jazzy, more engaging music in their worship service, but there comes a point where it ceases to be a worship service and turns into a Vegas floor show. We would all like swimming to be more popular, but I hope we stop short of the WWF or NBA big money, freak show. If we were to look for a model of what we'd like, I would recommend the way swimming is covered as a major sport in Australia. Maybe I'm dreamin', and we Americans are culturally prone to turn our major sports into cynical, money-grubbing, self-promotion-above-all-else cess-pools, but hey, a guy can dream, can't he? Matt

Emmett, I completely understand your point about NBC's coverage, and I think it is valid. Clearly, we in the swimming world would like to see our favorite sport get more exposure, credit, money for the pros, etc. Moreover, we are, or we should be, OK with seeing it morph into a bit more of a spectator friendly spectacle, and not be such purists about covering a meet just the way we want it. I agree this is a trend in the direction where we want to go. However, you can overdo it. Everyone would like to take college courses where the instructors are lively, interesting and humorous where appropriate, but there comes a point when a lecture ceases to be an educational presentation and turns into a stand-up routine. Everyone would like a little jazzy, more engaging music in their worship service, but there comes a point where it ceases to be a worship service and turns into a Vegas floor show. We would all like swimming to be more popular, but I hope we stop short of the WWF or NBA big money, freak show. If we were to look for a model of what we'd like, I would recommend the way swimming is covered as a major sport in Australia. Maybe I'm dreamin', and we Americans are culturally prone to turn our major sports into cynical, money-grubbing, self-promotion-above-all-else cess-pools, but hey, a guy can dream, can't he? Matt