What does everyone think about Gary Hall's comments about Michael Phelps being on the 4 x 100 freestyle relay at the Olympics. Gary pretty much feels that Michael shouldn't be on the relay since he didn't swim the 100 at the Olympic trials. Michael is being considered for the relay, since he has posted the second fastest time by an American this year.
I personally think Michael should be on the relay if he is setting the water a fire at the Olympics. I think any true team member would give up their spot on a relay to someone who is faster. It is about the best possible relay team - GO USA!!!!
Former Member
I agree with Gary. I think he should have swam the 100 free at trials if he wanted to be on the relay.
Former Member
You are underestimating both the cunning and the altruism of Gary Hall. ..
Gary Hall is one of the most clever, imaginative people in the sport today, and the only pity in the Phelps on the relay remarks is that they did not generate MORE barstool debates.
Contrast Hall's attitude with that of Neil Walker ("it's not a question of fair it's a question of fast"). Hall's antics are good for the sport but don't overestimate his smarts. In several interviews, Hall proved that he's not the most honest/smart person (Melissa Starke's question about rivalry with Lezak after spending all week denigrating Lezak as a big swimmer he denied any rivalry) and his "stupid" comments about the relay.
Hall is good for sport but le't face it..he's got a big mouth and talks before he thinks.
Re relay...there is a long, long history of selecting relay swimmers that DID NOT swim the 100 at trials.
Former Member
The following comment comes from a typical article about the 4x100 relay:
"the winning South Africans said Phelps’ presence in the race made their job easier. But don’t take that to mean the U.S. would have won if Hall had competed. The South Africans weren’t going to be beaten by anyone. America might have taken silver, but not gold."
Everyone is focusing on Phelps replacing Hall.
But had Ian Crocker been replaced by Gary Hall, Hall would have done better than a 50.05. Had he done a 48.59, USA would have beaten the field. (We finished 1.45 behind South Africa. Hall did a 48.73 on the anchor in the prelims, so maybe he couldn't have done 48.59 leading off...)
Former Member
The way Hall acted last night was classless. I am sorry I defended him earlier on this thread. Phelps was not the reason for bronze. South Africa wasn't going to lose and 46+ from Hogie, 'nuff said...
Without giving anything away, the prelim results in the men's 100 free were pretty interesting today. Go to www.athens2004.com to look at the results.
Former Member
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But had Ian Crocker been replaced by Gary Hall, Hall would have done better than a 50.05. Had he done a 48.59, USA would have beaten the field. (We finished 1.45 behind South Africa. Hall did a 48.73 on the anchor in the prelims, so maybe he couldn't have done 48.59 leading off...)
Hall was not going to swim a 48.59 leading off the relay. He hasn't gone anywhere near that fast in four years and in fact don't think he ever went faster than 48 high. That 48.73 is equivalent to a 49.4 with a flat start.
If everyone on the US team did a personal best then they would have won. It just wasn't going to happend even with Hall swimmig instead of Crocker. Caps off to the South Africans for a great swim and congrats to the Univ of Arizona for training them so ably.
Former Member
The "should've/would've/could've" is all conjecture. Crocker was going to swim at night no questions asked. I don't think a sore throat can make someone think they shouldn't swim. He is obviously not up to form for many reasons but no way can Reese take him off that relay for the night swim. That was the only thing we were sure of going into Athens was that Lezak and Crocker were swimming in finals. Bad race and we deserved to lose. Things happen...
Former Member
Originally posted by Sam Perry
The "should've/would've/could've" is all conjecture. Crocker was going to swim at night no questions asked.
Don't agree with "no questions asked"..if Crocker was sick then Reese, assuming that he knew, would ask Crocker if he was well enough to race. Crocker no doubt said "put me in coach."
I do agree that it doesn't matter now and it's time to focus on the other races today...especially the 4 X 200 free relay. If the US can win, and they have a good shot, then the momentum can swing back in our favor.
In my opinion, it comes down to whether Keller can beat Hackett. I'm hoping they both lead-off....Lochte and Vanderkaay should be able to beat Sprenger and Stevens (remember him?) so we might be looking at Phelps, one hour after the 200 fly, holding off Thorpe. How sweet it is.
