Mutual of Omaha Duel in the Pool

Well, most of the guys in high school did swimming in order to go out on the water polo team when I was in school. I think that back in the 1960's and early 1970's the schools favored boys programs in school that why there were more boys in those days. I really don't know the stats for summer league, or age group in those days. I think many young guys rather spend time on their skateboards. Skateboarding was very new when I was a teenager.

phelps swam a lot of events 400 IM, 200 IM, 200 fly, 100 fr on a relay did remarkably well considering liesel barely missed the WR in the womens 100 br some swimmers were way off their times from worlds well now we've got nationals to watch Ande Originally posted by craiglll@yahoo.com Doesn't anyone wonder if everyone might not be just too tired?

Originally posted by craiglll@yahoo.com Doesn't anyone wonder if everyone might not be just too tired? good point, I hadn't even thought of that. Thanks for the folks clueing us in to when it will be on. Can't wait to watch! ps.side rant Why does everything now a days have to have the advertisers name in front of it? Does this bother anyone else? The Chevy rose bowl The Prudential Rolling Stones Tour etc.. etc... etc... It's starting to drive me crazy! ok, done ranting. ;)

Doesn't anyone wonder if everyone might not be just too tired?

If participation is down, families probably can't put the money out since gas prices are out of control and wages are dropping like flies. So I guess we will now blame Bush for the drop in swimming also...

scott spann is the son of scott spann who swam for auburn and texas in the late 70's / early 80's. Scott held the american record in the 100 fly 47.22, swam a fast 100 ***, a decent 200 IM and a fast 100 free on the 4 x 100 free relay. don't know if they are related to michael Originally posted by 330man I concur. Amazing athletes come and go. Sometimes they are plentiful and sometimes they are few but they will always be around. Scott Spann? It seems that the CIA agent that was killed in Afghanistan, Michael Spann, had a son and a wife he left behind. Any relation?

Originally posted by ande there's no need to worry there will always be new crops of amazing elite swimmers here's a few names to watch in the future Taylor Smith 16, from California went 4:28 in the 500 free and swims just like Klete Keller. Shane Fleming 13, from California went 24.7 recently in the 50 LCM free and as a 12 year old shane went 1:58 in the 200 y back. He's a scrawny 6'4" but still growing. his dad is 6'10" Circle C may have a few phenoms emerge like Scott Spann As a high school Junior I think he went 1:56 in the 200 *** don't fret there will be more ande I concur. Amazing athletes come and go. Sometimes they are plentiful and sometimes they are few but they will always be around. Scott Spann? It seems that the CIA agent that was killed in Afghanistan, Michael Spann, had a son and a wife he left behind. Any relation?

Originally posted by tjrpatt If participation is down, families probably can't put the money out since gas prices are out of control and wages are dropping like flies. Hmm? So how is it that families can afford 200 channel satellite TV, video game systems,etc.? Gas is expensive for sure but I don't think we are in any sort of depression.

Originally posted by Jeff Commings This happened in 1988, when the US was riding on the shoulders of Janet Evans and Matt Biondi. Does anyone really remember anyone else (besides maybe Jager)? David Berkoff didn't perform as well as we hoped, distance free was laughable, and Mike Barrowman was just coming out of his shell. Then 1992 came around and everything was getting better. Everything happens in cycles. I expect 2008 to be USA Swimming's last great year until some other phenom comes along. It'll be the last hurrah for Phelps, Hoff and Katie Ziegler. Many people say it started even further back. There was so little after the '76 Olympics; then the diaster with USSR & LA Olympics. Here in a small midwest corn town almost the only guys who swim come from really well off families. It is certainly not a community sport like it was when I grew up in the 60's & 70's. The Duel in the Pool will either be great or really disappointing. I think that maybe we might get something from some guys but why swim your hardest for a meet that is only for bragging rights. I wish more US swimmers participated regularly in the World Cup series! Last year, the Cup produced some great swims and some intersting competitions! The South Africans, northern Europeans, & Brazils were interesting to watch get experience. It is too bad that television can't manage to figure out how to produce a swimmign event that interests the general population. the competition at the Cup is so intense. I remember watching recorded events on Wide World of Sports. Arledge(sp) was really a genious at producing sports.

I hope the more optimistic folks, like Ande, are correct. I'm sure there are a number of very talented youngsters out there. I'm encouraged by the young U.S. women already having success and also by guys like Weber-Gale, Wildman-Tobriner, Grevers, etc. who are just on the verge of breaking through internationally. What I'm most concerned about is the level of participation, esp. among boys, in the 8 & unders, 9 &10, 11&12 age groups at regional meets. I'm not sure how it compares to 5 or even 10 years ago, but I know it's much less than when I was a young swimmer. I wonder how much this has to do with the parents' perceptions about future opportunities for their boys. Other sports offer greater opportunity to make big money professionally or earn college scholarships. We all know the great benefits of swimming participation, but maybe we don't do the greatest job relating those benefits to non-swimming parents.