Mutual of Omaha Duel in the Pool

Originally posted by Blue Horn We just need to repackage our sport to teenage boys. What other boy's sport do you go to practice and get a chance to look at girls in bathing suits or even get to see girls for that matter. This is no small matter for teenage boys. I still remember signing up for home-economics to meet girls in high school. All of my moron friends thought I was a fruit cake until they saw that I was one of two guys in a class full of girls (many of them cheerleaders - as a senior you could pick the time slot that you wanted). I can still remember their laughs turn into silence as I told them who else had signed up for the class. Hook'em Blue In Illinois, the girls season is almost over before the boys even getintothe pool. As I've said most of the boys who swim here in Galesburg come from very elite families. Many also onthe tennis or golf team. All do really well. Our guys went undefeated last year & won conference. 7 guys went to state, that hasn't been done since I was in high school inthe '70s. But overall, swimming has a reputation here of being the hardest sport and one you've got tostart doing very young. Many peole don't see the guys as having talent, just a lot of years at the same sport. Out football teams generally don't win a all season. We used to be a great basketball powerhouse. Now we can't get a if we bought one. The coaches of the popular sports are very underpaid and, I think, low quality. Yet the diving coach figured out that she got paid 75 cents a practice. the swim coach makes about $2.65 per practice. Our swim team is generally one of the largest teams with as many as 17-20 guys. Even though it isn't popular. Nationally, I'm not sure what the numbers are. I would almost bet that they numbers aren't really lower it is just that swimming is so under the radar that we don't hear about it inthe general sports press. also, are there really any good commentators. Gaines might know a lot about swimming, but he is a terrible color analysis. And the woman who does diving has a terrible voice. We need better advocates for the sport who are intersting & knowledge!

Originally posted by craiglll@yahoo.com Who told Rowdy Gaines that he coudl do comentary? I'm watching Duel inthe Pool, I thinl that it has been really terrible coverage! I almost want to say, "Who cares?" The coverage is so hit-and-miss. I couldn't believe the silly comments about the women's IM relay that just finished. they completely threw any excitment by being so boring and using such terrible trite saying. this is why swimming is so boring on TV. I thought the short little clips of races they didn't cover were nonsense. The guy doing the interviews is better than the desk comentators. He at least seems interested unlike the guy with Rowdy. Does anyone think that any of the swims seem to matter? Maybe it is too close to worlds but this should have been more exciting. Why didn't the excitement from poolside translate oer the TV? I was so bored watching this meet and I was no annoyed that this was on and yet, none of the networks could have put some Worlds coverage. The Fox network could have done an hour coverage on last Saturday and Sunday just to highlight the great races. I really don't want to pay the extra money to watch Worlds on Fox College Sports. Of course, I might have to in the future to get some exciting swimming coverage. I basically only watch the Duel to support the sport. They should pass the mic over to Janet Evans or somebody.

I think Dan and rowdy did the best they could given the situation. Duel in the Pool, as has been said, is not the Olympics or Worlds. Besides Brendan and Liesel Jones, nothing really exciting came from the meet. Watching all the relaxed finishes by people like Phelps and Piersol, it's obvious the swimmers don't give that much importance to the meet. They know it's a publicity campaign, and just showing up is enough. As TV commentators, I suppose they could try to create some drama, but it's hard when they see the swimmers not giving it their all. The only problem I had with the coverage was all the beer commercials. In a sport where the average swimmer is under drinking age, it's a bad call for NBC to let beer companies advertise on the show. US Swimming doesn't let alcohol or tobacco companies advertise on any of their meets, so why let NBC do so ont heir TV coverage. I'm sure USAS could have had some say in it. It's almost offensive, if you ask me, to have a beer commercial come right after the USA Swimming commercial that had images of 10-year-old kids. Bad call.

Who told Rowdy Gaines that he coudl do comentary? I'm watching Duel inthe Pool, I thinl that it has been really terrible coverage! I almost want to say, "Who cares?" The coverage is so hit-and-miss. I couldn't believe the silly comments about the women's IM relay that just finished. they completely threw any excitment by being so boring and using such terrible trite saying. this is why swimming is so boring on TV. I thought the short little clips of races they didn't cover were nonsense. The guy doing the interviews is better than the desk comentators. He at least seems interested unlike the guy with Rowdy. Does anyone think that any of the swims seem to matter? Maybe it is too close to worlds but this should have been more exciting. Why didn't the excitement from poolside translate oer the TV?

I fast forwarded past all the commercials.

I have complained about swim announcers, especially Rowdy before so I won't get into another rant. I was at World Masters Games in Edmonton and USA Swimming should get their announcer. He announced hundreds of heats and made them all sound exciting. It was amazing.(Unfortunately ,since it was seeded by time and not age he frequently missed commenting on great swims by older swimmers.)

I hate those beer commericals. It is all about, Let's smashed after our workout. CNBC did have some World Cup Events but they should have it one more often. Is anyone going to broadcast highlight events from Nationals or that is just not that important. Regarding the Duel, That Peter Vanderkay is really benefiting from being coached by Bowman and training with Phelps. His performance in the 200 free was really good. Hackett didn't know what hit him. The Australian press is a little harsh, saying that "Ian Who?". But hey, in Australia, swimming gets the top headlines which is just wonderful.

Originally posted by Jeff Commings I think Dan and rowdy did the best they could given the situation. Duel in the Pool, as has been said, is not the Olympics or Worlds. Besides Brendan and Liesel Jones, nothing really exciting came from the meet. Watching all the relaxed finishes by people like Phelps and Piersol, it's obvious the swimmers don't give that much importance to the meet. They know it's a publicity campaign, and just showing up is enough. As TV commentators, I suppose they could try to create some drama, but it's hard when they see the swimmers not giving it their all. The only problem I had with the coverage was all the beer commercials. In a sport where the average swimmer is under drinking age, it's a bad call for NBC to let beer companies advertise on the show. US Swimming doesn't let alcohol or tobacco companies advertise on any of their meets, so why let NBC do so ont heir TV coverage. I'm sure USAS could have had some say in it. It's almost offensive, if you ask me, to have a beer commercial come right after the USA Swimming commercial that had images of 10-year-old kids. Bad call. I didn't notice the beer commercials. I wonder why the networks won't show any of the world cup competition? I wonderif NBC thought that the "nationalism" of the Duel in the Pool might stir up soem excitement?

just a reminder part 2 of duel in the pool airs on NBC today 11:30 central ande

Originally posted by ande just a reminder part 2 of duel in the pool airs on NBC today 11:30 central ande Thanks, I will DVR, cause I gotta go swim at that time......