So, I had the pleasure to hang out with him for quite a while today. I was asked to take a few publicity photos of him, for his dad, Gary Hall Sr. and Rowdy Gaines.
I was very pleasantly surprised, Jr. is a very nice and very personable guy. I thought perhaps he'd have a hot shot attitude... Not even close.
As I was asking him to make couple poses for the camera, for the publicity, he and he did... and we chuckled about them, he made a comment something to the effect of, about I dunno why people take some of that so negatively, and think I'm a total jerk :(
He seemed pretty genuinely bummed out.
I was thinking how he is always being asked to pose and do publicity things, and do some showing off or what not, then it turns around and ends up giving him a bad rep.
Later on introduced him to a massage therapist friend of mine who works on a lot of pro athletes, to work on him and they can compare notes, and Gary's first response was, oh, that would be so nice but, aren't there people here that need it a lot more then I do, they'll say, what does he need *that for*.... he was all embarrassed, and rather humble about it.
He's the kind of a guy that wouldn't squish a bug! I mean literally.
As we were sitting and chatting, a June bug landed, he reached for it, and I reacted, oh, no, don't hurt it!
Before he had a chance to respond, I realized that he proceeded to check it out and started petting it with one finger, saying hi little guy...
Former Member
"The only thing is.... I couldn't decide on is who was cuter or nicer, Gary Hall Jr. or Gary Hall Sr."
Connie, I have to go with Gary Hall Sr.; but then I'm 57. Actually, Gary (Sr.) and I were age groupers under Lee Arth, back when he was at Sammy Lee Swim School. (This was 42 years ago!!) Even back then he showed incredible promise. Lee occasionally had us swim with the High school team and Gary Sr. was only 12!
I caught up with father and son at the USMS party Friday night and was (again) impressed: good athletes and they really have the family thing happening - lots of joking around and friendly teasing.
Former Member
Re: Michael Heather mentoned the meet stoppage...
Oh, I think the stoppage was when the guy in lane (I think it was 7) realized it was Gary Hall Jr in lane 8 next to him, and started making cute gestures, something to the effect of, wow, I'm the man, I'm having Gary Hall Jr. swim in a lane next to me, which got the cheering going. I think the officials wanted to take a few minutes to give the crowd a chance to quiet down.
Flirting
Age wise, I'm somewhere in between. I have to say, as much as I like Jr. I'm leaning towards liking Sr. more.
He seems like a very classy gentleman, and I love that.
But ... eat your heart out Jr. and Sr. My heart belongs to someone else! :p
By the way, their club name and a website is: http://www.theraceclub.net/
I think the Race club, and the way Jr and SR. have teamed up, and their philosophy is a wonderful thing for USA and Masters swimming.
Some of us here who like to philosophise about all things swimming should read Gary and Gary's aqua notes on the race club's website. There's interesting stuff there!
Former Member
Originally posted by knelson
Also the display board was still showing heat 23 even though heat 24 had just finished, so I'm sure the officials wanted to make sure the timing system was ready.
Oh, that;s right, I forgot about that!
I was standing by lane 8 with my mom and nephew to see Gary swim. Too bad he was in lane 8, though. All I could see was his start!
Yeah, I was supposed to take some photos of him in that event.... Got his start, then as I managed to run through the crowd at the oter end, I got the finish. Didn't see the actual swim!
That's what I like about Master's meets. On Sunday, I noticed a General Hospital actor (musician, and Emmy winner) getting ready for his races. But almost all the crowd attention was on Hall Jr. :D
Originally posted by Conniekat8
Re: Michael Heather mentoned the meet stoppage...
Oh, I think the stoppage was when the guy in lane (I think it was 7) realized it was Gary Hall Jr in lane 8 next to him, and started making cute gestures, something to the effect of, wow, I'm the man, I'm having Gary Hall Jr. swim in a lane next to me, which got the cheering going. I think the officials wanted to take a few minutes to give the crowd a chance to quiet down.
Also the display board was still showing heat 23 even though heat 24 had just finished, so I'm sure the officials wanted to make sure the timing system was ready.
I was standing by lane 8 with my mom and nephew to see Gary swim. Too bad he was in lane 8, though. All I could see was his start!
Former Member
As I was reading my Gary Hall Jr. Barbasol can this AM I noticed that it says nothing about swimming. It mentions that he is a gold medalist and helps kids with diabetes but there is no link to swimming unless you consider every man without a shirt to be a swimmer.
Originally posted by Karen Duggan
Who was that Mark? And how was your IM?
I'll give you a hint: UCLA Bruin Masters.
The IM was a best time by 3 seconds. Even better, in my heat I beat the Mouth of Sauron... err, the Voice of USMS. :D
(Now back to your regularly scheduled Hall Jr. thread...)
Former Member
I was one of the crowd standing by lane 8 during Gary Hall Jr's 50 fly swim, and it was one of the coolest swims I've ever watched. He had the whole crowd on its feet, and this was the same crowd that was collectively taking a nap about 15 minutes later. (I'm not judging, I did the same. You can only be fascinated by the 200 free so many times...) From my angle, it looked like he already had a good body length lead by the time he surfaced off the start, and he was hardly in a slow heat. The power he gets out of a single stroke -- it's downright astounding to watch in person.
Like a few others here, I met him briefly later on, and he was the same down to earth guy that everyone keeps describing. Nothing like his crazy Olympic persona, though I've always suspected that was an act. Was nice to verify that in person though! I should also add that every time I walked by him at the meet, he was smiling or laughing. I think the expression I would use to describe him is "in his element." He was just one of the guys, only a little taller and faster.
Former Member
Well, I meet Gary's uncle years ago. He did open lap swimming at a family membership pool own by the Virgo's and I was on there novice team He was a nice personality too. Unforuntately, I don't remeber his name. Gary's father was the first or second swimmer from Orange County to make the olympic team in 1968. He swam for the old Phillps 66 club at the Golden West college pool back in the late 1960's and early 1970's. He moved first to Ohio and later of course to Arizona. I met him the summer of 1972 when I was on the Phillps 66 club. He had a nice personality as well. I think the Halls which have a swim camp in Fl are promoting that and what better way than to go to the masters nationals.
