Swimmers get no respect

RE: Swimmers get no respect

The Fortress — Wed, 06 Dec 2006 11:39:30 GMT

That's such a cop out. You don't have to like or agree to a thread to read it. Given 98% of Americans are big tubs of lard, the fact that anyone does something athletic is good enough for me. Hey, Speedo Man, I agree with everything you said, except the "cop out" part. Indeed, I think I'm on record as saying "everyone has a voice on this forum" in response to being quasi-dismissed for having an opinion on another thread. It just sounded like Kirk was bored with the "tediousness" and repetitiveness of this particular thread. When I get bored from reading, I :snore: .

RE: Swimmers get no respect

Former Member — Wed, 06 Dec 2006 07:44:20 GMT

Whenever you hear someone saying such things about swimming, just challenge him/her to have a swimming race!!! Any olympic sport deserves deep respect. By the way I enjoy swimming so much that any negative comment means nothing to me.:D

RE: Swimmers get no respect

Former Member — Tue, 05 Dec 2006 14:22:14 GMT

Yes, that is why we call the former set "team sports." See how you use the adjective thing to differentiate? Here try this out: acoustic guitar : electric guitar :: team sport : _________ This is the best response to Warren I've seen yet. I knew some_girl was a smart girl when I saw her use the word "caesura" on that butterfrog video thread. (some girl, I'm trying to change my user name to not rip off yours.) And I'm not sure if swimmers will get as much respect if they're butterfrogging unless they're over 50. Anyone over 50 swimming in a meet should get a big round of applause (and any newbie swimmers trying it out as well).

RE: Swimmers get no respect

some_girl — Tue, 05 Dec 2006 12:21:19 GMT

This is the best response to Warren I've seen yet. I knew some_girl was a smart girl when I saw her use the word "caesura" on that butterfrog video thread. (some girl, I'm trying to change my user name to not rip off yours.) And I'm not sure if swimmers will get as much respect if they're butterfrogging unless they're over 50. Anyone over 50 swimming in a meet should get a big round of applause (and any newbie swimmers trying it out as well). Aw, I'm flattered. Thanks. (And you don't have to change your name--I don't mind, at least.)

RE: Swimmers get no respect

aquageek — Tue, 05 Dec 2006 12:19:17 GMT

If you don't like the threads, why bother reading them? That's such a cop out. You don't have to like or agree to a thread to read it. I agree with knelson - a sport struggling to find it's way among the bigger televised sports has no business putting down other sports of any size, especially when those disparaging the other sports have never played them. Given 98% of Americans are big tubs of lard, the fact that anyone does something athletic is good enough for me.

RE: Swimmers get no respect

knelson — Tue, 05 Dec 2006 11:48:29 GMT

I think most people were just having fun. Yeah, but I think they're serious, too. I just seems like the whole "my sport is better than yours" thing gets a little tedious.

RE: Swimmers get no respect

The Fortress — Tue, 05 Dec 2006 11:04:23 GMT

Why would they? A football field is only 100 yards long. I'm assuming the 40 became the standard because it's close to the distance a football player would need to run on a typical play... Anyway, these threads are always the same. Geek just said earlier that they do have timed mile rules. If you don't like the threads, why bother reading them? I think most people were just having fun.

RE: Swimmers get no respect

knelson — Tue, 05 Dec 2006 10:50:17 GMT

Do football players ever run the mile or a 10K for time? Why would they? A football field is only 100 yards long. I'm assuming the 40 became the standard because it's close to the distance a football player would need to run on a typical play. Anyway, these threads are always the same. I don't understand why someone would be offended by swimming being bashed as a sport then in the next sentence declare "yeah, but X is definitely not a sport." Swimming, football, golf and bowling are all sports. They are just all very different sports. Every sport does not require great endurance, strength, strategy, etc., but they do all require skill and practice to do them well.

RE: Swimmers get no respect

Former Member — Tue, 05 Dec 2006 09:35:42 GMT

Am I the only one who thinks this is dumber than boxing? I'll drive a race car any day of the week but I would sooner swim the English Channel before getting into a boxing ring.

RE: Swimmers get no respect

Former Member — Tue, 05 Dec 2006 06:36:14 GMT

.... exercise is the best natural anti-dedpressant,anti-anxiety,anti-stress thing they can do. ...and Breaststrokers Rule:thhbbb: Breaststroke: It's the Rolls Royce of Swimming...true story. :D All I can say about my mental health. I ws in a bad spot about 2 months ago. Nothing has changed except I get in the water 3x a week...and I am getting a need to swim. I haven't felt like this about an activity in years. I want to go swim. I have to go swim. I need to go swim. I'm jonesin' for it man...brb going to stick my head under the cooler... :)

RE: Swimmers get no respect

Allen Stark — Tue, 05 Dec 2006 01:17:41 GMT

I have respect for anyone who is competing in anything,or even exercising regularly. I even have respect for noodlers,as it takes courage for some people to even get into a swimsuit and be active. I tell my patients that exercise is the best natural anti-dedpressant,anti-anxiety,anti-stress thing they can do. I especially respect anyone who competes at an elite level in any sport(unless they are cheating.) That said "my sport is better than your sport"and Breaststrokers Rule:thhbbb:

RE: Swimmers get no respect

Former Member — Mon, 04 Dec 2006 15:40:54 GMT

I just like to give tris a good ribbing, they are generally very good athletes and teammates. That's right. In fact, swimmers get no respect because they're not triathletes!

RE: Swimmers get no respect

Muppet — Mon, 04 Dec 2006 12:02:55 GMT

I play rec flag football with a guy who used to be a backup QB for USC back in the 80's. He's generally not too happy that every spring, I tend to bail on half to season to swim, mostly missing b/c of zones and nationals (and maybe a preparation meet). The last two years, I have done the 4.4mi Chesapeake Bay Swim on the Sunday that usually is the day our league playoffs. I got a ton of respect from him for having done the 1 mi Challenge, and after two years and some very respectable finishes in the 4.4mi, its pretty much a given from the start of Spring Football that I get that weekend off.

RE: Swimmers get no respect

Former Member — Sun, 03 Dec 2006 08:02:40 GMT

What???? There is no Diamond Lane in NASCAR? That is unsafe!!! Donna :rofl: Nope, no diamond lane. Not to totally hijack the thread, it's especially fun to watch 'em three or four wide on a super speedway at 180 mph, probably less than 12" apart. Talk about skills ... I've had my car up to over 135 mph (on a nice smooth straight stretch of deserted highway) and found I was concentrating very closely on every little thing that happened. But, that's nothing compared to the kind of concentration it takes to do that at even higher speeds with others so close!! They are amazing folks. As to auto racing being pointless, I believe one could say that about just about any spectator sport. And, there are no doubt many folks who would find watching swimming to be pretty dull, too. Thus, we only get to see it on TV at Olympics time. Participating is different of course. Someday I'd like to take a shot at one of the high performance driving schools or perhaps Richard Petty's NASCAR "u-drive" experience. Until then, swimming has to feed my need for adrenalin!! Ken

RE: Swimmers get no respect

Former Member — Sat, 02 Dec 2006 17:02:42 GMT

To most people, anything that ESPN televises is a sport. It's just that all of us are inundated with the male sports: men's football, basketball, baseball. And swimming is televised only a couple of times a year or pre-Olympic Games. Maybe it is because swimming is not a profit sport. I don't think I have ever heard of anyone coming up with a swimming pool like a football pool and everyone gets numbers and waits for outcome of a game (or swim) to find out who won the money in the pot. It may be because swimming has not gone "pro." After that athletic scholarship is granted, the swimmer winds up in Masters or Triathlons. Both good places to be, but it is not the "pros" like football, etc. Oh, and my brother-in-law was a Formula Atlantic pro driver for years. He did lift weights and spent a lot of time in saunas. But he did tell me that race car driving required a person to have tremendous motor skills (eye-hand coordination). Donna

RE: Swimmers get no respect

Former Member — Sat, 02 Dec 2006 11:40:56 GMT

What???? There is no Diamond Lane in Nascar? That is unsafe!!! Donna :rofl:

RE: Swimmers get no respect

Former Member — Sat, 02 Dec 2006 11:35:25 GMT

To most people, anything that ESPN televises is a sport. And my favorite ESPN sport.............Poker

RE: Swimmers get no respect

Former Member — Sat, 02 Dec 2006 09:51:54 GMT

I wouldn't say it's is dumber than boxing, but it's just as pointless.

RE: Swimmers get no respect

Former Member — Sat, 02 Dec 2006 09:41:52 GMT

Imagine driving a car at 160+ MPH while tailgating another car, totally ignoring the safe following distance rule taught in drivers education! Now there is a car rubbing it's tire up against your front fender that is causing your 160 MPH vehicle to become unstable and you fear that a spin is imminent as may be a trip to the concrete wall. QUOTE] Am I the only one who thinks this is dumber than boxing?

RE: Swimmers get no respect

The Fortress — Sat, 02 Dec 2006 08:45:55 GMT

Yes, pretty much every team in America has 1 mile time rules, football and basketball. I just like to give tris a good ribbing, they are generally very good athletes and teammates. I agree that football players have speed and strength. No question. At least the ones that don't fit Peter's prior description. I'm just not sure their cardiovascular systems can compete with swimmers generally. But football is definitley a sport. But if they're running timed miles, then I definitely know many swimmers who can keep up or blow by them. :applaud:

RE: Swimmers get no respect

The Fortress — Sat, 02 Dec 2006 08:41:48 GMT

Although I may agree that NASCAR (or my personal favorite, F1) may not be a "sport" in the tradition of swimming, track & field, or even "ball" sports, from what I have been able to learn, being a driver takes tremendous physical conditioning. F1 in particular puts about the same stresses on the body that you get in an F-16, only in shorter and far more frequent doses. Not to mention the quick reaction and mental concentration skills they must possess. There is also a great deal of teamwork involved (take a close look at a pit stop sometime), which is at least on the same level as, say, football. I was really just joshing with Geek cuz he was baiting everyone with his post. I do believe their job is hard. I myself wouldn't want to drive that fast in the traffic where I live. I'm sure driving at that speed does require super-human reflexes and some conditioning. My very limited point, besides teasing Geek, was that they are sitting down and driving. And I believe that "mental concentration" is required for many things in life including my own driving in dense traffic, my own "job," reading, helping my kids with their math homework, etc. Dorianblade's dictionary definition of sport required physical exertion and "execise." They make get some of that, to be sure, but it still seems more like a job than a sport to me. Of course, pro football players are doing a job too....

RE: Swimmers get no respect

Former Member — Sat, 02 Dec 2006 06:55:38 GMT

I am not much of a Nascar fan these days but discounting the stamina needed to endure one of their races would not be wise. They are not out for a Sunday drive, let me tell you. Imagine driving a car at 160+ MPH while tailgating another car, totally ignoring the safe following distance rule taught in drivers education! Now there is a car rubbing it's tire up against your front fender that is causing your 160 MPH vehicle to become unstable and you fear that a spin is imminent as may be a trip to the concrete wall. High stress, high speed, high heat, lots and lots of steering correction, muscles tensed up for hours at a time. It's no picnic. Some time ago Jeff Gordon and Juan Pablo Montoya switched cars, JG got into the F1 car and JPM got into the Winston/Nextel Cup Car. JPM said the F1 car was much more difficult to drive and the F1 car is a handful itself. The last thing I will say is that when you are fatigued and dying at the end of your swimming race the worst that can happen is that your form falls apart and you slow down. If you become fatigued and your form falls apart during a NASCAR race, you could very well kill yourself and others. The stakes are higher without question.

RE: Swimmers get no respect

aquageek — Sat, 02 Dec 2006 06:49:14 GMT

football players ever run the mile or a 10K for time? Yes, pretty much every team in America has 1 mile time rules, football and basketball. My point about the 40 is that for all those who say footballers are fat, unathletic, etc, it is pretty impressive to see the speed of a 6'5" 275 dude run crazy fast. I just like to give tris a good ribbing, they are generally very good athletes and teammates.

RE: Swimmers get no respect

Former Member — Sat, 02 Dec 2006 06:27:28 GMT

Dear Lewis: I know you love NASCAR, you ole forum baiter. You're probably watching it on that golf cart you're zooming around in practicing that truly impossible "sport" or on that built in TV/DVD player in your SUV. :rofl: Let's just put NASCAR in the non sport category and proceed to argue about other important sports topics. I'm sure all NASCAR drivers can run sub 5 40s and do sub 4:00 miles. I bet they can even break 50 in the 100 free if pressed. They are truly amazing non athletes. Now, as you know, I do agree with you about soccer, the scourge of youth sports. Fortress Although I may agree that NASCAR (or my personal favorite, F1) may not be a "sport" in the tradition of swimming, track & field, or even "ball" sports, from what I have been able to learn, being a driver takes tremendous physical conditioning. F1 in particular puts about the same stresses on the body that you get in an F-16, only in shorter and far more frequent doses. Not to mention the quick reaction and mental concentration skills they must possess. There is also a great deal of teamwork involved (take a close look at a pit stop sometime), which is at least on the same level as, say, football. I think you would find that drivers at that level are clearly more "athletic" than you may imagine. Ken

RE: Swimmers get no respect

The Fortress — Sat, 02 Dec 2006 01:32:53 GMT

The last thing I will say is that when you are fatigued and dying at the end of your swimming race the worst that can happen is that your form falls apart and you slow down. If you become fatigued and your form falls apart during a NASCAR race, you could very well kill yourself and others. Hey, I just got back from a swim meet this morning. I don't think my form fell apart too badly (I don't swim things over a 100), but I was a touch worried I might be "killing" my shoulder. :yawn: You and Geek have kids, so you're probably reading Splash magazine. I read this little tidbit last night: "There's no arguing that swimming is one of the most physically demanding sports there is. Besides strength, speed and tons of endurance, swimmers need to possess the coordination necessary to synchronize the movements of their limbs as they propel themselves through the water...."