Swimmers get no respect

I think the article drew first blood anyhow. My view is that the phsyical punishment side of sports is irrelevent when comparing them. I think Lance Armstrong is as tough as any Footballer...and if I had to be cite my awe for a type of athlete it would be the Decathlete or the Triathlete...if that's what they're called.

I think I read where hockey players are the best conditioned. I can buy that. I can't speak to the football aspect of this discussion, but can speak to the above quote regarding hockey. My husband played as a kid and up to Junior A in college. My son has played for 7 years (he's now 13). They are both amazingly strong and have incredible endurance. Hockey players skate continuously for their 60-90 minute practices 3-5x/week and their games are a 90 minute battle on all fronts--physical and mental conditioning. So yes, if I compare what my son does to what I did as a youth swimmer, I'd have to say that it is comparable and it wouldn't surprise me if they are the best conditioned athletes. But I can still hold my breath longer than both of them.:thhbbb:

Most people will generally respect an athete, regardless of sport, except soccer of course. Is this because of a lack of ability in using a ball without involving your hands that prevails in US sports? That blatant flame (the "of course" part) is ludicrous IMO, and an insult to your very accomplished "womens" national team. Give me any WR/RB/DB, Hockey player, or basketball player. I'd lay odds on them gasping at high-level soccer fitness--training for 90 minutes of virtually non-stop moving. I'm talking FIFA rules not rolling substitutions. However, I would also take any basektball, hockey, or DB and field them (in relatively short time) as a defender in a game and know they would cope; because the games are not that different at the individual level. Now if you want to mock pro-soccer "divers" and primadonnas...fair enough but that goes all around.

That blatant flame (the "of course" part) is ludicrous IMO, Would suggest I saw that coming and I did not rise...just pointed out my counters to it. :thhbbb:

as someone who has played a little of both...I live in harmony...they are the same game expressed in different ways...I love them equally. a bit like Brits and Yanks....a people divided by a common language ;)

In Football you have to read and react and follow your positions assinment and use teamwork. In swimming you don't have to do any of these. Football and swimming not in in the same category. basketball, baseball, hockey, soccer, rubby... ect share the same general aspects. these are sports. Because swimming dosn't have the aspects of the sports listed above, how can it be considered a sport? Its athletic and requires endurence, strength and all that but its more of an athletic event than a sport. When the question what is your favorite sport is asked, have you ever heard somone say weightlifting? Not everything athletic is a sport. I'm not biased either because I probable like swimming more than most people on this site.

In Football you have to read and react and follow your positions assinment and use teamwork. In swimming you don't have to do any of these. Football and swimming not in in the same category. basketball, baseball, hockey, soccer, rubby... ect share the same general aspects. these are sports. Because swimming dosn't have the aspects of the sports listed above, how can it be considered a sport? Its athletic and requires endurence, strength and all that but its more of an athletic event than a sport. When the question what is your favorite sport is asked, have you ever heard somone say weightlifting? Not everything athletic is a sport. I'm not biased either because I probable like swimming more than most people on this site. It's these kind of team sports that get you into trouble :joker: /snicker I think swimming is still a sport. The mental aspect is still there but it is focused internally...maybe we can say team sports versus non team sport...and then again what about the relay????

It's these kind of team sports that get you into trouble :joker: /snicker I think swimming is still a sport. The mental aspect is still there but it is focused internally...maybe we can say team sports versus non team sport...and then again what about the relay???? There is not really any team work in a relay, when your teamate touches the wall you just react to it. its not like gang takling or setting a pick in basketball. for the sport vs. athletic event, think of it this way Is the dunk competition a sport. It is atletic and it is a competition. but its not a sport. it is an atletic event.

There is not really any team work in a relay, when your teamate touches the wall you just react to it. its not like gang takling or setting a pick in basketball. I can't agree...but not saying you're wrong... All I know is...bowling...not a sport...

Having played both, I have a nuetral view. Swimming is a soft sport. Look around see who the swimmers are, anyone can do it. You got 65 year old ladies swimming laps. thats not hard. What about the college swimmers training their ass off? That is very repectful and extremely hard too. But they have been gradually training harder and harder their whole life so it didnt come as hard as you would think. And remeber how good they are so when you look at what practices they are doing and who hard they are remeber that they are really good at swimming and its not as hard form them as it would be for you. Swimming and Football both have injuries, more in football. But in football you get hurt every games. You dont get hurt in swimming, sore maybe and tired but not hurt. Training for swimming is a hell of alot harder than training for football. But a football games are alot harder than a swim meet. And thats what most people see, the meet not the traning and they lable it a weak sport. Swimmers deserve alot of respect for their training but not for being a manly sport. thats all im saying, dont take offense to this post.