Would you cheer for south Africa in the 4 x 100 free relay or the austrialian 4 x 100 realy in 2000?
I would be cheering for the US team to win during the race, but I would give the RSA or AU teams the props they deserve after the race was over, such as during the medal ceremony.
I've seen one world record set, that was sadly (or not really) broken yesterday. The first and only big wigs meet I have ever gone to was 05 world trials where Aaron Peirsol broke the 100 back WR. Hence, the love fest! We were sitting right behind the Texas team, too.
Would you cheer for South Africa in the 4 x 100 free relay or the austrialian 4 x 100 relay in 2000?
Definitely not for the South Africans, because as we all know they stole scholarships to U.S. universities from American swimmers.
I would be cheering for the US team to win during the race, but I would give the RSA or AU teams the props they deserve after the race was over, such as during the medal ceremony.
yeah I would clap a little during the ceremony but I wouldn't be cheering imediatly after the race like the austrians did after phelps' 200 free. Id be preety pissed off right now if I was an austrialian.
I know even with myself, at bigger collegiate meets where the top heats are fierce competitors and phenomonal swimmers, I am cheering for Southern Conneticutt, or University of Bridgeport or whoever, even though that might break the mold because they are our competition...but I think it's in our nature, or should be, to cheer for those people who have worked so hard and are so talented and keep our sport moving to the next level of competitiveness, instead of pushing them off and not recognizing their accomplishments just because for lack of a better phrase "they're the enemy."
--again granted everyone is competiting fair and squarely.
yeah I would clap a little during the ceremony but I wouldn't be cheering imediatly after the race like the austrians did after phelps' 200 free. Id be preety pissed off right now if I was an austrialian.
I might be pissed off if I was Ian Thorpe...but I don't think any Australian is sitting there saying...damn that Phelps, who didn't retire, and is still getting faster, what the ______?! I am sure there are Australian's who like Phelps better than they liked Thorpe and vice versa...I know I for one am not a HUGE Phelps FAN-atic but I would cheer him on and be happy for him just because thats an achievement the whole swimming world can appreciate.
And even Thorpe really doesn't have a legit reason to be angry....maybe disappointed that his record has fallen, but probably quite impressed with Phelps as well.
yeah I would clap a little during the ceremony but I wouldn't be cheering imediatly after the race like the austrians did after phelps' 200 free. Id be preety pissed off right now if I was an austrialian.
Why? Is Phelp got up and held up a board saying "USA kick ass!" then you might consider his actions to be a little nationalistic and not in the spirit of "sport." 'He has not done anything but swim hard and well in front of a crowd that probably swim themselves and know what a feat it was.
Don't get me wrong Warren, there are plenty of pig headed people in all nations that swill beer and blind themselves to the feats of their rivals--regardless of the sport.
Why you feel that not following that example is less than patriotic is odd. Perhaps you, being a younger man, have the natural inclination to blind yourself to only your team...not neccessarily in a druken and boorish way. I'm not attacking you with this just expressing how the average younger male thinks.
I guarantee the Aussies still cheered their own countrymen just as hard for their efforts. Besides, it's an international crowd not just Aussies
I want my team to win too, but a narrow defeat with honour and spirit is still honourable. Genuine grace in victory is admirable too.
I have to say, if it takes the fans being a-holes to make swimming "popular" I guess I'd rather it stays unpopular as a spectator sport.
I kind of like swimming as an underground sport.
I always say... anyone can run, but try to throw someone into the watter and and see how many of them come out in one piece. Really, you should try it.
