www.youtube.com/watch
amazing swim by phelps.
I'm guessing that the crowd in melbourn is mostly austrialinas so I'm wondering why the crowd would cheer for phelps after the race. He took down down the record of an austrialian hero. It should be dead silence in the crown. Look at any other sport, when an away team comes in and defeats the home team it is dead silence or boos. and it was the rival team too! Why would the austrailians cheer? this is another reason why swimming will never be popular.
I have a parent from the team my son swims for who thinks she is the know-it-all of swimming. Just about a month ago we were discussing Crocker's 100 Free and Fly swims and how well he has been doing. She made a comment to be that Phelps was "washed up" - "he is through" - I kind of looked at her like what planet are you living on......Wonder what she thinks of this old has been now? LOL:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:
They love swimming...that is why they cheer. A broken WR is a broken WR. A true swimming enthusiast would appreciate the accomplishment regardless of who does it; provided it is done legally.
Americans like to build cult like followings around teams (ie. Raiders, Lakers, Yankees). Somehow, swimming just does not fit into that mold for most Americans and thus, swimming will never be to the US what it is to Australia. Sad but true.
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 could not agree more with that statement.
Sometimes it's nice to be part of something that is not so popular, you know?
Lets say that the 2004 olympics was in america and there was a big tv at the pool showing the replays after the race. Would you not boo when a underwater video of kitajima was shown? or would you cheer because he broke an olympic record?
Like I said, provided it is done legally.
Are you suggesting that Phelps is cheating? I think he is just an outstanding athlete in an equally outstanding program.
