NYTimes article on Phelps

I hadn't noticed. I just watch because of the strategy and athleticism. And the sand of course! Who doesn't like sand? It reminds me of a beach!

That article is a good read, I thought that this paragraph on the first page made a plausible explanation of the lack of popularity of swimming as a spectator sport: Of all Olympic sports, competitive swimming is perhaps the most resistant to casual analysis. When the contestants are not entirely submerged, they are typically face-down; the strokes they carve through the water tend to look the same, and much of what they do is in any case concealed by the splash of their effort. Unless you have an intimate knowledge of the athletes, there are few physical characteristics to distinguish one form in the water from another, an effect compounded by body shaving and the uniform of caps, goggles and bodysuits. The swimmer, pursuing his obscured course, is not one of us.

Hogwash.....everyone should bow at the alter of the Swim Podium!!!! :drown:

That article is a good read, I thought that this paragraph on the first page made a plausible explanation of the lack of popularity of swimming as a spectator sport: Long live beach volleyball!

Long live beach volleyball! Specially the women's....skimpy suits and all.......:bolt:

Specially the women's....skimpy suits and all.......:bolt: I hadn't noticed. I just watch because of the strategy and athleticism.

I also found the reference to the lift versus drag "debate" a little annoying, that debate was settled at least a decade ago.

I'm getting a little tired of all the Phelps coverage (I already know that he is amazing). It would be nice to see some articles about the other USA swimmers. :cool:

I believe we (masters swimming) naaa strike that, I mean the Smiths, should ratify a resolution to be sent to Bob Bowman and let him know in regards to the volume of training, he has it all wrong. :rolleyes:

Phelps is definately a cut above most elite swimmers with his amazing mastery of basically all four strokes (breastroke withholding, barely) - but I do not consider his swimming ability unmatched. One can ask the question that if Mark Spitz was 23 today, with the same access to modern swim techniques, methods, gear (I mean, a cap and goggles probably would give him an extra second at least with that crazy hair-doo and stache!!). As I recall, Spitz actually acheived faster times in his early 40's than when he was at the Olympics. I suppose this is the same question asked in many sports concerning time passage and new tech - could Arnold Palmer beat Tiger with modern equipment and training, could Ali have taken Mike Tyson, or Wilt Chamberlain go 1 on 1 with Shaq - who knows really!