I feel sorry for Crocker. If he wins the 100 metres butterfly, he will have effectively ruined a uniques olympic momentous quest that Phelps has embarked on.
No matter how good it is to win gold, poor Crocker would not be given the accolades he deserves if he spoilt Michael Phelps party. It wouldnt matter so much if Crocker wasnt in team USA but from another country. On the other hand he has to give his all. So effectively, he is damned if he does and damned if he doesnt
Former Member
I think one good thing going for crocker right now is that he has less pressure on him than before because everyone is expecting phelps to win. We all know Crocker has it in him. I don't care what he went at trials. Look at Athens, he split a 50 in the free relay, lost the 100 fly, then came back and split a 50.2 in meadly relay. Crocker just needs to focus and hes got it.
Crocker ruined the 8 golds in internation compition for phelps in melbourne by false starting in the relay. Phelps always swims well but if crocker swims an aaron peirsol 52.44 type performance then there is no way that phelps is going to win. Piersol and crocker do train together. Hansen isnt on though, we will just have to wait and see.
I am so F'in annoyed that people keep giving Crocker all the fault on that relay. As far as I know there was someone in the water. 99% of the time the dq is the fault of the swimmer in the water - though the one on the blocks gets the blame. I haven't seen the relay so I don't know but if Usher took a half stroke into the wall the fault rests with him.
I cannot wait for this race. Crocker is totally due. They are going to have to base the prelim swim in the medley relay off of the semis of the 100 fly so I'll bet both go pretty hard in that race. My guess is they put Croc on the prelim relay unless he obliterates the WR and Phelps doesn't. Phelps has just been ridiculously on this games. You always go with who is hot - Peirsol, Phelps, and Lezak are on fire!
If Crocker wins the 100 fly and/or breaks the world record, even if he comes in second to Phelps he could still swim fly on the relay, and have Phelps swim free. Didn't Phelps just set the American record in the 100 free the other night? If Lezak doesn't beat a 47.5, and I was Mark Shubert, I might just do that anyway. Although, that would suck for Lezak after his incredible swim in the free relay Sunday night.
I say lead Phelps off. That is where he is accustomed to swimming, plus it gives the relay a lead from the start. And he is known to have a better flat start than relay start.
I say lead Phelps off. That is where he is accustomed to swimming, plus it gives the relay a lead from the start. And he is known to have a better flat start than relay start.
and then what is aaron gonna do?
I was wondering on this myself as I was driving to work. Back - Piersol, *** - Hansen, Fly - Phelps/Crocker (coin flip), Free - Weber-Gale/Lezak (money's on Lezak). If Crocker does win the 100 Fly, then where is Phelps? Out of the Medley it appears. Do you swim Phelps in the pre-lim just in case? I dunno, that would seem to cheapen it somehow.
The best should race period. Phelps should not be given any favours whatsoever.
If it was you or your kid sacrificed for the benefit of someone else just trying to make a record. I doubt Phelps would want it that way anyhow.
True but what about Athens? Seem to recall Phelps giving up a slot that he had earned. Granted he still got a medal because he swam on the relay in the pre-lims.
Crocker is going to do the best he can
Phelps is going to do the best he can
who ever wins
wins
I'm leaning towards phelps
since he went 47.5 in the 100 free and
crocker was 49.4 in the 100 free at trials
each swimmer has a ratio when you compare their
100 fly speed to their 100 free speed
can't wait to see how this race turns out
I wrote some this in a related thread
www.usms.org/.../showpost.php
ande
