Rumors, Gossip, Sightings & Trash Talk from Portland

- Long flight...but had the pleasure of seeing Phil Whitten trapped in a middle seat with the lovely (yet incredibly talkative) Evie Lynch next to him...I offered him my bose headphones but it appeared he just tried to pretend he was sleeping for 3 hours. - Kurt (cracker) Dickson may be a brilliant doctor but can't seem to figure out how to open his folding chair which he finally got figured out as we sat and waited 40 minutes for luggage. - Portland is as beautiful as I recall from my last visit 12 years ago...by the way what other state can have have half the population being hardcore tree hugging liberals and the other half 4x4 driving, shotgun in the rear window, dead animal in the back and conferderate flag bumper sticker red necks...and not break into civil war....must be the microbreweries and drive thru coffee stads on every corner....kinda like having Fort and Geek to dinner. - Claudia Poll swimming masters nationals...great....another chick that can kick all the guys asses. - The college is stunning with incredible views of Mt. Hood...the competition pool is incredible...the warm up pool is going to require "vertical" warm ups as its the size of a jacuzzi. - Mark Gill is weeny...so is Baker for scratching...but he gets a pass at least for having such an incredible layout of the facilities and swimming so incredible the last few months...Mark is just a weeny with a girlfriend thats way to good for him. - Rob Copeland throws elbows in war-ups...nice Mr. Prez! - Is there anyone nicer than Laura Val? So nice I had to sneak up on her in warm ups and pull a water polo full leg wrap sinker move...thought she was going to lose some of that niceness and kick my ass but thankfully my taper appears to be working as I got away. - By the way...ever been to a meet where you got two bottles of red wine as part of the gold medal sponsorship? Laura stomped on my foot grabbed them both and ran into the women's locker room...any good Lawyers out there? I think I have a domestic violence case. - Did I mention Gill is a weenie? - I'm going to take a WAG and say that there will be at least one swimmer in every heat wearing a B70...rumor has it Nike is going to by the company by the way. - Can't believe that Scotty resigned as coach of the Olympic Club!