What does it mean when we look at the performance of the US men's swimming team at Beijing without Phelps....... i.e. without the man carrying the team? Is he merely the "Vince Young" of a slightly above average football Team?
We essentially lose the 400 free relay, 100 fly (Ian moves form 4th to 3rd), 200 IM and 400 IM (Lochted moves to silver), 200 free and 200 fly. That's makes 6 less golds and one extra bronze.
The US would effectively only win 2 individual events...... the 200 and 100 back.
Is Phelps a true representation of the state of US men's swimming or and exception?
www.nbcolympics.com/.../index.html
I think another problem with this assertion is that it is a false premise, and certainly not applicable to swimming alone. It doesn't tell the story of swimming or any sport for that matter. A few dominant individuals in all sports will bloat the medal count and there are hundreds of examples. Pick any individual sport and you have the same potential argument. What would Jamaica have been without Bolt, US t and f without Lewis, speed skating without Jansen, gymanstics without whichever pixie was hot that year, the list is endless. Randomly excluding the top performer and then comparing the accomplishments of those remaining doesn't tell any story - the story is the whole picture.
Rather than the incessant pessimism you exhibit over the state of US swimming, I prefer to look at it as we are a country that consistently produces the top level performers, and that is applicable to all sports, not just swimming, with the notable exception of curling.
I think another problem with this assertion is that it is a false premise, and certainly not applicable to swimming alone. It doesn't tell the story of swimming or any sport for that matter. A few dominant individuals in all sports will bloat the medal count and there are hundreds of examples. Pick any individual sport and you have the same potential argument. What would Jamaica have been without Bolt, US t and f without Lewis, speed skating without Jansen, gymanstics without whichever pixie was hot that year, the list is endless. Randomly excluding the top performer and then comparing the accomplishments of those remaining doesn't tell any story - the story is the whole picture.
Rather than the incessant pessimism you exhibit over the state of US swimming, I prefer to look at it as we are a country that consistently produces the top level performers, and that is applicable to all sports, not just swimming, with the notable exception of curling.
