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
My fear is less about the immediate now and more about near term to long term future. I base this comment looking at the kids' meets I go to and seeing the female/male makeup of the teams.
Here's one more data point. I looked at the state cuts for HS swimming in Michigan, where I grew up, and they are actually the same or slower now than when I was in high school and that was 20 years ago! These are the boy's cuts. I have no idea about the girls.
My fear is less about the immediate now and more about near term to long term future. I base this comment looking at the kids' meets I go to and seeing the female/male makeup of the teams.
Here's one more data point. I looked at the state cuts for HS swimming in Michigan, where I grew up, and they are actually the same or slower now than when I was in high school and that was 20 years ago! These are the boy's cuts. I have no idea about the girls.
