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
There is no doubt that Phelps is a once in a generation phenom exceeding Spitz, Thorpe, etc. Interesting article awhile back on this forum from I believe an LA Times columnist that downplayed this however.
As for the US team's performance if you pull Phelps from the equation I think there should be some concern as much of the rest of the world seems to have caught up if you will...and yes in some countries like France & South Africa with a little help from our college programs.
So where do we stand today? I think some major questions are being asked in light of Nike pulling out of our sport and possible funding opportunities drying up for that 2nd tier of swimmers who didn't make the team this last go around and may not have the means to train for 2012 (Nick Brunelli being a possible example).
Now the big question, how limited could training opportunities become if the economy continues to go south? I know of one major pool project in AZ that has been put on the back burner and with budgets getting whacked big time how many public/high school pools will get shut down? How many college programs that are not endowed will get the axe?
There is no doubt that Phelps is a once in a generation phenom exceeding Spitz, Thorpe, etc. Interesting article awhile back on this forum from I believe an LA Times columnist that downplayed this however.
As for the US team's performance if you pull Phelps from the equation I think there should be some concern as much of the rest of the world seems to have caught up if you will...and yes in some countries like France & South Africa with a little help from our college programs.
So where do we stand today? I think some major questions are being asked in light of Nike pulling out of our sport and possible funding opportunities drying up for that 2nd tier of swimmers who didn't make the team this last go around and may not have the means to train for 2012 (Nick Brunelli being a possible example).
Now the big question, how limited could training opportunities become if the economy continues to go south? I know of one major pool project in AZ that has been put on the back burner and with budgets getting whacked big time how many public/high school pools will get shut down? How many college programs that are not endowed will get the axe?
