The anti-sandbag law:
"if a swimmer enters an event with a time significantly slower or faster than that swimmer's recorded time in the past two years, the meet director may, after a discussion with the swimmer, change the seeded time to a realistic time" (104.5.5.A(10)).
Concerning my Auburn nationals entry, I confess, when faced with a 7 hour 2 stop flight and 3:45 nonstop at an earlier time, I did what any warm-blooded middle-aged American swimmer with low self-esteem would do--sandbag my entry so I could catch the earlier flight, thus diminishing the possible time spent sitting next to a 400 pound Alabama slammer with sleep apnea wearing nothing but overalls and body odor. Of course, I was caught in my bold fabrication and my time was "fixed."
USMS seems to have an identity problem. Are we hard core with rigid qualifying times? It would seem not as 2 of my not-so-speedy family members were allowed to swim four events last year in Puerto Rico. If we are not hard core, why does anybody care that I sandbag? More to the point, why can one person enter a crappy time and another cannot? Just wondering.:)
One final question for the morality police: If I check in for the 400 (with my newly adjusted time) on the outside chance I can still make my flight but then need to leave is it still unsportsmanlike or am I just a scumbag for dodging competition or adversely affecting the timeline on the other end?
Mr. Dickson,
We apologize, but The Morality Police is much too busy lately to address your concern. Between the Weiner scandal, which thankfully seems to be winding down, and staying up late at night to cheer for the Mavs to triumph over the hated LeBron James (aka, "by-passed college because he knew he'd never show up for Finals"), it's been an exhausting couple of weeks.
So it may be awhile before your relatively minor problem is addressed. But you can do one of the following to ensure that your question is bumped up in the priority queue:
-- Tweet about it and include photographs of you in an illegal tech suit, complete with a strategically-placed rip (Paul Smith can advise you on this);
-- hold an ESPN news conference where you announce the formation of a new USMS club for the express purpose of breaking relay world records (gosh, I think Paul can help you on this one too).
Good luck,
The Morality Police
One final question for the morality police: If I check in for the 400 (with my newly adjusted time) on the outside chance I can still make my flight but then need to leave is it still unsportsmanlike or am I just a scumbag for dodging competition or adversely affecting the timeline on the other end?
Mr. Dickson,
We apologize, but The Morality Police is much too busy lately to address your concern. Between the Weiner scandal, which thankfully seems to be winding down, and staying up late at night to cheer for the Mavs to triumph over the hated LeBron James (aka, "by-passed college because he knew he'd never show up for Finals"), it's been an exhausting couple of weeks.
So it may be awhile before your relatively minor problem is addressed. But you can do one of the following to ensure that your question is bumped up in the priority queue:
-- Tweet about it and include photographs of you in an illegal tech suit, complete with a strategically-placed rip (Paul Smith can advise you on this);
-- hold an ESPN news conference where you announce the formation of a new USMS club for the express purpose of breaking relay world records (gosh, I think Paul can help you on this one too).
Good luck,
The Morality Police
