About a week ago, I wrote: "If there's no college basketball games, no hockey games, if all my friends are out of town, and FSN is having technical difficulties then I'll probably see you there." I was referring to the Grand Prix swim meet taking place at the MU Aquatic Center featuring Michael Phelps and Natalie Coughlin. Well, pretty much that exact scenario happened. So I bit the bullet and held my promise. I called up a chick friend who happened to be a former swimmer and the two us made the trip to the rec center.
Within about five minutes of being there, Coughlin broke an American record in the 200 free. Fifteen minutes later, Phelps completely blew away the field in the Mens 200 free. After each of their races, both of them walked over to the stands and started signing autographs for little kids. What other sport does that happen in? Two superstar athletes just get done breaking American and World records (Phelps broke a world record on Saturday) and then trot over to the kids section and mingle with the fans for thirty minutes? I've never seen it.
It was swimming, I'll admit. But it was actually fun. The atmosphere during Coughlin's record swim was intense, people were standing up and yelling and going crazy. I found myself doing the same.
I gained a new found respect for the sport this weekend. It was pretty cool to be in a building with athletes who were doing things that no one in the world had ever done before. And they weren't using steroids.
All this praise could be solely credited to Coughlin, who immediately interested me in the sport when I saw her walking around the pool in swim suit. Chick's hot.
***Bryan Burwell had to stick his head in the whole Chief Illiniwek issue. If it has anything to do with race or political correctness then Burwell isn't far behind. I don't know what I think about this whole deal, maybe some of you SEMO Indians have some opinions, but I just hate it when Burwell speaks.
***Bobby Knight lashed out about the new rule in college hoops stating that a player must attend at least one year of college before going pro. He said, "(it's) the worst thing that's happened to college basketball since I've been coaching. Because now you can have a kid come to school for one year and play basketball and he doesn't have to go to class."
*I don't know what kind of schools he's been coaching at, but if you're a basketball player at Mizzou you never have to attend class. No matter how long you stay in college.
***The Blues made it clear today that they hope to retain Manny Legace, Jamal Mayers, and Radek Dvorak come this offseason. A friend tried to tell me that the Blues shouldn't sell anymore, they should hope for a playoff spot instead. To him I say, "Kevin, ten points back. Two games between now and the deadline. You're stupid." I gotta think the Blues selling of Tkachuk and Guerin is moments away. Don't get me wrong, I'm still pushing for them to make the playoffs, but even with an outside shot at the playoffs, I think it makes sense to deal these two veterans.
***"Newly energized Missouri (men's basketball)"
****"MU men in quest for postseason"
*****Wow, a late season push for a hopeless bid in late February. We've never heard these headlines before. Ok.
***Last year when the Rams were looking to fill the void that Mike Martz left, there was a rumor of two final candidates. Scott Linehan and Chicago Bears defensive coordinator, Ron Rivera. Linehan coaches the Rams, Rivera was cut yesterday by the Bears. Perhaps we made the right choice.
Ah, DA CUBS:
Steve Rosenbloom, ChicagoSports.com: “Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright thought he had a deal to get the baseball from the last out of St. Louis’ World Series win last year. Catcher Yadier Molina says no, he’s keeping the ball. This could get sticky, maybe even disrupt clubhouse chemistry. Finally, a problem that won’t dog the Cubs. Ever, apparently.”
Rosenbloom, again: “Lou Piniella says all the guys who’ve changed from, say second base, to say, center field the way Alfonso Soriano has did it in the minors, not in the majors. Piniella also says it’s not the easiest thing to do. And Piniella says he knows it’s not an easy transition. And then Piniella says he’s not even a little worried. So there you go. That’s why the Cubs hired Piniella, apparently, because he could double-talk faster and better than (Dusty) Baker.”
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2 comments:
After reading this blog, I will be attending the next youth swim meet at the Cape Central Municipal Pool. Ah, the Native American mascot issue arises once again. I wouldn't mind still being called the Indians. I think we had a basketball team before we changed to Redhawks. Also, I agree with Bobby Knight. There are several players at SEMO who are just going through the motions in class for one year before they go pro, and it's pissin' me off.
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