GMM NEWS Nov 19th: Golden Goggles Blues

• The event's over and I want to weep. Chris LaBianco, Head of the USA SWIMMING Foundation (along with Matt Farrell and Mike Unger and many, many, many others) pulled off an incredible shindig! HIGHPOINTS: Hearing the crowd go nuts any time JASON LEZAK'S name was announced, Bob Costas cutting in on presenters' speeches (saving them really), and Donald Trump presenting Male of Athlete of Year to Michael Phelps. I, personally, appreciated seeing BOB BOWMAN receive the award for COACH OF THE YEAR. Bob, who is so unflappable, got emotional onstage. It was only for a brief second, but you could tell he knew he was a part of SWIMMING HISTORY. I remember Bob Bowman as an assistant coach 20 years ago back in Las Vegas. He was only in his 20s, but so, so serious.   
• Stars were out in force. I got video of many. My videos are teasers really, behind the scenes snap shots, which I will post later this week. If you want blow-by-blow coverage, go to SWIMNETWORK.COM. My SWIMNETWORK interviews, which were completely off the wall, will post next week. I asked the 2008 Olympic Team members "insider" questions to gain truly probing information: who was the worst roommate, the most likely to sleep through the swim-practice. Their answers will surprise you. (I'll post an announcement the day before they appear on SWIMNETWORK.)   
• After GOLDEN GOGGLES, VIPs meandered about and later they met up at FACES & NAMES, a trendy Manhattan haunt. I got photos of my friends, but these 2 were the most interesting:  Gary Hall Jr.'s TUX shoes appear above, pink CHUCK TAYLORS. I wanted to wear my CHUCK TAYLORS with my TUX, but my wife wouldn't let me. I argued that my mine were gray and conservative. My wife said "no," my boss, LaBianco, might fire me. When GARY walked on stage to present an award in his hot pink shoes, jealousy welled up inside me. Gary remains the coolest man in swimming...  
•  The charcoal-gray NIKEs belong to MATT GREVERS. He wasn't trying to be tight. He didn't have tux shoes that fit. He tried to wear ADAM RITTER'S tux-shoes, but they were too small. GREVERS, who stands 6 feet 9 inches tall, opted for NIKEs instead of suffering through the gala night... 
• In a couple of days, after I return home, I'll write in-depth about the Golden Goggles. (I'm still in NYC, recovering from the go, go, go gala weekend.) You can catch my blow-by-blow account at SWIMNETWORK, in my weekly column, GOLD MEDAL MEL. Here's a link to my last post, GOLDEN GOGGLES MEMORIES. In it I recap my insecurities and impressions about the evolution of AWARDS SHOWS in SWIMMING.  
• Later this week, I will also post video and photos of my NOV 16th Birthday Bash. Thanks to everyone who came! You made it a special night!  
• For a recap of all GOLDEN GOGGLES WINNERS, go to USASWIMMING.ORG. 
• IN THE NEWS TODAY... 
• Cameron van der Burgh and Marieke Guehrer are the men's and women's champions of the 2008 FINA World Cup! They took home 100k a piece in what has become the best professional series in the world. (Over the Golden Goggles weekend, Olympians and coaches talked about the possibility of a US professional swimming series that would mirror the World Cup. Stay tuned throughout 2009 as that story develops.)  
• Reuters reports that UNIVERSAL SPORTS has expanded into 9 major-markets with their television coverage of OLYMPIC-related sports.
• Michael Phelps is still making serious coinage! Phelps, along with coach BOB BOWMAN, have finally bought their hometown swimteam. What does this really mean? Are they the start of the first truly professional swimteam? 
• Michael Phleps named "G.Q. Man of the Year" 

Comments

[Megan]

The pink Chucks are amazing!

Thanks so much for all you do--giving updates, vlogs, your article on swimnetwork.com, etc. As a serious swim fan, I really appreciate it. :)

[Kris]

I can't wait to read your blow by blow account and watch your videos. Thanks for covering this event and sharing your experiences with the fans!!