Gold Medal Mel GOSSIP: Nov 24th

Before the gossip, let me give you some gospel, some "good news." Two days ago I was down and utterly depressed, but my friends got me back on my feet. Friends are the BEST!!!

 

No matter how worried I may be about the economy, my friends (and family) remain constant. Beyond that, there is the pool, the water, life's best escape. Whenever I get an hour away in that medium, the weightlessness, I came back invigorated...... 

I proclaimed 2008 the "Year of the Swimmer" back in Dec of 2007, back when I was writing for a website that ultimately  got bought by NBC. I now write for swimnetwork, USA Swimming's online effort. They've done well, but finding the right mix of aquatic info and entertainment hasn't been easy. My part on the swimnetwork team has always been the same: I was, am, and still remain a shameless promoter of all things swimming....

The "swimming bug" has caught on, from the highest levels of NETWORK TV to the grassroots digital level--all things webby. Case in point: DAN HICKS, NBC's Olympic Host of Swimming. I caught a moment with him after the '08 GOLDEN GOGGLES was over. Dan's about the nicest guy you'll ever meet, especially for someone so successful. If you still have the 4x100 Free Relay on DVD or TiVO, watch and listen to his voice. Dan Hicks is a pro, but he sounds a lot like an unabashed fan! Dan, who I think will be the next PRIME TIME HOST of all OLYMPIC SPORTS (if Bob Costas ever steps down), has a Ph.D in Olympic History. Dan is the MAN! 

 

As for the grassroots level, there's me, and my friends, who are new fans, like Eve.

Eve, aka, Tiaragurl on YouTube, is all about Michael Phelps, and the Olympics. Eve will now follow swimming until 2012.  We maintained a Facebook friendship, until Nov 16th, when Eve was nice enough to celebrate my birthday with me....

If you're a swimming fan, and you want a place to talk shop, drop by my blog. I have a network of contacts all over the world, and they love "insider news," especially Olympic Gossip! 

GMM Gossip? What do I know? 

Michael Phelps is in the news again! "Mr. Swimming" is now adding Subway Sandwiches to his ever growing inventory of endorsements. Michael could've gone with McDonald's, according to my sources. Peter Carlisle, MP's power-agent at OCTAGON, thought Subway was better for MP's image. Also, Subway is expanding throughout Europe with an aggressive marketing campaign--something Michael wants with his eyes set on 2012 in London.

Peter Carlisle, MP's agent, is early 40s, good-looking and exceptionally polished. (Sports agents as a whole are not the best lot. Many, however good they may be at their jobs, are scrappy and tough. In one word: gruff. There are exceptions to the rule. Peter Carlisle is one of them.) It will be interesting to see how Peter does beyond MP. Peter represents many Olympians and Olympic swimmers. Understandably, Peter must be focused on MP. It makes me wonder if he'll be able to keep his other clients happy. For Peter, MP is a career topper, a retirement plan, an agent's dream. While I think Peter's the best, I think the long range future of Olympic representation may go to the agent who has many, many clients, who get a more equitable share of the market.... For me, this an interesting story, and an evolving story. I want all agents to be wildly successful, because it's good for the sport. What happens between now and the 2012 Olympics, will be an agent's "art of war" scenario, played out in slow motion... 

Check out Peter Carlisle, the Octagon power-agent, at the 2008 Olympics, in person:

 

Cesar Cielo, 2008 Olympic gold medalist in the 50m free and the fastest man on planet earth, is closing the gap on Michael Phelps for Swimming World Magazine's "Swimmers Choice World Male Swimmer of the Year" award.... Not a big surprise. Rumors have been floating around that a massive online campaign has been brewing in Brazil to make this a reality...

Coming off of Golden Goggles less than a week ago, I'm left with one nagging topic: US World-Class swimmers want a fall pro-circuit, one like FINA's World Cup.  It was talked about a lot, or was the subtext of most conversations. It makes sense. Once an Olympics is over and swimmers face 4 long years before another big show, they wonder what they really have to look forward to... 

Interestingly, I've been trading emails with Peter Marshall. Peter didn't make the 2008 US Olympic Swim Team, but this fall at the FINA WORLD CUP he broke two world records in the 50 and 100 short course meters backstroke. Later this week I'll interview him about some related subjects; pro-swimming, a US fall pro-circuit, not retiring because there's more to swimming than making the Olympic Team... Peter, who had planned to retire after this fall, may have changed his mind after his blisteringly fast backstroke swims abroad... I'm sure if Peter continues swimming, his sights will be set on the next Olympics. However, what does it mean to him, to be successful, a world record holder, a world swimming star, beyond the Olympics????

Comments

[gold Medal Mel]

FYI: Writing about "Lovin Lochte" in a few weeks. I'll make sure to drop Reezy as much as possible, with a link.....

TONY!!!!! What's up bud? I'm also dropping more pro-circuit bombs! I just interviewed PETER MARSHALL (who was on vacation in HONG KONG). Peter recently broke the 50 and 100 short course meters world records at FINA's WORLD CUP.... now the only pure pro-swimming circuit in the world... Stay tuned. I think the GRAND PRIX series will continue to develop in the pro direction. USA Swimming's passionate about making it very, very strong!!!!

[Crystal]

i gotta say, you've got all the girls on lj going craaaaazy because you used the Reezy nickname on your swimnetwork blog :)

[Tony]

I am so blogging this - that was quite a bomb you dropped about a pro circuit! How cool would that be?

[Kate]

I wanted to comment on something that was in your SwimNetwork column. You mentioned the Eastern European-looking men following MP around. I think it's probably a good guess that they were former intelligence agents-turned-bodyguards. I know that MP's guards in the UK were from a company that hires former personnel from the British Secret Service, counter-intelligence, and elite military special forces units, and I don't think it's a huge leap to assume that his guards in the US have the same sort of background.

[gold Medal Mel]

Crystal,

Thanks for comments.... MP is doing a lot for the sport. I think he deserves everything he gets...

A pro-circuit is something that's been in-talks for nearly 2 decades. I know with all the positive media, and MP, a proposal's on deck right now for one. HOWEVER, it won't happen for another year. There are a lot of egos to tend with too. I hope it happens. Right now the right people are coming together...

Re; Lochte, I support anything he does.... Lochte is going to be huge by 2012. His star's rising now... As far as "causes," all Olympians should partner with a cause, and give back. Olympians must set that example. Glad to see Lochte's found his footing there......

[Crystal]

i'm glad you're feeling better Mel. there really is nothing like friends and family - and in your case, water - to really help you out when you need it.

lovin the 'gossip' ! everything buzzing around swimming for 09 is great news. how far along are the talks for a fall pro circuit?

as far as MP signing with subway, i think that was a good move. he got so much flak for not going with wheaties as the "healthier" choice in cereal. personally and honestly what he chooses to endorse is not that big of a deal to me. i know it's simply for marketing purposes. and i know that it's all for the sake of keeping him in the spotlight as long as possible - to better the sport. but there are people, especially the kids, who look up to him so i do understand the concern in sponsorship choices.

all i can think about is when he would always say how swimming is practically the #1 sport in australia, and how he always wanted to get it to that level here in the states.

*sigh* i don't want to gush over mp, lol. i just have a strong sense of pride and respect for everything he's done and continues to do.

i'm lovin the vlogs ! know you have a LOT to go through but i always look forward to seeing the new ones you post.

<3

OH. btw, i saw that you've joined in the Ryan Lochte fan drive to end Duchenne. what are your thoughts on fan based charities? i know GWG, MP, and Cullen Jones (have we treaded into initials *only* for CJ yet?) are doing great things out of the pool with their celebrity. (other swimmers as well, not just those 3). i think it's a good way for the fans to get more involved and do something positive to help out.