Brandon's like me, about the same age, doing everything he can to stay fit, swimming.
There's been a lot of smack-talk about the 50 yard fly at Masters Nationals coming up this spring in Clovis, CA. I've got my goal times, and Brandon's got his, and Keith Dennison is a big question mark. I got a feeling Brandon will be sub 25 seconds. I went about that fast back in November, as a get-out-swim, at the GOLDEN GOGGLES / USA SWIMMING FOUNDATION / MASTERS SWIMMING CLINIC in Manhattan. (Please note: The USA Swimming Foundation will be doing more clinics in 2009, with more Olympians, with great instruction while having a great time!)
Keith, though, he worries me. I trained with Keith at the peak of my career, and I never ever beat him in a practice, in a sprint fly repeat. Keith's a long-time friend and great guy.
However, I have a feeling, Keith's sneaking around, doing double workouts, or something extra between now and Masters National Championships on the side. I don't know what it is, but I must admit I've been worrying about it.
Being an Olympic Gold Medalist in the 200 fly, I shouldn't have anything left to prove.....but I'm feeling the heat, feeling the pressure....I think I need to drill-down and get serious about my tiny swimming workouts. (If any spies out there want to let me in on Keith's plan, I ready and willing to listen.)
I suppose we are all just a bunch of old swimming geeks. That's ok. I can accept it. As a matter of fact, I wouldn't want it any other way...
If you missed my SWIMNETWORK INTERVIEWS at the Long Beach Grand Prix, here they are:
Note: I buttoned my interview with Ous, calling him "MeZOOLIE. I edited the piece and would've cut it to protect my mistake. However, I liked Ous throwing the "peace sign" too much. I would've lost that tiny piece of tape, so I had to live with my embarrassing mistake. :(
Up next on my web talk show, GOLD MEDAL MINUTE, B.J. Bedford Miller, the funniest woman in swimming...aside from also being an Olympic gold medalist....
PLEASE NOTE SOME OTHER bloggers and columnists I've been reading and loving lately:
The year's underway. One Grand Prix competition down and many more to go until World Championships in Rome! After all the great swims I saw Saturday night, I can't wait for the next Grand Prix in Missouri, Feb 13th!
In the vlog above I mentioned meeting Zane Grothe in September for the first time at the American Swimming Coaches Association Convention in Las Vegas. He was just walking around, and he had that look in his eye. Despite being a 16 year old slight slip of guy--tall and very thin--he was absolutely fearless. I really believe he's going to be on the National Team soon representing the USA in the distance freestyle events. 2012 could very well be his Olympic debut. There! I said it! On the record! Check him out for yourself in this swimnetwork interview from September '08.
GOLD MEDAL MINUTE, my new web talk show, is cranking along. I have three more Olympic interviews in the can, and I'm capturing two more today. One is with the only National Team member who has ever gone on to be a minister, and the other is with a multi-Olympic medalist, a huge star. The next episode will be with B.J. Bedford (Miller), who is animated and always fun. NBC Sports said just following her around was like capturing a sitcom.
Don't miss my swimnetwork interviews from the Grand Prix, 7 total. Two have posted already:
Cullen Jones is only one athlete, with one Olympic gold medal.
Swimming's Greatest Asset?
Sure, my title is bold in the aftermath of Michael Phelps' 8 for 8 performance in Beijing. I'm sticking by it, though. In the long run, when swimming history is written in a social context, I know Cullen Jones will be king.
If you considered the face of American today, you can't deny all of the colors and shades. We're a multi-racial nation, and we're better because of it. When different cultures flow together, we all benefit from a creative energy. I believe is it empowering, even life-sustaining. In our on-going story it is what makes us great.
Cullen Jones is aware of his role in this narrative, and he is graciously following in the footsteps of other great athletes who have broken the color barrier. While Cullen is only one color, he recognizes the rainbow as well. Cullen encourages African Americans to swim, but his message encompasses everyone.
If swimming, as a sport, is ever going to reflect the face of American society, it will be because of Cullen's testimonial, and his cross-country promotion of diversity. Cullen Jones is the key. Without him, our story remains the same: near-absence from urban and minority communities.
Sometimes images are more telling! Checkout this kid who is so emotionally connected:
Just because Cullen is a man of color does not mean he qualifies for this role as king. It takes a unique mix of intelligence, charisma, compassion and patience. Fortunately, for us, Cullen has it all. He's a true star. I know. I've been privy to a few conversations, and I've heard about all the companies and media networks clamoring for a piece of his image.
Checkout this commercial and you'll see why:
Additionally, Cullen has sex appeal. I've heard it from many different women, often described the same way: "Cullen's not arrogant. He's sexy and attractive, in a completely approachable way."
Check Cullen out in this video making a connection with a Candace Brooke Silva, a big blogger who follows swimming (among many other things on her show OH YES THEY DID):
Here's Cullen connecting with Heather Lettieri (one of my favorite Facebook friends):
Is Cullen swimming's greatest asset?
It's a tough question when you consider it. Granted, Michael Phelps is the reason we've drawn in fans beyond our niche community, but if we want to sign up kids who have traditionally gravitated to basketball, football and baseball, I believe Cullen, in the long run, will have the greatest impact.
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????
I have been working off of YouTube and Facebook; I don't know how to work my own blog. My loving wife Tiffany has been doing it all. I just email her, and her she posts it. I can Twitter; that's it.
I'm learning how to work the blog posts now, though. I have to. There's a crazy Fall ahead, and I can't miss a beat. I leave for New York with Chris LaBianco this Friday to check out the venue for Golden Goggles (USA Swimming's version of the Academy Awards) at the Hilton. NBC's Rowdy Gaines will be with us. (We will vlog! Hopefully the HIlton has shower caps.) We see Michael Phelps host SNL on Saturday, and we're conducting clinics for swimmers and Masters in Manhattan/New Jersey/Connecticutt.
Next we head to L.A. to see Byron Davis (National Team swimmer-turned-minister--if one man can bring me back to church after growing up on the grounds of Jim & Tammy Faye Bakkers' PTL, it's Byron.) Hoping to pass Byron the ChangeRing (for more info, check out www.thechangering.com )
In October, we have the Tiburon Mile telecast by FoxSports. I am there soley to document Chris LaBianco's swim in the Blue70 suit. Sometime later in October, I'll be in Charlotte to support SwimMAC's efforts to raise money to increase the involvment of minorities in swimming. In Charlotte, I'll catch up with Cullen Jones, our African-American Olympic swimming star.
November, Golden Goggles. For those in the know, GBK is handling our gifting suite (same company that does the Emmy's, VMAs, etc., etc.)
In December, we've got Short Course National Championships, and there's a whole lot going on inbetween (like someone's big 4-0, and a vacation with the wife--Ed.) I promise the inbetween will be far more interesting that anything else...
