Conference 7.286::sports_91

Can we still talk about the /Don Synchronized Swimming Video?


And speaking of that...that looks like one hard sport.  I have
enough problems trying to float in the water, never mind
poking one leg straight up, smiling, and being in synch with
another person....

'Saw

    
    >poking one leg straight up, smiling, and being in synch with
    >another person....
    
    You can practice this move at home with your partner, and when you get
    good enough, then take it to the water.
    
    Dickstah
    

    While most of you were watching SF beat up on the Skins Saturday, ABC
    was showing highlights of the 6th annual world swimming championships
    from Perth, Australia.  Folks, if you were watching football, you
    missed a much better matchup on ABC.
    
    Melvin Stewart from Ft. Mill, South Carolina (right across the border
    from Charlotte) finally beat Michael "The Albatros" Gross from East
    Germany in the 200M butterfly.  During the 1988 Olympics, a cocky
    Stewart guaranteed a victory and a world record.  He finished 5th.
    
    Now a few years older and little more mature, Stewart met Gross for
    the first time since Seoul.  Gross didn't even swim in his team's relay
    competition to save himself for the 200 meter butterfly.  Gross had
    Stewart beat for 7� lengths, but then old Melvin sucked it up, passed
    Gross, and touched in world record time.  
    
    In other events:
    
    	- Matt Biondi is still a swimming god who can dunk a basketball
    	  better than some hoopsters
    	- Janet Evans is getting fat
    
    Splash!
    
    	--dan'l

Re: Synch swimming


This is almost exclusively a women's sport, due primarily to the fact
that 

a) it really looks goofy
b)  women have built-in water wings

Also... I understand that while performing, they wear electrical tape on
their ears.

Mike JN

    One of the all-time funniest Saturday Night Live skits was Martin Short
    and Christopher Guest (I think) practicing for the next Olympics'
    synchronized swimming competition.
    
    Whatta riot.   Short's character was wearing a life preserver and nose
    plugs because he couldn't even swim.  And Guest's character was going
    around saying things like "Synchro is my life" and he was constantly
    slicking his hair back and worrying about his makeup.
    
    Then they'd get in the pool and flail around together.  They also had
    an instructor who was, shall we say, flaming.   And when he got them
    together for "pointing" practice, it was too much.   
    
    "Now point, now point, now point, ..."
    
    Way too funny.   I can't watch that sport without laughing.
    
    Bob Hunt

    While everyone was watching the 49ers yesterday, we were poolside
    having a cookout and splashing around in our 70� weather.
    
    Mike

    >Then they'd get in the pool and flail around together.  They also had
    >an instructor who was, shall we say, flaming.   And when he got them
    >together for "pointing" practice, it was too much.   
    
    When Shearer (not Guest, I think) did the "I see you, I see you" bit
    when they pointed, I almost lost my milk through my nose.  That was
    a classic.  Oh, yeah, how about the part where Short says he wears
    the life jacket because "I'm not a STRONG swimmer".  
    
    I happen to live in Seattle, which is home to Tracy Ruiz and whoever
    her partner was, who were sort of the Lennon and McCartney of synchro
    swimming.  So, we've been severely ODed on coverage of this "sport".
    I thing it's ridiculous to have it in the Olympics before tennis and
    golf.  Yeah, yeah, it takes "skill", but so does cracking walnuts with
    your butt cheeks, but that doesn't mean it belongs in the Olympics.
    
    
    Pete

Hawk, 

Don't tell me your son decided to try rugby!

As for your daughter's ears, it's a very simply solution:

	a) place earplugs in place
	b) make fast by wrapping black electrical tape around
	   her haid!

hth,
'Saw

    Hawk,
    
    	Julie's earplugs should be fine if they are fit in nice and snug
    and she wears a bathing cap.  My 5 year old daughter had the same
    thing and she didn't miss a beat at the pool.
    
    	Steve

    
    Too bad she ain't built like you, Hawk.  The water could flow in one
    ear and right out the other.  8^))))))
    
    Dickstah
    

    Hawk,
    
    If you want to take a small chunk out of your John Handjob deductable,
    there are doctors who can make specially fitted earplugs for her.  One
    of the sports medicine programs at any of the colleges (that have a
    swimming team) up your way could probably put you in touch with just
    such a physician.
    
    Otherwise, a combination of lamb's wool and wax make excellent earplugs
    that will bio-degrade before they leak.
    
    	--dan'l

    
    Do the skin-tight rubber racing caps come in flesh color?
    
    Dickster
    

Hawk --

There's always the Norm Abrams "bead of caulking" method.

	Take the ear plug.  Make a small bead of Crazy Glue around
	it.  Insert firmly in ear.  Have her swallow or chew gum to
	equalize the pressure.

	Proceed to swim.

works every time 8^)

'Saw

PS  tell them I said Hi.....

    Caught some of the Aussie TV coverage of the World Champeenships on TV
    while over there.  Lots of coverage, but horrible announcing.  And as
    an added bonus, the US team - the swimmers, water poloists, divers and
    synchro babes were on our flight back to the USA.  Mostly nice folks.
    Matt Biondi is really a good will ambassodor.  And those synchro
    swimmers, they do EVERYTHING together.  Should have seen them circling
    in front of the restrooms.  Simly breathtaking.  ;-)
    
    JD

Hawk --

Sounds maybe like a marvelous idea.  The cap could be covered with
a thin sheen of petroleum jelly, to facilitate a non-stick surface
in scrums.

Since rugby is a game that is played low (ie. try not to run
in a totally upright position, tackle low etc) I'd paint a real
mean face on the top of my haid...

Then again...Nah...tape is still cooler...8^)

'Saw

    
    
    G'day from down under,
    
    Could some one find out for me if possible the dates for the PAN-PAC's.
    I think they are being held in Vancouver B.C.?. The Aussie team hold
    their trials in April and then come together as a team some time later
    in the year. Congrat's to the Yank's they look hard to beat after their
    results in Perth W.A.. The Hungarian Breast-stroker Tamas Danyi(sic)
    was the swimmer of the meet under 2mins for 200 I.M. is pretty good.
    
    Thanks 
    
    Mike G.

    RE: 123.14 From the track and field note...
    
>Hey, if they had full contact swimming, where you could try to drown
>the other guy, and make him bleed, then maybe I'd watch it [many ;^)]
    
    They do.  It's called water polo.
    
    Actually, swimming is the most dangerous sport to participate in.  How
    so?  Well think about it.  
    
    Let's say you are a baseball player.  But you don't know how to play. 
    You go out on the field, maybe get hit on the head by a couple fly
    balls and basically run around looking like an idiot.
    
    Let's say you are a hockey player.  But you don't know how to play. 
    You go out on the ice, get hit in the face with a puck, slip around a
    lot and have other guys crash you into the boards.
    
    Let's say you are a rugby player.  But you don't know how to play.  You
    go out on the field and jump around and push a bunch of other guys and
    get all kinds of dirty, look like a fool, and then go drink beer.
    
    Now, let's say you are a swimmer.  But you don't know how to swim...
    
    
    ...you drown.
    
    
    
    That and the wet towel snapping in the locker room is enough to ruin
    anyone's day.  8-)
    
    	--dan'l

>    They do.  It's called water polo.

No, I was thinking of something more like having Lloyd Bridges under the
water while people are swimming in their lanes, but he's got a spear
gun see, and then next thing ya know......;^)
    
>    Let's say you are a rugby player.  But you don't know how to play.  You
>    go out on the field and jump around and push a bunch of other guys and
>    get all kinds of dirty, look like a fool, and then go drink beer.

No, actually, they put you out at weak side wing, and you don't get
dirty, and you might get a blister from brushing your hair (hahahahahahaha)

    
    
>    That and the wet towel snapping in the locker room is enough to ruin
>    anyone's day.  8-)

How barbaric!  Does that still go on (Oh MY!)....8^)

'Saw

    
    -2
    
    Let's say you want to try auto racing, and you don't know how to drive
    a car....
    
    

    re .25
    
    Like father, like son ..... :-)

 Seriously rollward genetic intergral(tm) next time throw the bum in the water 
 and get your money's worth...

 mike

    
    Hey Hawk-like parental unit, would the male product of your loins
    perhaps be your "re-psycho'd genetic integral?"
    
    Dickstah
    

Hawk....

Get up on the board, give them a lean, mean, Semper Fi look, say 
"Don't question my behavior, trust me"....  And do the same damn thing
again....

You'll feel better for it 


'Saw

    Charlotte just built this brand new swimming facility.  It is THE
    ulitmate aquatic center.  And in it last night, we had our first water
    polo practice.  Now ol' dan'l has been working out swimming about 1500
    yards a day in the past few years, but water polo is a different story.
    
    Well, these young'ns were swimming circles around this old man in
    warmups and drills, but when it came to the actual scrimmage, dan'l's
    old water polo skills surfaced (no pun intended).  I didn't miss a step
    (or should that be stroke) after not playing for eight years.  I scored
    two goals and these kids didn't know what to think or do when I was
    defending them.
    
    Needless to say, I'm quite proud of my performance and have probably
    earned a starting spot.  Now, if I can just find time for this in
    between work, teaching at UNCC, and running the Steelers club, and
    pleasing the womens of Charlotte I'll be happy.
    
    And please, none of those "how did you keep your horse from drowning"
    jokes; I heard 'em all before.
    
    	--dan'l

dan'l --

I'm impressed.  Sounds to me like water polo is like the closest thing
to rugby in the world of water sports.  Those guys don't wear those funny
little hats with ear protectors for nothin'....

How many filberts got wasted lasted night?


'Saw

    No job openings internally that I know of at CEO or OPA, Hawk, but
    Charlotte is a boomtown with lots of other companies hiring.  
    
    Saw, I didn't lose either of my filberts at last check. But I think I
    scared the filberts off of this one little high school hot shot who had
    the nerve to try to swim past me; I hooked him with one leg, pulled him
    back, wrapped my other leg around him and dunked him, all while my hands
    were above the water.  He didn't challenge me the rest of the
    scrimmage.
    
    The Mecklenburgh Aquatic Center contains:
    
    	- 50 meter by 25 yard pool that can be split into three separate
    	  pools using bulkheads; the floor at the one end contains a 
    	  hydraulic lift so that they can raise and lower the depth 
    	  from seven feet to 0 feet.  It is one of only three pools 
    	  in the world to have such a feature.
    
    	- a 25 yard therapy pool with warm warm water and benches along
    	  the sides that shoot water jets into your back and legs.
    
    	- an 18-foot in diameter whirlpool.
    
    	- weight room (in which I hurt my neck in last week) that contains
    	  Pyramid Equipment -- equipment designed to develop swimming
    	  muscles rather than strength and bulk.
    
    This is a very state-of-the-art facility that cost 6 million, payed
    with by bonds approved several years back.
    
    	--dan'l

Dan'l --

Now I am impressed.  That move, while sounding suspiciously like something
you'd need MOUNT and PHYS_IO privilege for, must've shocked the cojones
off the guy.

The moral?

Don't mess with Dan'l while he's in the pool!


'Saw

 "Pepper" taught it to him, 'Saw.   Trust me, the lad has the moves.
 
 Bob Hunt

    Dan'l - please take this as constructive criticism:
    
    the word is paid, not payed.
    
    As an editor, I had to correct you, and knowing your high standards
    and total commitment to perfection, I'm confident you will learn from
    this minor fuax pas and become a better man for it.  ;-)
    
    NAZZ

>    Steve, er, Psycho, was asked to swim in 2 events, his usual 25 yd.
>    backstroke, and the 25 yd. breaststroke.  Why the breaststroke, his
>    weakest stroke, I don't know.  
    
    This is a common ploy among most swimming coaches.  It helps break the
    monotony of swimming the same events in every meet, plus it gives the
    coach a good look at a swimmer's competitiveness in a losing
    situation, plus you just might discover something...case in point:
    
    December 1981, Ohio University @ University of Tampa, young freshman
    freestyle sprinter Dan'l Medvid is asked to swim as the third OU team
    entrant in the 200 butterfly.  He's never gone more than 100 yards at
    once in this stroke ever.  He places third beating two Tampa swimmers
    and Ohio's second best butterflyer.  
    
    From that point on, I was a butterflyer and swam my way to the
    conference championship in that stroke two years later.
    
    	--dan'l

Breaststroking was ALWAYS my best stroke.

When I got tired of that, I'd backstroke for a while, and when I was
wicked tired, then I'd just crawl away.

Never was much for butterfly though....


8^)

    
>Breaststroking was ALWAYS my best stroke.

>When I got tired of that, I'd backstroke for a while, and when I was
>wicked tired, then I'd just crawl away.
    
    Leave your sex life outta this.  The topic is swimming.
    
    Dickstah
    

But Dickstah,


Swimming is a metaphor for one's sex life.


Life, all life, the miracle of life starts with some things that are
pretty wet.  Sperms and ova must exist in an aqueous environment.

For nine months the fetus lives in a warm, watery womb that cushions,
protects and harbors the fetus until it's time for its entry into the
Cold Harsh, Dry World.  

All of lifes struggles result from that instant where time can no longer
be denied and we are swept, beyond all of our puny, fetal resistance,
into the birth canal and out into the cold world.

Man swims because it reminds him of those warm, wonderful times, attached
to my via the umbilical cord.  Man swims because he can revert back
to that state of rest and peace which he so humbly desires.

Swimming, true, is a poor substitute for the womb, but that is the best
we can do.

It all starts with sex, and with a little sperm doing the butterfly stroke.
It ends with a man in a pool wishing he was back in the womb.

In fact, there is triumphant metaphore in the swimming race, for it
represents in all it's glory, the arduous journey of that tiny sperm,
trying to best its brothers in the race to the ovum.....


Chainsaw

>In fact, there is triumphant metaphore in the swimming race, for it
>represents in all it's glory, the arduous journey of that tiny sperm,
>trying to best its brothers in the race to the ovum.....
    
    I used to puke my guts out after swimming the 400 individual medley.  I
    can see where that's a metaphor for afterbirth.
    
    	--dan'l

    
    Metaphore, shmetaphore.  I can find the same state of rest and peace of
    mind with a bag of anchovie crispellies.
    
    Dickstah
    

Dickstah, Born in a Pasta Factory....

8^)    

    As an addendum and comment to 'saw's mini-comments, keeping in mind
    I gotsa keep to the topic of swimmin,
    
    I personally prefer muff diving with a runnin start and BTW, ever
    since puberty have been constantly trying to get back into da
    canal!
    
    ;^)
    
    Kev
    

 Great line, Dan'l.   Rollward.
 
 'Saw, you need to get out of the house more often.   "Ashley" has
 done some wicked work on your imagination.
 
 Bob Hunt

Ah, Ashley.....


It's tough Bob.  I mean, I get it from all sides.  

I go to the gym, and feel the testosterone starting to flow, pumping
some iron, and then I see Babe-a-lon city in the Aerobics room.  Too tough.

Go out with JD and guys for some drinks and what happens?  We end up
at TALC Central....

Next thing you know.....


'Saw

    Sorry this is late, but thanks for the constructive criticism, Hawk.
    Dyslexia is hittin' me hard, now that I'm 41 - but that's no excuse,
    I realize.  I'll do better.
    
    BTW, a big CONGRATS for properly using the plural form of Manis (Manii)
    in another note.  Very impressive.
    
    NAZZ

    Bitchin' p-name, Squawk.
    
    Mark.

>Don't wanna blow da load on a p-name...
    
Don't wanna blow it on a pee-wee name either....    

    One of the local news station's sports department came to film us at
    water polo practice lasted night.  Then, to add that element of
    personal interest to the story, the reporter got in the water with us
    and asked us to treat him as we would treat any other player, showing
    no courtesy to the fact he was a novice.  After about two minutes of
    play he decided he'd better play goalie.  Much safer.
    
    For those of you in the Charlotte area, it'll be on Channel 3 (WBTV) a
    week from tomorrow, 6:00 PM.
    
    We're headed to Chapel Hill this weekend to scrimmage the Chapel Hill
    and Durham clubs.  It'll be our first "real" game since beginning our
    club this summer.  We are scheduled for a tournament in March.
    
    	--dan'l

    But is your friend in the video?

>    But is your friend in the video?
    
    Stay tuned on the FL DL for the latest on that.
    
    	--dan'l

>    Stay tuned on the FL DL for the latest on that.
    
Please make sure I'm on your list, dan'l....8^)


Water Polo is a tough sport...very tough.    But in high school we
played it co-ed.  Which made it a very FUN sport....


'Saw

    Went up to Chapel Hill this weekend to take on Duke and UNC in water
    polo.  It was Charlotte's first games as a team.  We played really well
    and were in both games, though we lost both by a couple goals.  
    
    Fatigue was our biggest problem.  We played well together, but just
    couldn't keep up with a bunch of college kids.  Our youngest player was
    25; their oldest was about 22 or 23.
    
    I won both swim offs I was the sprinter in.  (A swim off takes place at
    the beginning of every quarter where the ball is dropped at the whistle
    and both teams race for it.)  Didn't know this 28-year-old body could
    still motor like that.
    
    We played two very rough games.  Duke had some dirty players.
    
    All in all, it proved that water polo really is:
    
    
    
    	Swimmers with balls!
    
    
    
    	--dan'l	

    Off to Chapel Hill again this weekend for Charlotte Water Polo's first
    official (i.e. in the record books) games.  We'll be playing in an
    eight-team tournament at the UNC pool...which is right nexted to the
    Dean Dome...Saturday and Sunday.  
    
    Now, can you imagine me, an anti-Dean, being in Chapel Hill the day
    they lose to Alabama?  Hope I don't get beat up for all the whoopin'
    and hollarin' I'll be doing.  Oh, that is of course, contingent upon
    them getting by Miami (Ohio) today, which ACChris has already said may
    not be possible seeing that it's only an hour's busride from Oxford,
    Ohio to Cincinnati.
    
    	--dan'l

    Every inch of my being aches.  What a weekend.  We went to Chapel Hill
    this weekend for Charlotte Water Polo's first official games.  We
    finished fourth out of nine teams and probably would have finished in
    the top two if we'd have shown up for the first quarter of our second
    game.

    We played three games Saturday:

    	Beat VMI 8-3
    	Lost to Maryland 8-6
    	Beat Capital City (that's Raleigh's club team) 9-6

    Played for the fourth place finish today against James Madison U and
    beat them 9-7.

    Now if you'll excuse me, it's late, I'm about to get a Korean massage,
    and I catch a plane for Boston at 8:30 AM.

    	--dan'l

    PS: I finally saw the Dean Dome; the UNC natatorium is right next to
    it.  What an abomination of self-rightiousness!  Give me a break.

**EVERY** inch, dan'l?????   8^)


Congrats on the good finish.  Nice to have room to improve and grow.


'Saw

    What's that?  Brag?  Me?  OK.
    
    Last night two of my teammates and I were chosen to compete on the
    southern team in the East Coast Water Polo League.  The league is made
    up of all-star teams from the east coast and mid-atlantic states. 
    Our team will most likely be comprised of players from NC and Virginia.
    
    We play a tournament in June in Rockville, one in July in Annapolis,
    and then the championship tournament at Villanova.
    
    Question: anyone know how I could go about getting sponsorship from
    Digital?
    
    	--dan'l

    
    Cangrats Dan'l,
    
    How about contacting the Marketing organization and tell them you have
    a great idea and sell them the phrase " With the Digital Power Bulge,
    you can open it up and show the World your open advantage.  It fits
    right in every time!!!!"  
    
    Certainly has potential, doncha think?
    
    ;^)
    
    I remain,
    Madison Avenue, north.....
    
    Kev
    
    

dan'l,

In keeping with our *wonderful* (NOT) commercial campaign (a laughing stock
btw) you should bring a DECstation with you and put it in the goal.

During the match, you play goalie, tread water and talk to the computer...


hth,
'Saw

    
    Unfortunately, you won't get any financial support from DEC, if that's
    indeed what you meant by sponsorship.  They do not sponsor employees or
    family members for athletic/fundraising events.
    
    Sorry...
    
    
    Cath 

�    Question: anyone know how I could go about getting sponsorship from
�    Digital?
    
    Take it from one who's tried:
    
    HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

    Holy SH*T!!!!!
    
    MtM *knows* how to laugh???????????
    
    I'm copying -.1 for posterity!
    
    ;^)
    
    I remain,
    a master mod'r baiter!
    Kev
    

Yeah, DEC would rather sink dollars into some sappy commercials where some
boob talks to a computer on a chair...

I guess that's a really good statement of the audience we're trying to attract.


Mac, if you were in England, you could get sponsorship, believe me....


'Saw

    Hey, *I'LL* sponsor MtM if'n he promises to move to England!!!!!
    
    believe me.....
    
    I remain,
    anti-mover of notes!
    Kev
    

    Can't you get matching funds from somewhere?
    

    I've tried to get DEC to sponsor a basketball team at my kids'
    (Catholic) school.  No go.  Can't have anything to do with a particular
    religious affiliation (and not another).
    
    I've tried to get DEC to sponsor my daughter's softball team, a public
    league, nothing to do with the school.  No go either, but I forget
    why...
    
    I've learned that it's a futile thing, getting DEC sponsorship...
    
    Hawk
    

    Skwak,
    
    Do  matching gift form.  Have lots a people give a money, don't lose
    it, write a check to the organization and include a matching gift form.
    
    hth,
    
    I remain,
    Mr. Fraud  (not!)
    Kev
    

    > Have lots a people give a money, don't lose it, ...
    			       ^
                               |
    
    Wuzzamatta, Kev, didja *lose* a word or two in there?!  :-)
    
    Hawk
    

    I had eyetalian for lunch you twit!
    
    I remain,
    wit a axsent,
    Kevo

    This is what you need to do to pursue DEC sponsorship:
    
    If your team is made up of DEC employees, you can apply for funds
    through Employee Activities.
    
    If you team is a mixture of DECcies and non-DECcies, contact your local
    sales office to see if they have any money budgeted for advertising
    that they might be willing to give you.  You'll have to show them that
    you can give them something back for the money they give you since this
    is advertising and not charity.
    
    'Saw, DEC pledged 25K (I forget if it was pounds or $) to the Scotland
    Rugby Union for Under-21 player developement programs.  But don't
    forget, rugby over there does have a lot of visibility and DEC is
    trying to get the most bang from their buck.

    This weekend in Annapolis, the Charlotte-based water polo team competed
    in the first of three summer tournaments.  We won three out of four
    games...the game we lost was only by two goals.

    And yours truly is on course to break an Eastern Water Polo League
    record by taking nine out of 16 swim offs (that's the sprint for the
    ball at the beginning of every quarter).  With eight games left to play
    (32 swim offs) I can probably break the record of 22.  Hard to believe
    I'm 28 years old and not only the fastest swimmer on my team, but also
    in the eastern league.

    BTW, if you've never been to Annapolis or the US Naval Academy, do
    yourself a favor and treat yourself to a weekend there.  Beautiful.

    	--dan'l

>    And yours truly is on course to break an Eastern Water Polo League
>    record by taking nine out of 16 swim offs (that's the sprint for the
>    ball at the beginning of every quarter).  With eight games left to play
>    (32 swim offs) I can probably break the record of 22.  Hard to believe
>    I'm 28 years old and not only the fastest swimmer on my team, but also
>    in the eastern league.

Well, dan'l, we KNOW that WATER SPORTS are YOUR thing!!!!! ;^)


Congrats.  Keep up the good work, and if you do break the record, be sure
and let us know.


'Saw

    Congrats, dan'l!  And, wasn't this the weekend where you had to drive
    all night because of a business meeting, or something, on friday night?
    
    Speakin' a swimming, my kids start their practice season today, with
    their 1st meet in 2 weeks, I believe.  "Psycho" should do well again
    this year, especially since he's at the top of his age group, age-wise
    (lasted year he was 7 in the 8-and-unders).  Once again, the backstroke
    looks to be his strength, and he's taken an interest in diving.  Julie,
    on the other hand, is not as serious about swim competition (as she is
    in hoops!), and will probably only be swimming in relays, and maybe a
    few freestyle races.  Her strength is distance, as in 100 meters, as
    opposed to the 25 and 50 meter sprints...
    
    Dad's also getting psyched on getting in semi-shape via swimming laps. 
    The club has a new thing this season- they're open on tuesday and
    thursday mornings from 6-7:30 for laps.  I just may be nuts enough...
    
    Hawk
    

>    Dad's also getting psyched on getting in semi-shape via swimming laps. 
>    The club has a new thing this season- they're open on tuesday and
>    thursday mornings from 6-7:30 for laps.  I just may be nuts enough...
    
Go for it Hawk.

Personally, I'm not a water sports person.  I never learned to swim at
a young age, and I never fully relax in the water, so swimming laps for
me would be torture.  I'd rather run.

But, from what I've heard, you can get into excellent shape by swimming
laps.


We'll hold you to it....

'Saw    

>    And, wasn't this the weekend where you had to drive
>    all night because of a business meeting, or something, on friday night?
    
    The meeting was cancelled, but I had already talked one of my teammates
    into going up with me after work anyway.  So I worked Friday and we
    left Charlotte around 5:30.  Got to Annapolis by midnight and even went
    out for a few drinks...and recruited some cheerleaders.  They really
    did think we were professional water polo players.  Came and watched us
    on Saturday.
    
    	--dan'l

    
    Head for the club, Hawkster.  If going down for a few laps has done
    wonders for dan'l, just think what it can do for you.
    
    Dickstah
    

>    Don't remember which event it was, but Biondi kinda
>    dogged it at the end, and a guy from Surinam nipped him at the wire. 
    
    100 meter butterfly
    
>    Surinamese guy was a swimmer at some US college, and that's really
>    where he got a lot of his training, race competition, coaching, etc.   
    
    This is the story for most Western swimmers.  And now that the
    communist block has opened up, will probably be the story for all
    swimmers.  Can you imagine a Standford or Texas with a Micheal Gross on
    the team as well as all the US talent?  Gads!
    
    	--dan'l
    

    Cain't leave without a gush about my kids...  :-)
    
    Yesterday was their 1st meet of the season, in the rain no less! 
    Anyway, my daughter Julie competed in the 11-12 age category placing
    3rd in the 50-yard backstroke, 4th in the 100-yard freestyle relay, and
    got dq'd (not her, a relay-mate) in the 100-yard medley relay.  The
    backstroke was her big race, and her 1st time in this event, so placing
    3rd was her highlight of the day.  She also did extremely well as the
    anchor in the free relay, making-up quite a bit of distance...
    
    Steven had a great day.  Being at the top of his age-group (7-8) this 
    season, he's expected to do well, and he did taking 1st in the 25-yard
    backstroke (his best stroke) in a blowout!  After a not-so-great start
    coming out about 3rd, he turned on the afterburners and flew, easily
    winning by a good 4-5 lengths!  In his other races, he took 3rd in the
    25-yard freestyle (still hasn't perfected that stroke yet) and 4th in
    the 25-yard butterfly (something totally new to him this year).
    
    Unfortunately, the team lost 320-something to 220-something, but the
    Szabo kids went home smiling, and the parentals were real proud...
    
    Hawk
    

    So, did the rain make the lanes a little slicker and slow the kids
    down?

    > So, did the rain make the lanes a little slicker and slow the kids
    > down?
    
    Ha!  Actually, it was friggin' cold too, and the water being considerably
    warmer than the air temp, the times were much slower cause the kids
    didn't want to get out!  :-)
    
    Hawk
    

    Congrats, kwaH.  The kids are doing great.  
    
    lEe

    The Charlotte Sharks (that's our official name now) spent another
    weekend in the DC area competing in the East Coast Water Polo Leage. 
    We came out of the weekend 3-1.  That makes our combined record this
    summer 6-2, 3rd in our division, qualifying us for the championship
    tournament in Philly at the end of the month.
    
    We won our first game this weekend and just as we were feeling
    confident, Harrisburg took us to task and beat us 20-6.  Yowza! 
    Contributing factors to this route were:
    
    	- It was our second game within two hours (who made that schedule
    	  anyway)
    	- Harrisburg's club is made up of former players from Slippery
    	  Rock, Bucknell, Penn State, etc. a water polo hot bed
    	- They were better than us...plain and simple
    
    We came back and won our third game Saturday (only two hours after the
    3 PM debacle...who made that schedule anyway) and our game yesterday.
    
    I'm no longer on track for the swim off record.  We played our first
    three games in the U of Maryland pool (adjacent to Cole Field
    House...would be a nice place to see a hoops game) and the PH factor
    was off by a few million.  By 5 PM I was practically blind from the
    chlorine and gave up the swim off duties to someone else.  My eyes and
    resperatory system weren't much better yesterday, though we played in a
    different pool in Rockville, and I didn't do too well on the swim offs.
    
    Scored some impressive goals though, but I'm not going to win any MVP
    honors for the way I played in general this weekend.
    
    	--dan'l

    
    	- It was our second game within two hours (who made that schedule
    	  anyway)
    	- Harrisburg's club is made up of former players from Slippery
    	  Rock, Bucknell, Penn State, etc. a water polo hot bed
>>>>>    	- They were better than us...plain and simple
    
    Kick this sucker out and you'd make a fine UNC fan.....

  mike

    
    Do water polo players sweat?  How can you tell if they do?
    
    Dickstah
    

>    	- It was our second game within two hours (who made that schedule
>    	  anyway)
>    	- Harrisburg's club is made up of former players from Slippery
>    	  Rock, Bucknell, Penn State, etc. a water polo hot bed
>>>>>>    	- They were better than us...plain and simple
>    
>    Kick this sucker out and you'd make a fine UNC fan.....
    
    Yeah!  How did that get in there?  I meant to type "we ran into a hot
    team that was emotionally charged."
    
    Seriously, those guys were good.  Impressive shooting ability, great
    defense, lots of subs (they were substituting 6 fresh swimmers after
    every goal), and huge (I think their smallest player was about 6'2",
    200).  
    
    We'll get 'em again in Philly in a better facility than the Terps'
    pool, but I don't know if we can match up with a team of that quality.
    
    	--dan'l

    Go get 'em, dan'l!
    
    One last kids gush.  Swim meet #2, Saturday a.m.  Steve "Psycho" grabs
    to firsts, backstroke and freestyle.  Julie "my main sport is
    basketball, and I still kick the boys' butts" got her first-ever first
    place finish in the backstroke, and a 2nd in the free....
    
    Dad finally got off his butt and did 10 laps during adult swim on
    Saturday, and that was after a grueling 2 km's on the Nordictrak! :-)
    
    Later,
    Hawk
    

     
 >   Do water polo players sweat?  How can you tell if they do?
    
    The water level get higher.  HTH
    
    Brews   

>    Saturday, and that was after a grueling 2 km's on the Nordictrak! :-)
    
    I'd have taken you for an EasyGlider man, Hawk.
    
    	--dan'l

    did someone say sharks?
    

 Dan'l, I saw a b-ball game in Cole Field House.   Hoos vs Terps.   Place
 sucked.  I hated it.  Full of Terps fans.  Yuck.
 
 Bob Hunt

       I saw a Duke-UM game there. It was when John Lucas, Tom McMillan and
    Len Elmore played for the Terps. The Bullets also played there while
    the Cap Center was being built. Saw them play the Kareem-led Bucks.
                                       Denny

You don't look for sweaty water polo players.  You look for the ones
with the red eyes.


hth,
'Saw

    Since I've been going to ASU, I've been forced to view swimming in a
    different light.  The school's aquatic facility is next to the parking
    garage I use.
    
    I had heard Coach Johnson was one of the best in the land and that ASU
    has 4 swimmers on the team in Barcelona.  Yesterday took the cake
    though.  Coach was up on the high diving board (which is as high as the
    4th level of the parking garage!) with a megaphone drilling the
    swimmers.  Right next to him on the platform was a camera crew filming
    the practice session.  
    
    Mike

    Mike,
    
    Those probably aren't the ASU swimmers.  It's the off-season.  These
    are probably kids who paid a lot of money to go to Johnson's summer
    camp.
    
    You really want to see and hear something, stop by the pool around
    December.  That's when most college teams are up to about 25,000 yards
    a day (about 15 miles) workouts, preparing for the regular-season
    conference meets.
    
    	--dan'l

    Seriously,
    No wonder yoy swimmers are so cut. I thought trying out for
    baseball was rough with all those sprints, etc., but I go to
    the local Y where several swim teams, high school and club, train.
    Most of these kids are almost physically sick from the ordeal.
    And I've seen the rest who have had to leave the pool area for
    that reason.  Must pay off, cuz one of our local swimmers now
    matriculates at Duke and is on the swim team.
    
    MikeL
    

MIke -

Baseball is a wuss sport with wuss workouts.

Jd ;-)

    I'm not sure dan'l.  One of the swimmers is in my English class.  I
    could also hear what Johnson was saying.  He was working those kids pretty
    good.
    
    I still think those divers are nuts.  That platform is HIGH!

    
    >Baseball is a wuss sport with wuss workouts.
    
    "Hey!  I don't see you doin' it, Grandmaw!"
    

    Hey,
    Pepper was tough!
    
    MikeL
    

    
    
>    Hey,
>    Pepper was tough!
    
    	Nah, learning to chew and being able to drink water at the same
    time without getting sick was tough... toughest part of my baseball
    career!
    
    						bill..g. (3 year letterman)
    

Mike L. -

So you knew Pepper?  I thought Chris Knorr was the only one who knew whether
or note Pepper was tough?

JD;-)

    Re: the 10 meter platform
    
    Ohio U swimming had the bad boy rep in the Mid American Conference.  At
    the conference championship it was tradition to warm up on the first
    day, on the last lap pull our suits down and swim bare butt, then climb
    the 10 meter platform and jump off nude...in front of moms, dads,
    sisters, brothers, etc.  
    
    Got in trouble every year, but the officials never forewarned us and
    the punishment was usually a wrist slap so in a way I think they looked
    forward to it to lighten things up.
    
    	--dan'l

    Hey friends,
    
    I've got some Charlotte Sharks Water Polo T-shirts for sale.  The front
    has our team logo of a sharks jaws and a water polo ball.  The back has
    a shark taking a bite out of a ball.  
    
    If you are interested, send me mail and I'll send you the details. 
    Hope you can help support the Sharks.
    
    	--dan'l

    Is Brenda endorsing them?
    
    -Walt

    Well the Charlotte Sharks water polo team finished up their inaugural
    year of competition this weekend.  On Saturday we needed to beat
    Syracuse by 4 goals to make it to the championship game Sunday.  We
    lost to them by that many, 12-8.  

    That put us in the 5th place game yesterday against Rockville.  After a
    close first quarter in which we played really stupidly, we ran away
    with it, 12-7.  

    On an individual note, out of the two games (eight quarters), I won
    five swim offs (two against the league's leader from Syracuse), so I
    should finish in the top three for the year.

    I was shut out of scoring the whole weekend.  Syracuse had my number on
    Saturday.  They knew I was Charlotte's second leading scorer and they
    had a guy on me like glue at all times.  Saturday, I had a couple open
    shots, but gave them up to teammates with better angles.

    To finish 5th out of 27 teams in our first year, is something we're
    very proud of.  

    And one other note: Villanova is one of the prettiest universities I've
    ever seen on the east coast.

    	--dan'l

    In election results that make this presidential issue pale in
    comparison, yours truly was named Charlotte Sharks Water Polo team
    captain for the 92-93 season.
    
    I promise to win as many coin flips as I possibly can, never use
    profanity at a referee's bad call, and to pick the prettiest women I
    know to be towel girls.
    
    	--dan'l
    

>    In election results that make this presidential issue pale in
>    comparison, yours truly was named Charlotte Sharks Water Polo team
>    captain for the 92-93 season.
    
Congrats, dan'l.


I don't know how it is in Water Polo, but in Rugby being elected Captain
is a very high honor.  I'm sure you'll do a fine job, especially
with the towel girls 8^)


'Saw