PHOENIX, Arizona, July 29. WITH all the storylines surrounding the sport of swimming recently, Swimming World Magazine decided to arrange a special round table with representatives who cover the sport in various formats.
Erik Boal, who is a sports writer with the Los Angeles Daily News and is a special correspondent with the Press-Telegram in Long Beach, joined us along with Dan Albano, a sports reporter with the Orange County Register.
Additionally, we invited University of Pennsylvania assistant coach Chris DeSantis, who blogs at Floswimming, to participate in the discussion as well.
During the hour-long chat, we spoke about some of the issues in the Jessica Hardy case, while also discussing the NCAA's recent decision to potentially continue its ban on the use of the new high-tech swimsuits.
[Jason Marsteller, Swimming World Magazine] Starting off our initial media round table, we can't ignore the elephant in the room. What are some of your thoughts on the Jessica Hardy situation? Let's start off with Erik.
[Erik Boal, Los Angeles Daily News] My initial thoughts are we have less than 10 days to the opening ceremonies and still no arbitration hearings have taken place, so in the remote scenario that she might be allowed to compete, the window of opportunity doesn't seem to be in her favor.
[Dan Albano, Orange Country Register] As a reporter, like Erik, who has covered her since her days of setting a national high school record in the breaststroke at Long Beach Wilson High in Southern California, I was totally shocked by the news.
[Chris DeSantis, Floswimming] It's shocking to me how unprepared USA Swimming was for this contingency. What if the other breaststrokers had also tested positive? Would we have a medley relay in Beijing? If they knew it would take this long for arbitration, why didn't they have a plan?
[Dan Albano, Orange Country Register] While I understand doping is a tricky subject, I pretty much agree with Chris and what Jason Marsteller wrote in terms of the timing of trials. USA Swimming should have a better backup plan in place. The trials were too close to Olympic deadlines.
[Erik Boal, Los Angeles Daily News] Jason outlined it quite well in his story about USA Swimming being "between a rock and a hard place." Sure, it's been 20 years since Angel (Martino) Myers, but as fierce as USA Swimming is on the front of Anti-Doping, you have to expect the worst … And, obviously, the reported fact that Jessica received the news on Monday, July 21, which was also the deadline for USA Swimming to finalize its roster, was the worst-case scenario for them. They even had two extra days, I believe, to submit the final roster to FINA.
I hope I'm not mistaken on that last fact, but there was a window of opportunity, albeit not for reasons they had envisioned, and proverbially speaking, they slammed that window on their fingers and left Tara Kirk and Lara Jackson on the outside.
[Chris DeSantis, Floswimming] I totally agree. Tara and Lara got completely jobbed, and I might add that finishing third was basically the end of Tara's career.
[Dan Albano, Orange Country Register] We still don't know how this story will end for Jessica. With the supplements angle out there, which the OC Register is still following, Jessica could emerge with an explanation. But, I do really see Tara and Lara as big-time victims already. And those are two big-time talents, too. Lara was awesome at Trials and Tara gets out-touched at the wall.
[Jason Marsteller, Swimming World Magazine] Appreciate your thoughts on the Jessica Hardy situation all, but let's move to our second topic of the day. Word out of Indianapolis has the NCAA continuing its ban on the high-tech suits. What is your take on the move, Chris?
[Chris DeSantis, Floswimming] Absolutely necessary. I say that despite the fact that I work at a school, University of Pennsylvania, that would have no trouble stomaching the cost of the suits and would be able to use them for a competitive advantage. But my alma mater, Colby College, would be left completely unable to field a team with these suits. They couldn't even fund the Fastskin suits when they first came out. I think it is a legitimate fear by coaches that athletic directors will look at the suit costs and decide that they cannot field a competitive team. Then, we will be looking at more cuts in the sport.
[Dan Albano, Orange Country Register] The NCAA is wrong on this one. I think the apparel companies can meet the demand and the collegiate swim world needs to step up and get the deals done. If the college basketball teams can get shoe deals, why can't the swim teams get suit deals?
[Erik Boal, Los Angeles Daily News] I agree, in part, with both of my colleagues. Since they already decided to not allow the suits to be used for the past season, it doesn't surprise me that they made the decision to continue that stance for another year, whether it's for financial costs or otherwise.
But I think it's going to be impossible for them to ignore it past next season, and plus it gives the NCAA and its participating programs more time to devise ways to fund the cost of the suits, as well as prepares the governing body to create a whole new section of the swimming record book, since most all of the men's and women's records will likely be taken down in the first year or two of competition using the new suits.
But athletes like Rebecca Soni at USC, Christine Magnuson at Tennessee and Cesar Cielo at Auburn have all won NCAA titles without them, so it's not like athletes with remaining eligibility couldn't come back and win them again next year without the suit.
[Chris DeSantis, Floswimming] Shoe deals in a sport like basketball that is one of the big three in the United States make complete sense. Also, realize that the cost of a basketball shoe is typically around $200, whereas, with the LZR, we are talking about $550 in a sport with way less money involved. Athletic directors will not approve extra funds for these suits, leaving teams to fundraise on their own. I realize that economic gaps already exist in funding for teams. This will only make it worse. I realize also that it will separate the NCAA from the rest of the swimming world. If manufacturers could greatly reduce the cost of the suits, then I think they could be allowed in.
[Dan Albano, Orange Country Register] If collegiate swimming really has turned into more of the minor leagues ala baseball — a last stop before a professional career — it's time for a sometimes ignored sport to think big. Yes, the suits need to come down in price, but college swimming needs to change with the times and give their athletes the best equipment available.
If you want to stay small time, act small time. College swimmers train hard and should be able to blast as many records as possible. Rewrite the record book? Sounds like some headlines and exposure, right? That would be great for collegiate swimming.
[Chris DeSantis, Floswimming] I think that the record book we are talking about is the short course yards book, which is increasingly irrelevant both internally and internationally. If the NCAA wants to go big time, let's have a long course NCAA Championship. Only problem is that a lot of teams would not have the facilities to train at that distance. College swimming is in trouble because of the way we as members of the sport have treated it – I don't deny that. I just think that we're getting ahead of ourselves if we put the suits in before teams can handle the costs.
[Jason Marsteller, Swimming World Magazine] We really appreciate all the time you three have given to a fun conversation. We are looking forward to having more in the future. Thanks for joining this round table.
Check out the following links to read our panelists' latest articles on the world of swimming:
Dan Albano – Orange County Register
