Ian Thorpe isn't fit to lick vegemite off Michael Phelps' ass.

The BBQ Pit
121

I must be missing something here, as I disagree with the one point all you guys seem to agree on - that Freeman is dumb.

Cathy Freeman has always struck me as being very intelligent. She’s ordinary, but she ain’t dumb. I’ve always quite liked her, and I don’t think she’s milking her fame any more than others in that elite category do. I mean, when did Dawn Fraser last swim a race? Yet she still seems to be on Bert Newton’s show and in women’s magazines all the time. Not that I’m singling Fraser out - they all go out there and happily flog chewing gum, running shoes, milk…

122

Well, T.L.D. as I’ve noted earlier, such observations by definition are subjective in reality, aren’t they? And indeed, if there’s one bloke on this messageboard who I unswervingly respect for their insightfulness, certainly it’s you.

If some of us think she’s dumb, and some of us think she’s bright, that’s all cool. Ultimately, it’s subjective, and as I said last night, on the internet there’s no more efficient waste of time than to argue on a messageboard about opinions I’ve found.

Which is why I’ve tried to steer my comments now towards the more generic “Cathy Freeman Syndrome” rather than the woman herself. Thankfully, at least we’ve kept the conversation totally on the straight and narrow - that is, we’ve stayed focused on her talents (or perceived lack therein) without discussing any of the potential hot button issues which POTENTIALLY could have been dragged in - which is a good thing I reckon.

Still, as we both noted, the Syndrome is endemic these days - and it would appear it’s endemic the world over. On every continent, former sporting jocks are getting highly paid gigs in the media way, WAY, WAAAY beyond those that would normally be offered to your typical hard working sports journalist. And yes, such jocks are left right and centre flogging shit all over the place.

My considered opinion on the syndrome is this - we’ve reached a place where populism now outweighs “substance” by such astonishing magnitudes that I doubt commercial TV will ever return to it’s former styles. Public broadcasters have different agendas of course, but commercial TV knows where the bucks are - and the Syndrome is here to stay I would suggest.

It’s my right to hang shit on it though.

P.S. Cathy Freeman used to work as waitress for a mate of mine who owns a Coffee Shop for 6 months in 1991 when she was living on the Gold Coast with a then up-and-coming heptathlete by the name of Sharon Jaklofsy-Smith. Cathy was only 18 at the time and she’d just moved down from Kooralbyn Valley after her fine performance in the 4 x 100m as a 17 year old at the 1990 Commonwealth Games. I got to know her well enough at the time. The general consensus back then was that she was “ditzy” but at least she showed up for work, if you know what I mean. I think she moved to Melbourne not long after that to get really serious about her athletics.

123

4×200 results: USA over Australia. Australian radio reports that Thorpe ran out of time.

124

BBF, I just don’t get it. We have two excellent athletes here, Olympic gold medallists in their chosen events.

One’s a down-to-earth, average kind of person, one’s an arrogant bugger with an ego the size of Saturn. Both have lucrative sponsorship deals, one is and one will be commentating on their respective events after retirement. Neither, as far as I know, has great achievements in a field outside of sport. No PhDs, nothing.

If there’s any difference between the two, it’s greatly in Freeman’s favour because of her natural humility and “everywoman” demeanour. You have it entirely backwards.

125

Ahhh… but there’s a difference, and a valid one which makes me feel I don’t have it the wrong way around at all.

When Cathy Freeman won her Gold Medal in Sydney, I was full of congratulations for her achievement. I was never anything but forthcoming in my happiness for her win. However, in no time at all I noticed she rarely, if ever, mentioned any of her competitors - and I soon formed an opinion (a personal one albeit) which indicated a certain lack of graciousness towards those who she had to beat to achieve her win.

So now, we have a situation where Kieran Perkins is doing poolside interviews and he’s doing the former competitor turned media person thing - but he’s doing it with far greater insight and magnanimity than I ever expect to see from Cathy Freeman. Perkins often seems almost “gushing” in his praise of athletes from countries other than Australia. Conversely, Freeman gives me the impression she thinks she ran in her 400m final at Sydney on her own.

And contrast this yet again with young Michael Phelps, well I TOTALLY disagree. That young man has incredible amounts of pressure on his shoulders - both of his own making and the making of others. I perceive his “after race” comments as being wonderfully gracious and not at all arrogant. However, I’m happy to concede that once again, this is an opinion thing, and as such, there’s not definitive empirical answer.

126

*Aussies * gloating? Bwa ha ha ha ha. Let’s get this thread back on track…errrr, pool. I think I’ll be gloating 4x200 times right now than you very much!

But goddamn Ian Thorpe is amazing. .13 seconds. Sheesh. But I never admitted that!

127

Klete Keller held off Ian Thorpe - hell, outswam him - to win gold. Un-freaking-believable!

128

He sure did hold him off, and it was an excellent swim.

But “outswam him”? Not sure which race you were watching, but in the one i saw, Thorpe entered the pool 1.48 seconds behind Keller, and finished 0.13 seconds behind.

129

Over 200 meters. And most of that appeared to be in the last 75 meters or so. Keller outswam him for 125 meters, and managed to hold him off, in spite of fatigue, for the last 75.

130

The two of them were practically even after 50 meters. Keller did hold on from there, but the fact that he’d been staked to a big lead didn’t hurt.

131

Actually, I take that back. Thorpe made up most of the US’s lead very quickly, but Keller swam as fast or faster. There appeared to be times where Keller increased his lead marginally, and then had Thorpe reel him back in. He began to tire in the last 75 meters, and if Thorpe had another 10 meters, he likely would have beaten Keller, but for most of that 200 meters, Keller outswam him.

132

MWAHAHAHAHAHAAAA!

Van den Hoogeband wins gold on the 100 meter free stroke, with Schoeman (RSA) second and Thorpe (AUS) third.

133

Well done Pieter Van den Hoogenbrand, great swim and deserved gold medal winner! What a beautiful smile as well :smiley:

I heard the commentator here say that Ian Thorpe is the only man in the history of the Olympics to have won medals in the 100, 200 and 400 freestyle at the one games. Not bad for a 21 yr old who qualified last into the 100 metre finals if this is the case. Not bad even if it isn’t!

134

What the fuck is it with you dopers who can’t spell the name of the world’s fastest swimmer in the 100m freestroke.

It is van den Hoogenband. No capital on the “v”, no capital on the “d” , the “h” is captalized and it is three separate words

135

Uh, I did spell it right. I just didn’t bother to capitalize it. But who the fuck cares? This is a friendly rivalry thread. Your post belongs in the stupid grammar nazi thread. I corrected someones grammar once to make a point in a thread and I regret it to this day. It has zero to do with the thread.

Go aMANDA bEARD!

136

And the award for over-the-top, irrational, pointless outburst of the year goes to…

Swim a few laps from Nanaimo to Horseshoe Bay, and come back when you’ve cooled off.

137

What the fuck is it with those who can’t get the name of the events right? I don’t see a listing for “freestroke.”

138

Freestroke?? Is that a new event? Must have missed it. I did see the 100 metres freestyle however. :smiley:
And I did misspell van den Hoogenband’s name - I think I copied the spelling from a newsreport somewhere on the web. Apologies to the man in question.

139

Apparently, according to what I’ve read, that is what the Dutch call the freestyle. Since they won the event, I would think it appropriate to use their term. :stuck_out_tongue:

140

Freestroke is what a Baltimore Whore will give you if buy two strokes at the regular price.