kick and kick and kick

I heard the expected scientific / oceanography story about Michael Phelps on NPR last night. I get it – he’s like a dolphin. Whenever there’s someone who dominates an event, and I’m considering the swimming competition as a single even, there’s normally some or many genetic contributors that clarify a good bit of the puzzle. Phelps has shorter legs (less drag), big feet (propulsion), a longer torso and arms (better reach), and very little body fat. The dolphin kick that’s used on starts and turns has been very good to him; the undulating body and whip of the feet that he can manage for all 15 meters of allowable distance. According to Rowdy Gaines, most world-class swimmers can manage the kick but not for as long as Phelps. Just to pop a cherry on his sundae, Phelps also has fantastic lung capacity. He also probably trains as hard as anyone else in the pool. What he’s done – 6 golds, 2 bronze at the 2004 Olympics; 5 golds and a silver at the 2005 World Championships; 7 golds at the 2007 World Championships; and 5 golds so far in Beijing, is mind-boggling. Based on what I can manage, he’s won 22 of the 24 events he’s entered since the 2005 World Championships including the last 17 in a row. The four-year run from Athens to Beijing is unlike anything swimming has ever seen and Phelps is clearly the greatest swimmer of all time. We can hold off on the “Greatest Olympian” debate that NBC seems so intent on bestowing upon him. I’ll reconsider when he wins eight gold medals at this Olympiad. Also, he says he’ll swim in London in 2012 but not on this scale (eight events) anymore. Maybe he’ll do a couple of relays and two individual events – we could write in maybe three more golds to get his total to 17 over three Olympics (the all-time record was nine before this onslaught). Then I’d definitely say he was the Olympics’ greatest American athlete. I don’t think he’ll ever overcome Jesse Owens in 1936 simply because the man and times were so much greater than what we experience today.

The Brewers are on another 8-game winning streak, their second in two months, but have made up little on the rolling Cubs. Since the All-Star break the Brewers are 18-8 and the Cubs are 16-9 – they’re holding there own so far with five consecutive series wins and six straight series without losing one. I think there are nine games coming up that they need to dominate against weaker opponents before the schedule closes with a tough 20 or so game run. I’d love to see a six-game lead.

The weather here has been stunning since my return: high 70s to low 80s, down into the 60s at night, blue and partly cloudy skies. Ah….D.C. in the early autumn.

Base on my phone call with X this morning, I think we’re both planning on scrubbing houses and working on gardens and yards today. Funny thing how that happens.

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