Trick or Treat!

You guys can have the Roland chat recap when I have a mail box full of candy!

Ok, ok - I'm slooooow. I'll get the chat recap up some time in the next few days. Roland was great, stayed for a long time and gave expansive answers so it will take a little longer than usual to get it all summarized. Until then, here's a lovely little photo of our boys at a football game. It's a good thing they look so handsome in burnt orange.



Happy Belated Birthday to Alison and Happy Birthday to Molly_Mormon.

Everyone have fun tonight and be safe!

Happy Halloween!

Some fun links for the weekend (but don't get so busy with them that you forget to come to chat tomorrow!)

Carve a Pumpkin (mess free!)
Dark and Stormy Night - Help little ghostie Jinx find his way out of the haunted house
Transylmania - Vampire with a teddy bear fighting off all the pesky villagers who have invaded your castle.

Roland Schoeman Chat Reminder - This Sunday Afternoon at 6 Eastern/5 Central/3 Pacific

Roland Mark Schoeman (born 3 July 1980) is a South African swimmer and a member of the 2004 Olympic Games swimming team for South Africa.

He was born in Pretoria, and first ventured seriously into a pool when he was 16, in order to show a girl how interested he was in her. Within a few months he was swimming competitively, beginning a career that would see him attain one gold medal, two silvers and a bronze at the Commonwealth Games and set new South African records in the 100m Freestyle (48.69s), 50m Freestyle (22.04s), 100m Butterfly (52.73s) and 50m Butterfly (23.65s) events.

His latest achievements have been winning a gold medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens in the 4 x 100m freestyle, a silver medal in the 100m freestyle event and a bronze in the 50m freestyle (one of each just like Brendan).

At the 2005 LC World Championships in Montreal, Canada he won two gold medals. One in the 50m Butterfly (in a world record time of 22.96s) and one in the 50 Freestyle.

Achievements:

• Broke the World Record in the 50m Butterfly twice (23.01) & (22.96) in Montreal '05 to win Gold (and for those of us there it was SO EXCITING to see that.)
  
• Captured a 2nd gold medal in the 50 free in 21.69. That was just five-hundredths of a second off Alexander Popov's world record, making him the 2nd fastest performer ever in the 50m freestyle.
• 100m Individual Medley World Record - FINA World Cup (2005
• 100m Freestyle World record - FINA World Cup (2005)
• Voted continent of Africa's Male Athlete of the year 2004
• 100m freestyle silver medal - Olympics (2004)
• 4x100m freestyle relay gold medal - Olympics (2004)
• 50m freestyle bronze medal - Olympics (2004)
• 50m butterfly swimming silver medal - Commonwealth Games (2002)
• 50m freestyle swimming gold medal - Commonwealth Games (2002)
• 50m freestyle swimming bronze medal - World Championships (2001)
• 100m butterfly bronze medal - All-African Swimming Championships (1998)
• 100m freestyle silver medal - All-African Swimming Championships (1998)
• 50m Freestyle gold medal - All-African Swimming Championships (1998)

More Information about Roland can be found HERE.

You Are Your Choices

'You Are Your Choices' -- 7 p.m. Tuesday. Speaker Dan Davison and Olympic swimmer and gold medalist Brendan Hansen present a Safe Homes fall program. Westlake High School, Fine Arts Facility, 4100 Westbank Drive. Free. 329-9240.

And as Tim brought up in the comments below, Lala has been working on a new website to feature the photos she's taken at all the meets she attended last season and all the meets she will attend in the future. It's still a work in progress but be sure to check out Deckchange.com.

Ok, so I have a question because I can never keep it straight...what day are the tricker treaters doing their thing this year? Saturday or Sunday or will they do it on the 31st as they should? (I don't get the new thing of doing it on the weekend instead. It's not like it takes all night.) And what is everyone doing for Halloween? What are your costume plans?

New Photos added to the Gallery

I've added several new photos from Lala of the Montreal 05 Relay team to the photo gallery. These are from their awards ceremony and victory lap after their 4x100 medley relay victory. Be sure to check them out.

News Links

United States Names Squad for World Short Course Champs
College Men Weekend Recap
Live Chat with Katie Hoff Today
20 Question Tuesday with Kim Vandenberg

So, uh, how is everyone this week? Anyone have news they'd like to report? Anyone?

Happy 20th Birthday Kara Lynn Joyce!

Rowdy Gaines Chat Recap

Rowdy was a total rockstar, did anyone doubt he would be? Sarah and Blair must now add Rowdy crushes to their long lists. Among the things discussed...

Golden Goggles:

Rowdy loves them and expects there to be about 100 past and present Olympians in attendance. Those of you who would like to watch the red carpet walk should get to the Hammerstein Ballroom around 5:30 pm on November 14th. It seems we have quite a few BHOer's planning to attend. Take lots of pictures you guys! (especially of Brendan which should go without saying). Sarah says she's wearing her BHO shirt and Rowdy says he wants an autographed one. I'm going to get to work on that this week.

There is no Humanitarian of the Year award this year but Rowdy says that athletes are doing great things outside of the pool and it's a special award that will probably be back every 4 years.

Training:

What should sprinters work on to improve their 50 and 100 free? -

Strength training, Technique, Distance per Stroke, Core training and TURNS. You can never work on technique enough and Brendan is the best example of that. Lala say's Brendan is perfect and Rowdy agrees, but I think Rowdy was talking about Brendan's technique.

The hardest part of training for him was getting up at 5:30 am but he was able to stay motivated because he was on a team and they worked together. He couldn't have done it without his teammates. He really loved the relays and two of his three gold medals were won on them.

The 1980 Olympic Boycott:

Not the right decision because it didn't work and the games still happened. Rowdy had 1984 but there were other athletes that didn't have another chance, like Craig Beardsley who was favored to win the 200m Butterfly. The athletes who made the 1980 team ARE still Olympians, pure and simple.

General Swimming stuff:

The upcoming NCAA Season - The Auburn men should be the favorite with U of M a dark horse and maybe the Georgia women.

Is Katie Hoff really the next Michael Phelps? - "She's got the talent"

Is Aaron Peirsol unbeatable? "Aaron and Brendan are my heroes...they can't be beat. What's special about those two is they are better people out of the pool than in."

Favorite event from Athens 2004 - "100 men's fly for sure!!!! Brendan had great races too.. I just didn't like the results. He got revenge this past summer though."

Which was the bigger event in his career, his first world record or his first Olympic medal? - "Medal by far, They'll never take that from me. World records will always be broken.. even Michaels."

Is his daughter still in love with Aaron? "Oh yeah."

I can't thank Rowdy enough for the time he took with us tonight. Y'all please note that our chat with Roland Schoeman will be a couple of hours earlier than usual next week. I hope you're all able to join us.

Chat with Rowdy Gaines this Sunday at 8/7 central

From USA Swimming:

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Swimming Olympian Rowdy Gaines will be inducted in the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame Class of 2006, announced today by the U.S. Olympic Committee.

"To be included in this class of nominees is something dreams are made of. It's an incredible honor and very humbling," said Gaines, who currently serves as USA Swimming's Chief Fundraising and Alumni Officer.

"I've always considered the swimming family to be a small group, but I feel that way about the Olympic family as well. I really appreciate all of the support I've received from our swimming family throughout this process."

Gaines is part of a phenomenal 2006 class of inductees, which also includes track & field athletes Evelyn Ashford and Bob Hayes, gymnast Shannon Miller, figure skater Kristi Yamaguchi, the 1984 men's gymnastics team, ice hockey coach Herb Brooks and Paralympic skier Diana Golden-Brosnihan. Also being honored are speedskater Jack Shea in the veterans category and special contributor Dick Ebersol.

"Rowdy is our sport's ambassador to the world," said Chuck Wielgus, Executive Director of USA Swimming. "As an Olympian, his athletic achievements were awe inspiring and heroic. But even more meaningful to those of us in the swimming family, Rowdy Gaines is a world class human being. We could not ask for a better role model for our youth, a better All-American hero for our sport, and a better friend and colleague."

Gaines, a two-time Olympian (1980, 1984) and 17-time national champion, swam to three gold medals at the 1984 Los Angeles Games, winning in the 100m freestyle, 400m freestyle relay and 400m medley relay. He was also a member of the 1980 Olympic Swim Team that boycotted the Olympics held in Moscow. Known as the voice for swimming, Gaines called his fourth Olympic telecast for NBC at the 2004 Games in Athens. Complete bio information is included at the bottom of this release.

Gaines joins 13 other swimmers who have been inducted in the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame since the charter class of 1983. The most recent swimming inductees were Matt Biondi and Janet Evans in 2004.

The Class of 2006 will be honored during the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Dec. 8 at the Harris Theatre in Chicago, Ill.

Rowdy Gaines Bio
Chief Fundraising and Alumni Officer, USA Swimming

Birth date: February 17, 1959
College: Auburn University
Birthplace: Winter Haven, Fla.
Residence: Colorado Springs, Colo.

Ambrose "Rowdy" Gaines IV was the fastest man in the water in the world throughout the 1980s. His world records confirmed his place in swimming history. Though largely overshadowed by his Olympic fame, Gaines' long swimming career has been nothing shy of outstanding.

The Olympic boycott of 1980 came during the peak of his career, when he set world records in the 100 and 200-meter freestyles. Swimming World Magazine voted him World Swimmer of the Year, and he was predicted to win five Olympic gold medals in Moscow.

Gaines retired after capping his career at Auburn University career by winning the NCAA Championships in 1981. He was a 22-time NCAA All-American and was chosen over Herschel Walker as the Southeastern Conference Athlete of the Year in 1981.

After a brief retirement, the allure of competing proved too strong, and he returned to the pool, where the consummate technician resumed his attack on the record books. One year later, he broke his own world record in the 200m freestyle at the World Championships and was awarded the 1982 McDonald's Spirit Award, one of swimming's highest honors. In 1983, he set the meet record and won the gold medal in the 100m freestyle at the Pan American Games in Caracas.

At the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, no swimmer won more races than he did with his three gold medals in the 100m freestyle and the 4x100m freestyle and medley relays. He set a new Olympic record and was just .45 seconds shy of his own world record in the 100m freestyle. He then went on to swim the fastest relay split in history, anchoring the 4x100m freestyle relay to gold. Gaines completed his Olympic dream by swimming the freestyle anchor of the 4x100 meter medley relay, which also set a new world record.

In 1991, Gaines contracted Guillan-Barre Syndrome, an auto-immune virus that attacks the nervous system. Paralyzed for more than two weeks, he fought back and overcame the disease. Only one year later, he won the World Masters Championships in the 50m and 100m freestyle, both in world record time.

Known as the voice for swimming, Gaines has been a TV color commentator for CBS, TNT and ESPN, and called his fourth Olympic telecast for NBC at the 2004 Games in Athens. He is a spokesperson for companies such as Speedo and the acclaimed international Yamamoto Kogaku of Japan as well as Swim Across America, an organization helping to find a cure for cancer. He has been inducted to the Florida and Alabama Sports Halls of Fame, in addition to being inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame.

Gaines resides in Colorado Springs where he is the Chief Fundraising and Alumni Officer for USA Swimming. He and his wife Judy have four children: Emily, Madison, Savanna and Isabelle.

Unfiltered

20 Question Tuesday
"Unfiltered," a documentary film starring Michael Phelps and Ian Crocker will be released this week on DVD. Sports agent Peter Carlisle, who represents a number of Olympic swimmmers - including Phelps, Crocker and Katie Hoff - produced the film. In this week's 20 Questions Tuesday, Carlisle talks about the video and answers some questions about his clients.

I'm pretty sure I ordered a copy of this way back so hopefully I'll be getting it in the mail soon. Can't wait to see Crockah "behind the scenes". haha.

M/S/C LoTR Edition (just because):

1. Orlando Bloom
2. Viggo Mortensen
3. Elijah Wood

News Links

Some of y'all missed a great chat with John Lohn last night. Thanks to everyone who made it, including a couple of new folks, and thanks of course to John for not only coming but staying so long even though he had guests. It was a lot of fun.

Rowdy Gaines next week. Don't miss it!

Walker Takes Leave of Absence from University of Texas
Gaines to be inducted into U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame
Aaron Peirsol makes appearance at Bozeman Swim Center
Australia in Support of Video Replay

At the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Japan's Kosuke Kitajima used an obvious dolphin kick off the start and turn in his narrow victory in the 100 breaststroke over American Brendan Hansen. While the dolphin kick has since been legalized, at the time of Kitajima's use, it was a forbidden move. As for this past summer, Australia's Jessicah Schipper lost gold in the 200 butterfly at the World Championships when Poland's Otylia Jedrzejczak used an apparent one-hand touch at the finish.

Australia also thinks there are too many major events with Worlds every year, Pan Pacific and Commonwealth games, etc. It seems to me it's better to have so many opportunities to break records, win medals and earn some money and since there are several countries in the Pan Pacific region who are ineligible for the Commonwealth games it hardly makes sense to say there should only be one or the other each year. What do you guys think?

And another new member who's sent in a photo for the blogger gallery.



Mika!

New Avatars from Sarah

And several more in the Avatars Gallery

And Happy Birthday Silawen!

New Stuff in the Gallery and John Lohn Chat Reminder

Y'all don't forget to join us Sunday night for a chat with John Lohn, 9/8c. Bring all your toughest philosophical questions, quiz him on the Red Sox, ask him for help with math homework, etc. He's a genius! He can handle it! HA.

I've added a bunch of great new photos to the gallery. One of our newest members sent in a photo (UTGina) and I found a bunch of great photos of Brendan from Worlds and one funny one from a Mutual of Omaha event last year. Enjoy!


UT Gina - HOOK'EM!


Wow, Brendan must be double jointed or something!


Blowing a kiss to some BHO girls at Worlds. Lucky girls.

WEEKEND FUN:

M/S/C Michigan Style:

Klete Keller
Michael Phelps
Peter Vanderkaay

M/S/C for Timmay and Alex:

Katie Hoff
Kara Lynn Joyce
Kaitlin Sandeno

Olympic champion offers advice to young swimmers

Nice article by Mike Pound

It was perhaps the worst day in his life, and Brendan Hansen didn't think things could get any worse.

Then a television sports idiot proved Brendan wrong.

Brendan had just swum the race of his life only to discover, for the second time in two days, that he had missed qualifying for the 2000 U.S Olympic swim team. In two races at the Olympic trials, Brendan fell short by a combined 0.8 of a second. Brendan still remembers how he felt standing on that swim deck, knowing that he was staying home while the swimmers celebrating in the pool were off to Sydney, Australia.

"Then (NBC announcer) Jim Gray stuck a microphone in my face and said, 'Brendan, how does it feel to lose the Olympic trials by the smallest margin ever?' " Brendan said.

Ouch! It's a tough deal. The kind of event that, depending on how a kid handles it, can either kill his spirit or make him stronger.

Brendan chose to use that day, Jim Gray, the loss and the dejected feeling to make himself stronger.

And he did.

Brendan literally picked himself up off that swim deck and made himself an Olympic champion.

He swam for the University of Texas swim team for four years, setting all kinds of records. Then, in 2004, Brendan returned to the Olympic trials. He not only made the U.S. team, but he brought home three Olympic medals: the bronze in the 200-meter breaststroke, the silver in the 100-meter breaststroke and the gold in the 400-meter medley relay.

His is a neat story. It's one that Brendan shared Saturday morning with a wide-eyed audience of young swimmers with the Jasper County Killer Whales at the Buck Miner Swim Center in Webb City.

Brendan was brought in not only speak to the kids on the swim team, but also to jump into the water and spend several hours working with them. And when I say "working," I mean real hands-on stuff. He showed the kids proper technique. He let them in on a few secrets. And he made them swim. A lot.

For the young members of the Killer Whales, it was pretty much a once-in-a-lifetime deal. For old guys like me, it would be like having Bob Gibson drop by and spend a couple of hours showing me how to throw a 95 mph fastball.

Brendan's visit to Webb City was underwritten by Mutual of Omaha Insurance Co. Joy Roragen, a local Mutual of Omaha sales representative, worked with the swim team's sponsors to bring Brendan to Webb City. Joy said Mutual of Omaha is the official sponsor of USA Swimming, and it teams up with Olympic swimmers to conduct clinics, like the one in Webb City, all over the country.

As important as the work Brendan did with the swim team in the water was, his work outside the water may have a more lasting impact on the kids.

The thing is, few if any of the kids absorbing Brendan's swimming tips Saturday morning will ever become Olympic swimmers. Just like I was never destined to throw a 95 mph fastball. But those kids do have dreams and aspirations, and many of them likely will go on to do great things. They may not become Olympic champions, but they might become lawyers, doctors, bankers or teachers. And Brendan's main message to those young, excited swimmers was pretty simple.

"Don't ever let anyone put limits on you."

Brendan told the kids that throughout his swimming career, there was always someone who would tell him that he wouldn't succeed. There was always another swimmer who would say that he was better than Brendan. The key, Brendan told the kids, is to take those negative thoughts and turn them into positives.

"I always wanted to prove (the other swimmer) wrong," Brendan said.

Brendan told the kids that life isn't always going to rain down Olympic medals. Truth be told, most of the kids at the Webb City swimming pool might have more days like Brendan's day at the Olympic trials in 2000 than his medal-winning days at the 2004 Olympics. Instead of someone placing an Olympic medal around your neck, it's more likely that someone like Jim Gray will shove a microphone in your face.

"I got knocked down in 2000," Brendan said. "And there will be days when you kids get knocked down. How you react to that situation is what will make you the person you are."

It's a good lesson. One I hope the kids took to heart.

But then again, if some of them would choose to react by taking Jim Gray's microphone and putting it somewhere where it would be tough to see the NBC logo, I think that would be OK too.

I mean, it is taking a negative and turning it into a positive.

Wheeeee! I'm BACK!

Just got back from Boston - it was a loooong weekend and it was a bit of a mixed bag.

Bad Stuff:

• I was allergic to something in our hotel room and kept breaking out in hives.
• It rained and was cold but that's kind of what you expect from Boston, yeah?
• Dinner at Kingfish Hall. Grit in the chowder and the food was only so-so. Todd English = Overrated.
• I ate so many Papa Beard's Cream Puffs that they gave me a frequent buyer card (I was only there 3 days!)
• I couldn't talk my son into a Duck Tour and I really wanted to go amphibious. :(
• 3 hour ground delay out of Boston tonight which meant nearly missing my connection in Atlanta. Thank goodness Atlanta was also having problems.

Good Stuff:

• We had amazing Italian food at Fiore's on Hanover served by the cutest waiter ever from North Carolina. I tipped him way too much but he was worth it. ;) We followed it with amazing Tirimisu from Mike's Pastry.
• The Ansel Adams exhibition at the Museum of Art. Heck, the entire museum. I could have spent a week doing only that.
• Cute security guy at the USS Constitution in funky old-school navy uniform. He wore those britches with very little trace of embarrassment.
  
• My Russian cabbies. They all listened to NPR and honked at everything...constantly...and for no discernable reason.
• The Berklee Shwag including ear plugs that I can carry on my keychain (I've only needed these for the past 12 years or so!)
  
• PAPA BEARD'S CREAM PUFFS!

More Bad Stuff:

• Still no Brendan news. The best I can do it this little tidbit about his clinic over the weekend. It's hardly worth posting even. Heavy sigh....

More Good Stuff:

• Thanks to Lala for taking care of BHO while I was away and keeping you guys entertained. Also glad to see some new faces posting in my absence. I'll try not to take it personally. :p

And for the final and most important question....

Marry, Shag or Cliff?

1. Ian Crocker
2. Aaron Peirsol
3. Brendan Hansen

Just A Few More...

This exhausts the last of this round of questions. Thanks for playing!

21. When was the last time you cried?
22. What is on the floor of your closet?
23. What is under your bed?
24. What inspires you?
25. What are you afraid of?
26. Plain, cheese or spicy hamburgers?
27. Favorite car?
28. Favorite dog breed?
29. How many keys on your key ring?
30. How many years at your current job?
31. Favorite day of the week?
32. How many states have you lived in?
33. How many cities/towns have you lived in?
34. How many times have you moved?
35. Are you ticklish?
36. Have you ever ridden a horse?
37. Have you ever ridden a motorcycle?

More Survey Questions...

11. Do you wear contacts or glasses?
12. Pets?
13. Favorite month?
14. Favorite food?
15. What was the last movie you watched?
16. Favorite day of the year?
17. What do you do to vent anger?
18. What was your favorite toy as a child?
19. Fall or Spring?
20. Hugs or kisses?

Happy Birthday Kimberly

No Brendan News...

Top Aussie Coach Charged with Sexual Assault on a Minor
Watts Accepts Two-Year Sanction for Use of Banned Substance
Swim Clinic at University of Texas Raises Money for Hurricane Victims
Auburn Men and Women Open Season with Victories
Peirsol named honorary Honolulu lifeguard

Survey questions for you....

1. What is your current occupation?
2. What are you listening to right now?
3. What was the last thing you ate?
4. Do you wish on stars?
5. If you were a crayon, what color would you be?
6. How is the weather right now?
7. Last person you spoke to on the phone?
8. How old are you?
9. Favorite sport to watch?
10. Have you ever dyed your hair?

Swimming News...

Jedrzejczak Critically Injured in Car Accident
Jedrzejczak's Condition Upgraded to Stable
2005 State of the Sport Report
Drug Testing Reveals No Positive Results from World Championships
2005-2006 National Teams

Also, I've added some new World's Photos from Quirky Brunette to the Gallery. Gotta love new photos. My favorite thing ever. Thanks Quirky!



Happy 17th Birthday Alxcar aka Circle Boy!