JT> This is my take on it:

JT> As far as I'm aware, there are only n number of places for a
JT> given country for sportspersons go to the olymics.

 Actually, two per swimming event. Some events only allow one, other
more. For ten swimming events, that's a team of 20 but some don't swim
at all.

JT> That other bloke was plenty good enough to go, but, owing to
JT> the probability that Thorpe is better, the team managers had
JT> every intention of having one of those spots occupied by
JT> Thorpe.

 Actually, Thorpe qualified for the 200m and the 100m. He's already
on the team.

JT> Generally speaking, if you fuck up on one of the trials,
JT> providing you're still otherwise eligible to make it to the
JT> olympics, they don't send you, because, well, you fucked up.
JT> And if you fucked up once, you can fuck up again.

 Actually, the one-break-and-you're-out rule applies in the Olympics
because competitors were using it to put others off. In running,
a *total* of two breaks are allowed, which makes more sense to me. If
you allow one-each like swimming, that's eight breaks before you run
out of competitors.

 The fuckwit swimming association then applied the rule to the trials
for no good reason. They forgot that they were picking the *best*
swimmers to represent Australia. The rule obviously makes that
impossible.

JT> While technically, he *could* have told them all to fuck off
JT> and just gone on his merry way to the olympics, he didn't, he
JT> gave up his spot to Thorpie. But I don't think for a second the
JT> media had anything to do with it. 

 You think the $100,0000 for the exclusive announcement and a
journalism cadetchip at Ch7 didn't influence a Neville Nobody who
wouldn't even make the final of the 400m at Athens? You don't think
Kerry Stokes was upset to lose his *major* drawcard, having spend $50M
on the coverage? You don't think Stokes leant on the AOC (Cootes and
Gosling) tio screw the swimming association.

 Well! Call me a silly old fart, but I always thought money talked.

JT> However, if this other guy was YOU, and YOU had your very own
JT> spot on the team to go to the olymics, would you give it up?
JT> Hell no, you'd have to be a stupid lunatic- you are after all
JT> good enough for the team, you're good enough to compete.

 Actually, I'd take the hundred large... knowing that I was not good
enough to make the 400m final unless I could take ten seconds off my
personal best. I'm already qualified for the 200m relay where being
fourth-best is good enough, so yes... I'd take the huindred large and
the cadetship at Channel Seven. With a bit of luck I might be the next
Mike Monroe, because as sure as shit I'm not the next Ian Thorpe.

JT> *I* think, they "sweetened" his stay home deal with a bit of
JT> money rather than fame, and that, coupled with the "exclusive"
JT> TV interview deals (which pay more), his arm would have been
JT> twisted enough for him to stay home. 

 He "works" for the AIS in Canberra, and that "job" depends on
performance. Por Nev is just anopther also-ran they'll dump if he
can't find another 10 secodns over 400m. I'd call a hundred large a
bit more than a bit, btw...

Regards,
Bob
    




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