Yes, Rowdy Gaines. People can say what they want, but he is a great commentator. And by watching this WCSN coverage, that is becoming more and more apparently to me.

I understand that beggars can’t be choosy (I’m glad we even get coverage), but this country holds freedom of speech in high regard, so I’m going to take advantage.

We need someone like Rowdy commentating. I don’t know if it’s just me, but I don’t particularly enjoy the bias against Team USA that I’ve been picking up thus far. “The Americans say they have the fastest team ever but…” or “I would have thought they’d go faster…” gets really old after the first few times. Not only that, but if you’re trying to expand swimming’s audience, it’d be nice to have commentators who know more than just the mini-bios of the Team USA athletes, wouldn’t it? (e.g. Brendan Hansen trains in Austin, TX, but he is not from there.)

It would be nice to know when someone swims a personal best time. Maybe those viewers without a wealth of knowledge on Team USA would like to hear a little of the athletes’ backstories. It would also be nice to see some post-race interviews with American swimmers. But more importantly, please tell us when a US Swimmer breaks an American record!

After Natalie Coughlin’s 100 Fly final, all they could focus on was that she didn’t win and how she should have. How negative! Because they aren’t Americans themselves, they were completely oblivious to the fact that Natalie had just broken a longstanding American Record! All they wanted to focus on was how poorly they thought she executed her race strategy. Then there was Tara Kirk who was apparently “faking her confidence”. What does that mean anyway?

Now these were just two of many examples I’ve noted and that’s only from 2 nights of coverage!

How is the American public going to embrace the sport when its athletes are cast in such a negative light? They can’t do anything right in the eyes of these commentators. The ongoing theme is how much faster they thought Team USA would be going, when the focus should be on well they are doing so far! There have been several Championship Records, an American Record, and a slew of personal best swims.

So what I’m saying is, can someone get Rowdy on the next flight over there? And while you’re at it, have him take Kaitlin with him. We need some knowledgeable coverage of Team USA’s quest for gold!

And while I’m complaining, can someone send a memo to Speedo that they need to film more commercials? Because if I have to see Mike’s commercial from the summer of 2005 too many more times, I may go crazy.

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