NCAA championship swimming

An unlikely topic, of course. But I just happened upon this on TV, and wondered why the hell diving factors into the team score. It's a rare talent to be able to leap in the air and contort one's body artfully. But art doesn't factor into any of the other competition's events. 19 of the 20 or so events are speed-based, and one is art - they just both happen to involve water. It just doesn't make sense. It would be like if, at the end of regulation in a tied hockey game, the teams elected one representative each to go out and decide victory Michelle Kwan-style.

 

That isn't just at the NCAA level. Diving is figured along with swimming in team high school scoring as well. Though every time I've seen it, the diving was the first event, not the last.

 

I can see it now, Chris Chelios doing a .... is a triple toe loop a difficult figure skating move?

 

"I just swam my race and tried to get to the wall."
Just type that in at the start of the competition and you're halfway home to covering it.

 

Not sure where else to put this thought, so we'll try here — I've been thinking for a few days that the Bernie Mac swim coach movie might be the worst idea ever. I first saw it in a hotel, and I didn't have the sound on the TV, and I thought it was an SNL skit.

 

NEVER. EVER. Bring that movie up again. DUMB!

 

Are you suggesting that diving be a completely sport, with a different national championship?

I like writing about swimmers -- I admire the hell out of their dedication -- but I loathe covering or writing about diving. In terms of meets, I don't know what else you could do with it besides put it with the swim teams.

EDIT: And I figured this thread would be about Auburn's David Marsh who has led the Auburn men to five consecutive national titles and the women to five of the last six.

 

I tend to agree with you, especially since diving is a "judged" sport, and swimming is not.

 

You know what you never see? You never see anyone heckle a diver.

 

You know what you never seem to see anymore?
Anyone besides Auburn winning a national title.

 

Georgia women won three straight from 1999-2001, then the Auburn women won three in a row, then Georgia won the 2005 title. Last year Georgia led going into the final event before Auburn won and this year Arizona led going into the final day and Auburn won.

No, I didn't need to look any of that up. Of course, I used to cover the Georgia women and I wrote a article on Marsh the other day.