Ready, Not Ready

We returned to the Natatorium competition pool

for practice last week. I was happy to be

back in "good water" that was cool and calm,

meant for swimmers.

"Meant for swimmers" is the operative term

here, because the Nat is a world class facility.

I walked in last night to see not only kids from a couple

of high schools practicing, but black-clad

members of a production crew hanging

steel framework for lighting and camera equipment.

This equipment will be used in about

a month's time, when the meet between teams

from the USA and Europe will be telecast by the

NBC Sports Network, December 11 and 12.

Called the Mutual of Omaha "Duel in the Pool," 

the meet will bring together top swimmers 

from both the USA and Europe in the eighth renewal 

of an event that has always provided 

top-flight competition.

(Buy tickets and attend; it is an exciting,

invigorating occasion.)

Meanwhile, following the behest of our coaches,

the masters swimmers, most of whom are old enough

to be the parents of the likes of Ryan Lochte,

Missy Franklin, and Michael Phelps,

swam their workouts beneath the rigging,

as slim and fast in our minds, if not in fact,

as our elite chlorinated comrades