The fellow's name is Marc Rubin. He's playing football now for Penn State and they are doing quite well. From the New York Times: "...Were he not practicing with the Penn State football team this summer, Mark Rubin would probably have been in a pool somewhere. Maybe he would have even made it to the Water Cube for the Olympic Games in Beijing. “Eight gold medals? I would say highly unlikely,” Rubin, a senior safety, said in a teleconference Tuesday afternoon. “Two to three gold medals? I would say probable, if I dedicated myself to swimming.” [Link]
Bravado or honst assesment?
6 comments:
Swimming is littered with outstanding teenagers whose outstanding promise never translated into Olympic medals. The best such example was the great age grouper Chas Morton. You never know until you're actually standing on the podium. Marc Rubin should dial it down a few notches - he'll appreciate his reserve later on in life when he's both older and wiser.
I have to agree with Scott -- to a point. There's either a lot to be said for hubris, or not much at all, depending on how you look at it.
However, I do think there's a lot to be said for a mindset that speaks to your belief in yourself, too. Mark is echoing actor Will Smith's sentiments in that article in saying (in so many words) that he can do what he BELIEVES he can do. Not necessarily because he's talented -- which he obviously is -- but because he's willing to put in the work, and is certain of the outcome because he knows his work ethic.
Then again, Tony, in a throwback to your last post, making the Olympic Team is no small feat; it takes an individual who is exceptional on ALL levels, and inhumanly committed to accomplish a feat like that. While playing football for Penn State is truly nothing to scoff at, winning "2 or 3" gold medals in the Olympics is something entirely different.
OK, so when I was breaking a minute in the 100-yard back, Michael Phelps' parents hadn't even met. I figure that, if I hadn't taken a 30+ year break from swimming - and if I had just maintained the clear lead I had over Phelps before he was even born - I also would be pretty much a better swimmer than even Marc Rubin could have been. Of course, I didn't, and neither did Rubin. The difference between me and Rubin is that, when I say such stupid things in public, I go by the name of "anonymous" ...
LOL :-D
The truth be told, Marc Rubin always had a problem going to swim practice and a work ethic to match. It’s a good thing he deferred to a sport like football…requires much less work.
When I started the blog and I would see an anonymous comment, I would think "oh great what did I screw up now?!"
Presently when I see an "anon comment" I this that this is going to be good. We get the best news and historical side notes this way.
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