Olympic Hero: Eric Moussambani

[bigvince]

<< Maybe we can get him one the cover of the Wheaties box or Frosted Flakes...that would be great!!!>>

was that a pun? cause it was funny!

 

[Chef0083]

They didn't laugh for very long,, those ausies love there swimming,, I guess they apreciated his efforts.

 

[chess9]

FettsBabe:

An argument can easily be made that he exemplifies the Olympic ideals more than the vast majority of athletes who participate and are Wheaties covers. I think it's a great idea! I'm going to email the Wheaties folks now. Is that General Mills? I'll check. Let's see what they say!!

 

[loup garou]

oops wrong thread!

 

[chess9]

You can email General Mills at: radio@mail.genmills.com I just sent them an email! I'm not kidding. Please, send them an email!

 

[FettsBabe]

great job chess!!!

 

[BoberFett]

I emailed them.

 

[chess9]

Thanks, BF!

 

[KingHam]

I must be the only cold hearted bastard who thinks that this is bullcrap. Just another overdone human interest piece.

KingHam

 

[SUOrangeman]

I just happened to turn on the tube in time to catch this piece. Truly inspiring.

Anyone have a web link on NBC or something? I'll look now.

An Olympic Dream Come True

-SUO

 

[chess9]

I couldn't find a tape of the swim, but here is an interesting article about this guy. Wait till 2004!

Text

 

[DABANSHEE]

I tell you what he can swim better than me (I'd be half dead after the first lap, that's what happens when you drag a spare tyre made of beer &amp; ice cream arround everywhere) &amp; I've been swimming since the age of 4. He only started swimming in January this year.

 

[chess9]

Dab:

You are an Ozzie! I thought you guys SWAM out of the uterus!?

 

[SUOrangeman]

CNN/SI.com checks in as well.

-SUO

 

[chess9]

Nice piece. This sort of thing with amateurs just rivets me because it has the essence of sport and struggle all over it. I hope this fellow is able to keep his swimming dream alive. But how? Certainly NOT in a 20 meter pool with no competition. Maybe the best part is yet to come. Maybe they'll find a way to build a pool and build a team. Maybe someone from his country will actually meet the qualifying standards in four years. Maybe....

 

[Wingznut]

It's official, cybersax... you are an ass.

 

[403Forbidden]

what country were those swimers who DQ'd?

 

[chess9]

403Forbidden: I believe they were both from African countries as well. Too bad. The IOC gave them a chance to be seen on television in their home countries and they essentially bagged it. I guess they wanted a trip to Sidney and to be able to say they were in the Olympics, without giving any effort. I'll see if I can find out, though. Good question!

 

[JoeBaD]

I'm with ya cibersax. What on God's green Earth makes this guy a hero?

Doing something for yourself does not make you a hero.

Doing for others does.

Better to canonize those poor underpaid souls who get paid peanuts to care for the disabled and elderly, and who get little or know recognition for their efforts, rather than this idiot.

How would you feel if you trained and sacrificed for years to get to the Oympics and then had to share the pool with this guy? Not to say that the others are heros either since most if not all are doing it for themselves.

Reminds me. Remember when Princess Diana and Mother Theresa died a week apart. Who got most the press - Diana. Not to say she wasn't a good person and did some good things (mines etc.), but she was no Mother Theresa. Our society has strange ideas when picking heroes.

 

[chess9]

Mother Teresa is a saint and a hero. I will agree with the minor quibble that a hero means something different to everyone. Why bother with the quibble? He is a &quot;hero&quot; to me within the context of the Olympic Games, which have been infected with money, drugs, hype, and the egos of pampered athletes. I would not pretend to put him on the same level as Mother Teresa. Princess Diana did a lot of good as well. Why bother to defame a dead woman?

 

[Thunderbooty]

I guess JoeBad and Cybersux never saw &quot;Cool Runnings&quot;

 

[Thunderbooty]

And another thought for Cybersac,

I dont think you would have had the guts to get out there and let people laugh at you and strip you of pride while you struggle to swim across the pool, or finish a 10k race, or any kind of race. You, would more than likely stuff your nuts in a bag and skulk off with your tail between your chubby legs and cry.

 

[chess9]

Thunderbooty: ROFLMAO!

 

[KingHam]

I still don't see why this guy is such a hero. IMO he embarassed his country and made it look like a joke.

KingHam

 

[goog40]

Sax - You a f*cking asshole. At least he was in the olympics, what have you done?

ohh, BURN

For the other two guys, are you sure they bagged it? Remember they must have been damn nervous in front of that crowd, so I wouldn't assume anything.

IMO he embarassed his country and made it look like a joke
Great attitude man. If you aren't be the best in the world at something, don't even try at all.