Smash Mouth

Yeah, I know it’s another Michael Phelps/Olympics article. But, hey, the guy is going for history here and the Olympics take place only once every four years. So, bear with me. And, plus, this article includes the French and trash-talking. What could be funnier?

While Phelps was resting tonight in the Olympic village in Beijing (remember, it’s 1:26 AM over there, 12 hours time difference), his swimming teammates smashed another world record. Nathan Adrian, Cullen Jones, Ben Wildman-Tobriner and Matt Grevers clocked a time of 3:12.23 in the prelims of the 4x100m freestyle relay, quieting the doubters for know who thought this was the United States’ least-dominant relay team and this race may give Phelps the most trouble for capturing a record 8 gold medals. But his teammates proved people otherwise. Phelps will be swimming in the race later tonight (EST), while one of those who swam this morning (EST) will have to sit out. Swimming coach Eddie Reese said it would be a tough decision, considering all four swimmers swan brilliantly in the prelims. But all that is certain is that Phelps will be on the team, and either Adrian, Wildman-Tobriner, or Grevers will have to watch (Reese said Jones, who swam the fastest leg, would be on the final team).

But, even though they swam in world-record fashion, Reese admitted his team would have to be even better for the final race. He said the Americans probably will need to be 2½ seconds better than that to beat their main competitor, France. France finished with a time of 3:12.36, with Amaury Leveaux setting an Olympic record with a first-leg time of 47.76. And France was swimming without their superstar as well, world-record holder Alain Bernard. And, to add some fuel to the fire, Bernard had previously commented that France would “smash” the U.S. French swimmers were saying after last night’s race that the U.S. team was scared of them. Say what they want, this race will be decided in the pool and that’s where the U.S. is best. Before the race even starts, as Phelps is wiping down the starting block with his white towel, Ipod headphones in, France will be begging not to be smashed. They’ll simply surrender, concede the race to Phelps and his merry band of minions. Hey, isn’t that what they do best?