Duel In The Desert Picks...put your money down now!

[danp]

Recently a strong (ex) fencer from Stanford told me - paraphrasing - "When I was 26, I was at the absolute top of my game. No matter what I do now I'll never get back to that..". I really connected with this.

People who've done a sport at a *very* high level many times feel that it's not possible to keep up that intensity for winning. More to the point, it's very hard to stay with a sport you've done at a high level 'just for fun' because one always compares current success to past success. There's too high an expectation, and no one likes to feel or worse yet hear "Man, he/she really peaked at 26".

It's pretty common for athletes of a high caliber to walk away from competition. Lots of them prefer to teach, which is a lucky break for those of (me) who suck.

That's just one interpretation.
-Dan

Originally posted by edew
Nick Bravin did continue with the sport after leaving Stanford. His attendance at the 1992 and 1996 Olympics were after graduating from Stanford.

Then, there's Tim Chang and Alex Wood, both of whom have continued with the sport. Same with Sean McClain and Felicia Zimmermann.

But yes, there's a lot who are more or less done. Greg (and Geoff) Donaker, Ken Jung, Cheech Pencavel, the Reichlings, the several women epeeists (forgot their names). There were several who came directly to Stanford and quite before they even started competing. Not great.

Stanford's men's sabre squad this year should be pretty decent: Pearlstein and Andrus. Women's sabre and epee are complete crapshoot. Epee will be Martin Lee and whoever they can dig up. Foil is Florian and Steve Gerberman (if he's not trying solely for the possible fourth spot on the O-team) or Mark Mulholland. Women's foil is Eva Petchnigg and some other, since Iris is taking the year off for trying out for the O-team.

[edew]

Originally posted by edew
And back in March, I picked the fishes TO...GO...ALL...THE...WAY...

He shoots...he scores.

[rukovsoft]

100$ on veeco for men's epee, especially since he resume training in FRANCE !!!!

[Inquartata]

Originally posted by edew
He shoots...he scores.

Hey, maybe you ought to publish a tout sheet!

[edew]

Vikings over the Chiefs.

Lakers by 5 over the Nets.

Rangers over Dallas.

Bosox over Cubs in 6 (in the year 2074)

[Inquartata]

Originally posted by edew
Bosox over Cubs in 6 (in the year 2074)

By that time we will both be just heads in jars, a la Futurama.

And that's the most optimistic possibility!

[edew]

I'm also predicting the end of the world as we know it two weeks after the Bosox beat the Cubs. It is, indeed, the sign of the apocalypse, isn't it?

In that scenario, Israel defeats Syria and Lebanon 10-8, Iraq and Iran crush the Saudis 24-3 in overtime. North Korea and the US play to sudden death tie of 37-37. The EU lose because France forgets to tie their shoes and stumbles out of the starting blocks wherein Chechnya overruns all of eastern europe 56-8. China scores a decisive victory with the replay of the Genghis Khan two-minute warning drill blowing a massive hold through India and Pakistan, all the way to western europe and parts of Africa.

South America takes over all of Central America and parts of the Southwest of Northern America, reclaiming a new Aztec millennium. The mayans complain and they finally decide to share the title.

The Kiwis win by being the last country standing.

Beat that, Nostradamus.

[Dee EffEll]

Originally posted by edew


Beat that, Nostradamus.

I'll cash in a set of cards, get a 21 more armies and deploy them in Irkutsk. Get your dice.

[edew]

Two behemoths recruits a serpent in the jungle. That any my 12-4 titan will knock any of your socks off.