Kudos to the Merc for Using the Word "Ripples"

The whole Jessica Hardy thing continues to boil over, especially as Team USA has already left Stanford, Calif., for Singapore for its final prep before the Olympic Games. And of course, Hardy is still saying that she's innocent.

Whatever FINA or whoever makes the decision about whether or not Hardy swims in Beijing, her positive drug test has sent shockwaves around the world, so much so that the San Jose Mercury-News was so excited that one of its copy editors decided to headline a story running today with the word. "ripple."

That story is about Tara Kirk, a former Stanfurd swimmer, who was beat out by Hardy in the 100-meter breaststroke at the US Olympic Trials in Omaha, Neb. Seems like Kirk really wants a spot on that Olympic roster, asking for USA head coach Mark Schubert to appeal FINA's rules and add Kirk and UofA's Lara Jackson to the squad. Under the rules, once a national team has sent in its roster, any vacated event must be filled with someone who is already on the roster.

Obviously, this is very fickle. In a true team sport, such as basketball or football (soccer), I would see why a rule like this prevents a team with a deep talent pool from just calling whomever they want to play whenever they want. For example, Dwight Howard gets hurt in that first game, no problem, Brad Miller or Amare Stoudamire is on their way from the States.

But swimming is inherently an individual sport. Is there a team medal awarded for the best swimming countries, a la gymnastics? I didn't think so. So FINA should just let whoever finished third or fourth take the place of finalists who do get suspended or have a freak injury or just decide that the air in Beijing is truly poor and skip out on the whole Olympics thing.

There's no need to punish someone who finished a swim .02 seconds behind someone who is being investigated for testing positive for banned substances.

On a side note, Australia's head coach thinks that this whole episode with Hardy will inspire the Americans in Beijing. Sure it will. I just think that Coach Thompson is just making excuses for his Aussies and preparing the media for the day(s) when the Red, White and Blue kicks their asses in the water. That just me though.

Oh, I did mention that this sent shockwaves around the world and you're asking how? Count them: 1) Australia is talking about this, 2) and Kirk is talking about this from vacationing in Ireland. It wouldn't be the first place I'd go to unwind, but I just wonder if Kirk will have to go back to the United States to pick up her $3,000 worth of Team USA gear if she does make the team, or if USA Swimming will just Fed Ex that stuff to her.