Bleacher Report - Articles by CJ Mikucki

Were You A Witness To USA Swimming History?

CJ Mikucki — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 08:10:29 -0400

Eight one-hundredths of a second.

Don't blink or you'll miss it.

You can employ as many cliches as you would like, but the moment itself, void of all literary descriptions, was, what many may consider, the greatest comeback in Olympic history.

Take away all the hype and pressure to produce a gold medal to keep swimming icon Michael Phelps' dream of eight in a single Olympics alive; take away all the fuel and inspiration the Americans used from French anchor Alaine Bernard, and you still have an epic comeback.

Now add all that I subtracted, and you can see why this was nothing short of greatness. For a sport in America that rarely gets recognized outside of the Olympics, swimming has arguably matched the expectations that the men's basketball teams of years past had produced.

How many other Americans scheduled the relay into their evening schedule last night? How many families came together, for a period of just over three minutes, to witness history?

The moment captivated the imaginations of so many, although it took place half a world away. I'm almost positive the entire country cheered in unison as NBC flashed their super-imposed “United States” with the number one denoting first place across lane four, and high fives were shared while fist pumps were displayed from Maine to California.

I'm also positive many citizens said something similar to what I said before and during the race, “Stick it to the French,” and then after the results were in, it became, “They did stick it to the French!”

“The Americans? We're going to smash the Americans. That's what we came here for,” Bernard said before the relay.

Well, it appears by the dejected facial expression following the American's win and the way he was the last to leave the pool, that his hopes and dreams were the ones that were smashed.

It wasn't so much the margin of victory or the statement by Bernard that made it so special; those factors just added to the sweetness of being victorious. It was the way in which it was completed. It was in fact a comeback...of epic proportions.

For the final leg of the relay, a short fifty meters, Bernard had led by, at times, what appeared to be at least three-fourths of a body length, and possibly a full body length. There was no way USA captain Jason Lezak should have come back.

With the team's biggest cheerleader, Michael Phelps, yelling words of encouragement from just behind the starting blocks, Lezak inched his way back into the race. Each stroke moved him closer to Bernard. Each stroke cut Bernard's lead by inches.

Just about a second before hitting the wall, underwater cameras showed both Bernard and Lezak take glances at each other, making the end even more dramatic.

And in the end, Lezak touched the wall just eight one-hundredths of a second before Bernard. If the final leg was any shorter than fifty meters, the French would have taken the gold. It was in that final meter, that final second, that the Americans prevailed.

After only two seconds, the results were displayed on the scoreboard, the official signal for the swimmers to begin the celebration. No one could believe it, as I'm sure it took most of us minutes to actually realize what happened.

Just seconds before, we all noticed Bernard's lead, and how it appeared insurmountable. Even though we remained optimistic, many of us probably kept the thoughts of losing in the back of our minds. But as Lezak closed the gap, that optimism became more evident. There became a chance and opportunity to win, to make the greatest comeback ever.

And it happened.

Jason Lezak not only kept Michael Phelps' goal of eight gold medals in one Olympics alive, but he did something greater than that. He produced a moment that few Hollywood writers could even dream of scripting.

On the biggest stage in the world, the United States once again prevailed, and Lezak entered United States Olympic history lore, adding to the mystique and dominance of United States swimming.

White Sox Struggles Continue: Speculation Abounds As To Future Of Coaching Staff

CJ Mikucki — Sat, 03 May 2008 14:57:30 -0400

Maybe I spoke too soon.

About two weeks ago, I published an article praising the White Sox offense: although not as prolific as in past years, it was consistent enough to produce when needed, and thus led to wins and a first place standing in the AL Central.

It's the first week of May, and yet fans are treating this slump as a choke down the stretch. Yes, the bats are not producing. Yes, we've made opposing pitchers look like Cy Young. Yes, the inconsistency in hitting is disturbing. But one must look past the lineup if they are searching for success.

The pitching staff has, for the most part, done it's job, and would have a few more wins to it's credit if the offense had produced. When the offense comes around (and I know people want it to happen tomorrow), hopefully the pitching will still be dealing.

Would it take a renovation of the coaching staff to light a fire in the White Sox? Manager Ozzie Guillen does not think so, stating that the lineup is full of veterans who have no need of coaches, and that they are experienced. Patience has been stressed by Guillen, although this slump may last weeks. At what point do Sox fans begin to worry, even though it's only the first week of May and the Sox are still at the top of the standing in a week division?

They say patience is a virtue. White Sox fans may learn the old adage will prove to be true as the season progresses and the possibility of this slump continues.

Somebody must spark this offense, and who better to do it than the newest additions of Nick Swisher and Orlando Cabrera at the top of the order? And once that spark is lit, they need to turn this offense into a raging inferno.

Patience, my friends and fellow Sox fans. Patience.

White Sox Impress; Buehrle Implodes

CJ Mikucki — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 03:00:43 -0400

I've got to say, I've had a lot of optimism about this season since the last out of last year was recorded. A few major signings and trades later, this season was ready to unfold.

Within the last few weeks, pundits chose the White Sox to place either third of fourth in the highly competitive AL Central Division. I'll be a realist when I say it's going to take a lot of work to make the playoffs, but anything can happen at any time.

Monday's opener was nothing short of dramatic, with Jim Thome hitting two home runs in his first two at-bats. But the major key (what will be the defining part of this year) was the pitching, and veteran ace Mark Buehrle was anything but sharp in his first outing. He gave up seven runs in the second, and the offense had to play catch-up from then on.

I didn't watch the game but got frequent updates on the Internet, so I missed the one or two controversial calls late in the game. Yes, I know Jim Thome is on pace for 324 home runs this year, but he won't be pitched to unless those behind him are hitting consistently.

Paul Konerko and Jermaine Dye must deliver, and after yesterday's game, it appears this year may be full of slug fests, and the White Sox have an offense that can match up with anyone, but they must deliver.

All in all, I'm not too surprised. Octavio Dotel could not hold the Cleveland Indians when he needed to, but I do have a lot of faith in our bullpen corps this year. We should be able to rebound, and make a valiant run at the division crown this year if things begin to fall in to place and the players play like they are capable.