Fred Bowen's "The Score" column,
July 27, 2001, Washington Post

I've Always Wondered . . .

Last summer, I wrote a column while I was on vacation in which I wondered about all sorts of weird sports stuff. I guess the weirdest thing I wondered was: "Do long-distance swimmers ever pee in the pool?"

Boy, did I ever get letters about that.

Well, guess what? They do!

Jenny Thompson, who has won more Olympic gold medals than any other American woman swimmer, told a Time magazine reporter: "Peeing in the pool is very common among competitive swimmers because your coaches don't let you get out during practice. I even mastered peeing while swimming."

So there you have it. One of the great sports questions is finally answered. But don't try this. Peeing in pools is disgusting.

It's summer and I am on vacation again. Staring out at the ocean and wondering about sports:

• Why does Major League Baseball keep teams in Montreal and Florida? Nobody goes to the games there. Northern Virginia and D.C. have lots more fans. They deserve a team.

• Have you seen Orioles third baseman Tony Batista's batting stance? It is really bizarre. He starts out facing the pitcher with both feet on the back line of the batter's box and holding the bat in front of his face. How does he ever hit that way?

• If Michael Jordan makes a comeback, won't things get a little weird for the other Wizards? I mean, Jordan is their boss. When Michael motions that he wants the ball, they've got to pass it to him.

• By the way, is there some sort of rule that NBA stars have to make a rap recording complete with dirty lyrics? First, Allen Iverson made one. Now Shaq has one. Come on guys, stick to making baskets instead of making music.

• You know how whenever a ball goes out of bounds in a basketball game all the coaches and players point in their team's direction? Wouldn't it be great, just once, if a player or coach pointed in the other team's direction.

• And wouldn't it be great if the parents and coaches who scream and threaten referees at youth soccer games had to do community service by being referees at soccer games. Maybe then they would find out that making split-second calls with people yelling at you is not so easy.

• Shouldn't there be more parks specially designed for skateboarders -- with cool ramps and jumps? The sport is getting really popular and deserves more support -- and better playing surfaces than the streets.

• And as long as we're building stuff, how about a couple of Astroturf soccer fields? Soccer is just brutal on grass fields.

• What about making field hockey an indoor sport? Forget about playing on bumpy, grass fields. A smooth indoor surface would make the game even more exciting.

• Speaking of hockey . . . How about the Washington Capitals nabbing high-scoring superstar Jaromir Jagr? Could the "Curse of the Caps" finally be over?

• And finally, what I am really wondering . . . What kind of coach wouldn't even give his team a break to go to the bathroom? Jenny Thompson must have had some mean coaches.

FRED BOWEN is the author of sports novels for kids. Write to him at KidsPost, 1150 15th St. NW, Washington, DC 20071. Or e-mail (with "The Score" in the subject field): kidspost@washpost.com.

© 2001 The Washington Post Company