Here is the thing about the Golden Goggles. Its a popularity contest and I don't think its fair. They might as well call it the Michael & Bob awards. Why waste the time of other nominated swimmers who have to buy a ticket to the event and take the time to prepare for an award where the exact same people keep on winning because they are popular.
Don't get me wrong Michael is definitely and without a doubt an amazing swimmer. Bob is also an incredible coach. But honestly, other swimmers such as Connor Jaeger, Tom Shields, Missy Franklin, deserve to win a Golden Goggle.
Dave Durden is also an amazing coach. If you ask me he probably is as good or better than Bob. Think about the number of Olympians he currently trains (Natalie Coughlin, Nathan Adrian, Anthony Ervin, and many more future Olympians). Best part is he got to retain those swimmers unlike Bob who did have an outstanding set of Olympians training with him last year, but how many of them stayed in his training program and club. It seems that Michael was the only one who stayed for many years. That does say something about the coach. It shows their ability to retain swimmers in their training program.
I think that the people who should be allowed to vote are elite and Olympic swimmers, coaches, and staff.They know swimming and will most likely vote based on performance and not popularity. Letting anyone vote via the internet will include those people who don't really know swimming and don't follow swimming religiously.
Who seriously keeps on voting for the popular guys in the nominee list anyways. Seriously, wake up. It should not be based on who is popular and the most recognizable name on the list. It should be based on performance, both in and out of the pool if you ask me. I'm reminded of what one twitter user pointed out, are those 11 year olds who keep on voting for the most popular once. Seriously the committee who organizes Golden Goggles should re-evaluate the way they do this voting thing. End of rant.
