Ok - here is my list of scenarios that result in Thorpe's
protest of his DQ in the 400m free being accepted -
1. the starter is discovered to be Bob Costas of NBC Sports
2. the starter is discovered to be related to Phelps
3. a man is found bound and gagged in the janitor's closet
with a drivers license matching the name of the starter
on the official program
4. the Cdn (MacGillivary) or Ita (Rosolino) entrants in
Thorpe's heat were found with electonic buzzers concealed
in their Speedo Fastkin swimsuits (aside: do other
countries allow foreigners to swim at Olympic Trials? For
obvious reasons the two mentioned above were not allowed
in the finals - but would the US would allow a foreigner
to compete in any capacity at Trials?)
5. the starter forgot to say "on your marks" or "set" or
made some other procedural vioalation (oops, looks like
they tried that one and lost out)
6. The aussie PM laid short odds on Thorpe to win Olymic
gold in the 400m free for some serious cash on
worldsportsbetting.com
7. Thorpe's myriad of Japanese sponsors lobby the Japense
government - who, in turn, threaten a trade war with
Australia unless he is reinstated ASAP
Cheers
bill