ON THE FRINGE By Stephen Hobbs

Why do we doubt Michael Phelps?

June 28– Unfortunately for Ryan Lochte, no matter how good he is, he will always be compared to Michael Phelps. Although Phelps has said that he will retire after the 2012 Olympics, he is continuing to make huge statements in the pool.

On Wednesday, Phelps defeated Lochte in the final of the 200 freestyle, which was billed as the second showdown between the two swimmers, at the U.S. Swimming Olympic Trials in Omaha. Phelps’ signature trait is his ability to find a way to win. Although Phelps did lose to Lochte in the 200 individual medley, in the first match-up between the pair at the Trials, he still qualified for the event. When the time comes for the two to face of in the 200 I.M. in London, don’t bet against Phelps. During his historic run to eight gold medals in 2008, he somehow found a way to beat Milorad Cavic by the slimmest of margins in the 100-meter butterfly. The race went down as one of the most unforgettable moments of the Beijing Olympics.

That being said, the competition between these two swimmers is outstanding for the sport. It has brought an expanded level of exposure to swimming and their rivalry will only fuel the fire of young athletes looking up to these two outstanding competitors.

So please, don’t let Phelps overshadow what Lochte has accomplished so far in his swimming career. The man is an outstanding swimmer. He already has six Olympic medals; three gold, one silver and two bronze. He just has had the unfortunate task of continuously trying to beat one of the greatest Olympians ever.

Pac-12 Network

The Pac-12 Network is going to do something exciting for fans of lesser-known college sports. Last week, the new network, which begins in August, released a schedule of field hockey, men’s water polo and cross country events that will be broadcast this fall. Although this may not excite fans across the country, this is perfect for a conference that prides itself on succeeding in every single collegiate sport. For example, take the recent release of the Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup final standings for the 2011-2012 fall, winter and spring collegiate seasons. The Stanford Cardinal won the honor for the 18^th consecutive season and the Pac-12 had three teams in the top-10 and six teams in the top-25. Stanford University finished first overall with 1448.25 total points. More than 100 points ahead of Florida, which finished in second with 1314 total points. UCLA finished in third place, Southern California in seventh, California in 11th, Arizona in 19th and Oregon finished in 24th.