He's our local and he is having a great year.

It is a fun race, just enough to be challenging, not long, but not a sprint. It has great atmosphere, weather, a warm pool instead of a cold lake and excellent volunteers, most of which have been at their points for 19-20 years.

It is really exciting. All of the eight (men) that finished in the top 10 should do it again and the women should be interesting. It will all be a matter of who has the best race on Sunday.

Two years ago, Frank Doyle came into the Harvard game in the third period in Albany [to replace Jimmy Howard]. You've got to be ready for everything.

Over the years, Americans in particular have been all too willing to squander their hard-earned independence and freedom for the illusion of feeling safe under someone else's authority. The concept of self-sufficiency has been undermined in value over a scant few generations. The vast majority of the population seems to look down their noses upon self-reliance as some quaint dusty relic, entertained only by the hyperparanoid or those hopelessly incapable of fitting into mainstream society.

I think that's just how he is. He never seems real nervous or upset. He's got such a laid-back personality. He thrives under pressure situations. I think the pressure here is only going to help him play better.