An email sent to members of the north Baltimore club today invites them to watch “an exciting event” Sunday afternoon as an ABC television crew comes to the swim center to film a segment of Shaquille O’Neal’s new reality TV show, in which Shaq takes on Olympian (and swim-club co-owner) Michael Phelps in a swimming race.
Judging from the brief email message circulated to members, folks would be wise to take time out from their tanning, micro-waved-mini-pizza-munching and Marco Polo-playing to catch a glimpse of the 15-time NBA All-Star attempting a chlorinated Shaq Attack on the 14-time Olympic Gold Medal winner. You heard it at the Brew first: this is the Meadowbrook meet regular recreational members will want to see, not shun.
Meadowbrook management has been doing work on the club’s indoor pool, where this splash-of-the-titans may take place: perhaps they were preparing it to handle the impact of the 7’1″ 320-lb. Cleveland Cavaliers center hitting the water?
So when does this celebrity swim meet happen, exactly, and how close will common mortals in LL Bean tankinis and blown-out boat shoes be able to get to these lumbering, lanky, telegenic sports legends?
It’s all a little murky yet and likely to be figured out when the film crew arrives on Sunday, a Meadowbrook staffer said this morning.
“Members are welcome to come and see it in the late afternoon, around 4 pm,” she said, adding that her information was coming from general manager John Cadigan. “We’ll have to figure out where it’s good for our members to be.”
The Phelps-Shaq swim-off is one planned episode of the new show, Shaq vs., which features the aging-but-affable NBA star going one-on-one with famous athletes (Ben Roethlisberger, Serena Williams) in their respective sports.
Here’s what the email said:
“This weekend, an exciting event will be taking place. The ABC network will be at Meadowbrook filming Shaq vs. Michael Phelps. NBA superstar Shaquille O’Neal has a new TV series where he matches up against the greatest athletes in their respective sports. Here is a link to the show’s website. http://beta.abc.go.com/shows/shaq-vs . It should be exciting for members to watch the race on Sunday afternoon in the indoor pool. The facilities will be open, except where the film crew is working. ”
Then, they go on to remind members to remove all their folding chairs by the end of the summer season “or they will be removed and disposed of,” etc. etc.
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