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Michael Phelps made history, again, by becoming the first American male swimmer to qualify for a fifth Olympic Games after winning the 200-meter mens butterfly final Wednesday night at the U.S. Olympic swimming trials in Omaha, Nebraska.History! Michael Phelps wins 200m butterfly to become the 1st American male swimmer to qualify for 5 Olympic Games. pic.twitter.com/wxULPelIN9- SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) June 30, 2016History.Michael Phelps is the first American male swimmer to qualify for five Olympics: https://t.co/d6T7dRnu2u pic.twitter.com/xUWt1mz4P9- ESPN (@espn) June 30, 2016ReactionAfter Phelps win, the Twitterverse responded. ...And....He does it! @MichaelPhelps is going to his 5th Olympic Games! #SwimTrials16 Truly amazing! Another record!- Summer Sanders (@SummerSanders_) June 30, 2016Well done @MichaelPhelps we had our first Olympics in Sydney and both go into our 5th Olympics in Rio.#5Olympics- Kirsty Coventry (@KirstyCoventry) June 30, 2016Simply amazing! #legends https://t.co/mL8hj8WybL- Janet Evans (@janetevans) June 30, 2016My dude Michael Phelps just won the 200 fly and punched his ticket to his 5th, thats right his FIFTH Olympic Games.- Desmond Howard (@DesmondHoward) June 30, 2016So when #Rio begins, @MichaelPhelps will have spent more than half of his life as an Olympian. I feel like I world-class underachiever.- Dana ONeil (@ESPNDanaOneil) June 30, 2016Michael Phelps... Wow, no words. Congratulations @MichaelPhelps on your 5th Olympic Games. What an inspiration!!- Nastia Liukin (@NastiaLiukin) June 30, 2016@MichaelPhelps hands down the greatest athlete of all time.- Joe Wise (@joebwise) June 30, 2016Phelps told NBCs Michele Tafoya shortly after the race that he was glad his 7-week-old son, Boomer, was awake for the race. Earlier in the night, he caught some zs before Dads big race:Boomer embracing his taper before dads 200 fly. pic.twitter.com/OqomY1dgBQ- Hilary Eldridge (@HilaryPhelps) June 30, 2016And finally ...Kobe Phelps made the Twitter rounds:Hey Kobe, how many trips to the #Olympics for Michael Phelps? pic.twitter.com/yBC1Fd7XgR- LizzLocker (@Lizzs_Lockeroom) June 30, 2016 Blue Jays Jerseys 2020 . A statement from the worlds top-ranked player says all checks "were satisfactory and showed positive evolution" regarding the injury, which contributed to his loss to Stanislas Wawrinka in the final in Melbourne. Toronto Blue Jays Pro Shop .C. -- Glenn Howard needed an extra end to move into the Masters Grand Slam of Curling final. https://www.cheapbluejays.com/ . 8 Kansas to a 64-63 win over Texas Tech on Tuesday night. The freshman from Vaughan, Ont. Fake Blue Jays Jerseys . -- Gus Malzahn finally had his day in Fayetteville. Stitched Blue Jays Jerseys . The Dutchmans tenure got off to a poor start when referee Guido Winkmann awarded a penalty within two minutes for Niklas Starks clumsy challenge on Alexandru Maxim. In the middle of the summer at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, I swung by the No. 48 transporter to check in with my close friend Scott Maxim, engine specialist for Hendrick Motorsports, around the same time practice was ending.Suddenly crew chief Chad Knaus whistled in followed by a few crew members, driver Jimmie Johnson trailing the group. They huddled at the front of their transporter. The atmosphere was tense and edgy, evident through the body language of the teams leader, Knaus.A few months later I made the same visit. It was Dover, Chase race No. 3, and this time the mood was relaxed, composed. While urgency was still present, there was no sense of panic in the camp.The contrast between the two Fridays was extreme, and it left an impression on me, enough that I mentioned to Knaus how impressive it was that he had kept this group from tearing itself apart in the midst of his and Johnsons longest winless streak together.Its obvious now that the six-time champs had rediscovered their magic, but I can honestly say, it wasnt obvious to me then.Ive always been quick to Identify Jimmie Johnson as the key to the No. 48 teams success. That comes from a basis of studying, evaluating and understanding drivers and their responsibilities. Its who I am. Its what Ive spent the majority of my life doing.Less obvious to me is the impact crew chiefs have, and thats not because I didnt experience their value as much, but rather I may not have appreciated it as much as I should have early in my career.That comes from having built, and maintained, my own race cars early in my career. It was an asset early because it put me ahead of my competitors, but became a liability late because I became less willing to experiment.The same effects may have hindered two of the best I ever competed against, Rusty Wallace and Mark Martin. Wallace was more talented than the one title he has; he was worthy of three in my mind. And Martin was every bit his equal, but ended his career with none.These two drivers understood race cars as well as any in NASCAR ... at least for a while.But as the sport evolves, becomes more technical, drivers with deep race car knowledge become less open-minded than those who simply want to drive.Its why Jimmie Johnson is so unique, so disciplined. Johnson -- perhaps more than any driver I know -- understands his role, is consumed by it, and doesnt allow any outside noise to interfere with his responsibilities.A common practice for struggling drivers, particularly late in their career, is to reinvent themselves through a crew chief swap.dddddddddddd The hope is that a new leader fosters new ideas, recreates an energy that had disappeared -- a spark if you will. Johnson and Knaus have resisted that practice, and I admire the hell out of what they have done because of their loyalty to one another.Chad brings the best out of Jimmie, he holds the passwords to the 48 teams files, and more than ever before, I believe Chad Knaus has demonstrated his value to the Hendrick organization.Ive observed and pondered the 48 team all year. Ive witnessed tension strong enough to cause an implosion. But it doesnt happen with this group. Its bond appears impenetrable.The Bottom LineJimmie Johnsons win last week is a game-changer for most Chase brackets. Few had the 48 in their Miami final four; it just didnt seem logical in early September.Johnson, as we sit today, is the only driver not having to worry about the consequences of playing Russian roulette next Sunday in Talladega. Thats an enormous mental advantage.The team has a clear advantage in prepping three cars for three races in the third round that represent Jimmie Johnsons second-, third- and fourth-best averages of all NASCAR tracks, and if thats not enough to convince you team 48 is destined for Homestead, this should be:No driver is immune from waning confidence; it causes an athlete to try harder, perhaps too hard, at the wrong time. Its effects lead to mistakes (like speeding on pit road on the final stop of the day) when you may have had the car to beat.Even with his confidence diminished some, Johnson is more dangerous than most. With his confidence peaking, the 48 teams only kryptonite comes in the form of mechanical issues.Johnson more than likely wins one of the three races in the third round, which positions him for that coveted seventh Sprint Cup title.I reached out to congratulate Johnson following his win, and in his response was something I found very profound.Keep in mind, I consider Johnson among the most humble human beings on the planet. He is proof you can be confident, be great, but not need to remind anyone of it.So I found it compelling at the end of our exchange when he declared this: More to come!Dare any of us doubt him? ' ' '