Font Size

Sports

E-mail

Close Window E-mail This Page

An Ode To Michael Phelps

Required fields are marked with an asterisk(*)

Recipient E-mail:*
- Your Name:*
- Your E-mail:*
Add a Message:
Send me a copy of this e-mail.

Type the characters in this picture:*

Click here to refresh with new letters

The information you provide will be used only to send the requested e-mail and will not be used to send any other e-mail communications. Read more in our Privacy Policy

Send E-mail

Print Share + Comments

Aug 13, 2008 8:57 pm US/Eastern

An Ode To Michael Phelps

Click to enlarge 1 of 1: CBS

Close

numSlides of totalImages

Michael Phelps is now the world greatest Olympian. Move over Carl Lewis and slid to the side Mark Spitz.

I mention Lewis out of respect for his blazing speed and South Jersey heritage.

But the real baton is snatched from the firm grip of Spitz. Spitz was cool personified. He was a child of the 60's with the look of a Hippie and the body of an Adonis. Movie Star looks, long hair in a sport that today count fractions of a second so closely that all body hair is shaved; Mark Spitz let it all hang out. Even his signature curving mustache was as hip as Bling around the neck of a Rapper.

Phelps looks wholesome and ready made for the Wheaties Box. Television adds polish to his future endorsement potential with dozens of shots of his Mom in tears.

What a story! We are watching history that may not be repeated for a long time. Mark Spitz reigned for 36 years.

There are differences that must be considered. Phelps is all but guaranteed riches beyond belief.

If he reaches seven Gold Medals, he gets a one million dollar check from Speedo. That's just gas money for the many Big Boy Toys he will surely enjoy back home.

Spitz certainly had his time in the Sun. He cashed in on his Gold in every way possible. Once the seven Golden Orbs hit his trophy case he scrapped his plans for Dental School and hit the endorsement trail. His job the last 36 years has been being Mark Spitz. Not bad work if you can get it.

Spitz was an American Jew in Munich, Germany. Terrorists destroyed his Olympic experience to the point where once the tragic take over commenced Spitz was advised to get out of the country and he did. What a way to put a brutal halt to a dream. For many years we had to remember what he did as an after thought of the terrorist invasion.

Beijing will be remembered as Michael Phelps' stage.

Munich was hijacked away from Spitz by tugs in masks with guns.

BR