This article is simple. See title.
What Michael Phelps is doing now is stuff of legend. We will, without question, tell our grandchildren about seeing him on television, and how humble he was about it all, and how seeing him swim was artistic.
We still would not recognize him if he sat next to us in a restaurant six months from now. While this is a bold claim, it was this quote, said to me by a co-worker, that inspired this idea and this article:
"Michael Phelps...He was that guy I fell in love with four years ago. I don't know what happened to him, but I am in love again!"
Lest we forget, it was four years ago Michael Phelps was a 19-year-old with aspirations of Olympic immortality.
Carly Patterson. Tara Lipinski. Michelle Kwan. Kristi Yamaguchi. Michael Johnson. Michael Phelps.
Above is a list of athletes the average sports fan has probably forgotten over the years. Anyone who knows these names recognizes the contributions each made to their respective sports, especially in the Olympics, where Americans watched and glorified them for 2 months. Years later, these athletes are just names of past events.
Why? America does not care about their respective sports.
LeBron James. Kobe Bryant. Tom Brady. Alex Rodriguez. Sidney Crosby.
By all measures, their level of greatness is comparable and relative to the aforementioned athletes in their respective sports. The difference is that the latter group plays the 4 major sports of America, and as a result, these men take on celebrity status. What they do in everyday life is just as important to us as how they play their sports.
For his part, Michael Phelps will surely reap the benefits of his golden quest, bringing in endorsement deals, appearances, and the like. 1 year from now? You tell me what he's doing.
We are all in love with Michael Phelps right now. He is America's golden boy, our pride of the Olympics. But only for a few more weeks. Football season starts in September. So long Mr. Phelps, and enjoy your 30 days of fame.
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1 comment:
I think if you asked the average sports fah who Mark Spitz is, they would be able to tell you. The same will be for Phelps I think. He may never be as big as some of the guys you mentioned, but i thnk most people who are watching these olympics will remember who Micheal Phelps is. Also, I think most people know who Cruisty Yamaguchi and Michelle Kwan are. Kwan especially, is one of the best fmale athletes ever, and it has nothing to do with the olympics. In fact the olympics are the only thing she didn't win. She will be remebered for her 9 national championships and five world championships, both records. If I sound like a fan I am, of both Kwan and Phelps, and I don't really care about either sport. With Kwan retired I have totally ignored skating, and when Phelps is done I probably won't wacth swimming. But one dosen't need to be a fan of the sport to be a fan of the individual. Plenty of people who don't know a 9 iron from a ironing board like Tiger Woods. Kwan and Phelps are both athletes who are/were bigger than ther sports, and they will be remembered for years to come.
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