OT - Congrats Michael!!

**ravenjoe** · 07-31-2012, 11:27 PM

The Greatest Olympian EVER!

**Dade** · 08-01-2012, 05:48 AM

Yes Sir! Truly amazing...

USA USA USA!!!!

**Kevlar** · 08-01-2012, 06:45 AM

Originally Posted by ravenjoe

The Greatest Olympian EVER!

greatest swimmer ever.

Greatest olympian, at least from the US would be someone like Jim Thorpe, Jesse Owens, or Carl Lewis, who competed in more demanding events.

What was the chicks name who he passed for "greatest olympian ever"? I never even heard of her.

**flraven** · 08-01-2012, 09:51 AM

Originally Posted by Kevlar

greatest swimmer ever.

Greatest olympian, at least from the US would be someone like Jim Thorpe, Jesse Owens, or Carl Lewis, who competed in more demanding events.

What was the chicks name who he passed for "greatest olympian ever"? I never even heard of her.

It was a Soviet gymnast named Larisa Latynina. Not sure when she won her medals though.

Congratulations Michael!!

**NCRAVEN** · 08-01-2012, 09:59 AM

Originally Posted by Kevlar

greatest swimmer ever.

Greatest olympian, at least from the US would be someone like Jim Thorpe, Jesse Owens, or Carl Lewis, who competed in more demanding events.

What was the chicks name who he passed for "greatest olympian ever"? I never even heard of her.

You think running is more demanding than swimming?

**Kyle Cactus** · 08-01-2012, 10:29 AM

Swimming is definitely grueling, but I think the argument can be made that Carl Lewis excelled in a wider variety of events. Yes, Phelps has medaled in events with a variety of strokes and distances, but it's all still swimming for speed. Lewis on the other hand medaled in running (sprinting only) and the long jump.

Plus Lewis was dominant over a longer period in his best event. He won the gold in long jump in 4 consecutive Olympics.

Either way it's splitting hairs. They're both outstanding Olympians. Phelps accomplishments are amazing, and I don't know if we'll see them surpassed in my lifetime.

I'm not as knowledgeable on Owens or Thorpe so I can't really speak to them.

**bmorebirds_24** · 08-01-2012, 10:30 AM

Am I the only one a bit disappointed about Phelps this year?
Admitting he didn't train as hard...Teammates being critical of his training.

Maybe I am just hating on the guy because he comes off as a dick but he makes it hard to be excited for him this time around.

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**Kyle Cactus** · 08-01-2012, 10:41 AM

It would have been nice to see him be truly dominant again, but he's basically said that he's gotten tired of swimming. I'm not going to hold that against him. IMO he's already accomplished such incredible things that his legacy is untouchable.

Actually I was a bit peeved at the way NBC seemed to center so much of their early Olympic coverage on how Lochte was going to "dethrone" Phelps. Then after Phelps finished 4th in his 1st final they seemed to crank it up even more. I almost felt like they were hoping for the guy to fail so they could drag him through the mud.

Yes, he may come off as a bit of a prick, but he accomplished amazing things while representing our country. I still think that's something to be proud of. Shame on NBC for being so eager to tear down one of our Olympic heroes.

And Lochte may be a better swimmer at this point, but he will never come close to Phelps accomplishment. Phelps was never going to be dethroned no matter what happened at this Olympics.

**NCRAVEN** · 08-01-2012, 10:43 AM

Originally Posted by Kyle Cactus

It would have been nice to see him be truly dominant again, but he's basically said that he's gotten tired of swimming. I'm not going to hold that against him. IMO he's already accomplished such incredible things that his legacy is untouchable.

Actually I was a bit peeved at the way NBC seemed to center so much of their early Olympic coverage on how Lochte was going to "dethrone" Phelps. Then after Phelps finished 4th in his 1st final they seemed to crank it up even more. I almost felt like they were hoping for the guy to fail so they could drag him through the mud.

Yes, he may come off as a bit of a prick, but he accomplished amazing things while representing our country. I still think that's something to be proud of. Shame on NBC for being so eager to tear down one of our Olympic heroes.

And Lochte may be a better swimmer at this point, but he will never come close to Phelps accomplishment. Phelps was never going to be dethroned no matter what happened at this Olympics.

**bmorebirds_24** · 08-01-2012, 11:16 AM

Originally Posted by Kyle Cactus

It would have been nice to see him be truly dominant again, but he's basically said that he's gotten tired of swimming. I'm not going to hold that against him. IMO he's already accomplished such incredible things that his legacy is untouchable.

Actually I was a bit peeved at the way NBC seemed to center so much of their early Olympic coverage on how Lochte was going to "dethrone" Phelps. Then after Phelps finished 4th in his 1st final they seemed to crank it up even more. I almost felt like they were hoping for the guy to fail so they could drag him through the mud.

Yes, he may come off as a bit of a prick, but he accomplished amazing things while representing our country. I still think that's something to be proud of. Shame on NBC for being so eager to tear down one of our Olympic heroes.

And Lochte may be a better swimmer at this point, but he will never come close to Phelps accomplishment. Phelps was never going to be dethroned no matter what happened at this Olympics.

But why go if he is tired of it? It's not like he's getting a paycheck for being there. Like you said he already made his stamp so why not just walk away?
If he was going to go he still should strive for the gold in every event. Losing sucks! I get 2nd gets the silver but how much sweeter is it to win and have even more Golds?
I'm proud of Phelps but it bugs me a little that he don't have the "I want to dominate" attitude he once had.
Ray Lewis has a Super Bowl ring and has yet to quit and trains harder and harder every year. I guess Phelps ain't built that way.

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**RavensNTerps** · 08-01-2012, 11:41 AM

Originally Posted by bmorebirds_24

But why go if he is tired of it? It's not like he's getting a paycheck for being there. Like you said he already made his stamp so why not just walk away?
If he was going to go he still should strive for the gold in every event. Losing sucks! I get 2nd gets the silver but how much sweeter is it to win and have even more Golds?
I'm proud of Phelps but it bugs me a little that he don't have the "I want to dominate" attitude he once had.
Ray Lewis has a Super Bowl ring and has yet to quit and trains harder and harder every year. I guess Phelps ain't built that way.

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He sure is getting a paycheck as a result of going.

**Kevlar** · 08-01-2012, 11:46 AM

Originally Posted by NCRAVEN

You think running is more demanding than swimming?

You have to compete in 10 events to win a medal for the decathalon. They don't give out extra medals for swinging your arms in a different direction.

Track and field has long been the dominant sport of the olympics. It is the one where you see the best athletes compete.

No one cares about swimming unless their boat is getting ready to sink.

**bmorebirds_24** · 08-01-2012, 11:58 AM

Originally Posted by RavensNTerps

He sure is getting a paycheck as a result of going.

What kind of check does he get?
Didn't Kobe Bryant just say that athletes should be paid for going to these games?

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**Kevlar** · 08-01-2012, 12:00 PM

Originally Posted by bmorebirds_24

What kind of check does he get?
Didn't Kobe Bryant just say that athletes should be paid for going to these games?

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Phelps gets a lot of endorsement money from the Olympics. Your average olympian won't see a dime, those are the ones Kobe is talking about. Some countries are paying their athletes now that the games no longer bar professionals.

**Bufflehead** · 08-01-2012, 12:30 PM

can you imagine the amount of training it takes to be elite in a sport like swimming for about 12 years...and all the different events he participates in?

**bmorebirds_24** · 08-01-2012, 12:40 PM

Originally Posted by Bufflehead

can you imagine the amount of training it takes to be elite in a sport like swimming for about 12 years...and all the different events he participates in?

I'm not saying its easy. I'm not saying he don't have to really get at it. The guy is incredible at what he does.
But could you imagine if he kept training the way he did for the 2008 games? He's just missing with half assing it, I want him to have the drive to want more golds, not just metals.
Something about him saying he didn't train as hard and his teammates busting his chops rubs me the wrong way. If he wasn't into it, he shouldn't have went.

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**bmorebirds_24** · 08-01-2012, 12:42 PM

Originally Posted by Kevlar

Phelps gets a lot of endorsement money from the Olympics. Your average olympian won't see a dime, those are the ones Kobe is talking about. Some countries are paying their athletes now that the games no longer bar professionals.

Kobe was talking about the basketball team should be paid. Them guys have plenty of green to throw around.
Phelps is not getting paid to swim in a certain amount of events. He is going to make his money off his name and what he did in 2008.

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**Kevlar** · 08-01-2012, 12:53 PM

Originally Posted by Bufflehead

can you imagine the amount of training it takes to be elite in a sport like swimming for about 12 years...and all the different events he participates in?

At his level genetics is more important that training. Just think, if he didn't have those long rangy arms or funky looking head or a normal sized neck he wouldn't be able to cut the water nearly as well. He would just be a mere mortal then, no matter how hard he trained. Training only gets you so far.

Look at Shaquille O'Neil. You think he was the most dominant center for a decade because he worked harder than everyone else? The guy couldn't hit a free throw if his life was on the line. He was just bigger and more agile for his size than anyone. Genetic freak.

**festivus** · 08-01-2012, 01:24 PM

In the 4x100 relay, where Lochte was caught from behing and the Americans ended up with the silver, there were 32 swimmers in the pool, each one swimming 100m freestyle. Freestyle sprinting has never been Phelps' specialty.

Phelps, you will recall, swam second in the team event. You may not recall that he swam his "split" in 47.15 seconds, the fastest of all four Americans and I believe one of the four fastest splits by anyone competing in that event.

He may have started training relatively late, but those hinting, suggesting, saying that his heart is not in it are absolutely wrong.

You would expect the person with the most medals ever to be a swimmer or a gymnast, so it's no surprise that the former record holder was gymnast Larissa Latynina, who won her final medals in Tokyo in 1964, almost 50 years ago. Still, there have been many great swimmers and gymnasts since then, and only Phelps was able to dominate in so many different events over three Olympics.

Genetics, of course, are part of it. But you can have Minute Bol's body and never dominate basketball, and you can have Elvis Grbac's (Jared Gaither's, Scott Mitchell's, etc.) body and never dominate football.

I don't like making these lists and saying one person is "the best xxx ever," but I will say the dude deserves all the accolades he's getting and more. As the AP article about him is putting it, "For Michael Phelps, Beijing was about perfection — and London is about history."

Over twelve years the guy proved he was the best swimmer in the world - or one of the three best - in a host of different swimming events, each with its own crew of specialists. That's the kind of thing they build statutes to commemorate.

**srobert96** · 08-01-2012, 02:06 PM

Originally Posted by Kevlar

You have to compete in 10 events to win a medal for the decathalon. They don't give out extra medals for swinging your arms in a different direction.

Track and field has long been the dominant sport of the olympics. It is the one where you see the best athletes compete.

No one cares about swimming unless their boat is getting ready to sink.

Wow. You are so far off base on all of your comments it is comical. How many track events do you watch on Tv. Swimming get's better ratings that track and field.

The measure of the best Olympian can only be judged by medical count and Phelps is going to end up as the best by a wide margin.

How is running and jumping more challenging than Butterfly, freestyle, backstroke and breast stroke. Winning the decathlon means you are good but not the best in many events. The equivalent would be to win the decathlon while also winning medals in individual events. Decathletes are basically generalists.