OT - Congrats Michael!!

[Real Fan Dan]

From the AP article that festivus posted:

"Phelps still has the 200-meter indivual medley today and Thursday, when he can even the score with Lochte, who beat him in the 400-meter IM on the first night of the meet; the 100-meter butterfly, his favorite stroke once more, on Thursday and Friday; and Saturday's 4x100 medley relay, the valedictory moment of an Olympic career like no other".

After getting beaten by .05 of a sec in the 200m butterfly (his signature race) it would not surprise me one bit if he wins gold in the upcoming 100m fly. If he pulls it off, I believe that will give him a Gold medal in the same event in three consecutive Olympiads, a feat that has never before been achieved by any athlete in any sport.

Forget the trivialism of swimming and sinking boats, the genetics of Jared Gaither, the ocassional prick like demeanor, the liasson with MJ, or any other silly assed complaint about the guy.

The dude is American and he's making history.
His name is Phelps and he's accepted the mission. Root for him lol!

[HoustonRaven]

There is nothing "occasional" about his prick-like demeanor. Ask any bar owner, server or bartender in Fells Point.

I know for a fact he can't go into Max's anymore and there are a few other's he's been banned from too.

It's a great story, but his shit stinks too.

[festivus]

There is nothing "occasional" about his prick-like demeanor. Ask any bar owner, server or bartender in Fells Point.

I know for a fact he can't go into Max's anymore and there are a few other's he's been banned from too.

It's a great story, but his shit stinks too.

*chuckle*

It seems like it's always something.

*sigh*

It's still historic, and I'm glad he's not just American, but local.

[Corvo]

From the AP article that festivus posted:

"Phelps still has the 200-meter indivual medley today and Thursday, when he can even the score with Lochte, who beat him in the 400-meter IM on the first night of the meet; the 100-meter butterfly, his favorite stroke once more, on Thursday and Friday; and Saturday's 4x100 medley relay, the valedictory moment of an Olympic career like no other".

After getting beaten by .05 of a sec in the 200m butterfly (his signature race) it would not surprise me one bit if he wins gold in the upcoming 100m fly. If he pulls it off, I believe that will give him a Gold medal in the same event in three consecutive Olympiads, a feat that has never before been achieved by any athlete in any sport.

Forget the trivialism of swimming and sinking boats, the genetics of Jared Gaither, the ocassional prick like demeanor, the liasson with MJ, or any other silly assed complaint about the guy.

The dude is American and he's making history.
His name is Phelps and he's accepted the mission. Root for him lol!

That's not true. Other athletes did that before. If he wins he will be the first MALE SWIMMER to do that. And he can do it in the 100m fly and the 200m IM (but Lochte will probably win this one).

He is the Greatest swimmer of all time, and one of the Greatest Olympians and athletes of all time.

[bmorebirds_24]

*chuckle*

It seems like it's always something.

*sigh*

It's still historic, and I'm glad he's not just American, but local.

So you see nothing wrong with his actions?

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[Dade]

There is nothing "occasional" about his prick-like demeanor. Ask any bar owner, server or bartender in Fells Point.

I know for a fact he can't go into Max's anymore and there are a few other's he's been banned from too.

It's a great story, but his shit stinks too.

All the more reason athletes are not role models, unless they make the decision to be one.

Sent from my SGH-T999 using Tapatalk 2

[Kyle Cactus]

From the AP article that festivus posted:

"Phelps still has the 200-meter indivual medley today and Thursday, when he can even the score with Lochte, who beat him in the 400-meter IM on the first night of the meet; the 100-meter butterfly, his favorite stroke once more, on Thursday and Friday; and Saturday's 4x100 medley relay, the valedictory moment of an Olympic career like no other".

After getting beaten by .05 of a sec in the 200m butterfly (his signature race) it would not surprise me one bit if he wins gold in the upcoming 100m fly. If he pulls it off, I believe that will give him a Gold medal in the same event in three consecutive Olympiads, a feat that has never before been achieved by any athlete in any sport.

Forget the trivialism of swimming and sinking boats, the genetics of Jared Gaither, the ocassional prick like demeanor, the liasson with MJ, or any other silly assed complaint about the guy.

The dude is American and he's making history.
His name is Phelps and he's accepted the mission. Root for him lol!

While I generally agree with what your saying, I believe Carl Lewis won gold in long jump in 4 straight Olympics.

There is nothing "occasional" about his prick-like demeanor. Ask any bar owner, server or bartender in Fells Point.

I know for a fact he can't go into Max's anymore and there are a few other's he's been banned from too.

It's a great story, but his shit stinks too.

I don't think anyone is sticking up for his character. I guess my point is that if someone accomplishes something amazing, you can look past their being a bit of an idiot and/or prick. If he raped or murdered someone then yea I'd stop cheering for him, but I'm not aware of anything nearly that egregious.

[Ravenswintitle]

I think it's awesome and he is in the record books as the "the most decorated olympian of all time" despite some of these discussions on what sport is harder. Great to see a Baltimore guy achieve such high honors IMO.

[HoustonRaven]

All the more reason athletes are not role models, unless they make the decision to be one.

well said

[alien bird]

For anyone trying to say that it's just swimming and that the strokes aren't that much different to master at an elite level, I ask you this: If it's not that great of an accomplishment, how come nobody else has ever done it before? Nobody. Ever.

It's not that Phelps has been dominant - it's that he was been dominant in several different events against guys who are specialists in that event alone, and for several consecutive years. It's not that he's winning medals - he's winning mostly gold medals and still holds seven world records in different events.

[Bufflehead]

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.

Wow. I think Phelps may have needed to work a tad harder than Shaquille O'niel to reach his level.

To his being a dick, maybe that is true. But I also know for a fact how great he has been to the kids around NBAC.

[festivus]

*chuckle*

It seems like it's always something.

*sigh*

It's still historic, and I'm glad he's not just American, but local.

So you see nothing wrong with his actions?

Wow that's a lot of words you're trying to put in my mouth.

[Trackmaster]

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.

You haven't seen any T&F events on TV because they haven't started yet. In a few days or less, swimming will be over, and you won't see that anymore. Making a statement like the one you just made would be like saying "It's April and there's no football on TV, this sport must be dead. I guess that people only watch hockey and basketball here."

As a matter of fact, the only reason that they have T&F start later is so that the marathon can be the final event of the Olypmics, and it finishes into the arena where the closing ceremonies are.

But you are half-right. While T&F used to be the cornerstone event of the Olypmics, it's taken a backseat due to the steroid cloud. Also, swimming has been put in the forefront in the USA because we medal so much in it.

But I do kind of have a gripe with how many medals they give away in swimming. While I realize that it benefits our country, it's not exactly fair. With the team, traditional sports, they compete for days and days with many games and are lucky to get one medal. Most sports are lucky to give away a few medals in their entire program. Even with T&F, the events are so different than it's virtually impossible to take home more than 2 or 3. 4 is a feat that will put you in the record books.

But with swimming, they're basically doing the same thing with variations. Freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly, Medley, 100 meters, 200 meters, 400 meters, and relays for all of them. Maybe for a sport like basketball they should have 10 minute games, 20 minute games, 40 minute games, games like one hand tied behind the back, games where you have to run backwards, etc. If anything, maybe swimming should be more like gymnastics, where the medal goes to the person with the best overall program through a points system based on how they finish (5 points for first, 4 points for 2nd, etc.).

[Paintballguy]

There is nothing "occasional" about his prick-like demeanor. Ask any bar owner, server or bartender in Fells Point.

I know for a fact he can't go into Max's anymore and there are a few other's he's been banned from too.

It's a great story, but his shit stinks too.

Why did he get banned from Max's?

[festivus]

You haven't seen any T&F events on TV because they haven't started yet. In a few days or less, swimming will be over, and you won't see that anymore. Making a statement like the one you just made would be like saying "It's April and there's no football on TV, this sport must be dead. I guess that people only watch hockey and basketball here."

You are assuming he was talking about just these events right now in London. His post was worded more broadly than that: "How many track events do you watch on Tv. Swimming get's better ratings that track and field." That's what sroberts wrote. Not "At the London Olympics swimming gets better ratings."

But you are half-right.

I guess he's all right, now.

While T&F used to be the cornerstone event of the Olypmics, it's taken a backseat due to the steroid cloud. Also, swimming has been put in the forefront in the USA because we medal so much in it.

But I do kind of have a gripe with how many medals they give away in swimming. While I realize that it benefits our country, it's not exactly fair. With the team, traditional sports, they compete for days and days with many games and are lucky to get one medal. Most sports are lucky to give away a few medals in their entire program. Even with T&F, the events are so different than it's virtually impossible to take home more than 2 or 3. 4 is a feat that will put you in the record books.

But with swimming, they're basically doing the same thing with variations. Freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly, Medley, 100 meters, 200 meters, 400 meters, and relays for all of them. Maybe for a sport like basketball they should have 10 minute games, 20 minute games, 40 minute games, games like one hand tied behind the back, games where you have to run backwards, etc. If anything, maybe swimming should be more like gymnastics, where the medal goes to the person with the best overall program through a points system based on how they finish (5 points for first, 4 points for 2nd, etc.).

You would award the generalist but not the specialist? No thank you, I like it the way it is. Let the specialists compete against each other.

People train all their lives for one shot to win gold in the 200 back. Let them compete against each other, and if there is a super freak of a generalist who can do that and the 200 breast (or whatever) as well, so much the better for us as spectators.

In other words, don't hate the player *or* the game. Just enjoy history as it's being made.

[bmorebirds_24]

Wow that's a lot of words you're trying to put in my mouth.

I didn't put a thing in your mouth, I asked a question. See the question mark? Or did you miss that?

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[HoustonRaven]

Why did he get banned from Max's?

Not sure as to the why, but am certain he's banned (as of a few months ago anyway).

Not too hard to guess why someone gets banned from a bar (or 4).

[ravenjoe]

FYI...Michael just beat his rival in the 200IM for his 16th Gold medal - WELL DONE!!

[alien bird]

But with swimming, they're basically doing the same thing with variations. Freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly, Medley, 100 meters, 200 meters, 400 meters, and relays for all of them. Maybe for a sport like basketball they should have 10 minute games, 20 minute games, 40 minute games, games like one hand tied behind the back, games where you have to run backwards, etc.

I love track (and ran it in high school) but I think you are showing a lack of understanding about the huge difference of strokes in swimming. Those guys are no more doing basically the same thing with variations than a hurdler, a miler and a sprinter are doing the same thing with variations. Swimmers who excel in one stroke at an elite level rarely excel in multiple ones, and the same is true with the varying distances.

What Phelps has done would be comparable to a track athlete winning medals in the 100M, 800M, 400M Hurdles, and 3K Steeplechase in the same Olympics, then medalling in both the 4x400 and 4x100 relays as well, and doing it for three consecutive Olympic Games. That shouldn't be too hard - it's just basically running with a little variation. Or, medalling in the high jump, pole vault, long jump and triple jump. It's just jumping with a little variation. But nobody does that. It's just not normal to excel at the world class level in all those different events. But Phelps has done it.

What I love about swimming - and the same is true with track - is that it is completely objective and measurable. Start, finish, timed. There is no subjectivity as there is in gymnastics or diving, for example. You race, you win. No questions. And Phelps has done it better than anyone in the history of the Gmes.

[arnie_uk]

Im sure being famous may play a part in it. While he may be a dick or whatever, id say a lot of people would be out looking a bit of action if they seen someone like phelps in a bar. Whereas id be more dumbfounded and respectful, others would be saying im going to put him back in his box so to speak.

You never really know how situations escalate unless your really there

Not sure as to the why, but am certain he's banned (as of a few months ago anyway).

Not too hard to guess why someone gets banned from a bar (or 4).