(no subject)
~Dear Swimming-&-Michael-Phelps Bandwagon Fans,
Please to stop thinking that because you follow swimming for one week out of every 4 years -- if you've ever followed it at all before -- that you know everything there is to know about my sport and/or Michael Phelps.
Yes, he is amazing. Yes, he just won 8 gold medals and set 7 World Records at ONE Olympics. Yes, he surpassed every other athlete in achievement -- including Mark Spitz. Yes, he changed the face of Sport.
But guess what? I knew he was going to do this long before you did. I was there, at the Naval Academy Aquatic Center, when he won the 200 Fly and kicked the ass of the best butterflyer I knew. I was there, at the Charlotte Latin pool, when he swept his events and shattered meet records. I was there, snapping the pictures of my fangirly friends posing with him. I've talked to him and he's held the door open for me.
So please to tone down the bandwagon superiority. Because in about a week, or a month, you'll forget him. But swimmers will keep on swimming under the radar until the next Michael Phelps comes along.
Thanks.
L
I mean, TONY BLAIR was there. KOBE BRYANT was there. To watch Michael Phelps make history. A swimmer. Not a basketball player or a football player or a soccer player. A swimmer. Because real athletes don't win Superbowls or NBA championships. They win gold medals.
Apparently all of Australia shut down to watch Grant Hackett attempt to win the gold in the 1500m Free. Now THAT is a country which has its sport priorities straight.
Please to stop thinking that because you follow swimming for one week out of every 4 years -- if you've ever followed it at all before -- that you know everything there is to know about my sport and/or Michael Phelps.
Yes, he is amazing. Yes, he just won 8 gold medals and set 7 World Records at ONE Olympics. Yes, he surpassed every other athlete in achievement -- including Mark Spitz. Yes, he changed the face of Sport.
But guess what? I knew he was going to do this long before you did. I was there, at the Naval Academy Aquatic Center, when he won the 200 Fly and kicked the ass of the best butterflyer I knew. I was there, at the Charlotte Latin pool, when he swept his events and shattered meet records. I was there, snapping the pictures of my fangirly friends posing with him. I've talked to him and he's held the door open for me.
So please to tone down the bandwagon superiority. Because in about a week, or a month, you'll forget him. But swimmers will keep on swimming under the radar until the next Michael Phelps comes along.
Thanks.
L
I mean, TONY BLAIR was there. KOBE BRYANT was there. To watch Michael Phelps make history. A swimmer. Not a basketball player or a football player or a soccer player. A swimmer. Because real athletes don't win Superbowls or NBA championships. They win gold medals.
Apparently all of Australia shut down to watch Grant Hackett attempt to win the gold in the 1500m Free. Now THAT is a country which has its sport priorities straight.