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Fog/Mist ~ High: 32°F ~ Low: 27°F Friday, Feb. 10, 2012 |
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Michael who?Posted Monday, August 18, 2008, at 9:58 AM
Do you know who Jason Lezak, Rebecca Soni, Ryan Lochte and Aaron Piersol are?
They're future answers on Jeopardy and in Trivial Pursuit, if the media has its way -- never mind the fact that they each have won two gold medals at the 2008 Olympic games. And then there are the other swimmers who have brought home a gold each -- Natalie Coughlin, Peter Vanderkaay, Erik Vendt, Nathan Adrian, Ricky Berens, Ian Crocker, Mark Ganglioff, Brendan Hanson, Cullen Jones, Ben Wildman-Tobriner, Klete Keller and Dave Walters. These are not also-rans -- these are also-wons, and they are largely, wrongly, being ignored. I occasionally get irritated with my fellow members of the press, but rarely do get I downright disgusted. (This does not count my attitude toward that alleged news station, which I don't consider a legitimate member of the press). But I've got to admit -- the Olympics coverage has got me steaming. News flash to Meredith, Matt, Al and company -- Michael Phelps is not the only swimmer in the sea. Even when they deign to interview those "lesser" beings -- who have won golds, silvers and bronzes in bucketloads -- one of the first questions they ask is "Do you feel your accomplishments have been overshadowed by Michael Phelps' phenomenal performance?" Just once -- once -- I'd like to hear one of the swimmers respond by saying: "Only when the networks ask me stupid questions like that." Here are young men and women who have trained rigorously and vigorously. They have donated time and talent. They have given up "normal" lives for strict regimens, diets and sacrifice. But the networks have already consigned them to asterisks in the record books, mere footnotes to Phelps' achievements. Don't get me wrong -- I am a complete fan of Michael Phelps. He has done an amazing job and he has definitely earned his place in the record books. But so have Jason Lezak, Rebeccas Soni, Ryan Lochte, Aaron Piersol, Natalie Coughlin, Peter Vanderkaay, Erik Vendt, Nathan Adrian, Ricky Berens, Ian Crocker, Mark Ganglioff, Brendan Hanson, Cullen Jones, Ben Wildman-Tobriner, Klete Keller and Dave Walters. It's like that old bar gag -- "That's enough about me, what about you? "What do you think about me?" About a year or so ago, one media source declared a moratorium on Paris Hilton stories. They would try to go a week without printing one item about the celebutante. They didn't make it. I challenge the Olympic media to conduct one interview with an Olympic swimmer -- focussing on his or her achievements -- without once mentioning Phelp's name or medals. I don't think they can do it. Comments Showing most recent comments first [Show in chronological order instead] |
Mary Reeves is a staff writer for the Times-Gazette.
Hot topics ooops, she did it again ...(4 ~ 9:36 PM, Aug 10)
We all scream for ice cream!
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I'm baaaack....
No more track at Central?
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I believe the criticism is NOT on any of the athletes but the way they have been covered, or not covered.
Michael Phelps earned all his medals, but team USA contributed greatly to his overall count. The concern seems to be that the media has glossed over that.
Michael strikes me as someone who will acknowledge that, but the media has not given him much chance to expound on that. Time will tell.
http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/beijing...
Interesting article...
To the person who posted about only the rich getting a shot at the Olympics, for some sports that is very true. For swimming however its not quite true. Swimming doesn't get expensive really until most have already had a small taste of "fame". But back to the point of the article. I get more frustrated with every article I read on this. One big thing that is really nagging at me is Ian Crocker, before the butterfly there were articles painting him as public enemy #1. I even read on that stated something along the lines that if he beat Michael he should probably just not come back to the states. All the while Ian was trying to get it across to the journalists that he was not the only threat in that event. Then after wards in the only interview anyone did with him Ian stated that he planned to take an extended break from swimming, something that most athletes do after something as big as the Olympics(Michael has even stated that he plans to take break). Yet every article that has used the quote has used it in the context of saying that Michael Phelps beat his opponents so badly that they are all but giving up the sport because of it. What Michael accomplished is amazing enough as it is so it frustrates me to no end so see reporters trying to make it seem even more amazing by twisting other peoples words.
He may prove himself a REAL champion by using his next fifteen minutes of fame to honor the accomplishments of these others (swimmers or not,Americans or not).
That sort of act would remind us what the Olympics are really supposed to be about: health,skill,international harmony and respect and sportsmanship.
Mr. Phelps,your mission (should you decide to accept it) is to show the world how to be fit in character as well as body.
Thank you for this article! What Michael has done is amazing, but I don't feel that all other swimmers should be ignored because of it. I am a fan of Natalie, Ian, Aaron, Peter, and so many other swimmer and the lack of coverage on anyone other than Michael has really frustrated me. Natalie won six medals in this Olympics, something no other female swimmer has done and yet it was barely mentioned in passing. After every swim they made sure to grad Michael to talk to and yet his American team mates that swam with him rarely ever got interviewed unless by some chance they were swimming in a race that Michael was not. Michael made history, no one is denying it, but so did several other swimmers and its tough to watch their accomplishments go unnoticed by the public.
Debbie Phelps for President!
Phelps has shown what a humble greatful athlete he really is. I'm so glad they are praising his accomplishments. Unlike Paris Hilton--Phelps is a role model. Being a dumb blond slut is her claim to fame. You should be ashamed of comparing the two. This is one of the proudest moments in american history--don't cheapen it!!
Why would they do it??? He has accomplished what no other athelete EVER has!! Yeah, they have all worked hard to accomplish what they did and hats off to them, but Michael Phelps overshadowed all this year, so it should be expected that all the questions surround him. Don't be a hater, stand up and say "WAY TO GO!", this is a fellow AMERICAN!!!!!!!!!! I am proud for him.
But it's the top story of the Olympics and the single greatest feat in the histroy of the Olympics. To under how important it was to everyone, just look at the way LeBron James and Coby Bryant acted in the stands. These were two superstars who got lost in the moment of someone doing something great.