From ESPN:
"... "If you want to know the truth," Phelps says, "the first three years after Beijing my training was really kind of a joke. I couldn't find any motivation. But then, in June (2011), I found it again. I just decided if I'm going to do this, I'm going to have fun. And I am having fun. This is the happiest I've been since Beijing."
That's been a relief to his legendary coach, Bowman, who has been with him since Phelps was 11.
"You can lead a Phelps to water but you can't make him swim," Bowman says. "Actually, the first three years, you couldn't even lead him to water."
From Athens to Beijing, Phelps probably had four days off. Total. From Beijing to today? "Probably 200," says Bowman. "And then, last June, he just started showing up again." ..."
[Link]
I so smell Ian Thorpe.
10 comments:
This is the same Reilly piece you referenced in your last Phelps post, no?
After the Tiger Woods hooker-saga broke, I stopped caring about an athlete's integrity, or anything of the like. Woods was held up as a bastion of everything that was pure and good in sports for so long - who's to say Ian Thorpe didn't strangle homeless people on the way back from practice?* And, I mean, Thorpe's retirement in 2006 is pretty reminiscent of Phelps upcoming one, right? Biggest difference to me is that Thorpe completely left the sport to help balance out his life, while Phelps got some balancing done in-between Olympics.
*Obviously, I don't think he did that, nor do I have any other reason to think he did anything else too nefarious. (Though he does have an entire Wikipedia page dedicated to his suspected drug use. I have no reason to think he ever used them, nor do I care, I'm just sayin'.
If anything, I think Phelps speaking with such candor in these interviews is refreshing. Athletes sticking to the same three cliched talking points all the time is boring as hell. Sure, he's been a bit whiny about it, but it's not like it's an easy job. Just a week ago Brendan Hansen was talking about his (unsuccessful) attempts to persuade Aaron Peirsol to come back: "(Peirsol)'ll be missed, but I understand why he left. The sport of swimming is tough on people." I don't begrudge anyone, not especially the BEST. SWIMMER. EVER., from retiring, especially not after they've set themselves up to be fairly well-off because of it.
Your anti Phelps crusade has long become tiresome.
From an ESPN Reporter:
".... Except Phelps has enough raw athletic ability to create some magic on the way out the door. He's lowered expectations, and is now playing coy about what his goals are; but he still cares enough about his place in the sport to peel off the label from a water bottle as he took the Olympic summit stage, so as not to offend whatever his drink sponsor is.
Don't underestimate that, either. Whatever else he is, Phelps is a pure pro, something not that common in swimming, and his commercial sensibilities factor into his renewed "passion" for the sport.
[Note the quotation marks to denote sarcasm.]
The best part? No matter what he does in Omaha or London, neither he nor we must endure the most grueling aspect of his career; no, not his altitude workouts in Colorado Springs under coach Bob Bowman, his news conferences. ..."
I am not alone, and all the articles I am linking to are mostly out of ESPN. Yes, even the pro journalists are getting tired of him. Maybe you you should too, Will.
From an ESPN Reporter:
".... Except Phelps has enough raw athletic ability to create some magic on the way out the door. He's lowered expectations, and is now playing coy about what his goals are; but he still cares enough about his place in the sport to peel off the label from a water bottle as he took the Olympic summit stage, so as not to offend whatever his drink sponsor is.
Don't underestimate that, either. Whatever else he is, Phelps is a pure pro, something not that common in swimming, and his commercial sensibilities factor into his renewed "passion" for the sport.
[Note the quotation marks to denote sarcasm.]
The best part? No matter what he does in Omaha or London, neither he nor we must endure the most grueling aspect of his career; no, not his altitude workouts in Colorado Springs under coach Bob Bowman, his news conferences. ..."
I am not alone, and all the articles I am linking to are mostly out of ESPN. Yes, even the pro journalists are getting tired of him. Maybe you you should too, Will.
I agree Will.... Do you know Tony, that Lochte once said he through watching a swim meet was boring? It was a quote from when he had to withdraw mid meet due to his knee injury. People rag on Phelps, but Lochte has no respect for this sport and has done nothing to grow it. Try following Phelps on twitter, to see what his attitude towards training is actually like on a daily bases rather picking and choosing your quotes to suit your arguments.
I don't "cherry pick" quotes and I sign my name to everything. If I did "cherry pick" do you realize what sort of portrait I could have painted?
I also have no interest in following anyone on Twitter, I find Twitter best suited for journalists, PR people, and "fan boys"
Both Phelps and Lochte have done nothing for national team swimmers at large. Both could have threaten to not swim unless USA-S collectively bargained with the national team swimmers for better pay and perhaps even health insurance. None stood up for Tara Kirk either.
But in Lochte's defense he will sign autographs till the last kid goes home. He will visit kids after a workout to talk and even swim. He lacks vanity and he is humble unlike some other people we read about.
Finally I commend Will for putting his name to criticism.
While I'm not going to comment on if you've been "cherry-picking," you've definitely inaccurately portrayed Phelps's swim school on multiple occasions.
I'd rather you get on him for his poor endorsements.
I should grow tired of Phelps because of a grumpy ESPN reporter? A reporter who answers the Phelps question with "Who cares?" Nice professionalism. The other three reporters in that article didn't go negative on him. Whether that's cherry picking is up for debate.
I dig the stuff you write about generally speaking. And it's fine to criticize and get your opinions out there... but I'm calling you out on your bias cause it's obvious you have an axe to grind for whatever reason.
Will:
I read it as three apologists and one negative.
http://espn.go.com/olympics/swimming/story/_/id/7926411/2012-london-olympics-michael-phelps-back-top-form
I do have a biased towards Phelps. THe final straw was at Pan Pacs and in the ensuing months I will post the photo that caused it.
Please, just post whatever you have.
I generally think you're real level-headed regarding all things non-Phelps. I need to know there's something that makes this not just a petty crusade.
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