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I almost hated to bring it up but yahoo had a big article on him yesterday. he basically said if they had the 50 free in 1972 he would have won 8 golds anyways. That it's insulting that they didn't fly him to the Olympics to be there in case Phelps gets 8, a bunch of other self serving things. He really comes off as arrogant. Great swimmer for sure but he is acting like Mercury Morris last year when the Pats were trying to go unbeaten like the 72 Dolphins.
Spitz could have gone about it differently, but essentially, he's right.
Until Phelps, Spitz was the greatest swimmer in Olympic history. The USOC or US Swimming couldn't extend Spitz a formal invitation and pay his way to Beijing? Spitz is supposed to pay his own way and then sit up in the nosebleed seats somewhere by himself? That is insulting for, until now, the greatest swimmer in history.
Spitz should have perhaps been a bit more gracious and humble, but the way he was treated by the USOC is shameful, IMO. Our society seems to expect the old record-holders to show up and "pass the torch", but that doesn't mean we have to diminish the accomplishments of the old guard.
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Spitz could have gone about it differently, but essentially, he's right.
Until Phelps, Spitz was the greatest swimmer in Olympic history. The USOC or US Swimming couldn't extend Spitz a formal invitation and pay his way to Beijing? Spitz is supposed to pay his own way and then sit up in the nosebleed seats somewhere by himself? That is insulting for, until now, the greatest swimmer in history.
Spitz should have perhaps been a bit more gracious and humble, but the way he was treated by the USOC is shameful, IMO. Our society seems to expect the old record-holders to show up and "pass the torch", but that doesn't mean we have to diminish the accomplishments of the old guard.
I won't paste the whole thing the author implies that Spitz has sort of worn out his welcome in the past he's apparently a real egomaniac and has been complaining for years about various things so it's sort of people got sick of listening to him situation.
And the author also points out several other former Olympic champs have had to pay their own way and didn't get great seats either so Spitz certainly could have done so.
I also read something about 2 weeks ago that said Spitz had actually declined an earlier offer and that he actually has an issue with Phelps because Phelps was quoted as saying he wants to be the first Michael Phelps not the next Mark Spitz. The Yahoo article above mentions that quote too so I assume there's some truth to it that Spitz has a bone to pick with Phelps.
Let's face it a lot of great athletes have huge egos it has a lot to do with why they succeed, I just think Spitz is sort of demanding people celebrate him instead of celebrating what Phelps is doing. As they point out it's significanlty harder to do what Phelps is doing because it's MUCH more competitive in swimming these days than it was in 1972.
Spitz could have gone about it differently, but essentially, he's right.
Until Phelps, Spitz was the greatest swimmer in Olympic history. The USOC or US Swimming couldn't extend Spitz a formal invitation and pay his way to Beijing? Spitz is supposed to pay his own way and then sit up in the nosebleed seats somewhere by himself? That is insulting for, until now, the greatest swimmer in history.
Spitz should have perhaps been a bit more gracious and humble, but the way he was treated by the USOC is shameful, IMO. Our society seems to expect the old record-holders to show up and "pass the torch", but that doesn't mean we have to diminish the accomplishments of the old guard.
It's probably because he's a jackass. Some athletes personalities (rick barry) kind of push them away from things that would normally be done. If he was a gracious, "plays well with others" type guy, they probably would have thought to invite him. Just speculating, of course.
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Mr. Garrison: Kenny, would you please climb that ladder and take down the star above the stage?
It's probably because he's a jackass. Some athletes personalities (rick barry) kind of push them away from things that would normally be done. If he was a gracious, "plays well with others" type guy, they probably would have thought to invite him. Just speculating, of course.
Timely.
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Quote:
Mr. Garrison: Kenny, would you please climb that ladder and take down the star above the stage?
FORZA DEL PIERO! 
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