tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27400569.post6612432245369505347..comments2024-02-23T02:43:28.895-06:00Comments on Yellow Chair Sports: Come on, Michael Phelps isn't really THAT greatUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27400569.post-10914143172955188952008-08-15T10:11:00.000-05:002008-08-15T10:11:00.000-05:00However, I think Paul made a good point in that pe...However, I think Paul made a good point in that people really only started this "World's greatest Olympian" talk just based on the quantity of his medals.<BR/><BR/>In which case, Phelps is only able to win that many medals because his sport allows him to. Even take away the dominating nature of his performances and the quick turn arounds. If he won a medal on the first day of competition, and a medal on the last day of competition, he would still win just as many medals as a Kobe Bryant or a Dwyane Wade could possibly hope to win in 8 years, no matter how dominating their performances.Mikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06181248524843705767noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27400569.post-17947690159130039752008-08-15T08:30:00.000-05:002008-08-15T08:30:00.000-05:00One thing that Phelps can't beat is Mark Spitz's a...One thing that Phelps can't beat is Mark Spitz's appearance on the Bob Hope Show.<BR/><BR/>Michael Phelp's performance is beyond remarkable. He is easily one of the world's best athletes and Olympians with the exception of maybe Jesse Owens, Carl Lewis (who was juiced to the gills), and Geb.<BR/><BR/>You guys are forgetting the fact that he is dominating specialty events. As Zuch said, each event (butterfly, breaststroke, etc) are greatly different. Just to put this in perspective, his performances are equivalent to someone winning the 400-5000 in track and field...a feat that will likely never happen.<BR/><BR/>And Iain, you made the perfect statement. People are very specialized at their events, which makes it even more impressive that Phelps is dominating so many of them. And lets not forget he has to swim 17 races in 7 days and he is still obliterating world records.<BR/><BR/>Maybe he isn't the greatest athlete ever (that argurment is certainyl up for debate, for instance Wilt Chamberlin was a stud sprinter in college) but he certainly is making a case to become the greatest Olympic Athlete ever. Let's see what he does in the next two days.Patrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15321940573509796836noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27400569.post-24274241852148687952008-08-15T08:25:00.000-05:002008-08-15T08:25:00.000-05:00This comment has been removed by the author.Patrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15321940573509796836noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27400569.post-32994822211518134522008-08-15T01:12:00.000-05:002008-08-15T01:12:00.000-05:00I guess I'll be the lone contrary voice here, but ...I guess I'll be the lone contrary voice here, but what Phelps is doing is every bit impressive as say the run of Tiger Woods. In many of these races, he faces people strictly focusing on one-two events (swimming five-six times total), while Phelps competes across the board and has seventeen total swims. His fellow American, Ryan Lotche, noticeably slowed tonight when he had the quick transition from the 200 backstroke to the 200 IM. Phelps has made it through these type of transitions, and if he can win a very tough 100 meter fly tomorrow (where he's going up against the current Olympic and world record holders), he will have earned every bit of the attention and praise he'd get.Zuchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14699285663689930173noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27400569.post-79931920797987599972008-08-14T22:37:00.000-05:002008-08-14T22:37:00.000-05:00My sentiments exactly, Paul. But I think Steve Nas...My sentiments exactly, Paul. But I think Steve Nash might be able to take down Kobe in the freestyle layup drill.Vinniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03770560428617282535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27400569.post-1996206724420748402008-08-14T16:35:00.000-05:002008-08-14T16:35:00.000-05:00Still, it's not nearly as impressive as everyone m...Still, it's not nearly as impressive as everyone makes it out to be. While it is impessive to make the Olymipics, he's just really good at swiming. People are so specalized at their events they most likely couldn't place in the top twenty in other sports. How bout everyone just appreciate that Michal Phelps has more bling than Atlanta, and will wind up playing Aquaman in the Justice League movie. No stuntman for him!Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02717994816828810379noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27400569.post-18330918303239171312008-08-14T16:28:00.000-05:002008-08-14T16:28:00.000-05:00I would beg to disagree on the comment about their...I would beg to disagree on the comment about their being little difference among the different swimming events. Each of the styles (freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly) are greatly different and from personal experience (yes, I used to swim a fair amount before I put on too many pounds) all are very hard except the freestyle. To rotate between them in the same race has to be difficult, as they all test different parts of the body. A lot of swimmers excel in one or two different events/strokes, but Phelps is the rare swimmer that can be the best at all of them.Zuchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14699285663689930173noreply@blogger.com