Oh brother. I don't think Spitz even holds a candle to Phelps. I hope Phelps remains a bit more grounded if he breaks Spitz's record. I think his mom will keep his head from overly-inflating...
Yeah, that article puts Spitz in a pretty bad light.
Although I do wonder if the writer picked questions and edited responses to make Spitz look more petty (than he would of seemed if we saw the whole conversation).
WTF?
Maybe Phelps has a better chance because he's not having to lug around a gianormous ego like Mark? I've swam with drag shorts on in many practices, but I don't think I could pull that ego even 25m. But then again, I'm no Mark Spitz.
Seriously though, isn't the competition of today much stiffer than back in '72? I'd have to resort to an encyclopedia (or wikipedia) to check that one out.
I hope that the story was edited to make Mark look egomaniacal, but who knows?
Could someone who lives near Mark Spitz do me a favor? Drive your car out in front of his house and start blasting Bruce Springsteen's "Glory Days" from your car stereo. :oldman:
Yeah, it'd really suck to have to go to the Olympics just to go ...
What a egomaniacal idiot. He'd probably like everyone to bow in his presence too.
If the newspaper edited his responses, they'd have to show the edits. I just see a lot of direct quotes. True, they could have left out any words of praise he had for Phelps. But, still, Spitz sounds truly awful.
First off I take issue with Spitz saying he would have won the 50 Meter Free at the 1972 Olympics. There was a person on the 1972 Olympic team that never, ever lost at the Championship level in the 50 Free from 1969 to 1972. His name was David Edgar and he swam for Tennesse and he beat Spitz all 3 times they raced at the NCAA Championships. There was no Long Course 50 Meter Free back in those days so its hard to make a standard comparison but David Edgar had World Best times from that era so I don't think he would have beaten Edgar. Perhaps there are others out there that remember Edgar.
I am not really suprised that the IOC or FINA did not pay for Mark Spitz to be in attendence at the Olympics. He was quoted saying things about both the IOC and FINA officials that they have not forgotten. I remember him saying something about all they do is stuff food in there mouths and don't do anything for swimming. That isn't the exact quote but its pretty close. This was in regards to there drug policys and other administrative decisions. People like Mustapha Larfaoui, who is the President of FINA and a member of the IOC and *** Pound, who was the head of the WADA and a member of the IOC both remember those comments and did not like them one bit. There is no way those organizations are going to invite him with that. Gunnar Werner and Cornel Marculescu, both FINA Executive Officials at the time said they did not appreciate his comments about there organization.
There is a saying that if you "Fail to Prepare" then be "Prepared to Fail" and this is a case where Mark did not use his own saying. Making a statement like he did in public to those organizations is failing to prepare because that organization will never extend a favor to you so in this sense you have prepared to fail because they will never invite you to a function like this at there expense.
What a egomaniacal idiot. He'd probably like everyone to bow in his presence too.
You got it! I grew up in his shadow from a few miles away and he was full of it back then, too. It is Phelps' time for the limelight, now. Spitz would just try to cast a shadow on it every chance he got..... what a goon..... give it up already, sheesh. :violin::snore::shakeshead:
