Making the call -- Phelps will go down in the 200 Free to Biedermann.....:bump:
Former Member
First of all I don't care in the least about Phelps' mother. I am sick of seeing her on TV. She will be the most biased observer in the stadium. I don't care what she does for a living, what she cooked for Phelps when he was kid, nor how many early mornings she got up to drive him to the pool. Michael surely appreciates all of that.
I have no problem with Phelps' reaction after the race. Elite athletes are often fueled by emotion. Phelps was surrounded by doubters before that race - including me. But he swam an astounding race and showed the world once again he is a dazzling swimmer.
But I liked Jimmy Connors and John McEnroe too. I don't like showboats or ridiculously selfish athletes like T.O.. But I have no problem with Phelps letting loose with some emotion and bravado. Phelps isn't as mature as we Masters swimmers. That's OK with me.
Anyone who says they're a bigger fan of Cavic than of Phelps based on sportsmanship obviously didn't hear him running his mouth before the race. It's one thing when Cavic says, "I can beat the guy," another entirely when he said "I could be in court right now." Unless he gets credit for only mentioning that he has the option to file a lawsuit disputing the Beijing results and not actually suing. What a sport.
Phelps was prodded, primed and provoked by the media to respond to Cavic's talk, and all he ever said was "no comment," or "I'll do my talking in the pool." Which he did, and now gets vilified for celebrating a barrier-breaking world record victory about which most vocalized doubt.
Is Phelps the best sport in the pool? No. Was Cavic gracious in defeat? Sure. But given the choice between an athlete who keeps quiet until the results are in, then reacts to the results, vs. one who yammers about what the results are going to be, then is forced into diminutive smiles after the results show otherwise, I'll take the former.
Wrestling is an interesting phenomenon: The entire popularity of the sport is based on heroes and villains that have been completely manufactured and is set against a backdrop of unauthentic athletic competition. So I'll throw this out there: Does Mike Cavic really think that he beat Phelps in Beijing? Or was he just trying to lay the ground work for a one on one dual with Phelps?
Is Phelps the best sport in the pool? No. Was Cavic gracious in defeat? Sure. But given the choice between an athlete who keeps quiet until the results are in, then reacts to the results, vs. one who yammers about what the results are going to be, then is forced into diminutive smiles after the results show otherwise, I'll take the former.
See I have to disagree here. I think athletes talking some smack before the meet is in a lot of times in good fun. I didn't see Cavic getting really personal (and I think he has an argument about touching first but that's neither here nor there and shouldn't have been mentioned) I dont' like it when smack becomes so and so is no good at this. But Cavic's smack is all in good fun...
I think it's way worse when someone cannot be gracious in defeat or winning... Although I didnt' mind the tug on the shirt that much. However, not shaking Biedermann's hand was tactless. Not shaking Biedermann's hand is way worse than anything Cavic ever said about Phelps.
One would think that his mother, a school principal, would know a bit about that, but her reaction to Biedermann's thumping of her son in the 200 free was one of disgust and disdain
Do we know exactly what she was reacting to and why?? Could she have been dissapointed that he lost the race - soundly - and that his time away, the suspension, and lack of longer term focused training was the reason he did poorly (by comparison) - could she have been more dissapointed in her son? I don't recall an interview with her where she took any shots at Biederman. His sisters reaction, well that's another thing.
Biederman was extremely gracious and Phelps was not after the 200 free. But Cavic did a lot more than needle him. And a lot of people were ready to bury Phelps after the 200 free - the 200 fly notwithstanding.
As for hating him, there are many who are not Phelps fans for a variety of reasons and while respecting his abilities, may be tired of his winning most of the time - any one who dominates a sport experiences that (Tiger, Federer, the Williams sisters). Is he arrogant vs confident? - as Larry Bird said "it ain't bragging if you can back it up". And I have yet to see Phelps shoot his mouth off before any meet - and if he believes in his own mind that he's the best and works to keep that edge - isn't that one of the first rules of dominating your sport/job?? Personally, I want Lochte and Piersol to rule the backstroke and Lochte to vie for the IM records. Even if just for variety and national pride and competetion.
Is any athlete a poster child for excellent behavior 100% of the time – NO. If you thought Phelps showed poor sportsmanship at the end of the race – fair criticism – I think referring to him as a donkey and apelike and a *** is a bit extreme - would you have referred to Muhammad Ali in the same manner after what he did and said about the second fight with Liston? I don't recall that ending with a lot of love.
They even congratulate each other on MMA after a match.
Despite kicking and beating the crap out of each other, fighters of all kinds (wrestling, tae kwon do, karate, boxing, etc...) have a great deal of RESPECT for each other. You almost always see some form of acknowledgement before and after a fight.
Phelps was born with talent and a good body - but respect is something that needs to be taught. One would think that his mother, a school principal, would know a bit about that, but her reaction to Biedermann's thumping of her son in the 200 free was one of disgust and disdain. Yes, this guy just beat her baby, but really...
He's a sore loser and a graceless winner. His apelike antics in the pool were an embarrassment. Thumping his chest, sitting on the lane line and shoving his ass in Cavic's lane, refusing to look at Cavic and acknowledge him when Cavic congratulated him. Very disappointing.
Some of this post was really too hard on Phelps (we can get pretty carried away with our imagery, and posting is very easy, too easy). But Thrashing Slug ("thrashing slug"??!..I still don't quite grasp this aspect of forums) makes a good point. First, I want to say that I think Phelps proved himself to be an even better and more amazing swimmer than I thought he was...and I already thought he was the best ever. Coming back on Cavic in that 100 fly...well, I thought before the race he was going to lose. He was amazing. But I think he needs to respect his competitors more than he does. Cavic did needle him prior to the race but it helped Phelps focus. At the end....the race is OVER and the guy next to him swam faster than ANYONE has ever swum the 100 fly ever except for Phelps himself. He should have congratulated Cavic on a great swim. Instead he got carried away with the thumping etc. And after the 200 free he didn't even shake Biedermann's hand and B'man was very gracious and generous in all his post race remarks (and he broke the old record on the relay too). Biedermann is good, real good. Phelps probably does need to get some perspective, not lose his amazing competitive edge, but be able to appreciate and respect his competitors more. Hey, I don't like it that when Tiger Woods hits bad shots he throws his clubs (admittedly, golf is a game designed for mental breakdowns...but if you golf for a living you should be ready for it). When I see that I wonder why he never learned the etiquette of golf, and when I see Phelps miss the sporting opportunity to congratulate his opponent after an event I think he is less for that. They even congratulate each other on MMA after a match. Cavic was a wonderful foil for Phelps; he helped him reach a greatness maybe even he didn't know he had.
I didn't mind Phelp's celebration, but then I actually like it when swimmers show big demonstrative emotion after a race instead of an almost 'yeah I gotta remember to smile' smile. Cesar Cielo's taken criticism for celebrating big in the water after a great race as well. Hope Cielo never tunes it down because I like how he utterly wears his heart of his sleeve.
