Mark Spitz; Does he need to Get Over It?

[The Mystery Machine]

After reading the comments, I have to agree. Pretty lame of the USA to not have Spitz there to pass the torch.

 

[DawnCt1]

After reading the comments, I have to agree. Pretty lame of the USA to not have Spitz there to pass the torch.

That is easy to say in retrospect, but no one knew that he would break the records or take that many gold medals. Has Spitz been there for every other Olympic competition, "just in case"?

 

[txSleepingBeauty]

I am 34. And yes, I have heard of Peggy, Nadia and Dorothy (but not Olga, sorry!). But I still contend that you have named only 4 (3 of which I am familiar with, and 2 of them were skaters and one a gymnast who was doubly famous for her personal struggles as well as her Olympic glory) and they represent a very small handful of "known" names from Olympics past. I am not saying that NO Olympic athletes go on to stay in our hearts and minds for the long haul. I am just saying that, honestly, the vast majority do not.
The US female beach volleyball team is apparently a force to be reckoned with and has won nearly every match they have been in. But I bet you at least 9 out of 10 people on the street cannot even name one of those women, much less both. Olympic medal winners, but little to no name recognition among the general populace.

Carl Lewis, JackieJoyner Kersey, Greg Louganis, Bruce Jenner, Dan Jenkins, Summer Sanders, Peekaboo Street, Nancy Kerrigan, Shaun White, Ian Thorpe, any of these ring any bells?

 

[Robinrs]

Carl Lewis, JackieJoyner Kersey, Greg Louganis, Bruce Jenner, Dan Jenkins, Summer Sanders, Peekaboo Street, Nancy Kerrigan, Shaun White, Ian Thorpe, any of these ring any bells?

While we're at it...

Evander Holyfield
George Foreman
Muhammed Ali
Sugar Ray Leonard

 

[Deb in IA]

That is easy to say in retrospect, but no one knew that he would break the records or take that many gold medals. Has Spitz been there for every other Olympic competition, "just in case"?

Maybe you didn't, but after the US Trials, everyone else did, and it was widely discussed by the media back then, in June.

And no need for Spitz to be there at every other Olympics - no one had a realistic chance of his record until now.

 

[Deb in IA]

The US female beach volleyball team is apparently a force to be reckoned with and has won nearly every match they have been in. But I bet you at least 9 out of 10 people on the street cannot even name one of those women, much less both. Olympic medal winners, but little to no name recognition among the general populace.

Kerri Welsh and Misty May-Trainor. And I didn't look it up.
(as evident by the fact that I misspelled their names!)

 

[CPT Tripss]

The comments attributed to Spitz were initially reported by a FRENCH news agency! We all know how reliable the FRENCH are. It was just their way of getting back at the US for the 4X100.

 

[Nik's Mom]

While we're at it...

Evander Holyfield
George Foreman
Muhammed Ali
Sugar Ray Leonard

Here's another. Anyone remember Matt Biondi, U.S. Olympic swimmer from the late 80's and early 90's?

Anyway, I caught the Today Show interview this morning and I thought that Mark Spitz came off much better. He seemed very gracious and showed a lot of class.

 

[Deb in IA]

The comments attributed to Spitz were initially reported by a FRENCH news agency! We all know how reliable the FRENCH are. It was just their way of getting back at the US for the 4X100.

It DOES make you wonder, doesn't it?

 

[Muffin]

The US female beach volleyball team is apparently a force to be reckoned with and has won nearly every match they have been in. But I bet you at least 9 out of 10 people on the street cannot even name one of those women, much less both. Olympic medal winners, but little to no name recognition among the general populace.

This helps make my point. I bet that even before the current hoopla over Mark Spitz's interview, more people knew who Mark Spitz is than they know who the members of the current volleyball team are, even though the volleyball team is on tv/newspapers/internet daily.

 

[NotUrsula]

Spitz was in Athens in '04 -- the Today Show interview this morning showed a clip of the '04 interview and the meeting between Spitz and Phelps in Athens. Phelps had a chance of breaking the record then, but not as much of a sure thing, thanks to the presence of Ian Thorpe.

Something else that needs to be remembered about Spitz is that he not only won 7 golds, but that he was a Jewish athlete who won those medals at Munich in 1972. He won his final gold on Sept. 2; the Israelis were taken hostage two days later. In some circles, Spitz is as much a symbol as Jesse Owens.

 

[Tiggeroo]

If an athlete held his title for 35 years he should be invited to the olympics when he is expected to relinquish the title. A little fuss should be made. It shouldn't overshadow the new athlete but it is important to show recognition to our heroes from the past. I think he should let it go but I could see being a bit bitter about it.

 

[MossMan]

The comments attributed to Spitz were initially reported by a FRENCH news agency! We all know how reliable the FRENCH are. It was just their way of getting back at the US for the 4X100.

The French are a bunch unreliable liars? When did this become accepted wisdom. I know Americans didn't think this when we got their help in the War of Independence, when we fought side by side with them in both WWI and WWII and when they stood next to us for over 40 years in the cold war as we faced down the Soviet bloc.

I guess the problem is they thought there were no WMD's and didn't want to go with us into Iraq. Is that why we now consider them unreliable liars.

Here's another. Anyone remember Matt Biondi, U.S. Olympic swimmer from the late 80's and early 90's?

Anyway, I caught the Today Show interview this morning and I thought that Mark Spitz came off much better. He seemed very gracious and showed a lot of class.

If we find it absolutely necessary to judge Spitz, lets judge the man by the life he has led these many years. Intelligent and caring people can occasionally say something they would love to take back. Ruthless and rude people can sometimes sound very good. But you can's hide these things if you look at the man's life instead of a 4 minute interview.

 

[bookgirl]

And the fact that EVERYONE has been comparing Phelps' achievement to Spitz's in just about every other comment, yeah, I think it would have been nice for Spitz to have been there, maybe even to present Phelps' 8th gold. If nothing else, I think NBC should have paid for it - it would have been a great TV moment.

NBC doesn't decide who gives out medals, the Olympic Committee does. And I can't remember offhand seeing anyone give out a medal in a sport they used to compete in. It's almost always some big wig that nobody knows but is behind the scenes. Obviously it would have been a "money shot". But I still think it should be Phelp's moment not Spitz's.


PS I could have told you the names of the Beach Vollyballers, at least the women. The men's not so much....I could tell you the name of our Sabre medal winners as well, we took Gold, Silver and Bronze in individuals, and Bronze in Team.

 

[CPT Tripss]

The French are a bunch unreliable liars? When did this become accepted wisdom. I know Americans didn't think this when we got their help in the War of Independence, when we fought side by side with them in both WWI and WWII and when they stood next to us for over 40 years in the cold war as we faced down the Soviet bloc.

I guess the problem is they thought there were no WMD's and didn't want to go with us into Iraq. Is that why we now consider them unreliable liars.


If we find it absolutely necessary to judge Spitz, lets judge the man by the life he has led these many years. Intelligent and caring people can occasionally say something they would love to take back. Ruthless and rude people can sometimes sound very good. But you can's hide these things if you look at the man's life instead of a 4 minute interview.

I never expected you to take that seriously It's just a little ironic to see this particular post. Enjoy your pommes frites!

 

[Deb in IA]

And I can't remember offhand seeing anyone give out a medal in a sport they used to compete in.

Alexander Popov, the Russian Rocket, was in Beijing and awarded the medals in one of the swimming events earlier this week.

 

[Olaf]

Spitz Also Was Driven, but He Was "Different"

http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/08/14/sports/OLYSPITZ.php

 

[MossMan]

I never expected you to take that seriously It's just a little ironic to see this particular post. Enjoy your pommes frites!

If your comments on the French were meant ironically, then you are right about my response. I should have picked up on the satire - Mea Culpa.

 

[yeartolate]

If your comments on the French were meant ironically, then you are right about my response. I should have picked up on the satire - Mea Culpa.

Usually your satire catches people off guard (yeah, I am people)

 

[NEVERENOUGHWDW]

I watched him this morning on the Today show and thought he was very gracious.