Let me first point out that I have no problem with all the media coverage and exposure Michael Phelps is receiving. He's doing ridiculously well and deserves all the spoils he's receiving after working so hard to get to this level.
In fact, watching him is getting me extremely excited and pumped for my upcoming two years working with collegiate swim teams.
The problem is not with seeing Phelps, but hearing him.
Yeah, I said it. After Michael tied Mark Spitz's record of seven medals in a single Olympics, NBC aired an interview between the past and future of the sport. And I was blown away at how terrible an interview M.P. actually is.
I wish I could find that interview online, because at one point I lost track of how many times Phelps said "uhhh" or "you know." No actually, we don't know, Mike. Ninety-nine percent of the viewers in the States have never come anywhere close to even qualifying for the Olympic Games. And he kept butting into the interview wanting to talk, when questions were posed for Spitz to respond.
In his defense, he's just accomplished a mind-blowing feat and was probably out of breath after the 50M Fly. Oh wait, that was over an HOUR before the televised interview. And earlier that day NBC interviewed the swimmer, who never once took his eyes off his Blackberry, texting his heart out.
Michael Phelps clearly doesn't need much swimming guidance anymore. What he needs now is an interview coach.
If I could find his interview on YouTube, it would be one of the worst recorded sports moment since Mariah Carey threw out an opening pitch in Japan.
UPDATE: I found the link for the Spitz-Phelps interview on nbc.com, here it is in a separate window (requires download if you don't already have the latest video player)
3 comments:
Oh man, I was totally thinking the same thing! Mostly that his voice is kind weird though, still pretty boyish and not as deep as one would hope with such a wide shoulder expanse. Oh well. At least he looks nice swimming and winning stuff!
his winnings are getting old, I am quite annoyed with Phelps. He should have lost his last race...
He wasn't that bad guys! Mark Spitz was really well spoken I thought. And if you heard Michael's interview after they won the medley last night I thought he was very well spoken. Give the guy a break!
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