Spring Break
Other Olympic sports aren't as 'soft' as I thought
Mike Mazzeo
Issue date: 8/22/08 Section: Sports
While watching the epic Olympic performance by Michael Phelps, I had an epiphany of Olympic proportions.
Growing up, I had always been under the impression that males competing in sports such as swimming, gymnastics and volleyball were, for lack of a better term, "soft."
I mean, if you weren't playing one of the four majors (baseball, basketball, football or hockey), were you really an athlete? No, you were just someone who couldn't hack it playing a man's game so you settled for less - the second tier sports, whose stars no one could've cared less about.
However, every four years those stars did emerge and competed at the highest levels of their respective sports (that I disrespected) in the purest form of competition. My views were too clouded, however, by the four majors and by my peers to truly understand or care.
But this year - with the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing - my perception changed.
I witnessed one of the most intense sports moments of my life along with the rest of America as the U.S. Men's Swimming 4 X 100 Freestyle Relay Team led by Phelps pulled one of the greatest upsets in the Games' 112-year history, defeating the French in the final seconds thanks to Jason Lezak's heroics.
And while the race itself was incredible, the post-race celebration was even better as the jubilant Phelps let out a cry of joy, much similar to some of my childhood idols like Derek Jeter and Martin Brodeur had many years after winning championships.
What I realized was that I had developed a newfound respect for anyone who could dominate one sport, especially to the extent that Phelps has.
He's anything but soft. In fact, he's not only a guy who just went 8-for-8 in gold medals and set seven world records - he's also a guy that's worth millions of dollars and can get any girl he wants.
Frankly, I'm quite jealous.
To think, a swimmer could get all these accolades and all this glory. Seems impossible. Granted, it also was highly unlikely that a team of college hockey players could beat a mighty, star laden Soviet team in Lake Placid in 1980.
I guess that's why they called it a miracle.
Maybe I should've been a swimmer, a gymnast or a volleyball player. I could've competed in front of thousands and been watched by the eyes of billions. Oh well, I guess I'll settle for watching these athletes once every four years.
Who knows, maybe one day my kids will be competing in these same events. And even if it's not at the Olympics, I'll be the proud father of a softie.
Growing up, I had always been under the impression that males competing in sports such as swimming, gymnastics and volleyball were, for lack of a better term, "soft."
I mean, if you weren't playing one of the four majors (baseball, basketball, football or hockey), were you really an athlete? No, you were just someone who couldn't hack it playing a man's game so you settled for less - the second tier sports, whose stars no one could've cared less about.
However, every four years those stars did emerge and competed at the highest levels of their respective sports (that I disrespected) in the purest form of competition. My views were too clouded, however, by the four majors and by my peers to truly understand or care.
But this year - with the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing - my perception changed.
I witnessed one of the most intense sports moments of my life along with the rest of America as the U.S. Men's Swimming 4 X 100 Freestyle Relay Team led by Phelps pulled one of the greatest upsets in the Games' 112-year history, defeating the French in the final seconds thanks to Jason Lezak's heroics.
And while the race itself was incredible, the post-race celebration was even better as the jubilant Phelps let out a cry of joy, much similar to some of my childhood idols like Derek Jeter and Martin Brodeur had many years after winning championships.
What I realized was that I had developed a newfound respect for anyone who could dominate one sport, especially to the extent that Phelps has.
He's anything but soft. In fact, he's not only a guy who just went 8-for-8 in gold medals and set seven world records - he's also a guy that's worth millions of dollars and can get any girl he wants.
Frankly, I'm quite jealous.
To think, a swimmer could get all these accolades and all this glory. Seems impossible. Granted, it also was highly unlikely that a team of college hockey players could beat a mighty, star laden Soviet team in Lake Placid in 1980.
I guess that's why they called it a miracle.
Maybe I should've been a swimmer, a gymnast or a volleyball player. I could've competed in front of thousands and been watched by the eyes of billions. Oh well, I guess I'll settle for watching these athletes once every four years.
Who knows, maybe one day my kids will be competing in these same events. And even if it's not at the Olympics, I'll be the proud father of a softie.
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