He's a swimmer, fer chrissakes!
THESE guys are heroes!
Posted on 08/21/2008 6:45:50 AM PDT by Kaslin
Every generation needs heroes. Young people especially need role models. How blessed we are that the role model of these Summer Olympics is Michael Phelps. Here is a young man who embodies self-discipline, hard work and goal orientation.
It is not so much the world records he shattered. It is not only the number of medals he won. His whole outlook is to be celebrated. He has a commanding presence yet he is the boy next door. True, his endorsements will make him millions. Yet I dare say that is the furthest thing from his mind right now. As I watched this young man mouth the words of our National Anthem it was clear that he is proud to be an American. He loves his country. He says so. No flag burning, no fist raised in protest, no symbolic gesture to blame the USA. On the contrary, this is one true-blue American. How proud can the rest of us be just watching him?
For so long we have seen many people his age who look like revolutionaries and protest about one thing or another. America is evil. America has brought its troubles upon itself. America is to blame for nearly everything. I have no idea of the politics of Michael Phelps. He may not know either. He has been busy, too busy, training for the Olympics. But what does it matter? What we do know about him is that he loves his mom and he loves his country.
I saw two split screen interviews with Mark Spitz, who until now was the athlete who had won the most gold medals at a single Olympics. Spitz held that title since the 1972 Munich Olympics. Spitz praised Phelps to the skies yet Phelps was self-effacing and humble in the interviews. It was Phelps who had Spitz as a role model. Look at what good has come from that.
Those who print Phelps posters will be doing a brisk business. Thousands of young people will hang his poster in their bedrooms. Girls will have his poster as a contemporary sex symbol. Guys will have his poster as their role model. For every record he has shattered there is a young athlete somewhere who thinks he can do a bit better and will be practicing for the next four years to get that chance.
The Lord is good to us. After having endured a parade of protesters and the blame-America-first crowd, we finally have someone to whom all of us can look up. Not a moment too soon.
Good for Michael...
I hope he does become a role model...
I am a big time Phelps Phan!
Role-model? Certainly.
Outstanding athlete? definitely.
The word “hero” is greatly overused. He’s an admirable young man, God bless him, but the real heroes are first responders, combat troops and those who stand up for right against wrong even at peril to themselves.
Lopez, who appeared on “Good Morning America” Aug. 18 to discuss her preparations for the Malibu Triathlon, was overheard saying after the segment that she “couldn’t understand why everyone is talking about that swimmer,” according to a GMA source. “She couldn’t come up with (eight-time gold-medal winner Michael) Phelps’ name, and then she yammered on about how she was the one training for a triathlon just six months after giving birth, and how that was the big story right now, not ‘the swimmer.’ ”
Lopez is planning on donating money raised for her race to the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles. To help drum up attention, she started a blog to share tips on training. “Touch up makeup prior to your run” hasn’t made its way into any posts, despite Lopez being spotted arriving in Central Park with her makeup artist later in the day.
Don’t get on Phelps case for what the media call him.
The NYSlimes is now comparing Phelps with Bolt’s wins saying he is the better Olympic champion.
Where do they get this crap? ALL the athletes who train for years often at the expense for their families, and who are barely finished their schooling dedicate themselves to winning - whether for their own personal wish or for their nation.
Competition pits athletes against others to raise the bar on the possibilities of excellence, and to weigh one’s own
merit with others who are equally talented.
There are no ‘heros’. This isn’t a ‘war’ as much as the IOC would love to turn the Games into one without bullets.
If their successes raise the standard of living for themselves and their loved ones - how can it be different than training for any work-related occupation?
Exactly - and BTW, I watched him being awarded 4 of the medals, and never once saw him “mouth the words to the National Anthem” - and I was looking for it.
He’s a great athlete and seems to be a regular guy. Another example of how loose we’ve become with the term, “hero”.
Colonel, USAFR
He's a swimmer, fer chrissakes!
THESE guys are heroes!
Amen, Amen, Amen. He IS a fine, upstanding young man and we too hope and pray he helps young people perhaps set goals in their lives and strive to work to achieve those goals. We need more young men like this. He is a joy to watch and his mom and sisters must be so proud. He’s young, good looking, happy, hard worker, proud American and his life and goals have only just begun. God bless Michael Phelps and may his future be bright and may the younger kids learn a lot from this excellent example of going after what it is you want by working hard and dedicating yourself. Michael is the Golden Boy.
Megabump! A guy whose only skill is to swim fast in a pool is no hero. Good athlete yes but thats it.
Sorry to poor cold water on this thread, but calling athletes "heroes" while our armed forces are in the midst of a big battle for civilization is just a pet peeve of mine.
mark
And you have to love what Kobe said.
Hero - NO !!!
Celebrity - YES !!!
Role Model - We’ll wait to see.
NO.
Possibly the greatest athlete ever and a terrific role model ?
Yes.
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