Phelps Plus Ten

NBC’s coverage of the games is an easy target for complaints, but really it’s just the prime-time program that’s making the entire Olympics look like a 3 person show (although that includes the Beach Vollyball duo of May-Treanor and Walsh, so as the man says 2 out of 3 ain’t bad). Even then you have to realize that they are trying to appeal to a mass audience, and nothing is more popular than a winner, and there is no winner in the games like Michael Phelps.

In his defense I don’t think he even knows the level of coverage he’s getting in the states, not only is every swim and swimmer compared to him, but it’s starting to cross over to other sports, like this interview with Yang Xiuli of China, shown here after receiving her second career Gold Medal in Judo’s 78kg class.

[Phelps? I just spent two days trying to avoid being thrown to the mat with considerable force and speed just to win just this one gold and took a beating doing it, and he can win eight just by swimming, then swimming a bit further, and then swimming in a different way? How do you think I feel?]*

*(Roughly translated from Chinese)

I don’t mean to be tough on the guy that Bob Costas calls “Superman,” even though the title of Aquaman is right there and fits so much better. (C’mon Bob, show a little Geek cred and throw that one out, I know you can, I can tell you’re Nerdcore just by looking at you.) However, I will say this to young Michael, if you hit that magic number of eight golds and come home to parades and a lifetime supply of Wheaties, just remember you are only ten years away from starring in an ad opposite a guy dressed as a giant marsupial.