Mark Spitz and I are of the same generation.
When Mark Spitz became a legendary sports figure, winning seven gold medals in the in the 1972 Olympics, I was a young mother of one, expecting #2.
Looking at Mark Spitz today is rather depressing,
... especially considering the image which remains in our minds.Actually, he sounds pretty disappointed and bitter.
He claims that he's not upset that his medal-winning record will probably be broken by Michael Phelps. It's just that he had expected to be invited to the Olympics:
Mark, go fly a kite!..."Unless I get that invite, I'll be watching on TV," Spitz, 58, said in a recent interview with Reuters. "I don't think it's going to happen. It'd be nice if it did. It would seem like the right thing to do."
...Spitz, who will be in Hong Kong on business when the Olympics start on August 8, said he had no "hard feelings" about not being invited to Beijing.
...Spitz said Olympics organizers had little sense of history, unlike say Major League Baseball in the United States. He recalled that when Mark McGwire broke Roger Maris' 37-year-old record for home runs in a single season in 1998, officials ensured members of Maris' family were part of the festivities. (complete article)
Beautifully timed, Batya. This post shows lots of parallels to the current tempest brewing in the Jblogger teapot!
ReplyDeleteThanks
ReplyDeleteI just deleted something... But enough, 9th of Av was just a few days ago.
Nonsense. The IOC blew it and so did the USOC. He held that record for 36 years and should have been invited to attend as a way of honoring that achievement and the passing of the torch. He's right to feel slighted. Wouldn't it have been great to see him cheering in the stands for Phelps? What in heavens name were they thinking?
ReplyDeleteTrue, but...
ReplyDeleteIt should have been handled behind the scenes. Most things are, and we haven't the foggiest notion of all the calls and deals.
I remember discovering, when I studied dance, that when your legs feel the heaviest as you lift, they seem most graceful.
Spitz should have been able to get it all arranged, if he had the "social skills." His talents were as a loner in the pool, and apparently, little has changed since. Whatever enemies he had made over the years got back at him.
When I think of Mark Spitz and his record I can only think of the 11 Israeli sportmen who were murdered at those "games". Mark Spitz whisked himself out of Munich pretty fast. He felt threatened. How can Jews get excited about all this NORISHKYTE*!
ReplyDelete* Look that one up in your Funk and Wagnalls
Actually, that's a bad photo. He's a spokesperson for BOTOX and he looks pretty good. However, it is noticed that he can't move his forehead! Spitz is a millionaire. He should've secured the tickets and then paid to go himself. The IOC didn't owe him a trip --after all, what if Phelps hadn't won all the races, but turned in a mundane performance instead?
ReplyDeleteWeird things have been known to happen (think of that Aussie who won the speed skating). Nothing is guaranteed in the Olympics.
As for the sad end to the Munich games, one thing that happened is that Spitz was told to leave by the IOC for fear he'd be singled out by the terrorists due to his Jewish heritage.
The real criticism often levied against Spitz is that he did nothing for the sport after he won his gold. No fund raising for the American swim teams, nothing, nada, zip. He's been criticized by Gary Hall, Sr. and others.
Yes, he's a loner, and now he's a loner with Botox.
It never ceases to amaze me how people can just tear up other people in a very hateful way. Mark Spitz's record held for 36 years! That is monumental! It was IGNORANT of the committee to slight that man. I would have felt the same way as him. Especially since they invite lesser talents along to commentate As for the person who said he did nothing for the sport after his 7 golds....what did you want the man to do....personally I feel he gave enough to the country giving all his time to training and ultimately winning 7 gold medals.....what more would you have the man do....give his life fercrissakes! As for his supposed cockiness...like other athletes aren't cocky....you target his as though he is the only one....personally I have seen others by far more cocky then him. Actually the man had the right to be cocky....he was the best!
ReplyDeleteWhether or not it would have been wise for him to be invited, it was unwise for him to complain about it publicly.
ReplyDeleteWhy was it unwise....because it is politically incorrect to do so these days! That's nonsense...let's just call a spade a spade...why should he just keep it to himself...it was the height of ignorance and disrespect to that man. I cheer the fact that he spoke up.....we are all so afraid to say anything these days, we don't want the politcally correct police to come after us. I personally applaud his freedom of speech and the fact that he stepped up to the plate and let us know that the Olympic committee snubbed him.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately it was not for Mark Spitz to say that Mark Spitz was slighted. It was for a federation, colleague, or even for Michael Phelps himself. Moreover, I cannot think of a precedent where another athlete is 'passing the record torch' to another- breaking records in the Olympics and elsewhere rather just happens.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, all this shines badly on Mark Spitz. I do not know him, likely never will. I understand his record was unique- but then, so were all those that came before him.
This issue has people arguing. Risa, yes it's norishkeit, and for me, my family, an additional tragedy happend that same weekend. My father's cousin and wife were killed in a car accident leaving two teenagers as orphans.
ReplyDeleteAs some of you said, Spitz did not have good relations with the US Olympic organization. It's more like he won for himself, and that's probably why he wasn't given free tickets etc.
re the botox... oy
Batya, I'm so sorry to hear about your father's cousin and his wife. Boruch dayan emet. May their memories be for a blessing, and may their children be comforted among all who mourn for tzion and yerusahalim.
ReplyDeletejug, thanks
ReplyDelete