Olympic Spoil(er)s--Proceed With Caution
Michael Phelps is unbelievable. 8 for 8 in gold medals, in the eighth month of '08, and the majority were world records.
Frankly, all the other swimmers were like the blaster bolts that Han Solo shot at Darth Vader in The Empire Strikes Back.
What's also impressive is, even considering the massive tape delay, within minutes of the airing of the clinching victory in the men's 4 x 100m relay, a commercial from Visa was broadcast, congratulating Phelps, and NBC was advertising Michael Phelps: A Champion's Champion, or some such titled highlight reel.
It makes you wonder how they could be so prepared. One might think it was a little contrived, if the final race wasn't a relay race in which Phelps swam the third of four legs. It it was really a ratings-targeting scam, it would have been scripted to finish with an individual event.
It also is useful to remember that prior to any major sporting event such as the Super Bowl, merchandising gurus are armed for any eventuality; hence the availability on eBay of New England Patriots "19-0" shirts, caps, shot glasses, brooms, ceremonial muskets, etc.
Which makes you wonder about the possibilities if Phelps had come up short.
"Mark Spitz: Still The Best There Ever Was."
"Michael Phelps: Such A Crushing Anti-Climax."
Frankly, all the other swimmers were like the blaster bolts that Han Solo shot at Darth Vader in The Empire Strikes Back.
What's also impressive is, even considering the massive tape delay, within minutes of the airing of the clinching victory in the men's 4 x 100m relay, a commercial from Visa was broadcast, congratulating Phelps, and NBC was advertising Michael Phelps: A Champion's Champion, or some such titled highlight reel.
It makes you wonder how they could be so prepared. One might think it was a little contrived, if the final race wasn't a relay race in which Phelps swam the third of four legs. It it was really a ratings-targeting scam, it would have been scripted to finish with an individual event.
It also is useful to remember that prior to any major sporting event such as the Super Bowl, merchandising gurus are armed for any eventuality; hence the availability on eBay of New England Patriots "19-0" shirts, caps, shot glasses, brooms, ceremonial muskets, etc.
Which makes you wonder about the possibilities if Phelps had come up short.
"Mark Spitz: Still The Best There Ever Was."
"Michael Phelps: Such A Crushing Anti-Climax."
posted by Devin at 1:11 AM
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