Rant: Michael Phelps Mom

[jim]

I simply have little or no interest in family members or friends of athletes. She, through no fault of her own, is simply getting really old to me.

[haltz]

Maybe being the mother of the greatest olympian of all time has changed her, but I doubt it.

She's Carl Lewis' mom too?

[sighyoung]

The TV people can drive anything into the ground, they could make you sick of Mother Theresa even. But when I was watching that last night, I actually teared up because everyone realizes, or should, the hours and hours that HE has put into practice and meets, but you know that she is the one who has been there every step of the way. Probably starting with taking him to swimming lessons when he was a wee lad and culminating with this. I cannot imagine how proud she must be and happy for him. As a parent, all you want is for your kid to be happy and for him to be able to achieve what he did is amazing.

And if not for locking him in the basement without dinner when he would come in second, he might never had developed the character to become a success.

A completely unfounded rumor. She would whip the dog while Michael was forced to hear its screams, but always let Michael eat dinner afterwards.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

If only NBC had advertised what time Phelps was going to be swimming or how long until Phelps swam, then Jim would've known and been able to fill his time with less painful things. Like hitting himself in the hand with a hammer.

[Radbird]

Now you probably hate Lauren Williams' great dane, Athena, because they just did a profile on her.

[Dillagii]

I am fine with this as long as his sisters are with her showing lots of cleavage

[Tambourine Man]

I approve this rant. I'd bet Michael Phelps is sick of his mom as well.

[Sutter'sBeard]

I simply have little or no interest in family members or friends of athletes. She, through no fault of her own, is simply getting really old to me.

Amen. I think they do it to keep women interested in sports. It is the broadcasters pretty much determining that the sport is not exciting and interesting enough on it's own, we have to add the reality tv bit. I remember a few years back during the Ohio State vs. Notre Dame game, they showed Brady Quinn's freaking sister 300 times during the game and interviewed her over and over. She was dating AJ Hawk at the time. I have hated that shot ever since.

[omaha_red]

i'd hit it

[Socnorb11]

I simply have little or no interest in family members or friends of athletes. She, through no fault of her own, is simply getting really old to me.

Amen. I think they do it to keep women interested in sports. It is the broadcasters pretty much determining that the sport is not exciting and interesting enough on it's own, we have to add the reality tv bit. I remember a few years back during the Ohio State vs. Notre Dame game, they showed Brady Quinn's freaking sister 300 times during the game and interviewed her over and over. She was dating AJ Hawk at the time. I have hated that shot ever since.

Should we assume that the Dallas Cowboys aren't exciting or interesting either, since we see a gazillion shots of Jessica Simpson during their games?

The Olympics ARE real. There's no need to fabricate a "reality tv bit".

I think Phelps' relationship with his mother is a solid human-interest story. There are all sorts of similar human interest stories tied to the Olympics. Most of them don't get the same coverage because no other athlete is winning as much as Phelps.