Why Phelps Isn't The Best Summer Olympian Ever

I am a sports fan.  I love sports.  I am fairly obsessed with sports.  I would love to make a living discussing sports.

In addition to loving sports, I also love history.  I have a Masters in American History from George Mason University (Go Patriots!).  When these two passions come together, it normally makes me very happy.  Not today though.  Here's why.

ESPN came out today with its list of the 30 Greatest Summer Olympians of All Time.  They seem to only include Americans in the list, but I digress.  Guess who is Number 1?  That's right, Michael Phelps.  Hooray Phelps!  He can swim!  He is a mer-man and has won a ton of gold medals.  He really is a phenom in the pool.  There is no denying that.

He isn't the best Summer Olympian of all time.

He isn't.

I'm serious.

Stop seething and listen to me.

Michael Phelps has won all of his races.  He got his 8 Golds thanks to a teammate owning the final leg of a relay.  It was like he won more medals than most of the other countries in the Olympics.  He has beaten Lotche.  He has beaten Thorpe.  He has lived up to the hype and the expectations.  But there is one foe that he has never had to face: Adolf Hitler.

Jesse Owens is, without question, the Greatest Summer Olympian of All Time.  He went into Germany in 1936 for the Berlin Olympics and changed the world.  He, in the mind of the Nazi leaders and Nazi propagandists, was an inferior species of human; an ape who could not compete at the same level as their Aryan athletes.  Owens marched into the stadium overseen by the personification of evil with an entire country looking down on him.  All Owens did in the face of hate and racism was win 4 Gold Medals- the 100 meter, 200 meter, 4x100 meter relay, and the long jump. 

He struck a blow to the psyche of the Nazi party and its leader, while showing the world that hate and prejudice based on skin color was completely unjustified.  The true shame of the entire situation is that Owens experienced the same hate upon arriving back in the United States.  He didn't get a trip to the White House.  He has to ride in the freight elevator at the Waldorf-Astoria up to a reception in his honor.  Still, his legacy has endured.  He is one of the few athletes you will ever see in a history textbook, because his performance at the 1936 Games were that impressive.  What does Phelps have that can compare to that?

Phelps, along with all those medals, has a DWI conviction, and likes weed almost as much as he loves Subway sandwiches.

So excuse me for pointing out that he isn't the greatest.  He can be the most dominant.  He can be the most decorated.  But I will choose an American Hero who exemplified true greatness as my #1.  Jesse Owens is the Greatest Summer Olympian of All Time.

The Obligatory Penn State Punishment Post

Alright, everybody is still talking.  All they are doing right now on ESPN is talking about Penn State.  The national news led with talking about Penn State.  People are praising the NCAA and applauding them for leveling unprecedented penalties on an out-of control program that committed unprecedented crimes.  People are still defending JoePa and being outraged that their once proud coach's legacy has been tarnished, and that Penn State will suffer greatly in football over the next decade.  The NCAA has been kind of a joke with punishment, a goofball deputy cop that hasn't stopped any of the real problems associated with college football.  Hell, just ask the Paterno family.  They have been talking to anyone that will listen, saying this entire situation is unfair.

But I am positive any argument you have about how the NCAA overstepped their power or whatever: 1- doesn't matter cause the new president signed a consent form, meaning that if any rich trustee or alum feels like suing and taking this to court, he or she is just wasting his money and time; and 2- can be immediately shouted down by the phrase "They knowingly covered up sexual abuse of children".  Barney Fife saw some real criminals, was given an uzi and some RPGs, and unloaded the clip.

The NCAA needed to act.  The school needed to bite the bullet and take it.  They needed to be punished and they knew it.  In the long run, this is good for Penn State.  While Joe Paterno was the most powerful and revered figure in Pennsylvania history behind William Penn and Benjamin Franklin, the fact is that he and his "superiors" (I use that in quotes because we know who actually ran that program) did nothing to stop heinous acts by Jerry Sandusky, and went so far as to cover them up to preserve the reputation of Paterno and his program.  The university, an excellent ACADEMIC INSTITUTION (in case what we forgot what a university actually is), needed to distance itself from these men and the culture of indifference over justice in which they actively took part. 

The school will still be an excellent public university.  The other sports will still get a chance to play.  Hell, the football team gets to play for the next four years, which considering the offered alternative of a death penalty should make all those who love whiting out Beaver Stadium thrilled.  So, if those who insist on shouting how unfair the NCAA was to do this to their beloved football team actually stepped back and put the punishment in context, they wouldn't be upset. 

I tend to agree with those that said they got off fairly easily.  I think the NCAA could have not only given them the death penalty, but forced the entire program out of the NCAA for a period of time.  This would then mean that the school would have to apply for readmission in order to being playing again.  The Big Ten (12) could have voted them out of the conference, leaving them as an independent without any conference revenue, which would have an amazingly difficult time negotiating an independent TV deal coming off of such a public and terrible scandal.  Again, the fans should be thanking the NCAA for leniency.

Now, more specifically, let us look at the legacy of Joe Paterno.  As I said, he covered up abominable acts by his friend for the good of his name and his program.  Were he still alive, there is no doubt in my mind that the former coach would be facing serious criminal charges.  I am aware that, in his life, he also did some wonderful things.  He donated money, he helped the men that played for him gain a valuable education.  But the acquiescence and indifference of a good man towards such an abhorrent crime over repeated occurrences is more than enough to overshadow any good that man did.

The statue needed to come down.  His name needs to come off of buildings.  If it didn't, it would just be a constant reminder of what Paterno and his associates did.  It would be shown on TV before every game.  They would have to address it every Saturday afternoon until it came down.  Now, they can begin to move on.  Bill O'Brian can recruit those diehard kids that have wanted to come to Penn State all their lives.  They can begin a new tradition of excellence both on and off the field.  It will take a while, obviously.  It should take a while after what happened.  The 10 years of athletic ineptitude that could follow these punishments is only a small beginning in healing the years of torment, torture and shame which the victims of Jerry Sandusky have had to live through.

The punishment is fair.  The punishment was right.  The punishment of Penn State was necessary.

Ernie Els- Good for You

Back in 1997, when Ernie Els won the US Open, my brother and I (for reasons unknown) decided that the best way to congratulate Ernie Els after a big win was a sincere "Good for you".  It isn't because we disliked him, but more than we didn't love him.  This was the beginning of the prime Tiger Woods years.  Really, it was good for anyone to beat him.  But you thought it would be some equally enthralling foe.  Instead, in this instance, it was Ernie.  It was just that Els just kind of seemed like a normal, nice guy.  Fairly quiet, easy-going, nothing outlandish about him.  A nice South African boy who just went out there and played great golf.

Really, this may be the reason why we love him, especially these days.  The world of golf is either dominated by Tiger's comeback, Phil's bipolar play, Rory McIlroy not living up to his post-win hype, and no truly amazing player on tour anymore.  A genuinely nice, consistent person is refreshing.  I am sure there are plenty of golfers that are great guys.  It is just that Ernie handled himself so well today that it is hard not to like him after this win.

First, he went out and had a solid final round 68, finishing at 7-under and hanging in the clubhouse.  He had a nice day.  Then, Adam Scott, up 4 with 4 holes left, bogeyed out.  His Van De Velde-ian collapse allowed Els back in the tournament.  So, as Scott lined up for a par put that would force a playoff, Els took to the practice green to stay warm.  When that putt went left of the hole, Els became the 8th man ever to win majors in three different decades.

The class Els showed extended beyond the course, however.  Upon receiving the Claret Jug, Els' first words were of consolation to his friend Scott.  "I feel for Adam Scott, he is a great friend of mine, and we both wanted to win very badly. I really feel for him, but it is the nature of the beast. It was my time for some reason."

As if that wasn't enough, Ernie then gave a special shout-out to a special friend of his: "I've got to thank, obviously, first of all, you know, President Mandela, who's been such a great influence in our country. We have been truly blessed to have a man like President Mandela take us through a very difficult time in our country. And everybody now, we can see the success of the country, now, and it's only because of President Mandela."

He went on to thank Mandela more, and even joked he would offer the 94-year old peace icon and former South African President a drink from the jug.  Not a bad way to celebrate.  A classy golfer, and a classy man, enjoying his moment in a fun, kind, nice way, while showing appreciation for things bigger than golf.  We like that.  And it is why we like Ernie.

So congratulations, Ernie Els.  Good for you.

MLB's Second Half Storylines

After last nights National League blowout of the American League in the All Star Game (8-0, Go Senior Circuit!), it is time to look ahead at the second half of the season.  What are the major storylines as we approach fall baseball?  Let's start with the victors, the National League, and then head over to the land of the DH.

NL

- Can the upstart teams currently on top of their divisions stay in the race until the end?  I have some personal feeligns about this, since my Nats are currently the best team in the NL.  Along with my Nationals, the Pirates and the oft-injured Dodgers are still holding on to their division leads.  Could these three team stay on top all the way to October?

- When will the selling begin?  San Diego, Chicago, Houston, Colorado and even Philadelphia could become sellers very fast.  Could Cole Hamels be on the move?  Could the Brewers send Zack Grienke elsewhere?  How will the selling change the races for the playoffs?

- The last weekend.  I hope the Nationals have clinched the NL East and don't have to worry about the Wild Card at the end of the season, but I still want to see who is in the running.  The Mets, Braves, Giants, Reds, and Cardinals are all in the race now.  Who can claw their way back in?

- Will the Nats really shut down Strasburg?  I can't believe they will.  I mean.. come on!

- The NL Cy Young race should be a lot of fun.  Will RA Dickey continue his dominance?  Can Matt Cain turn perfection into a Cy Young?  Will the Nats' duo of Gio Gonzalez and Stephen Strasburg keep putting up insane numbers?  Will Clayton Kershaw carry to Dodgers to October?

- Can anyone beat Andrew McCutchen for MVP?


AL

- Can anyone stop the Yankees or Rangers?  It is their world, and the rest of the AL seem to just be living in it.  They are also the rumored favorites for Cole Hamels.

- Is there anything Mike Trout can't do?  We will get to see one half of the new phenom dynamic duo (along with Bryce Harper), and see if he can not only keep up his solid Rookie of the Year campaign, but his MVP chances also.

- Can Justin Verlander concentrate on baseball while dating Kate Upton?

- Can Baltimore remain in a tightening Wild Card race?  Baseball in the DMV is alive and well, and if the O's are able to add an arm like Grienke to boost their pitching staff they could stay in the hunt for their first winning season and playoff birth since Bill Clinton was president.

- Can the Red Soxs turn it around, or will they continue being baseball's punchline this year?

- Will the addition of Kevin Youkilis make the White Sox the favorite heading into the playoffs?


These are just some of the stories we'll watch as the season moves on.

How Does Baseball Fix the All Star Game

The Mid-Summer Classic is tomorrow night, and that means it is time for that yearly debate- How do we fix the Major League Baseball All Star Game?  Here are a few thoughts-

- Stop making it count.  That's right, it needs to be an exhibition again with no ramifications on the post-season.  Instead, just have it be fun like it should be.

- Stop letting the fans vote on starters.  Even though it won't count anymore, that is no need for fan stupidity.  I am wholeheartedly against fan voting for almost anything because they are very biased and belligerent.  Give them the last spot in vote, that's it.  Other than that, let the experts, managers and players pick the teams.  Speaking of that last spot in...

- Reserve a spot, when necessary, for a legend that is on his way out.  Call it the Willie Mays Spot, or the Cal Ripken Jr Spot, or the Chipper Jones Spot.  It is an acknowledgement of a fantastic career, but for a player who may not really deserve to be on the team this season.

- Include a Mascot Olympics.  I like Mascots.  That is all.

- Just like how there is a rule that at least one player has to go from each team, there should be a limit on the number of players.  This may not be needed if we eliminate the fan vote, but having everyone from the Rangers or Yankees on the team is no fun.

- Have the game at Nationals Park some time in the next 10 years.  What the hell!?  Why does KC have it this year?  Why is CitiField, which is hated by its own players, getting it next year?

- Have the managers pick more middle relievers.  Tyler Clippard, for example, is both an awesome closer and was the best setup man in baseball last year and this season.  There is no reason he should have been on the team over a guy like, say, Johnathan Papelbon (who is on a last place team).

- Include an Old Timers Home Run Derby.  See if any of those boys still have some pop.


With all of these, the entire All Star week would be better for everyone involved.

What Did I Miss?

So, there was a pretty big power outage in the DC area last weekend/this week/still going on.  Luckily, my power has been restored.  However, I know I missed the chance to write about some happenings in the world of sports.  Here is what I missed-

- NBA Free Agency has started!  The biggest news so far has been Steve Nash heading to the Lakers.  Damn, it gives me a reason to want to see the Lakers win again...  I love Steve Nash.  He is a good dude who is amazingly fun to watch.  The Lakers haven't had solid point guard play since Magic Johnson was there, so Nash instantly improves their roster.  They didn't have to give up anything to get him, considering they don't care about draft picks anyway.  The real question will be if they are able to swing a trade for Dwight Howard, who...

- Is being a whiny little girl recently.  He claims that the Orlando Magic blackmailed him into resigning by threatening to trade him somewhere he didn't want to play.  Oh no!  Trading a selfish player who highjacked a franchise, got a coach and the entire front office fired?  Insanity I tell you!  Clearly, the Magic should make the trade that is best for the franchise, which isn't moving Dwight to the Brooklyn Nets, his desired destination.  Instead, they should send him to the Lakers if Andrew Bynum is offered in a package.  Really, there are four or five teams that, if they wanted to and felt they could win now with Howard, could make an offer for him that is better than what the Nets are offering.  So, Dwight, shut up about being blackmailed.  Basketball is a business.

- Speaking of Howard, I think that his whole situation has gotten to the point where it is worse than LeBron.  LeBron pushed his decision til after the season, never requested a trade, and never claimed the Cavaliers were blackmailing him.  Dwight has gotten worse than Melo was also.  His entire good guy image has been ruined because he has acted like a petulant child throughout the past season.

- The other big free agent chip was Deron Williams, who decided to stay in Brooklyn once they traded for Joe Johnson.  If they can get Howard, they will be a top 5 team in the East.  Without him, they will still contend for a playoff spot.  I would like to say the Wizards would still be better, but they probably aren't.

- Finally, Ray Allen decided to join the Miami Heat.  The Celtics signed Jason Terry and will supposedly sign Jeff Green, so Allen wouldn't have gotten many minutes.  He will get to play more with the Heat, and go to the defending champs.  I have no strong feelings about this one.  Just hope all involved are happy.


- Baseball is almost at the All Star Break.  My Nats are in 1st.  The Pirates are in 1st.  The O's and Mets are contenders.  What the hell is going on?

- As I learned from going to every game in the Nats/Giants series, it is too hot for baseball.  How long is it before ever stadium has a retractable roof in order to keep cool?  I'm serious.  At what point, given the threat of climate change causing more extreme weather including storms and dangerous heat, will leagues mandate that every new stadium come equipped with a retractable roof and cooling system?  I think it would be wise for MLB to have these rules in the future.  Of course, they need to ditch the DH first.


- Serena Williams won Wimbledon today, the 5th time she has won on the famed grass court.  I don't know where she ranks on the all-time list, but she is almost certainly a lock for the Top 5.

- Tomorrow morning, Andy Murray will attempt to become the first Brit in 74 years to win Wimbledon.  In his way?  Roger Federer, the greatest of all time.  If you feel like waking up early on a Sunday to watch it, you'll either see Murray making history, or Roger tying Pete Sampras with 7 titles.


- I miss the NFL and college football.  I bet you feel the same.  Less than a month til the Hall of Fame Game (Cardinals vs Saints) and the start of preseason!

- So, Trent Dilfer recently made a fun comment about Syracuse QB recruit Zach Allen, calling him a "Young Colt McCoy with an even better arm".  For a program that has been down for most of the past decade, that sounds very tantalizing, especially as we move to the ACC.


- The Minnesota Wild managed to nab the top two NHL Free Agents in Zach Parise and Ryan Suter.  I am fairly speechless, but thrilled for them and for the Caps.  Sure, I would have liked Parise (not that we could afford him), but having him go to the Western Conference and not to the Penguins or Rangers.  I still have hope for our team.

- I'd also like to take this chance to welcome former Caps player and new Caps coach Adam Oates back to town.  I love the hire.  Quite a day for him- After he took the Caps job, he found out he had been voted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.


That's all I got for now.  Try to stay cool in this insane heat.