What is the deal with Mark Spitz??!!

[salsadancer7]

What bug is up HIS a$$??!! Talk about being an arrogant douche nozzle....

.....present the gold medals to Phelps??!! WTF??!!! Since when does he work for the Olympic committee???!!

Spitz: 'I never got invited'

Ex-swimming star 'a bit upset' about not being in Beijing

Mark Spitz says he is being snubbed as Michael Phelps takes aim at his Olympic record of seven gold medals in a single Games.

Spitz, who won his seven swimming golds in 1972 in Munich, said no one connected with the Olympics - not the International Olympic Committee, swimming's world governing body, nor NBC - has invited him to Beijing. So, as of now, he won't be there.

Spitz told Agence France-Presse in Hong Kong: "I never got invited. You don't go to the Olympics just to say, 'I am going to go.' Especially because of who I am. I am going to sit there and watch Michael Phelps break my record anonymously? That's almost demeaning to me. It is not almost - it is."

Spitz, 58, a stockbroker, said he would have liked to present gold medals to Phelps.

"They voted me one of the top five Olympians in all time," Spitz said. "Some of them are dead. But they invited the other ones to go to the Olympics, but not me. Yes, I am a bit upset about it."


Spitz: 'I never got invited' -- baltimoresun.com

 

[nuts4scuba]

I believe other former olympians have given out medals.

 

[salsadancer7]

I believe other former olympians have given out medals.

TO the medal winner in a particular category right after the current winner won?? Please show me where this has been done as part of the medal ceremony.

 

[david1314]

Ahhhh! Enough already.

Will be glad when the Olympics are over and both the current and retired Olympians can return to their rightful place in small type on the back pages of the Sports Section.


Yawn!

 

[yourbeliefs]

Well first off, international travel is a pain to begin with, and getting to the Olympics is no small feat even if you are a respected athlete. On one hand, if he went to the committee and said, "Hey I want to go to the Olympics," he'd probably be seen as a jerk who is abusing his status as a way to get to the Olympics. On the other hand, if he just goes personally and anonymously, and someone spots him from the media, then everyone starts trying to talk to him and saying like, "Why are you just sitting out here? Don't great former Olympic athletes such as yourself deserve some special treatment?" It's like inviting yourself to a party or just showing up somewhere. Sometimes it's better to avoid the awkwardness and just stay home. Besides, I'm sure he can afford a great HDTV to watch the game in.

As far as giving Phelps the medal if he achieves them, that could be seen as awkward too. While some people may like passing the torch, others may just view it that now everyone in the world knows that they are no longer the best.

 

[SabresRule]

Let's not compare Spitz to the 1972 Dolphins.

IIRC, Spitz has gone on record saying he wouldn't be upset if his record gets broken.

 

[HD MM]

Dude should be nominated for the "Best facial hair for an athlete" thread!

 

[KCK_Halo]

PORNSTACHE!!!!!

 

[HD MM]

PORNSTACHE!!!!!

I was thinking the same thing! Either that or a creepy lifeguard guy of the 70's!

 

[KCK_Halo]

I was thinking the same thing! Either that or a creepy lifeguard guy of the 70's!

We have a guy on the Anaheim Ducks with a great pornstache. His name is George Parros...VERY much the ladies' man and a fan favorite. Last season outside of Honda Center, they were selling T shirts with his face and the word PORNSTACHE emblazened on top of it! (Not authorized by the Ducks, of course).

 

[riffjim4069]

Personally, I think Spitz is being "overlooked" by the IOC and has a right to bitch. However, his having a right to bitch is different than venting his frustration in the press during an Olympiad. Spitz should have taken this matter directly to the IOC and kept his yap shut in public. I'll agree that he did come across as a spoiled, whining little cry-baby. Of course, that's why Spitz will fade into the distance next month...because he has always been an arrogant jackass. And he wonders why he didn't receive an invite from the IOC?

 

[markh]

"They voted me one of the top five Olympians in all time," Spitz said. "Some of them are dead. But they invited the other ones to go to the Olympics, but not me. Yes, I am a bit upset about it."

That's why he has a reason to bitch a little. If they invited other athletes, they should have invited him.

Pornstache? No it was the seventies, everybody had 'em.

 

[mattsarz]

We have a guy on the Anaheim Ducks with a great pornstache. His name is George Parros...VERY much the ladies' man and a fan favorite. Last season outside of Honda Center, they were selling T shirts with his face and the word PORNSTACHE emblazened on top of it! (Not authorized by the Ducks, of course).

Dude, that's Dennis Eckersley wearing a hockey jersey.

 

[KCK_Halo]

He looks like a young Eck till you get close to him and he's like 6'5" and weighs 240 lbs. of incredible mass! The guy is HUGE!!!!!

 

[Charise]

Hot guy (and poster) at the time!! I had the poster...

Other former swimming record-holders and Olympians have been presenting the medals at the ceremonies. He has every right to bitch, especially if he is on record as not minding if Phelps breaks his record. It would have been a nice touch to have him award Phelps's 8th gold at this Olympiad should he win an 8th.

 

[SabresRule]

He has every right to bitch, especially if he is on record as not minding if Phelps breaks his record. It would have been a nice touch to have him award Phelps's 8th gold at this Olympiad should he win an 8th.

That's the big thing.

Unlike the 1972 Dolphins, he doesn't mind the idea of his record being broken.

 

[Paul Wozniak]

PORNSTACHE!!!!!

ROFLMAO! You beat me to that one. That was exactly what I was thinking.

 

[salsadancer7]

That's why he has a reason to bitch a little. If they invited other athletes, they should have invited him.

But he is bitching like he is entitled to be there because there is a chance his record will be broken. Do we know what were the circumstances the OTHER champions were invited? No....and I am sure there have been OTHER Olympic champions that were not invited and you didn't hear them bitch to the media.

 

[vurbano]

All of you "men" done posting pics of guys you think are attractive? Someone go collect their man cards from them and kick them out of the sports section.

 

[salsadancer7]

All of you "men" done posting pics of guys you think are attractive? Someone go collect their man cards from them and kick them out of the sports section.

LMAO!! And don't forget the love of their staches.....LOL