MARK and wet RECORDS

The other day I wrote about Michael Phelps and his remarkable performance at the Swimming World Championships in Australia. At the time he had set three individual world records, and was part of a relay record. The meet ended last night and he added another individual WR and another Gold Medal in the 100 Fly, which he only swam in 50:77. Total of seven gold medals, five world records......four individual world records and the birth of a legend.

I was pointing out in that article about how NOBODY sets more than one, maybe two, world records at one meet....and that Michael Phelps performance was UNEQUALED in sports history......AND IT TURNS OUT I WAS ABSOLUTELY WRONG.

In 1972 MARK SPITZ won seven GOLD MEDALS at the Olympics and each event he entered, four individual and three relays........

ALL RESULTED IN WORLD RECORDS.

Michael missed a WR in 100 Fly and his 400 Freestyle relay team only swam it in 3:12:72.

MARK SPITZ was overshadowed in the 1972 Munich Olympics by something else, but I just can't remember what it was.....but it was something bad.

OK, I do remember....but I just didn't want to throw a wrench in this story about super human accomplishments. If you don't know what happen in Munich then you were probably born in the early seventies, or later, and didn't see Spielberg's movie.

Back to Michael and Mark

THE INCRIDIBLE PART OF THIS STORY HAS TO DO WITH THE TIMES.

It has been 35 years since Mark's remarkable performance....and performance times have improved in most individual sports such as Track and Field, Presidential Campaign Fund Raising and swimming.

BUT I SIMPLY HAVE A HARD TIME ACCEPTING THE DIFFERENCE IN THE RECORDS

1972 200 BUTTERFLY WORLD RECORD.......2:00.70

2007 ........................................................................1:52.09

1972 200 FREESTYLE WORLD RECORD........1:52.78

2007.........................................................................1:43.86

1972 400 MEDLEY RELAY WORLD RECORD..3:48.16

2007 400 INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY...................... 4:06.22

THE LAST ONE MEANS MICHAEL PHELPS, BY HIMSELF, WAS ONLY SIXTEEN SECONDS OFF THE RELAY ( which is four people) RECORD FROM 1972.

I guess I can really say this without the slightest hesitation....

MUST BE SOMETHING IN THE WATER

Mark Spitz deserves the recognition that he has received....his 1972 Olympic performance is the standard bearer for individual sports accomplishments....but Michael Phelps has moved into that arena of accomplishments but his times make 1972 seem like days when Wyatt Earp was having trouble with the Dalton gang.

MICHAEL PHELPS SWAM THE 100 BUTTERFLY AND THE 200 BUTTERFLY FASTER THAN MARK SPITZ SWAM THE 100 and 200 FREESTYLE....

THAT'S FREAKY!

But it's important to remember that Mark Spitz did it with A MUSTACHE AND LONG HAIR.

THAT'S FREAKY!

and one more thing.....Mark Spitz did it in his tye-dyed street clothes, and sandals.

Take that Michael!

One thing to keep in mind.....Mark retired after his record meet.

MICHAEL PHELPS APPEARS TO BE WORKING TOWARDS A LITTLE SWIMMING MEET IN BEIJING.....it's two years from now but everyone seems to think he is going to get better before he puts the fins in dry dock.

MICHAEL TIMOTHY MC ALEVEY

and regarding Reese....I mean it.....leave me alone