Rant: Michael Phelps Mom

[docellis]

I don't think it makes anyone a [expletive] [expletive] to be happy about money....

[TimeForGuinness]

I'm just jealous of all the olympic ass he's tapping.

[phins]

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.

And due to the face he had a disinterested father, she pretty much raised him on her own.

It's all for television, of course.

[phins]

For real?

Anyway, I'd be happy too because her son is about to make some serious cash in endorsments.

They said he is currently making 5 million per year in endorsements, so he must be ready to make a ton more. Still, 5 million is plenty of money for her to be happy.

Come on, do you really think her pride and happiness FOR HIM and IN HIM have anything to do with money?? Unless she's a total [expletive] [expletive], it's about him not money.

Where did I say that it did?

[tothebeach08]

I don't think it makes anyone a [expletive] [expletive] to be happy about money....

No, but I'm sure she's more happy about his success and accomplishments than about the money he will make. Apparently he's already making a ton of money. I just doubt that she's thinking about that at all. If she's anything like me, when she watches him she's not seeing what everyone else is seeing, but she's seeing him at his first swim lesson or she's seeing him smiling at her with. She doesn't see him as a grown man, he's her little boy.

Gee, I'm losing my mind today. I'll just make a group apology to everyone, I'm gonna go drinking tonight.

[tothebeach08]

I'm just jealous of all the olympic ass he's tapping.

You are one of the deepest people ever.

[phins]

I'm just jealous of all the olympic ass he's tapping.

You are one of the deepest people ever.

This made me laugh...

[tothebeach08]

I'm just jealous of all the olympic ass he's tapping.

You are one of the deepest people ever.

And I mean that in a good way, the best possible way....ever.

[jim]

I guess I will have to be blunt...

I personally like watching the athletic competitions and don't like the side stories. Many share that feeling I think, and get kind of tired of the secondary stories. Obviously, some do not and find that it enhances the athletic event.

I think we all "prefer" to watch the athletic aspect. But what do you suggest between races? Would you really rather watch Phelps shower and stretch for 15 minutes?

Really, the Olympics are (and always have been) more about personal achievements as much as athletics. The human interest aspect of that plays a big role, and Phelps' mother is a pretty good example. It's not your typical Sunday Night Football game.

Maybe if you tell me what the story is I'll enjoy it. So far, I see an adoring mother who is proud of her son that has shattered olymic records. So, her and about 20,000,000 mothers if they were in that same boat .. right?

The story is that she's a dedicated school teacher who worked in the classroom until 10:00 PM some nights, and Michael's credits his mother for instilling that dedication in him, and for getting him to focus on swimming even though he was diagnosed with ADD.

It's not worthy of a made-for-TV movie, but I don't mind the snippets between swimming events.

I will agree that it's not worthy of a made-for-TV movie for sure. Definitely on the same page there.

[haltz]

They like to show a human side to the athletes, you know because they are human.

They do it so that you'll tune in.