Mark Spits:I could have kept pace with Michael Phelps


E

Empty Pockets

ex-GT Owner
Mark IV Lifetime
Le Mans 2010 Supporter
Oct 18, 2006
1,362
Washington State
"Mark Spitz claims he could have matched fellow swimmer Michael Phelps stride for stride if the two legends swam against each other in their primes, the New York Daily News reports.

Spitz, whose 1972 record of seven gold medals in a single Olympic Games was eclipsed Sunday when Phelps won his eighth, said he thinks he'd "tie" the 23-year-old phenom.

"I think that the relationship between PEOPLE THAT ("who", Mark) ARE GREAT(!) is they have a common thread of knowing how to beat their competitors and they know how to constantly be in shape and in top form," Spitz told the Daily News. "If that's the case, I'd know everything about how to beat Michael. He'd also know everything to beat me. We'd have to tie." "


Uuuuuuuh, Mr. Spitz? Mr. Phelps set 7(?) world records along the way all of which obviously BEAT the records YOU set back then. HE is in his prime(?) right NOW. YOU were in your prime back then. Sooooooooo we actually CAN compare HIS prime to YOUR prime. And he's obviously beaten ya. Case closed.

Obviously Mr. Spitz's attitude (that we all knew and loved back then) hasn't changed a darn bit over the last 36 years.

'Pinionated Pockets
 
sorry EP but i don't necessarily agree with you or Spitzs assessment here. you can't compare prime of today to prime of yesterday for a million different reasons. for one thing just like darwinism in animals people and the planet are evolving. for example the average lifespan of humans is longer today then it was 36 years ago. why is this? better medicine, nutrition, science, etc, etc, etc. so to compare prime of today to prime of yesterday imo is not fair.

i will say this though Phelps has a body structure that is far superior to most swimmers for generating the most speed in the water. his tall frame and very long limbs combined with huge hands and feet make for an extremely powerful propulsion system in the water that give him a BIG advantage over his competitors. but then maybe Spitz had superior lung and vascular power, so......

beyond ones physicality what makes a winner a champion in my opinion goes beyond their genetics and physicality though. mind over matter is what makes the difference. plenty of fighters and race horses down thru the ages have proven this......

when you take all these factors into consideration it might just be that Spitzs 7 medals in his time were a bigger accomplishment than Phelps 8 medals in his time.

as an example maybe Hank Aarons lesser home runs hit is a greater accomlishment than Barry Bonds more Homers that were steroid induced......

another example would be maybe Evel Knievels longest jump of 151 feet on a 750 lb harley with 6 inches of suspension travel was a greater accomplishment than his son Robbies longest jump at 226 feet on a 225 lb Honda with 13 inches of suspension travel......
 
Last edited:
I actually saw the clip and there was no arrogance that I detected...

But being an athlete and all of us just knowing the strides in equipment and the knowledge in training from the 70's to now.... know there's a huge margin Phelps has on Spitz..

My opinion is it was an unfair question to be asked and that it was rather rude and ignorant of the reporter to ask....

When I was a pole vaulter in college, I went 16'9" well, The women are doing that now.... so on a much smaller scale, who would win? Back then, me... now after surgeries, weight gain and jack daniels... I'd be lucky to clear 14'... so who's better? That's just on a collegiate level....


Stupid question!!!!

The pool in China was built deep and has edges that dissipate the current (waves) that are made by the competitors... producing faster times... look at the bathing suits... I can't even begin to go there......

Training.... what we knew then in regards to training doesn't even compare... foods.... rest time.... preventative maintenance etc.... the list really does go on and on...

Now if spitz was arrogant back in the 70's after wining 7 Gold Medals... well... He did win 7 GOLD MEDALS..... Maybe that rubbed some people wrong but I truly don't know...

I mean when it comes down to it, and to put it in FGT Forum terms...
Which is the better car? The original FGT 40, or todays, 40 years later, Ford GT? See what I mean EP.... It's a stupid question that some reporters boss told him to ask...... The media really pi$$e$ me off sometimes....

Sorry EP... not yelling at you, you have your opinion but the fact that they would even go to a man that made a career at being an ultimate athlete and ask him a question that most would see to be obvious (answer Phelps) just to be little him ( and in his what? 50's) is just ridiculous...

I need to go right a letter....:bored
 
:biggrin I think this is the first time I heard Tim go on a rant!! :lol:lol Go Tim GO! :lol:lol:lol

Simply put the technological changes make it impossible to compare any record against another in any aspect other than its simple achievement.

There will always be great moments in Sport but they are just that .... great moments and should be cherished as that. "I remember when I saw ..... "
 
Well I tried to refrain from commenting here, but I can tell all of you that I went swimming this summer in SPEEDOS gifted to me by Bernie of BJ Motors, inspired by ChrisA. I noticed that the neighbors still shut their drapes in disgust, my kids beg me to put something else on and that the waves bouncing off the pool walls still spill my beer. In my mind I am a legend and no one will ever take that away from me.

For what it is worth, when I look at myself in the mirror (sideways of course) all I have to do is suck my gut in and I look better than any Olympian. :cheers
 
"i will say this though Phelps has a body structure that is far superior to most swimmers for generating the most speed in the water. his tall frame and very long limbs combined with huge hands and feet make for an extremely powerful propulsion system in the water that give him a BIG advantage over his competitors."- Freddy


There you go. 'Zactly. Now, apply the same training, coaching, meals, etc., etc., and what do the ODDS tell ya? It'd kinda be like a middle weight boxing a heavy weight...sorta...if you see my point. Or to make a REALLY ridiculous comparasion, no matter how good his heart and vascular system may be, a dwarf will never outrun someone 6' tall.

But, we could go thru a bunch wouldas, couldas and shouldas 'til the cows come home...as well as ifs ands and buts. The bottom line is the facts are what they are. Phelps today is faster than Spitz was yesterday...by quite a bit.

I guess what really irritated me the most was the kinda off handed way he asserted his performance level, if you will, was JUST as great as Phelps'. You know...sorta like, "Ya, Mike may have bested me in medal count ...and he may have set 7 records too (all of which bested my times) - but, my abilities at LEAST tie his." What other athelete can you name who's seriously made a claim like that?

Okay! I'll admit it! The guy's just rubbed me the wrong way for YEARS! I guess that's my main pblm with him! SUE ME!

(It didn't help any when Mr. Spitz publically complained about not being INVITED over there to be present when his record(s) were broken, etc., either. THAT annoyed me right off the bat! ("Hey! Remember ME? I should share the spotlight with him! After all, he only earned ONE more 'medal than I!" Uuuuuuuuuuuuugh!)


Oh So Perfect Pockets
 
DPGT said:
:biggrin I think this is the first time I heard Tim go on a rant!! :lol:lol Go Tim GO! :lol:lol:lol

Simply put the technological changes make it impossible to compare any record against another in any aspect other than its simple achievement.

There will always be great moments in Sport but they are just that .... great moments and should be cherished as that. "I remember when I saw ..... "
Click to expand...

I ranted and now I feel like a little Biatch..... I'm going to my room.... Should be calling you today my friend.... been busy.... hope all is good with you and the family...:cheers
 
I'm no great fan of Mark, except that his accomplishment lasted 36 years.

However, I believe he garnered his 7 golds in 2 disciplines, whereas Michael has obtained his 8 golds in 4 disciplines. Something to think about....
 
DPGT said:
:biggrin I think this is the first time I heard Tim go on a rant!! :lol:lol Go Tim GO! :lol:lol:lol

Simply put the technological changes make it impossible to compare any record against another in any aspect other than its simple achievement.

There will always be great moments in Sport but they are just that .... great moments and should be cherished as that. "I remember when I saw ..... "
Click to expand...


Which brings up another point. To say Phelps is, "the greatest Olympian of all time", is a crock too! (Dang, Pockets! Who wound YOU up this morning!?!) There are many OTHER Olympic athletes who don't have as many medals POSSIBLE for them to win in their sport. So, if, say, a weight lifter bests HIS weight class record by, oh, 30%!!! - what would you say HIS achievement made HIM? "Second only to M. Phelps"?

Oh! One more thing! Both Phelps and Spitz earned medals in TEAM events! TEAM EVENTS! ALL of the medals they each won were NOT for individual achievement!

Okay. I'll shuddup now. (Ya. And take a pill, will ya, Pockets? Sheeeeze...)
 
Last edited:
RALPHIE said:
I'm no great fan of Mark, except that his accomplishment lasted 36 years.

However, I believe he garnered his 7 golds in 2 disciplines, whereas Michael has obtained his 8 golds in 4 disciplines. Something to think about.
Click to expand...

Please enlighten me on the disciplines..... do tell....do tell
 
STUNTS said:
Please enlighten me on the disciplines..... do tell....do tell
Click to expand...

Phelps:

Freestyle - 200m, 4x100 Freestyle Relay, 4x200 Freestyle Relay
IM (Back, Breast, Butterfly, Freestyle) - 200m, 400m
Butterfly - 100m, 200m, 4x100 Medley Relay

Spitz:

Freestyle - 100m, 200m, 4x100 Freestyle Relay, 4x200 Freestyle Relay, 4x100 Medley Relay
Butterfly - 100m, 200m

Additional:

He (Phelps) holds the record for the most gold medals won at a single Olympics; a total of eight, surpassing Mark Spitz, also a swimmer. Overall, Phelps has won 16 Olympic medals: six gold and two bronze at Athens in 2004, and eight gold at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. In winning these medals, he has twice equaled Soviet gymnast Alexander Dityatin's record of eight medals (of any type) at a single Olympics (Dityatin: Moscow 1980; Phelps: Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008). Out of his eight gold medals from Beijing, five were won in individual events, tying the record for individual gold medals at a single Games originally set by Eric Heiden in the 1980 Winter Olympics and equaled by Vitaly Scherbo at the 1992 Summer Games. Phelps ranks second in total career Olympic medals, after Soviet gymnast Larissa Latynina, who won a total of 18 medals (nine gold) spanning three Olympic Games
 
Last edited:
'Which FURTHER makes my point! :rofl

'Tanks', RALPHIE! :thumbsup
 
I believe I was referring to the disciplines... 2....4 But that is great that you found the stats to post for all of us..... None the less..... Mark Spitz's answer to the idiotic question that was asked, was a very PC statement....

I don't believe any past athlete should be forced to answer a question where the answer is DEFEAT....

Gentlemen.... It's easy..... Positive thoughts equal positive results... and once you admit to defeat.... you are done/dead/caput....

I was born in 1972, so I have no ties to Spitz, I also have no ties to Phelps...
I watched all of his races and was proud to know that he was/is competing for our team.... But to ridicule a man who is/was on our team 36 years ago because he didn't want to admit that an athlete of today is better than him... truly is pointless...

Walter Payton/Barry Sanders
Dan Marino/Brett Favre
Mark Spitz/Michael Phelps
Jesse Owens/ Bolt ( the Jamaican runner)
Dale Earnhardt/Jeff Gordon
Michael Jordan/Kobe Bryant

The list can keep going

Now... Lets talk number of medals.... A decathlete receives 1 medal for being the best in 10 events.... An all around Gymnast receives 1 medal for being the best in 6 events.... yada yada yada..

This isn't to take away from Phelps.... He is an AWESOME athlete and this isn't to belittle what he has accomplished.... this post was started because Spitz's Comments irritated EP.... and for that EP, I apologize for Mr. Spitz :biggrin

But for us to rant and rave about who is better, well Spitz' was the best in '72 and Phelps' was the best in '08.... If we want an even playing field... Let us give Spitz 1/2 of the knowledge that swimmers have gained since '72 and then lets take away half of that knowledge that Phelps has.... Also lets have the competition be 18 years ago (1/2 the time since '72/ just to be fair) So Phelps would be roughly 4 years old... and Spitz would be roughly 38 years old..... DO YOU GUYS SEE HOW RIDICULOUS THIS IS? I'll keep going if I need too...

But I will submit as EP did.... I am a guy that makes a living being an athlete.... professional? (well, I get paid for it) there are always younger men and women who are much more talented than "I" coming into this town... What defines better? My Resume? The Stunts I've done? How many times I've been put in the HOT seat? Or the abilities one has?

I know talented athletes that don't work as much as me and I know less talented athletes who work a bunch more than me.... I also know plenty of old time stunt guys out there in their 60's and 70's that can still kick my A$$...
 
"Gentlemen.... It's easy..... Positive thoughts equal positive results..."


Well now, STUNTS, lets take a look at THAT one too! :rofl:rofl:rofl:rofl:rofl

Whenever "positive thinking" is brought up, it reminds me of a CLASSIC story some tell to exemplify same. It goes something like this:

As punishment, a youngster was tossed into a room piled with horse manure almost to the ceiling. At first he was bemoaning his condition and lamenting his situation. But after a short time he suddenly began to whoop and shout and gleefully dig down frantically in to the pile of manure, whereupon (whomever had thrown him in there for whatever reason) asked him what he was so happy about. He replied, "Well, with all the manure in this place there just HASTA be a pony in here someplace!"

My basic point here being that this "illustration" of PMA at work more ACCURATELY shows that there ARE situations where all the positive thinking in the universe just won't change physical reality at all! :rofl:rofl:rofl

Regardless, I do agree with the PMA philosophy in general.:wink
 
Last edited:
STUNTS said:
I believe I was referring to the disciplines... 2....4....
Click to expand...

By disciplines, I was referring to the fact that Phelps had to swim all 4 strokes (in the IM win), whereas Spitz only swam freestyle and butterfly.

They are all incredible athletes - it's too bad the media gets involved to generate stupid questions that cause controversies which can never be resolved.
 
STUNTS said:
Dale Earnhardt/Jeff Gordon

The list can keep going
Click to expand...

Nope, Jeff Gordon, the list stops there..... :rofl
 
Who is the better home run hitter - Babe Ruth or Hank Aaron (or Barry Bonds :biggrin).

Impossible to answer. What do you think Babe Ruth would have said if he were around to ask? What would Aaron say about Bonds?

What is a better car, the original GT40 (4 Le Mans titles) or the modern Audi R8/R10s (8 titles)? It is a pointless question.

I saw Spitz's interview after Phelps got the eighth medal and thought he was incredibly gracious and classy throughout his remarks about Phelps. (Phelps didn't really return the favor). Regardless, if you ask a competitive person (especially one that was the best at what he/she did at the time) if they would win or lose if challenged by the current prodigy in their prime they are probably not going to say that they would lose. I thought that, other than passing on the question entirely, Spitz's answer was appropriate.
 
Bonds is a disgrace to the game and the reason the Giants are in the situation they are in today. A one player team, Mays, then Bonds and today nobody.
Bonds is not the role model I want for my kids.... miracles through chemistry, hope he does some hard time.
 
B O N Y said:
Bonds is a disgrace to the game and the reason the Giants are in the situation they are in today. A one player team, Mays, then Bonds and today nobody.
Bonds is not the role model I want for my kids.... miracles through chemistry, hope he does some hard time.
Click to expand...

All righty then Daniel, please tell us how you feel.:willy:willy:willy
Seriously, couldn't agree with you more.
 
B O N Y said:
Bonds is a disgrace to the game and the reason the Giants are in the situation they are in today. A one player team, Mays, then Bonds and today nobody.
Bonds is not the role model I want for my kids.... miracles through chemistry, hope he does some hard time.
Click to expand...



...I think Perry was jus' joshin' about Bonds, Bony! :lol
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Top Bottom