Olympic Snub
Filed under: Zportz
You can't be in the spotlight forever!
As most of you know, Golden Boy Michael Phelps is trying to break the record set by Mark Spitz in 1972 for the most gold medals won by an athlete in a single Olympic Games (seven).
However, Spitz is spitting mad that he wasn't invited by NBC or the Olympic committee to attend the games in Beijing.
He thinks he should have been invited to the Games this year, with Phelps making a go at his record:
"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…They voted me one of the top five Olympians in all time. 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.""
Seriously?
He sounds like a bit of a diva.
Maybe that's why they wanted to keep him away!
Spitz is now a stockbroker and motivational speaker.
He also thinks he could have won eight golds himself in Munich if only he had had the chance:
He says, "I won seven events. If they had the 50m freestyle back then, which they do now, I probably would have won that too."
We really hope Phelps breaks Spitz's record!
[Image via WENN.]
michael phelps is a GOD!!!!! sooooo hot!!!
ew he sounds like poop on a tsick
Gush get over it theres a new generation of amazing talent….MICHAEL PHELPS!
YUM!
Erm…I don't doubt that he would have won it, but he could atleast be a little 'humble'.
Michael Phelps would have kicked his ass back then and he can still do it now.
He doesn't sound like a diva to me. Someone with his record should have most definitely been invited to the Olympics. I don't understand why he wasn't. He represented his country and did us proud and now you call him a diva, Perez? You act like a diva and wtf have you done for the U.S.? If I were him I'd be upset too. Shame on you, Perez, for trying to stir up shit when there's no shit to be stirred.
Erm…I don't doubt that he would have won it, but he could atleast be a little 'humble'.
Michael Phelps would have kicked his ass back then and he can still do it now.
Erm…I don't doubt that he would have won it, but he could atleast be a little 'humble'.
Michael Phelps would have kicked his ass back then and he can still do it now.
I think Spitz does have a reason. I mean he's a great athlete and I'm sure he would've love to see Michael swim. But he's supposed to be rich right? So why can't he just take a 2 and half week break and watch him?
NOOOO PEREZ, we finally disagree on something.
SPITZ IS THE ORIGINAL!!!!!! He should have been invited.
You would be a diva too had you won 7 Gold Medals in the Olympics.
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They should've invited him but ya know when you see someone breaking a record of yours it probably hurts I don't blame him for his feelings and what he's saying but records are meant to be broken so….
I'd be a little pissed too :/
yuck poop on a stick is what he sounds like
AND MICHAEL PHELPS=GORGEOUS minus the eyebrows lol
With Spitz, it always was "all about me". However, he *DID* win 7 gold medals. But, to be honest, that really has nothing to do with Phelps. It's Phelps magic moment now Mark, let him enjoy it. You had yours.
xoxo, Isa
Humble pie is delicious, Mark. You may want to try it sometime.
The sassy bitch needs to get over it!!
You're right. he does soind like a lil diva. There's no reason he should've been invited. They can't invite all the past record holders to the games just in case their records are beaten. That's dumb!
What a dick. I hope his records fall fast and hard.
I've met mark spitz and he is a total asshole in person. He doesn't let people forget about what he did in 72 at the olympics. I think it was a wise choice to not invite him to the games. He would have tried to take the spotlight away from phelps. It's phelp's time ti shine, back off old man. And if he wanted to be there so bad, then whip out your amex and get a ticket and fly there. case closed!
Sounds like Spitz may have burned some bridges with NBC or the IOC, in the past.
Instead of waiting for an invite…did he take the initiative and ask for one?
Spitz is right, they should have brought him to the Olympics to talk about the races, especially Phelps' races.
I hope Phelps does NOT win 8 gold. There is a very good possibility that he won't. The American relay barely won against the French (won by a fingertip and it wasn't because of Phelps). The Aussies and the South Koreans are going to be on Phelps' ass.
I think Spitz will get the last laugh. By the way, the NBC coverage stinks.
OOOOOh, this silver haired fox could "motivate" me to show him my "Backwards Cowgirl" I saw demonstrated on "Talk Sex With Sue!"
Oooh, ooooo, aaaah, ooooo, GIDDYUP!
I think he has a point. He should have definitely been invited.
hes not a diva i would be EXTREMELY offended. especially since this is all they talk about.
Spitz was always an egomaniac. I personally know a girl he dated before he won those medals. He returned from the Games a full-blown egomaniac. No one wants anything to do with him because he demands to be paid for anything he does. He commits to NO FREEBIES. NBC doesn't HAVE TO invite him and pay for the trip. They know they'll get a soundbite from him no matter what. And now, there's one.
Mark Spitz should be there-even if he is a diva. He is one of the best athletes in the world and think he did all this decades ago and still looks hot! Michael Phelps deserves to be given his 7th and 8th gold medal by Spitz-how cool would that be???Get him there pronto!!!
Oh my friend…you are wrong on this one. It totally SUCKS that they didn't invite him. I'm rooting for Michael Phelps, but it will be a little bit sad to see Mark Spitz record fall. He was, and is still, pretty awesome!
I agree with LaLaLam and Chihuahuaramalamadingding (I can't remember the name) he should TOTALLY have been invited by NBC. He set the medal record in the SAME SPORT! It's not as if he won his medals in weight-lifting or figure skating or another unrelated sport. They should have invited him to not only watch but be a comentator as well. There's got to be another story regarding why he wasn't invited.
MEOW!
why don't you just go to the Olympics, doesn't he have the money, or doesn't he want to go?
seriously? HE'S A FUCKING LEGEND YOU FUCKING ASSHOLE. I'M GAY BUT YOU ARE REALLY A PIECE OF WORK FOR DISSING A NATIONAL TREASURE YOU FUCKING BITCH!!! ANYWAY TEAM CHINA!!!!! PHELPS WONT WIN THE 200M AND HE THINKS HE OWNS THE WORLD NOT KNOWING HOW MUCH OTHERS ARE TRAINING FOR THIS SHIT.
He made USA proud. He should be invited! Plus, he has right to be a diva!
Re: stefystef – A win is a win… I don't care if it was by a fingertip or a whole body length and the Olympic judges don't either. Phelps might not win all 8 events but there sure as hell is a good chance that he will.
What a cry baby. I doubt this post is true anyways. OK people, let me tell you why all sorts of swimming records are being beaten in China this year….Speedo has come out with a new bathing suit that eliminates ALL drag. It is not that the modern sportsman is any better than the older one but it all has to do with the new swim suits. And also, why are people so obsessed with this sports shit. Unless you are the person in the pool winning events…try not to get too excited
I would be pissed, too! He worked his tail off to get those medals. And, part of the deal, is not only are you a record holder but you also become a staple for the Olympics. Not being invited is just unacceptable on the Olympics part. They should be ashamed of themselves.
What a doooooooouche. And he's a stockbroker now? You don't say!
in a world of war
this guy crying he was'nt invited to the olympic's
REALLY?
I think he should be pissed. I would be. He created the benchmark for Phelps and others to follow. I would have liked to have heard is comments. He is a bit of a diva but they all are!
Spitz is a whiny baby. He's done very well turning that Olympic fame into dollars. He can get to Beijing himself, and I'm sure wouldn't have any problem getting admission into almost anywhere. Instead he wants everyone to acknowledge that he's better than any athlete currently competing. Talk about an egomaniac. I'm glad he stayed home, the US doesn't need his crap attitude.
I don't know if I would go as far as calling him a diva…nobody even knows who he is…regardless, I cannot say I blame him for being upset.
On a separate note, dude needs a haircut.
Should have been invited. For those of you not around in 1972, he was extremely well-known. Didn't seem like a diva back then, although I don't know what he's like now.
Whatta sore loser!
It's been almost half a century, get over it!
Sports records are meant to be broken, ya douche!
thats actuallu fucked up. micheal phelps is really cocky, i know first hand. im extremely surprised about this snub by nbc, but not so much by michael.
I'm glad he wasn't - I think he would be a jinx.
I PAID NINE HUNDRED FRICKEN DOLLARS FOR THE COURSE AND I HAVEN'T STOPPED BITCHIN' SINCE I GOT MY CERTIFICATE AND I WANT A FULL REFUND PLUS HOTEL AND INCIDENTAL EXPENSES!!!
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… and Spitz wants him to do it/believes that he will break the record.
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He certainly should have been invited to the games… or maybe even presented the 8th (HOPEFULLY!!!) gold medal to Phelps.
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Go Phelps!!!
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I don't know if he's a diva or not, but he absolutely should have been invited. Would have been cool to see him hand over the gold to Phelps!
Boo-Hoo!! Boo-Hoo!! I did not get my ice cream. What girl he is.
hi
This guy needs to grow up and let it go. Records are made to be broken……….You're too old to be jealous of this talented young man Michael. Or as some of us now call him.."Gold Man." Really dude, get a life. You had your day now go enjoy the benefits of AARP. GO MICHAEL GO YOU ARE GOLD MR GOLDEN BOY,, marci,ct.
he doesn't sound like a diva at all. even hank aaron was around when mark mcguire broke his record… i think it's common courtesy (and good sense) to have the legend there to witness history being broken
SO SO WRONG ON THIS ONE PEREZ. This man set and has held the record for 36 FREAKIN' YEARS!!!!! Maybe longer if Phelps doesn't win.
Just like the Tori Spelling thing. At first I wondered why he should get invited. But he DEFINITELY has a point. If they had invited the other 4 of the top 5 Olympians then the tradition should continue.
In my opinion Phelps is an even bigger asshole/douchebag. I sincerely hope he doesn't achieve his goal. I swear, if his ego inflates anymore it will blow.
It's so obvious that NBC and its corporate backers don't want the legendary Spitz or any other past heroes to take the money-making spotlight away from the so-called "golden boy". It's all about the money - GE (owners of NBC Universal), Speedo, Bank of America and AT&T want the focus squarely on Herpes Boy so that they can continue their marketing propaganda blitz.
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I do hope that he wins any relays he is in, because I don't want to deny the other swimmers their chance at a medal, but as for this stupid hideous frog-faced money-grubber, I hope that he comes in fourth in his remaining individual races!!
So he's got an ego. Big deal. He should have been invited. I can't imagine why he wasn't, but whatever the reason, that was a real low class move. He should be in Beijing as NBC's guest.
I know for a fact that Spitz does NOTHING without getting paid. I was a producer for a major network showcasing the 20th century a few years ago and he wouldn't let us include his image without getting paid. He is rewriting himself out of history. He wanted to have his expenses paid to Beijing and a hefty appearance fee. Screw him - he will be forgotten after this week. He's done it to himself.
Spitz is finally getting his well deserved snub.. For many years he has snubbed the USA Olympic team and it's sponsers.. Not to mention that he did not want to do interviews or meet fans… now that his 15 minutes of fame are really over.. he wants a few more seconds of time.. TOO LATE!!
yes, he should've been invited, but now he just sounds like a dick. "I probably would have won that one, too" - REALLY? did he realize that that was out loud?
The way he said it came off a bit diva-ish, but it would have made complete sense for him to be invited.
DIDN'T THIS MAN PRACTICALLY OPENLY ADMIT TO USING STEROIDS IN THE OLYMPICS BACK WHEN HE WON SEVEN??? WHY WOULD ANYONE INVITE HIM AND GLORIFY THAT? I'M ROOTING ON PHELPS AND ALL THOSE DOING IT NATURALLY.
Wah Wah Wah. Mark Spitz is acting like a big effing baby. Get over yourself. If you want to go, go… He's just pissed because nobody called him up and offered him an all expenses paid trip over there.
No He has reason to be upset. He is happy for Phelps… he just wanted an invite. Its not uncommon at all to get invites if you are a Champ and especially when someone is about to break your record. It's not that he is mad at Phelps.
It's not that he wasn't invited. His Visa was rejected after he spoke out about China's political policies. I agree he's a great athlete but he's whining now when he knew he wouldn't get to go.
A motivational speaker? Really, because he is not motivating me to feel any sympathy for him.
He is coming off like a total diva, not a mature motivational speaker. I think this situation calls for humble dignity on his part.
i hope phelps does not break spitz record, mark spitz has class, did not run around and get a dui because he was a celebrity, i am sure he will be said if his record is broken, but he should have been invited especially by phelps and the olympic committe, oh and if phelps does break the record he needs to thank jason lezak and garrett weber-gale, because they are the ones who one the relay medal point blank, phelps is good he may be great but he is also a narcissist!
Mark Spitz was the man before most of you were born. It would be like Michael Phelps not being invited to see his record being broken years from now. Spitz was a God too. Spitz had seven gold medals in one Olympics with record breaking times!
He should have been invited!
Absolutely he should have been invited and has a right to be pissed.
You children who weren't even born when Spitz was the greatest athlete in the USA need to learn a little respect.
I think this man earned an invitation.
Why should they invite him he has enough money to pay his own way. Sorry no free rides. If he wanted to go bad enough he would of gone on his own dime.
I already fon´t like him. What an a-hole.
He has a right to be upset. I think they should have invited Spitz there, they invite all other kinds of people there and because Phelps is such a large figure in the event of swimming, breaking records, and such, it would have been great to get Spitz spin on things. I doubt Spitz would have been hurt, he probably would have just wanted to be there to see his records get broken. No respect…
Poor Spritz. They really should have invited him, so he could see Michael kick his ass in person!! LOL. Go Michael!
Like come on, he's managed to get a lot of mileage out of being the USA's best athlete since the early 70's for gods sake, he's just pissed that he will probably have to hand the reins over to someone else now and he can't use it as a talking point for business and social gatherings in the Hamptons. Get over it Spitz, i'd be happy that the USA was doing so well, and i wouldn't expect the Olympic body to pay for me to go over if i could more than afford it myself. CHEAP ASS.