The D Spot

SCOOP (17 Aug): Michael Phelps Wins Record-Breaking 8th Gold Medal at Beijing Games

(FoxNews coverage here)

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When Mark Spitz won his 7 golds in the 1972 Athens Olympics he became an instant superstar and a world icon. I was in my early teens then and I thought I fell in love with him. Some of my high school classmates also fell in love with him.  I collected all the Mark Spitz newspaper and magazine cut outs that I could get hold of. I would always be excited and look forward to reading new things about him. I even wrote him letters and asked for his picture and an autograph. I continued doing so for a few years until I went to college. Every time I would hear about him, my heart would skip a beat.

Now that he is being mentioned again because his record is at stake, surpassed by another co-patriot, I am apt to reminisce the innocence of my youth, when life was so easy, when all else was rosy and sheer fantasy. When the environment was clean, rivers were crystal clear, the provincial air was fresh, and the morning mist so cool. When college relationships were fun, and poetry innocent.

Fast forward to 2008–in Beijing is another superstar in the making (or already made), in the name of Michael Phelps, now holding 6 golds, and aiming for 2 more, to surpass the 7 golds that Mark Spitz achieved in 1972. It seems like he will get his 2 more. Another icon in the making, another good looking guy. I am not sure though if the youth would go gaga over him, as I do not hear my 3 girls talking about him. Yes, they know him as the American swimmer who’s winning one gold after another, but not with the same ardor that I had when I was their age.

Times are so different now. The girls would rather chat with their friends, openly talk about boys, talk on phone, watch movies, read books, and be with their friends. The boys talk about the rising cost of gas, how slow the internet crawls, they upload and listen to their different type of music, watch cartons, NatGeo, blog, play elecronic games and gadgets, upload pictures in Multiply–they have so many things to do, so many extra curriculars in school, such that at times they would find themselves too sleepy to go to their rooms, thus finding themselves asleep in the couch or in another sibling’s room till morning. I cannot complain though, I can only be there to lend a hand, listen, give company, advise, make my presence felt, yes–give them money, and love them in a mom’s special way.

And I thought my post was all about Michael Phelps and Mark Spitz. lol!

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