Fueling Up

I told you that I'm cleaning up on the reading pile this weekend before the drive back to the 'Hill today...

Last night I came across Michael Sokolove's article on Michael Phelps in the August 8, 2004 issue of New York Times Magazine....Sorry, no link right now, I didn't pull it fast enough...Hey, I've been busy...After reading the article, my question is why should we find it strange that Phelps is surrounded by family and coaches, who are watching his caloire intake, his non-contaminated fluids, his diet, and his appearance and workout schedules? Hell, that's been happening for years in the tennis, basketball, football, and golf worlds. Why wouldn't it be happening to an Olympian, who is making a million plus a year through Speedo and other sponsors?

I did think this was a good point when comparing some of Phelps's dealings with endorsers to the sponsorships of Mark Spitz's after the Munich Olympics in '72.

"Speedo has put up a $1 Million bonus if Phelps can match Spitz's seven golds- an oddity, give that Spitz's image suffered in the wake of his 1972 medal haul from a perception that his too-public eagerness to cash in was somehow crass. But that was another era. Now big money validates a sport and crowns an athlete as someone who must be watched."

The comparsions to Spitz are easy to find, but how about the comparsion to former gold medal collector, Matt Biondi. What the hell?...May be a more attainable legend to emulate. Ian Thorpe just blew away Phelps in the 200 Freestyle this afternoon.

This is dope...Check out Olympic Triathlete Hunter Kemper's Power Berry Smoothie recipe from the same magazine.

Power Berry Smoothie
1/2 cup fresh or slightly thawed frozen strawberries
1/2 cup fresh or slightly thawed frozen rasberries
1/4 cup low-fat vanilla yogurt
1 1/2 cups milk
2 tablespoons of honey
1 tablespoon soy protein powder
4 Ice Cubes (I think the cubes may be optional...BD)

Nice shake...I'm telling you 'Weaver Street' is going to get hit when I get back to town...

I'm off for 1-95 with the 'Blues' section on my iPod stocked and ready to be pumped through a rental car stereo. Watch for me down the road...I'll be the one with the foot hanging out of the driver's side window.

I am going to the Orioles/A's game tonight at Camden Yards. This is my first visit to the 'Yards', and I'm looking forward to it. After all, this is the one entity that had the most impact on the urban enviroment in the last two decades. The ballpark craze has touched every city since the inception of Camden Yards. I'm interested to see how it measures up against Pac Bell Park and Comerica Park.

Unfortunately, I get the worst of the A's starting rotation tonight with Mark Redman going against Erik Badard, who is 5-6 with a 4.32 ERA. Redman has had solid starts in three of his last four games, but I had him on my fantasy team as my fifth starter, and he puttered....I'm still simmerin'...This should be a hitting feast.

Tomorrow night, the Dead at Walnut Creek?

'Going Down the Road Feelin' Bad,
IronDog