Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Larger than Life

I almost thought about snapping a picture with my camera phone but then I thought better of it. People always think that’s discreet but I will tell you from experience that it’s not. I can’t really remember a time I’ve ever asked to take a picture with someone or requested an autograph but in this instance I simply wanted one so I could post it on my blog and have a picture to accompany the story. But after I realized that wasn’t worth the cheesiness of it, I changed my mind. You’ll just have to take my word for it.

Michael Phelps is kind of puny. I don’t mean that in a bad way, I’m just being honest. I thought he was going to be this massive, colossal figure that exuded a presence over the entire room, but he did not. He blended in. It was hard to tell him apart from all the other disproportionate bodies gliding through the dining hall. Of course I don’t mean that in a bad way either, I just have always found it amusing how swimmer’s body are so triangular – large, massive shoulders that give way to an itty-bitty waist and a missing derriere. Phelps falls right into that category, as I would have imagined, except he just seems to be missing about 20 pounds and 5 inches. This is all based on my perception of him; I have never actually seen the guy in person until last night. I suppose if the T.V. can make Tom Cruise look like a normal sized person, it creates giants out of our athletes. Such is the case with this man.

18 comments:

Eternal Lizdom said...

Did you talk to him or just admire from afar?

Anonymous said...

Ms. Glenn,
“large, massive shoulders that give way to an itty-bitty waist and a missing derriere”
And now you know why, as a young, upper-middle class, total whiteboy, I fell head-over-heels for the “sprinter girls” that came for out of district meets from the inner city. The TOTAL opposite of that description. And how it changed my life …

But I know what you mean. After years of reading about Kenny Roberts crushing the European competition in the Motorcycle Grand Prix’s premier 500cc class for Yamaha, I finally met him. He was all of about 5’ 4” tall! Wow. Photo’s and the written descriptions of his victories gave this ‘larger-than-life’ feel to him.

Besides, can you think of any more over-hyped athlete recently than that Phelps kid?

Jon Lustig said...

As someone who knows just how close he came to playing division 1 football, the thing that really blew me away about what Phelps did last Summer was simply the idea of him being able to turn it on day after day after day after day like he did. One of the most amazing things I've ever seen. What you said about him on TV is interesting, of course I'm way out of date for this, but It never seemed to me that production people went out of their way to present athletes the way you're talking about during competition, the way they usually do for movie stars and the like. As far as I know he's still 6'4, I can't imagine that doesn't make him stand out anywhere.

@Daniel, you've reminded me that we have to get Bri on a motorcycle somehow, unless something like that is prohibited by her membership at the OTC of course. Some good friends even got me to do track runs on a CBR600 while I still had the chance. Flagrantly illegal at that age, but it's not like I had time to wait.

Anonymous said...

From "Me", not to be confused with Anonymous!

Why do you listen to the idiots here on your blog?.........Including Me!

Your life's purpose is RUNNING AND JUMPING! But sometimes I question this.

My god! Think about every person who has watched you perform in your entire life! Do you actually realize how many little girls you have influenced! And still are!

Power is sexy! Finish line or in the sand pit! Oh La La!

He should have asked for your autograph!

Get your head straight!

A long time ago, I was playing baseball, and was at an event where the Sy Young winner was there (spelling?), and I mentioned to him after the dinner in the meet and greet that my brother and he played together. He, asked if I wanted his autogragh. I said, no, do you want mine?

There are many who think their shit doesn't stink.

Michael is not larger than life. Neither are you.

I think you both have big head.

He is done with competitive swimming.

Since you associate with him..........are you?

Me

t.v. said...

I can "see" to a certain extent where "Me" is coming from.

You're a star track athlete with titles behind your name. You're the Irish double Champion of 2009. He definitely should have been asking for your autograph.

Do you not think?

Brianna said...

I don't know what you guys are talking about...my only point was that I saw him in the dining hall and he didn't look as big as he did on t.v. that's all.

Anonymous said...

Yea im confused by some of the comments too. I thought you didnt take a pic of the autograph just cuz you thought it was be corny.

And im sure Mike didnt stand out because he was among other athletes, some taller and bigger than him so its easier to blend in. But at around 6'4, id think he'd still look tall to me.

t.v. said...

Ok, let me break it down a "tiny bit" for the confused.:)
My comment was in reference to your first paragraph about you wanting his autograph.
Hypothetically speaking "He should have been the one asking for yours" You're a top US athlete too, or do you not place yourself in that category for people to be asking for your autograph?

Is that clear enough or do I need to break it down "tiny bit" more? *grinning*

Brianna said...

ok...well maybe you're a bit confused or i was a bit confusing. i NEVER wanted his autograph. all i was going to do was snap a picture from the next table over (not with him) just so i could post it and show everybody that he didn't look so big in real life. and i didn't do that because taking pictures of other people isn't really my thing. that's all i was saying.

Anonymous said...

Jon L.,
If I convince myself to "stimulate" the world economy and buy either the Ducati Sport 1000S or the 848, think we can get Ms. Glenn on the back?

Jon Lustig said...

@Daniel, Now those are beautiful machines, and that would certainly be a sight to see. Shame that mental picture is as close as I'll ever come to seeing it.

Anonymous said...

Jon L.,
Yes, Both of those Ducati's are hot. Makes my blood run as hot as watching the 200 meter girls set in the blocks ... but that's another story, lol.
Well, if Ms. Glenn is too afraid for a fast ride up in the Mulholland hills, I like Mom's with stretch marks too...

Jon Lustig said...

@Daniel, Mulholland Drive? perfectly alright for pictures I guess. But no, the first place I'd take her and that 848 would be to PCH and Decker Canyon. That's a road worthy of that bike. And it even starts at the ocean. Can't imagine anything more perfect than that.

Nikkie T said...

@ Bri, Everyone looks bigger on TV than they do in real life. On a different subject- I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE YOU!!!

@ Daniel & Jon L- Bri's hot and you want to see her on a motorcycle- We get it!
:)

Anonymous said...

Nikkie T.,
I never said I thought Ms. Glenn was “Hot". People have Budweiser posters for that. It's just a shame she's never experienced the fun and thrill of a fast motorcycle ride. Jon L. and I we’re doing some ‘guy sharing’ there, with our obvious mutual love of beautiful, gorgeous, fast BIKES.
Now Brit_Brat … that’d be a different post …
Or Joice Maduaka ...

Brianna said...

all this talk of motorcycles and such is interesting I'm sure, but slightly off topic. I'm sure you both have personal emails for this banter, right? I haven't even posted a picture of myself on a motorcycle in months so I don't even know how this came up.

Jon Lustig said...

Daniel mentioned meeting Kenny Roberts. Sometimes during a conversation someone will say something that connects to something random in my head for whatever reason and I'll just tug on the thread. That's just the way my silly mind works. You're right, I would've left it off the comments if I had an address to send it to (my blogger profile links to my email). Now that I think about it, it was especially silly to have gone there since I have a lot of my own stories about meeting Toronto-based athletes. I was wondering how long it would be before you decided to rap us on the knuckles for it...

Jon Lustig said...

Of the athletes I've met, probably the one most likely to be known by readers of this blog would be George Brett, who played his whole career with the Kansas City Royals and is probably one of the greatest hitters to ever play baseball. I didn't find him to be physically imposing anymore than a kid would find any adult to be. Larger than life though? for a kid who was and still is a fan of baseball more than anything else, he was absolutely that. More than that though, and I'm surprised how clearly I can remember the moment, was how he seemed to be a completely genuinely nice person and not just someone who was putting on for a fan and a kid. Meeting him was definitely a highlight of my life.
As I've said, I've met lots of other athletes; other baseball players, cfl and nhl players, indycar drivers, members of the Toronto Raptors most recently. I think meeting Brett will always be at the top of my list though.