Stet Sports Blog

It’s official: Michael Phelps has been named the 2008 Sportsman of the Year by Sports Illustrated. Phelps is the first swimmer to earn the prestigious honor, and this will be SI’s last nationally-relevant issue of the year, given that their only other issue that draws attention features practically naked women.

There is something to be said about the Baltimore native’s appeal to the American sports psyche. He’s aloof, rather boring, and is the greatest of all time in a sport that no one really cares about three out of every four years. But there’s something about him that continues to draw people to an achievement that will likely be once-in-a-lifetime.

Perhaps it is the relative anonymity of swimming that captivates us. Sports fans always want athletes to go faster, jump higher, throw harder and smile brighter than they ever have before. But our general conscience doesn’t equate those desires with swimming. The activity is more reserved for our personal memory banks, like body image issues when we were teenagers.

Or maybe its because he’s exactly how we all are. Perfectly imperfect in our everyday living, but masterful in executing a particular aspect of our lives. He is one with the physical art of swimming. For others, it may be writing, music, or screwing up everything.

Whatever the case may be, he connects with us, and there’s no surprise that the people around him are ensuring that his connection is long lasting by bringing the sport into the Michael Phelps brand. As Tiger Woods did with golf, many are hopeful Phelps will do with the swimming pool.

So rejoice, today it’s Sports Illustrated saluting Michael Phelps. Tomorrow, you’ll be back to being self-conscious about your stomach in a bathing suit.

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