Open Letter to the Media Spreading Rumors Michael Phelps Won’t Swim in 2012

InGameNow has a combined 16 years of college swimming experience. We know, we know, this is pathetic. It didn’t get us laid, never made us money, and doesn’t scare anyone in a fight. However, for the first time, it puts us in a position to comment on the current Michael Phelps situation.

First and foremost, swimming only matters 1 week every four years. Think about it, the sport gets attention 1 out of 208 weeks. Athletes in our sport train for 207 weeks to have a 1 week window where the world pays attention to the pool.

There is no way Michael Phelps will skip the 2012 London Olympics. Phelps will be 27 years old when the London games occur. This puts him at the prime of his career. Walking away from the London Games would be the sports equivalent of LeBron James sitting out of the next four years of the NBA season!

Seriously, could you imagine, after the Denver incident, if Kobe Bryant had just crawled into a hole and hid for 4 years??? That would be the equivalent of Phelps skipping London. (mind you, pulling tubes is not exactly the same thing as being accused of rape)

It is a safe bet that the average sports fan could not name 6 swimmers. Five are easy: 1. Michael Phelps 2. Dara Torres (she gained huge attention for “magically” swimming in the Olympics in her 40’s) 3. Amanda Beard (partially due to her Playboy cover) 4. Gary Hall (thanks to his love of pot) 5. Mark Spitz (7 golds)

Most fans couldn’t name all five of those athletes, and odds are that if you can name more than five, you either swam, or are related to a swimmer.

Walking away from the Olympics would cost Phelps all of his endorsements. He does not have any acting skills (thanks to SNL for showing us this). He does not have a college degree. This guy has a pool, and 1, maybe 2 weeks, left in his life to take advantage of it.

Mark our words, as long as Phelps is healthy, he will be in London in 2012.

-Note to Wilbon, Phelps will be as good, or better than he was in Beijing. Don’t worry that Phelps will only make a relay.

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