Pdge AT cr i307 ~ The Lion What Makes h By Thomas Alan McGlinchey Lions Eye Sports Editor tam5160@psu.edu He’s been called a fish, superman, and a beast, but who is he? He’s Michael Phelps. He has broken so many world records that he tied the great Mark Spitz for all- time records with 32. Phelps has even broken records that he held himself. This year he holds the record for the 200 freestyle, 200 Individual Medley(IM), 400IM, 200 butterfly, along with many more from earlier years and some relay records, such as the 4x100 freestyle, 4x100m medley, and the 4x200m medley. As many people know, Phelps is the most decorated gold ssiodalist in Olympic history with a whopping 14 gold medals in 2 Olympic Games (2004, 2008). The most amazing feat happened this past August where he passed Mark Spitz for the most gold medals in one Olympics with 8. What does Michael Phelps possess that helped him surpass Spitz?. One thing that Phelps has i is determination. His dedication to prove people wrong is one thing that willed him to 8 gold medals. It is well documented that during the-2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece, a fellow swimmer of Phelps, named Ian Thorpe or “The Thorpedo” said that Phelps would never tie or pass Spitz record of 7 gold medals. When Phelps read this in a local paper in Greece, he tore it out and hung it in his locker for inspiration. He still has it in his to this day. The article made Phelps determined to prove Thorpe wrong. Phelps loves people to say that le can not do some- thing because he loves to defy their negativity. During these past Olympic Games in Beijing, China, a French swimmer Alain Bernard was quoted as saying that his team was going to destroy the US team in the 4x100m freestyle relay, which the US team found out about. When the time came for the relay to start, the US team was fired up because of the quote. First off the block was Phelps, but he gave them a lead as thought. The finish was close; the US team was be- 's:Eyé AatT September 23, 2008 ael Phelps Great? out-touched him by .08 of second, which was the closest win for Phelps until the 200m butterfly, where Phelps won the race by the smallest margin you could win by without losing, .01 of a second. One of the most remarkable things about Michael Phelps great is that despite his natural talent, his demeanor is one of complete relatxation and one of the things Phelps’ has gone on record about is the fact that music soothes him. He was spotted before every race in the 2004 and 2008 Games with headphones on. There was some inquiry as to what he was listening most before he arrived on the deck this year in Bei- jing, he replied, “I’m me, by Lil Wayne.” Music in general is the one thing that calms Michael down. He may get nervous before going out onto the blocks but as long as he has those ear buds in his ears he seems to be relaxed to no end. In the end, many people can call Michael what they want but one thing is true, he is great. Olympian record breaker Michael Phelps. photo courtesy of Stefan Ming rom thesports- : § Slow. blogspot. com) hind the French in the final 50m, when otit of nowhere Jason Lezak caught Bernard and 2008 Beijing By Thomas Alan McGlinchey Lion's Eye Sports Editor tam5160@psu.edu In this year’s Olympic Games, Michael Phelps’ success dominated the headlines around the world. But there were other firsts in this year’s Olympics that shouldn’t be forgotten. One of the major sports feats was in both the US Men’s and Women’s beach volleyball teams. Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh made history in Beijing being the only team to repeat gold medals in consecutive Olympics. They succeeded in their goal and won their second consecu- tive gold medal. The US Men’s wich volleyball team gave us Phil Dalhousser and Todd Rodgers won their first Olympic gold. Both US Men’s and Women’s beach vol- leyball teams won gold medals in the same Olympics, that has never been done before by any country. When many people think of Kobe, Wade, and other basketball play- ers that are stars in America, they think of the NBA. But the reality is that during the Olympics the stars are considered ambas- sadors of the country. The US team was very embarrassed over the last outcome of the Olympic Games in Athens, and because of this, the 2008 team was dubbed the “Redeem” team. One star return- ing from the disappointment in Athens and looking at gold was LeBron James. Redeem was the team’s main goal and did they ever! . Winning all of their match- ainst teams of equal or lesser star ups a Olympic Wrap-Up power the USA Olympic team dominated the field, and went on to capture the gold medal. The US Women’s basketball teany . also took home gold. Lisa Leslie was one of the driving forces in the Women’s domi; nance of the court. She made history by collecting her 4th and final Olympic gold. What made this gold special is that, she is the only player, male or female, to collect 4 gold medals in 4 consecutive Olympics in basketball. On the softball field, the US team received the silver. Jennie Finch, who is one of the stars of the USA softball team, is supposedly hanging up the cleats if a softball circuit is not reinstated in 2016. In track and field, the US was not able to outshine the Janaican team, which took most of the individual events. Tyson Gay, the fastest American, was sidelined due to an injury to his hamstring leading up to the Olympics, and he didn’t even make into the finals of the 100m dash. Instead, the spotlight was set for the Jamaican men to take the gold. Usain Bolt and Powell Asafa were the front runners to finish 1st and 2nd. In the end, Bolt was victorious and Asafa did not even place on the medal stand finishing. 5th overall. On the women’s side of the en’s team of Shelly-Ann Fraser, Sheron Simpson, and Kerron Stewart. This is the first ever sweep of an Olympic 100m dash. Fraser took home the gold for the Jamai- can women, and she was followed behind by Simpson and Stewart, who finished almost identical for the silver. NBC hosted this year’s 2008 Olympic Games from Beiging China. (photo courtesy of the AP) 19/27 @ PSU Hazleton @ 12:00 pm PSU Brandywine . Sports Schedule = Baseball 00 10/4 @ PSU York @ 12:00 pm 00 a’ il Tennis 9/25 vs. PSU Abington @ 3:00 pm @ Brandywine 9/27 vs. PSU York @ 12:00 pm @ Brandywine 10/4 vs. PSU Wilkes-Barre @ 12:00 pm @ Brandywine 10/10 vs. PSU Lehigh Valley @ 3:00 pm @ Brandywine - 10/11 vs. Penn College @ 12:00 pm @ Brandywine Soccer: 100m, the gold went to the Jamaican wom- : oe P/23 @ PSU Abington @ 4:00pm a D/27 @ PSU York @ 1:00pm D/30 @ PSU Hazleton @ 6:00pm 10/2 2 vs. PSU Schuykill @ 4:00pm @ Brandywine 10/4 vs. PSU Ment Alto @ 1:00pm @ Brandywine 10/8 vs. PSU Wilkes Barre @ 4:00pm @ Brandywine 10/12 vs. PSU Greater Allegheny @ 1:00pm @ Brandywine Volleyball 9/24 vs. Harcum @ 6:00pm @ Brandywine 10/ 4 vs. PSU Mont Alto @ 1:00pm @ Brandywine 10/11 vs. PSU Fayette @ 1:00pm @ Brandywine 10/16 vs. PSU Valley Forge @ 7:00pm @ Brandywine
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers