NationStates Jolt Archive


What Should Michael Phelps Do Now?

Anti-Social Darwinism
18-08-2008, 06:40
other than go to Disneyland?

Here is this young man, 23 years old, who has realized all his (publicly stated) dreams and ambitions. Where does he go from here? If there is one thing worse than never realizing any of your dreams and ambitions, it's realizing all of them before you've even had a good start at life.

Now he has to do the hardest job of all, develop another set of dreams and ambitions that, while they may not contain the glory and adrenalin highs of winning more gold medals than anyone, will lead to long-lasting satisfaction and fulfillment.

What should he do? What would you do?
Barringtonia
18-08-2008, 06:45
Go back to his fag-hating family and picket soldier funerals, convinced more than ever that God is on their side.

Wait, which Phelps?
Gartref
18-08-2008, 06:45
Figure skating. If he's man enough.
Sdaeriji
18-08-2008, 06:52
I'd say he should swim competitively. He seems to be alright at it.
Mirkana
18-08-2008, 07:06
Three ideas:
1. Stay in the Olympics, try to break some more records (career gold medals?).
2. Different focus on swimming - do some endurance stuff. Set the record for swimming the Atlantic.
3. Join the Navy SEALs. Put his talents to actual use.
Cannot think of a name
18-08-2008, 07:18
Three ideas:
1. Stay in the Olympics, try to break some more records (career gold medals?).
Already done, I believe.

I don't know. What has Mark Spitz been doing for the last 30 some years?
Sdaeriji
18-08-2008, 07:22
Already done, I believe.

I don't know. What has Mark Spitz been doing for the last 30 some years?

Really? I would have thought you would have known this out of anyone here.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Spitz#Film_and_television_career
greed and death
18-08-2008, 07:36
become alcoholic. kill some one in a car crash get away with it because he is a celebrity and rich.
Blouman Empire
18-08-2008, 08:38
I heard on a news report about him with marketing experts claiming that he has the potential to earn USD100 million in endorsements.

That is a lot of money so what does he really need to do wen he has all this money?

Well nothing he can buy a few houses around the world, a jet get married have kids (if he already hasn't) and relax just going to the odd school to talk to kids about dreams, hope and perseverance. Not to mention get paid to be apart of any sporting bids for America, and appear every now and then on talk shows, he might even get a commentary job.
Dumb Ideologies
18-08-2008, 08:43
I doubt he really needs to do anything except collect all the endorsement money and live off that the rest of his life.
Call to power
18-08-2008, 08:46
he wears his cap at an angle and is a sports star. (can you already guess?)

I'd sell myself to the circus as a freak :)
Sirmomo1
18-08-2008, 08:53
he might even get a commentary job.

"Yeah, aha, they're like, aha, putting one arm, I guess, in front of, aha, another Or something. Aha, neat."
Cannot think of a name
18-08-2008, 09:01
Really? I would have thought you would have known this out of anyone here.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Spitz#Film_and_television_career

I was going to say, "why me?" then I read the link.

Apparently he listens to hip hop on his headphones before swimming...rap career? "Career" in the same terms as K-Fed...?

If he really wants to prove he's the best thing with arms and legs in the water, synchronized swimming! (http://video.aol.com/video-detail/mens-synchronized-swimming/1980340333)
Lunatic Goofballs
18-08-2008, 10:28
As he is a mutant, he should be encouraged to breed as much as possible. *nod*
Gauthier
18-08-2008, 10:29
The scandal tape should be armed and ready for release at this point.
Vydro
18-08-2008, 10:35
As he is a mutant, he should be encouraged to breed as much as possible. *nod*

He should try and break the world record in sleeping with the most women possible. Who holds that one? Wilt Chamberlain claimed he had 20,000 "partners" throughout his life...
Cannot think of a name
18-08-2008, 10:52
As he is a mutant, he should be encouraged to breed as much as possible. *nod*

Indeed. He should breed with that 40some year old chick, and Usian Bolt with some lightening quick runner...then their offsprings should mate.

And then, that offspring should get a costume and fight crime.
Cameroi
18-08-2008, 10:55
i knew an AL phelps once. he was a railroad historian in one of the little towns i grew up in. don't know nothin bout this mike feller.
IL Ruffino
18-08-2008, 11:02
Why can't he just keep competing?
Lapse
18-08-2008, 11:19
Like Thorpey before him: Sell out, start his own swim wear company, and be selected as a gay rights groups' hero
Cannot think of a name
18-08-2008, 11:41
Like Thorpey before him: Sell out, start his own swim wear company, and be selected as a gay rights groups' hero

How did he sell out? Did he have a DIY ethic before hand or something? Only training at the public pool and wearing locally made swimwear?
Rambhutan
18-08-2008, 11:57
Have a shower to get rid of all that chlorine.
Katganistan
18-08-2008, 12:03
Whatever he wants. :)
Call to power
18-08-2008, 12:10
Whatever he wants. :)

ewww I would of thought you had better tastes
Maineiacs
18-08-2008, 12:12
Three ideas:
1. Stay in the Olympics, try to break some more records (career gold medals?).

He has that. Right now he's tied for most total career medals (of any color) with 16, tied with Soviet Gymnast Larisa Latyninna ('56 and '60 Olympics). really the only thing left to do (in a competitive sense) is to try to break that tie at London in '12.
Jerusalem Light
18-08-2008, 12:16
Join the Mars mission to rejoin his people.
Lunatic Goofballs
18-08-2008, 12:18
How did he sell out? Did he have a DIY ethic before hand or something? Only training at the public pool and wearing locally made swimwear?

Making lots of money doing what you love = selling out. Didn't you know that?
Katganistan
18-08-2008, 12:24
Whatever he wants. :)

ewww I would of thought you had better tastes

??????
Lapse
18-08-2008, 12:34
Making lots of money doing what you love = selling out. Didn't you know that?

Exactly! If I can't make money from doing the things I enjoy then noone should be able to <_<

It's the Australian fair-go thing...
BunnySaurus Bugsii
18-08-2008, 12:47
He should dedicate the next ten years of his life to charitable works, by which time his olympic records (and records of medals) will be far eclipsed by other althetes.

Then he should go into politics. Two terms in the Senate, then a Presidential run.

Alternatively, he could get a job. :D
Lunatic Goofballs
18-08-2008, 12:56
Indeed. He should breed with that 40some year old chick, and Usian Bolt with some lightening quick runner...then their offsprings should mate.

And then, that offspring should get a costume and fight crime.

Somehow we will have to work Lance Armstrong into this selective breeding program.
Blouman Empire
18-08-2008, 12:58
Like Thorpey before him: Sell out, start his own swim wear company, and be selected as a gay rights groups' hero

Don't forget move to another country, gorge on meat pies, so you gain enough weight so you can't compete, get hired by a subscription TV company and appear on shows which you have no idea about and then wander around at the next Olympics wearing a hoodie and sunglasses desperately seeking attention.
Blouman Empire
18-08-2008, 13:00
"Yeah, aha, they're like, aha, putting one arm, I guess, in front of, aha, another Or something. Aha, neat."

Hey there are plenty of commentators for swimming events.
Rambhutan
18-08-2008, 13:00
Let's hope it doesn't involve a Hollywood remake of The Man from Atlantis.
H N Fiddlebottoms VIII
18-08-2008, 13:03
He should rack up a quick 100 million or so doing endorsements, and then become a supervillain. He's already got the freakish physical superiority down, and he's used to running (well, swimming) around in public wearing a stupid outfit.
For his first move, I suggest attacking the 2012 Summer Games with a heat ray and demanding the world wide cancellation of all organized swimming competitions to protect his records.
Cannot think of a name
18-08-2008, 13:05
Let's hope it doesn't involve a Hollywood remake of The Man from Atlantis.

Ah crap, now you said it, it's going to happen...
Rambhutan
18-08-2008, 13:09
Ah crap, now you said it, it's going to happen...

They follow me around and steal my ideas you know. They are listening in now.
Lunatic Goofballs
18-08-2008, 13:12
He should rack up a quick 100 million or so doing endorsements, and then become a supervillain. He's already got the freakish physical superiority down, and he's used to running (well, swimming) around in public wearing a stupid outfit.
For his first move, I suggest attacking the 2012 Summer Games with a heat ray and demanding the world wide cancellation of all organized swimming competitions to protect his records.

Perhaps some sort of gelling agent.
BunnySaurus Bugsii
18-08-2008, 13:14
So, no-one agrees that the best use of personal fame is to get into politics and have some real effect on the world?

Nothing but cynicism. Nothing but show-biz. Nice work, NSG.
Cannot think of a name
18-08-2008, 14:23
So, no-one agrees that the best use of personal fame is to get into politics and have some real effect on the world?

Nothing but cynicism. Nothing but show-biz. Nice work, NSG.

Well, he says he wants to change the sport of swimming, including increasing its popularity among kids thus getting kids involved in probably one of the better exercises available. And, apparently, he's concerned about Ellis Island. At least in the ad...good enough?
Peepelonia
18-08-2008, 14:39
other than go to Disneyland?

Here is this young man, 23 years old, who has realized all his (publicly stated) dreams and ambitions. Where does he go from here? If there is one thing worse than never realizing any of your dreams and ambitions, it's realizing all of them before you've even had a good start at life.

Now he has to do the hardest job of all, develop another set of dreams and ambitions that, while they may not contain the glory and adrenalin highs of winning more gold medals than anyone, will lead to long-lasting satisfaction and fulfillment.

What should he do? What would you do?


Sit back and enjoy the rewards of his work.
Vydro
18-08-2008, 16:35
He has that. Right now he's tied for most total career medals (of any color) with 16, tied with Soviet Gymnast Larisa Latyninna ('56 and '60 Olympics). really the only thing left to do (in a competitive sense) is to try to break that tie at London in '12.
Except Larisa was '56, '60, and '64...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_multiple_Olympic_gold_medalists#List_of_multiple_Olympic_gold_medals_over_career

Hes two medals down if he wants to compete with the record of all time medals. Course really, only a swimmer (MAYBE a track star) could possibly ever match his record of 8 in one games, just because no other sports have so many events. The basketball team can *never* get more than one medal, no matter if it consisted of the entire Justice League. (Superheros, woot :P)
Belschaft
18-08-2008, 16:38
Except Larisa was '56, '60, and '64...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_multiple_Olympic_gold_medalists#List_of_multiple_Olympic_gold_medals_over_career

Hes two medals down if he wants to compete with the record of all time medals. Course really, only a swimmer (MAYBE a track star) could possibly ever match his record of 8 in one games, just because no other sports have so many events. The basketball team can *never* get more than one medal, no matter if it consisted of the entire Justice League. (Superheros, woot :P)

How awsome would that be! JLA basketball team. And get them to play against the evil league of evil!
Intestinal fluids
18-08-2008, 16:43
Get his teeth fixed. When he smiles it looks like his IQ drops 30 points.
Xomic
18-08-2008, 17:02
mate with dolphins, form a race of merpeople
Zayun2
18-08-2008, 17:03
So, no-one agrees that the best use of personal fame is to get into politics and have some real effect on the world?

Nothing but cynicism. Nothing but show-biz. Nice work, NSG.

Wait, so what you're saying is that if we want to have some real effect on the world, we should go into politics? *Sneezes* As Will Smith said in a movie, "Sorry, I'm alergic to bullshit."

There are numerous ways to really change the world, and politics isn't always the best one.
Zayun2
18-08-2008, 17:12
Though I have to say, I think Phelps should just chill for awhile.

Being an Olympian is pretty strenuous, and I'm sure he's had to be away from home for a long time. So he should relax, and then train for London and break the career record.

Then, he can do whatever he wants, though hopefully he doesn't kill someoneor something bad like that.
JuNii
18-08-2008, 17:57
What should he do? What would you do?

Beat Larissa Latynina (http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Which_Olympic_athlete_has_won_the_most_total_medals_in_the_history_of_the_Olympic_Games) record of most career medals won.

she won 18 medals in her olympic career. 9 gold, 5 silver, and 4 bronze for a total of 18 medals.

he's close to breaking it anyway...

Then set the bar somwhere in the mid 20's.
The Alma Mater
18-08-2008, 18:29
Go back to his fag-hating family and picket soldier funerals, convinced more than ever that God is on their side.

Wait, which Phelps?

Oooh, yes.
Change his name to not be associated with the loonies. Great publicity stunt :)
Dumb Ideologies
18-08-2008, 18:31
What should he do next? Hopefully something he really sucks at. He's had more than his fair share of being good at things.
Maineiacs
18-08-2008, 18:53
Except Larisa was '56, '60, and '64...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_multiple_Olympic_gold_medalists#List_of_multiple_Olympic_gold_medals_over_career

Hes two medals down if he wants to compete with the record of all time medals. Course really, only a swimmer (MAYBE a track star) could possibly ever match his record of 8 in one games, just because no other sports have so many events. The basketball team can *never* get more than one medal, no matter if it consisted of the entire Justice League. (Superheros, woot :P)

Damn you're right, she was in three. Oops. And she still holds the record for most medals of any color with 18. That'll teach me to post when I'm not fully awake.
JuNii
18-08-2008, 19:11
Damn you're right, she was in three. Oops.

and next olympics... so would Micheal Phelps! :wink:
Maineiacs
18-08-2008, 19:18
and next olympics... so would Micheal Phelps! :wink:

Which brings up another record he could go for. If he comes back for the London Games, and wins a gold in one of the events that he won in Athens and has repeated in in Beijing, then wins that same event in '16 and '20, he'd be the first Olympian to win the same event five times (I think).
Sdaeriji
18-08-2008, 19:21
There's really no reason why he can't continue being a competitive swimmer. The man is only 23 and he nets about $5 million a year in endorsements, and that's not even counting the new $1 million endorsement deal he's getting with Speedo now that he won his 8 golds. He's obviously not going to be able to repeat this performance in four years in London, but he'll only be 27 in 2012, and 31 in 2016. Lezak, the man who swam the anchor legs on the US relay teams, is 32 now. With Phelps's ridiculous training regimen and freakish genetics, he could very easily win another couple golds in London and likely in the 2016 Games, especially if those games go to Chicago and he gets to compete in front of a home crowd.
Skalvia
18-08-2008, 21:44
He should do TV and Movies...

And other than that, keep kicking ass till he is too old to compete, lol...
The_pantless_hero
19-08-2008, 00:19
He should do TV and Movies...

And other than that, keep kicking ass till he is too old to compete, lol...
Because you can swim or run very fast doesn't make you a fucking actor.
He should sit back and rake in endorsements like Michael Jordan.
South Lorenya
19-08-2008, 00:21
He should switch to a last name not tainted by Fred Phelps. *hides*
Skalvia
19-08-2008, 00:37
Because you can swim or run very fast doesn't make you a fucking actor.
He should sit back and rake in endorsements like Michael Jordan.

Michael Jordan was in movies and is currently on TV...

I really like Space Jam, lol...Thats the archetype I was saying he should go for, but, he's far too young to do JUST that, he should continue swimming till he cant compete anymore...At least i think so....
The_pantless_hero
19-08-2008, 00:54
Michael Jordan was in movies and is currently on TV...

I really like Space Jam, lol...Thats the archetype I was saying he should go for, but, he's far too young to do JUST that, he should continue swimming till he cant compete anymore...At least i think so....

Jordan is charismatic though, and a showman. Michael Phelps is a goofy swimmer.
Skalvia
19-08-2008, 00:56
Jordan is charismatic though, and a showman. Michael Phelps is a goofy swimmer.

Making him a shoe in for Goofy Swimmer movies, lol...

*waits for Waterworld II* lol...