The World’s Greatest Athlete Grew Up In Hawaii

“You, sir, are The World’s Greatest Athlete.”

–King Gustav V of Sweden to Jim Thorpe after he won the 1912 Olympic decathlon in Stockholm

It’s a sign of the times, I guess, when The World’s Greatest Athlete, Olympic decathlon champ Bryan Clay, takes a back seat to platform diving and beach volleyball. But I’m sure that NBC crunched the numbers and knew what they were doing when it comes to making money.

But what kind of world is it when The World’s Greatest Athlete has to practically beg to be put on the front of the Wheaties box?

A crazy, mixed-up world, that’s what it is.

Michael Phelps is a great swimmer and perhaps the greatest Olympic champion ever. But The World’s Greatest Athlete?

Did Michael Phelps participate in a grueling, 2-day contest that consisted of events as varied as the 100 meter, the long jump, the shot put, the high jump, the 400 meter, the 110 meter hurdles, the discus, the pole vault, the javelin and the 1500 meter?

I don’t think so.

Oh, and by the way, The World’s Greatest Athlete grew up in Hawaii. I’m just sayin’.