Mighty Serpent Spotted In Beijing

I'm in pure awe of Michael Phelps. The guy swims in an almost mythical Loch Ness fashion that makes his competition look like kiddy pool also-rans.

As of today, Phelps is wearing a heavy weight of five gold medals. If - when, actually - he runs the table he'll snag eight gold medals (out of a possible eight) in Beijing and break the record for most gold in one Olympiad, besting USA swimmer Mark Spitz's seven golds during the Munich games of 1972.

The Phelps story comes with no real surprise and is all unfolding about as predictably as the plot to a Nickelodeon movie.

With this in mind, full shame and scorn should be thrown at the US Olympic delegation and NBC Sports for failing to extend an all expense paid trip for Spitz to travel to Beijing to witness Phelps break his record.

With the many emotional images these Olympics are bringing, as well as the pictures that will continue to emerge until the closing ceremonies, we'll all miss out on the poignant occurrence of the greatest former Olympic medalist acknowledging the new one.

With dignity.

Perhaps NBC Sports will find some dignity of their own and rally to get Spitz to Beijing before the Olympics conclude.

That would be pure gold.