The setting is Beijing, China, in the swimming arena better known as The Cube. The best known characters are 6 foot 4 inch Michael Phelps and his mother, Debbie, who is a dedicated middle school principal and Michael’s number one fan. The supporting characters are Michael’s older sisters, and accomplished swimmers in their own right, Whitney and Hilary. All from Baltimore, Maryland, they are now household names because of their son and brother. Someone, though, appears to be missing. We all looked and we all wondered. Where is Michael’s father? The sport commentators didn’t focus on him. The cameras focused on Michael. The cameras focused on Whitney and Hilary. Debbie Phelps got as much camera attention as the other American swimmers combined
Before each race, as if carefully scripted, the camera focused on Debbie Phelps as she blankly stared with a look of extreme nervousness. One that surely, only a mother could feel. Or was it? We saw what could be described as emotions of extreme anticipation as Debbie twisted, turned, and waited for the signal to begin the race.
As Michael, race after race, took command as he used the butterfly, individual medley, back stroke and free style races to splash his way to record making history and surpass Mark Spitz’ record number of gold medals, we couldn’t help but feel the Phelps’ family pride. Debbie’s commands to Michael during his races were as if she felt she was controlling his every stroke.
Where, though, was Fred Phelps? Father of Michael Fred Phelps? The camera never focused on him. He wasn’t with the female family members. The commentators didn’t focus on him either. The attention was on the Olympic gold medalist and pride of the United States of America? Did his father pass away? Surely the sportscasters would have reverently mentioned that. Were his parents divorced? He would have certainly attended the games to support his son. Was he incarcerated? Is he missing?
Fred Phelps is the estranged father of Michael Phelps and is living in Baltimore. He has not called Michael to congratulate him. Divorced from Debbie since Michael was very young, Fred has been estranged from Michael since he was a teenage swimmer. “He’s so busy. I’m not sure his agent could get a hold of him,” Fred Phelps told the tabloid. “This is not about me, it’s about him.” Fred has not tried to make a fortune on Michael’s success to date. There are no book deals, interviews planned, or photo shoots. He has been keeping a low profile. He apparently wants the focus to be on Michael right now and, all things considered, we must give him credit for that..
Source:
NBC
http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2008/08/michael_phelps_estranged_dad_w.html
