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A NASCAR BLOG BY Carolyn Brewster

No comparison between Phelps and Busch

Aug 18
I had to rewind my DVR because I could not believe my ears.  Did one of the ESPN broadcasters call Kyle Busch the “Michael Phelps of NASCAR”?
   
Are you kidding me? We’re talking apples and oranges, people. 
   
I understand the whole Olympic fever thing.  I relish the Summer Games, staying up every night to watch the entire primetime broadcast. But just because that’s what going on in the world, it’s not necessary to drag in an Olympic comparison, let alone a comparison that ridiculous. 
   
Michael Phelps had only one chance per final to get it right and get the gold. He was spot on every single time. Kyle Busch has a whole season to earn his wins with multiple attempts. The comparison is absolutely insulting.
   
Kyle Busch has had a phenomenal year.  You can call him many things, and we might even be calling him the 2008 Sprint Cup Champ. But to call him the “Michael Phelps of NASCAR,” I don’t think so.    

Average Rating: 4.4

Comments

21 responses to "No comparison between Phelps and Busch"
  1. 1
    Worm Dirt said:
    Aug 18, 2008 at 2:40 PM

    I'm actually "insulted" by the fact that you feel "insulted" by this Carolyn!!!! Both are 23 years old and dominating their sports in the year 2008!!!!! 8 gold medals compared to 8 Cup wins. Phelps wins in different types of races.....Busch wins in different types of series. How is this comparison NOT relevant??? I think you should be happy that THANKS TO KYLE BUSCH, Nascar ACTUALLY gets mentioned by the national sports media for something other than the usual soap opera popularity-contest or embarassing law-suits or etc etc etc. Whatever....

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  2. 2
    Pamela Johnson said:
    Aug 18, 2008 at 4:29 PM

    Yay Carolyn! I don't always agree with you but this time you said it perfectly! In my opionion, not only is there no comparison in accomplishments, Michael came across to me as a wonderfully humble young man. I have yet to hear him brag on himself. Mostly he talks about and thanks his teammates for their performances in the relays and in one interview he said none of it would have been possible without his Mom and her support. I have yet to hear Kyle thank anyone but himself. And if Kyle doesn't do well he's extremely quick to whine and complain. Kyle could certainly take a lot of lessons from Michael Phelps. But he's not close to being in Michael's league otherwise. Wins or no wins (and that's a whole other story with the latest on Gibbs and engines) Kyle B is not even close to being ready to attempt to represent Nascar as a Champion.

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  3. 3
    Mason Hanvey said:
    Aug 18, 2008 at 7:28 PM

    I think it is a hard comparison to make given the vast differences in the two sports. That said both are dominating their sport of choice ( Phelps more so than Busch ). But when you get to the point where you can take an entire weekend off from racing, come back, and still be leading in points, that is dominant in my mind. I think it is a bit bitter to infer that Kyle is not grateful for what others have done for him especially his mother. No FAN has the authority to question that aspect of a driver. Just to clarify the Sprint Cup is not a popularity contest it's more of a test of skill and who has shown the most throughout the season???

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  4. 4
    Snooky Lynch said:
    Aug 18, 2008 at 9:52 PM

    GET REAL PEOPLE!!!!!! Kyle is good at what he does n I'm not a true fan of his but I respect his skills. He is not worthy enough to drink a glass of water from anybody of water that Micheal has graced by swimming in it, let alone mentioning his name in the same breath of air

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  5. 5
    beth emerson said:
    Aug 19, 2008 at 5:04 AM

    I am not a Kyle Busch fan either. I am however a phelps fan. I agree that is an insult. especially since what happened with Joe Gibbs racing over the weekend. Has to make a fan wonder if they arent doing it in cup side. Kyle Busch is nothing like Phelps.

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  6. 6
    alan Moody said:
    Aug 19, 2008 at 7:17 AM

    I respect kyle about as much as the fake fans that he has...he wins 8 races in the middle of the season and is compared to greatness...i will be rolling on the floor laughing when it comes chase time and he falls flat on his face...hendrick knows how to pick talent and there is a reason why he let kyle go and we will all see about half way through the chase...true talent doesnt have to keep reminding people they are great(kyle counting wins) he doesnt have the mental resources to win a championship..the story of the year should be watching a legend in the making going for 3 championships in a row..kyle will self destruct and deep down everyone knows that

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  7. 7
    Shane Derr said:
    Aug 19, 2008 at 1:25 PM

    Good Lord, talk about over dramatizing a simple statement. The announcers were most likely referring to the fact that Phelps has 8 gold medals and Kyle has 8 wins this season. Your dislike of certain drivers in Cup is so transparent.

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  8. 8
    PB said:
    Aug 19, 2008 at 1:47 PM

    Even though you can use the 8 and 8 argument and even if you are the most rabid Kyle Bush fan this comparison is absolutely ludicrous.. What Phelps has accomplished is so far past what Kyle has done or in my opinion pretty much any other Driver in any version of Racing it cannot and should not be compared.. I will add that I am not a Kyle fan by any stretch and thought that he was creating some very dangerous situations with his driving early in the season.. But he has settled down alot and whether you like him or not he deserves credit for what he and his Team have accomplished..

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  9. 9
    anonymous said:
    Aug 20, 2008 at 4:45 AM

    Phelps won his 8 by competing against the best in the WORLD. Twig won his 8 by competing against 42 other competitors from the USA. Big difference.

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  10. 10
    Worm Dirt said:
    Aug 20, 2008 at 10:25 AM

    You're right "Anonymous"... BEsides foreign drivers like Montoya, Ambrose, Villianeuve, Franchitti, etc etc..it's not fair that stock-car racing meccas in other countries like Uzbekistan or Finland or Paraguay etc are not represented in Nascar! Still.... your comments highlight my point here. As a fan of racing, I want to believe that Nascar has the absolute best of the best! And if that's true, then when someone rises to the top in the series then it should be celebrated as a worthy accomplishment. INSTEAD, it seems that many people's hatred for Kyle is so strong that they are willing to sacrifice their respect for the SPORT ITSELF to selfishly downplay Kyle's success. It's just sad to me.

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  11. 11
    Chazzo Ozzahc said:
    Aug 20, 2008 at 10:49 AM

    Phelps won his 8 by competing against the best in the WORLD. Twig won his 8 by competing against 42 other competitors from the USA. Big difference ......JUAN PABLO MONTOYA,MARCUS AMBROSE,PATRICK CARPENTIER..USA ONLY ? WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?

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  12. 12
    anonymous said:
    Aug 20, 2008 at 11:06 AM

    The fans hatred of Toyota is no different than the worms hatred of the Earnhardt name. Yes Montoya, Ambrose, Carpentier, are FROM other countries, but they race in the USA, in the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, not the INTERNATIONAL...........

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  13. 13
    Worm Dirt said:
    Aug 20, 2008 at 12:31 PM

    Whoa!?!?! Where do you get off spreading a cowardly LIE like that 'Anonymous'? I respect both Earnhardt's deeply. As for respecting some of their fans goes...well......NOT SO MUCH!!!!!!!!! I don't hate ANYBODY, but hank you for making my point again. People like you see only what YOU WANT to see!! And that's weak in my opinion.

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  14. 14
    del brown said:
    Aug 20, 2008 at 9:37 PM

    Well ....... it was said on ESPN so it's pretty much a done deal that's it's a stupid statement.

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  15. 15
    Snooky Lynch said:
    Aug 20, 2008 at 10:47 PM

    Once again.. They're trying to compare a mesquito with a BALD EAGLE

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  16. 16
    Billie Brooks said:
    Aug 21, 2008 at 7:17 AM

    What Del Brown said!!

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  17. 17
    4da88 said:
    Aug 22, 2008 at 7:26 AM

    Phelps won 8 for 8. Worked hard to get there. Did not bump anyone out of the race. Represented the USA well. Gave credit to his teammates. Did not complain even though he won or stomp off in a huff. Did not count wins on his fingers. Did not win any under caution. Has millions of fans. Since he did not lose any not known whether he whines or not. Body built in the USA!

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  18. 18
    otis gleason said:
    Aug 22, 2008 at 12:12 PM

    What are 2/3 of you people going to say after Homestead? Your hatread for the kid,eclipses his talent,Wensday nite jimmy johnson realized just how good kyle is,The look on chads face says it all.The 2/3 of you guys and gals could not find a tree in the forest!

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  19. 19
    del brown said:
    Aug 23, 2008 at 12:59 PM

    I admit Kyle has won me over - he's now one of my favorite drivers. But comparing him to Phelps is like comparing apples to oranges. (Frankly I don't like Phelps very much.) I suspect the subject concerns ESPN's commentators more than Busch or Phelps. I haven't listened to ESPN's NASCAR coverage since Dale Jarrett made a reasonable comment and Punch-drunk followed it up with "What Dale Jarrett said was ......". I understood perfectly well what DJ said .... there was no need or call for mush-mouth Punch to act as interpreter.

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  20. 20
    Jayne Deere said:
    Aug 24, 2008 at 9:35 PM

    I agree with Shane Derr(comment #7) I think they were referring to same age and same number of races won. I don't think it was a comparison that either athlete invited upon themselves. Phelps is an excellent athlete in his sport but I don't think that makes him a saint.

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  21. 21
    Grandma Sharon said:
    Aug 26, 2008 at 10:09 AM

    The comparison piece was a promo thing, not a serious one-on-one comparison of the two men. Yet, much of the factual base is true, age, wins, etc. Both men are top in what they do, they work hard at it and give it all they have. That's what it takes to be a winner. Phelps is a great swimmer and like it or not Kyle is a great driver. We may not like how he goes about it all the time but he is still a good driver. And no.....he is not my fav. :-)

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