Phelps' athelticism is astounding, but his music needs some work!

First, the obvious: Michael Phelps is the greatest Olympian in the modern history of the games. Tonight's victory in the 4 x 100m team medley brought his Beijing-games medal total to an astounding EIGHT gold medals, a feat that eclipses Mark Spitz's justifiably impressible performance of seven gold in the '72 games. This, totaled with Phelps' six gold from the Athens games, gives him an [insert adjective] 14 gold medals with two bronze. Add to this the 32 world records he holds (along with 26 individual) and you have, bar none, the most amazing athlete of our generation. It's been a duty and an honor to watch the man.

Better than Tiger at golf. Even better than Michael at basketball. Now THAT is good.

Beyond his athleticism, though, Phelps is class-act and class-A cool, always confident and collected. Watching him tonight, he seemed not the least bit rattled by the fact that he was attempting an UNPRECEDENTED FEAT of Olympic performance. And after his victories and world-records, his interviews with Bob Costas are polite, proper, and entirely courteous (just now, he's thanking his teammates for their help in winning his last gold--why can't all sports have superstars like this?)

Second, the more mysterious: Phelps' rather suspect taste in music. Now, it's been a very surprising practice of mine to find that many famous people have excellent tastes in the arts. Barack Obama's iPod features, among other artists, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Sam Cooke, and Public Enemy, while his favorite films include Godfather Part II. Bill Clinton is a die hard fan of jazz, as is Woody Allen. Hell, even Scarlett Johansson is Tom Waits fan, and Christina Aguilera listens to Etta James.

So, famous people, no matter how high their suck-o-meter, can still manage some decent taste in places other than their taste buds. So imagine my shock when I discovered the contents of Michael Phelps' iPod, someone who is obviously high on the awesome-scale: Lil' Wayne. Young Jeezy. Jay-Z. Twista. USHER.

Michael, I forgive the Jay-Z if it is early, pre-sell out Jay-Z, but TWISTA? YOUNG JEEZY? Seriously, Michael. Usher?

Michael, I had such fucking hopes for us! Let's start with some fusion-era Miles Davis. That was an instrumental component to the formation of hip hop music, so you should find the transition to that style easy enough. But we'll go slow--we wouldn't want to overwhelm you.

Hey, I can dream, can't I?!? As Phelps' swimming skillz improved to superhuman standards between the Athens and Beijing games, I can hope the same for his tastes in music between the Beijing and London games. So, c'mon Michael, let the good times roll!