Poll question: Should Mark Spitz be invited to the Olympics?

August 12, 2:08 PMSports ExaminerPaula Duffy

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                 Mark Spitz with 7 gold medals in 1972

As Michael Phelps motors onward and shoots for an unprecedented 8 gold medals at one Olympic games, the name of Mark Spitz is bandied about more and more. When Phelps won his third gold on Day 4, he tied Spitz and 2 others for the total number of gold medals won by one person.

Spitz has spoken to numerous journalists about his snub by the IOC and its sponsors and networks partners. He has not been invited to attend for this potential historic occasion. Why?

He doesn't know and neither does his agent. He was at the US trials to hand out medals and at this point he won't use his own money to get over there. Not that he is short on cash. The man is a successful business man and public speaker.

If you were the US Olympic committee or even Michael Phelps, would you want to have Spitz in attendance? The upside is to show the country's dominance in the sport and to have the torch passed to a new generation.

The down side is that Spitz becomes the story rather than Phelps. Michael sounds like a cool customer and seemingly blocks out all the hype when he's in the pool, But I guess it might be more pressure for him and who needs that..

What do you think? Vote on it right here.