ROME — This may well have been a new one in the storied career of Michael Phelps.
Phelps went through the paces at a pre-meet news conference at a major swim meet and was not asked about Mark Spitz, not even whether he was relieved, finally, not to be compared to Spitz any longer after eclipsing the icon by winning eight gold medals last summer at the Olympics in Beijing.
Instead, there was a light moment Friday near the end of the session about another future opponent looming over Phelps -- in a different way than Spitz once did -- one towering figure capable of blocking the sun.
Shaq.
Phelps will be swimming against Shaquille O'Neal as part of O'Neal's coming reality show featuring the Cleveland Cavaliers center against top athletes in other sports. (One wonders if Shaq will be called "the Big Tsunami" for the Phelps episode.)
"Being able to swim against a 7-foot-2, 300-pound man is going to be absolutely awesome," said Phelps, cutting O'Neal a break in the weight department.
"When I had the opportunity, when I was asked to do it, I quickly said yes."
Said Phelps' coach Bob Bowman, laughing, "I'm going to be coaching Shaq. Right now, we're sewing together three bodysuits."
And the Speedo factory will be putting in some serious overtime.
Spitz wasn't the only missing topic. It should also be noted that Phelps didn't have to field any questions about the British tabloid photo published in January of him holding a bong. Phelps, who was suspended for three months from competition by USA Swimming, considered quitting the sport in the aftermath of the controversy.
(Then again, it all hardly registers on the scandal meter around here, considering Italy's prime minister, Silvio Berlusconi, has dominated the news on a daily basis.)
Phelps, who will compete in three individual events and probably three relays at the World Swimming Championships in Rome, came closer to addressing the incident than any of the reporters when he talked about his post-Beijing journey.
"It's been a long year," Phelps said. "There have been good times and bad times. Lots of high points and a lot of low points. It's been a learning year, both in and out of the pool. It's been a different journey -- sort of with the six-month break and trying to lose 20 pounds since I got back in the pool.
