I don't know if I agree that Phelps is over-rated. He is currenlty tied with Mark Spitz and Carl Lewis in gold medals I believe.
I remember in previous olympics these two names getting played up so much...
Also, anytime you set a world record I think its a HUGE deal.
I'm sure you're both just tired of hearing about it. I think newspeople see the coverage of the Olympics like a story. Every good story needs a lead or hero to keep the reader /viewer tuned in.
I saw on the news this morning Phelps mom and sisters say that he's never even said his goal was to get 8 gold medals and its a media made story.
As for the smack talking, I agree its entertaining. Maybe they should even allow fighting like in hockey. I'd love to see those swimmers start sluggin it out in the water.
Maybe even as they swim they could grab each others legs, throw some jabs, etc. LOL. Full contact swimmin..