On May 13, 1966, Marylander Sargent Shriver made the cover as the point man caught in the "Crossfire in the War on Poverty."
By Stephanie Shapiro
Sun Staff
Originally published August 4, 2004
With his appearance on the cover of Time magazine this week, 19-year-old uber-swimmer Michael Phelps joins a gallery of heroes, artists and at least one rogue with Maryland connections who have graced the front of the weekly publication since its 1923 debut.
In its Aug. 9 Olympics preview issue, Phelps' life story, from water baby to amphibious wonder, is told in the shadow of swimmer Mark Spitz, who won seven gold medals in 1972. Whether or not Phelps can snag eight gold medals is a "long shot," the Time article says, "but no one is better prepared to do it."
From a Marylander's point of view, though, the fact that Phelps' pool-perfect body represents the height of America's Olympic aspirations in Greece this month is pretty cool, no matter how many medals he may win. Consider Phelps' illustrious company, those who have lived in the Free State at one time or another, and who have also merited Time cover stories.
On May 13, 1966, Marylander Sargent Shriver made the cover as the point man caught in the "Crossfire in the War on Poverty." Shriver, one-time Peace Corps director, was the cover story again on Aug. 14, 1972, when he and presidential hopeful George McGovern were nominated to run on the Democratic ticket. That McGovern has also lived in Maryland makes that issue's cover a bonus twofer - for those who are counting.
