Beneath The Surface 147-196

Summary
"When Bob and I have our worst arguments, they're over by the next day, sometimes by the next hour...because he respects how hard I work and i respect how much he knows" (Phelps 152). Bob and Michael argue with each other a lot and sometimes they use each other as an excuse to take their anger off, but this only happens because they know how much they need each other and they can not function without a good relation. Bob trains Michael to become one of the greatest swimmers there have ever been, and Michael pays him back by breaking world records and winning championships. This makes them depend on each other. Without Bob Michael would haven't won all the medals he has won and without Michael, Bob wouldn't have been able to become such a successful trainer. But Bob and Michael also have a good relationship outside of swimming. They are there for each other. When Michael needed help Bob was there and Michael was there when something in Bob's life was going the other way. Bob and Michael would talk about school, friends, girls, family, music and other things like that. "I relied on him for the kind of counsel a father gives to his son" (Phelps 165). Bob was like a father to Michael. He had been a big impact on Michael, not only in his career but also in his life. Bob had helped him go through bad times and he had been there to celebrate with Michael on his happiest moments, just like a father. When Bob got an invite for a job in Michigan, he was happy about it, but he didn't want to break up the team between him and Michael. Michael was not happy about it, but he knew this was life and hard decisions had to be made.

Quote
"Would Bob have an interest in inteviewing for the upcoming vacancy, Jon wanted to know" (Phelps 161).

Reaction
When I first read this quote, I was surprised. I didn't think that Bob would ever be interested in another job, since his relation with Michael was so good. He had become as a father to Michael. But, for Bob, the job opportunity was tempting. He wanted the job because he would work there for a lot of years to come, but with Michael his career would be over in four or maximum eight years. This is going to be a hard decision for Bob because he had been such an impact in Michaels life and career, and he didnt wan't this relation to change.