By: jackie.sauter

It’s been a 13-year drought, but today that was broken when Sports Illustrated named Olympian Michael Phelps its sportsman of the year. The last Marylander to win the honor was Cal Ripken Jr. in 1995.

The cover features Phelps, a Baltimore native and the winner of a record-breaking eight gold medals in the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games this year, in a sopping-wet white dress shirt and black suit pants and a tie. Phelps is grinning and is holding the black suit jacket casually over his shoulder.

Sometimes I wonder what the subjects of these photos think about the poses they take or costumes they’re made to wear by photographers. From what I’ve heard about Phelps from people who have met him, he’s a pretty down-to-earth, regular guy. Is the studly-GQ look one that he’s going for now or is he grinning and bearing it for the SI art department?

But back on topic, I’m reminded of a conversation I had this summer with marketer David Warschawski just after Phelps won his eighth gold medal. He pointed out then that there were similarities between the Ripken brand and the Phelps brand.

“For us as marketers, this is a really intriguing time to watch the Michael Phelps brand because it has so much potential,” Warschawski said at the time. “This is the beginning of his career and endorsement life — how the brand develops from here is going to be really interesting to watch.”

Prophetic words, looking back. With this latest honor — one that literally parallels Ripken — it does seem as if Phelps is well on his way to following the Iron Man’s path of becoming a Maryland sports icon.

How far do you think Phelps can go?

LIZ FARMER, Business Writer