Swimmer Michael Phelps captured the imagination of the entire world at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, putting together a string of incredible, inspirational gold-medal performances.

In a week's time, Phelps became an Olympic legend -- some say the greatest Olympian of all time -- and single-handedly boosted NBC's ratings into the stratosphere.

The question is, what will Michael Phelps do for an encore?

Sure, America loves him right now, but at a time when schools are cutting swim programs and filling in their pools with gravy, is our society willing or able to support a superstar swimmer?

In our country, the big money goes to athletes in other sports. But Phelps' strike zone is too big for baseball. He's too short for the NBA, and his huge feet won't allow him to run fast enough to be an NFL wide receiver.

A job as lifeguard at the municipal pool probably isn't going to cut it.

Fortunately, Phelps' agent has told me his plans, oh yes. By the time Phelps is done, natatoriums (no, that's not where your sainted grandma's remains were turned to ash) will be springing up in every city and town.

Poor inner-city kids, who used to see basketball and football as their tickets out of the projects, will talk trash in the city pools and develop their own style of "street swimming" that is often spectacular, but is not fundamentally sound.

Parents will encourage their children to develop Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (which affected Phelps as a youth), even asking their family doctors if there is a way to induce the affliction with drugs.

Everyone will want to "Be Like Mike" -- a slogan that will be stripped from has-been Michael Jordan, who won a mere two Olympic gold medals.

Lebron James will be inspired to give up basketball for a shot a swimming superstardom. "I'm bigger, faster, stronger than this Phelps guy; if I train hard, who can stop me?" he'll ask.

Expect to be overloaded with images of Phelps endorsing products, far beyond his deal with Speedo swimwear.

He'll get millions from a giant sports drink maker. He'll shill for a fast-food franchise. Chug his favorite light beer. Tout a popular feminine hygiene product. Champion strand-by-strand hair replacement surgery.

Because of his now-legendary breakfasts that include (but are not limited to) three fried egg sandwiches and an omelet, he'll receive 1.5 cents for each egg consumed in North America.

One movie studio plans to revive the "Aqua Musicals" of the '40s and '50s, with Phelps filling Esther Williams' famous one-piece. If former Olympic champion Johnny Weissmuller could play Tarzan, why couldn't Phelps? And really, who else could play Aquaman in a big screen adaptation of the comic book?