Ali-Frazier. Magic-Bird. Michael-Milorad?

The greatest rivalry in swimming takes center stage Saturday at the World Championships in Rome, as Michael Phelps and Milorad Cavic meet in a 100-meter butterfly final for the first time since their epic battle in Beijing. In that race, Cavic led Phelps for 99.99 meters before a half-stroke finish from Phelps gave him a stunning, narrow victory and earned him a record-tying seventh gold medal.

Much has changed in the 351 days since that morning in China. Phelps became the most decorated Olympian in history the day after the 100m thriller and was feted the world over for his accomplishments. Five months later, after a picture of him smoking marijuana was circulated across the globe, he was suspended from the sport for three months. Upon his return he broke the world record in the 100m fly (which had been held by American Ian Crocker), but has had his aura of invincibility pierced in this meet after a decisive loss in the 200m freestyle.

Meanwhile, Cavic has been preparing solely for Saturday's rematch, quietly at first, and then quite vocally in recent days. He has stated that he, and not Phelps, won that race in Beijing (argueing that he touched the wall first but that the touch pad didn't trigger) and has spoken of how Phelps is beatable. Then, in one of today's semifinals, Cavic went out and snatched the world record away from Phelps.

And then there are the suits.

High-tech swimsuits have dominated both conversation and the medal podium in Rome. A preposterous 29 world records have fallen, some courtesy of swimmers who didn't even make the semifinals of that event at the Olympics.

Sadly, the suits will once again take center stage tomorrow, as Cavic will be wearing an Arena X-Glide, while Phelps is stuck with the inferior Speedo LZR. Fearing that a potential victory might be tainted, Cavic has tried to goad Phelps into wearing one of the polyurethane-based suits, but to no avail.

"If Mike wants an Arena, he just has to say it," Cavic said. "If he wants a Jaked and they don't want to give it to him free, I'll buy it for him. He has options. I think in the media it's been portrayed that he has no option, he has to swim for (Speedo). It's a complete lie."

For all his bluster, Cavic is speaking the truth.

Wearing the LZR and suffering from its inferiority is almost becoming a sort of self-fulfilling prophecy for Phelps. If he loses, he has an out. It was the suit's fault. If he wears one of those fasts suits and loses? Suddenly the great Michael Phelps is fallible. It's safer to stay with the LZR. He's a hero if he wins and has a built-in excuse if he doesn't. 

But Cavic is simplifying things too much when he says that Phelps has no option. He is beholden to Speedo and if they say he can't switch suits, he's stuck. This isn't about loyalty, it's about business.

Of course, if Speedo was smart, they'd let Phelps wear the Arena suit for this race. Because what's worse for the company? Having its star athlete compete in another suit (one which will be banned five months from tomorrow) or having its star athlete lose a race because he was wearing a Speedo suit?

Isn't this a no-brainer? The minor-PR hit Speedo will take if they allowed Phelps to change for a race will be nothing compared to the hit the company will take perception-wise if swimmers think the product is second-class. Heck, it might even benefit Speedo, sort of like when the Macy's Santa tells everyone to go to Gimbel's in the classic film Miracle on the 34th Street.

In the end, though, Phelps will likely stay in the LZR and lose because of it. As we saw in Beijing, Cavic is every bit as good in the 100m fly as Phelps. The suit will make him a little bit better. He wins the rematch, unless Phelps has another miracle in him.