A lesson from Phelps: Loosen up

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from The Daily Texan: http://www.dailytexanonline.com/a_lesson_from_phelps_loosen_up-1.1357301

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As Radly Balko put it in a column posted on Reason.com, “The public just gets a voyeuristic thrill from watching an elite athlete fall from grace – all the better if you get to exercise a little moral righteousness in the process. And it’s hypocritical righteousness at that, given that 40 percent of you have tried pot at least once in your lives.”

If there hasn’t been any press about Phelps since the Olympics, it’s because he’s been busy. Many people recall the $1 million bonus Phelps received for netting eight gold medals, but what a lot of people don’t know is that he used that money to start the Michael Phelps Foundation to help support swimming programs for underprivileged kids. He went on an eight-city tour to promote the organization. With any luck he was able to find the kids a role model in one of the cities.

Perhaps it was Phelps’ response to the allegations that bothered the American public. See, he must not know how accusations against athletes in this country work. Rather than deny the validity of the picture, call it a Photoshop or pull a Roger Clemens and blame the whole ordeal on his athletic trainer, Phelps took responsibility for his actions and acknowledged that he made a mistake.

In a country where taking accountability seems to be a lost art form, especially for athletes, Phelps has been made a scapegoat.

The fact is that a lot of 23-year-olds smoke pot; they just don’t happen to win gold medals for a living. No, they prefer football.

[Royal Sloan 09]

1. Why condemn Phelps when we ought to condemn the laws that brand him a criminal,"

Simple solution, Legalize

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2. Unfortunately Michael needs a mentor himself.

Really, did no one tell him to keep his nose clean, at least until he had all of the money that he wanted. It is sad that this young man did not have or take guidance in how the press can take you down in one spit second. He was stupid to put himself in that position plain and simple. I am not saying this because of the pot, it could have been sex or drunk driving or battery for that matter. New found fame is very fragile. Too bad for Michael, I do feel sorry for him in a way.

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4. Is it because he's caused these judgmental sponsors to back off?

I think he's going to have to adjust to life without the benefit of the dollars those endorsements provide. That's not the end of the world. It's more than likely not the end of his ability to make money or to take the advantage he wants out of his celebrity.

I tend to see this 'scandal' as the tongue-waggers and the tongue-clickers failing, as much as it is Phelps'. His life is only diminished by the coverage as much as he's willing to attach his future or his fortune to these opportunistic and corporate self-interested reports and judgments.

[peace13]

5. I agree.

Athletes, like politicians put themselves out there for the almighty dollar. I don't care about the pot smoking one bit but if I had paid him a million bucks to sell my product I would feel differently. My comments about Michael needing guidance assumed that he wanted to keep the money rolling in and my guess is that he does. Peace, Kim

[KurtNYC]

3. The fame peak from the Olympics is very short lived anyway

What this really seems to be about is that Phelps won 8 Gold Medals and he smokes pot. That apparently makes some people's heads explode.

[peace13]

6. Did he smoke while he was training?

Do we know that?

[KurtNYC]

8. Unknown for Phelps but I know college swimmers who loved the BHs

Mc Donald's fired Willard Scott (the original McDonald's clown) when he got too fat. I see this as akin to that -- a company that sells obesity enducing junk food to children gets all high and moral about the most common party substance in the USA.

[Mugweed]

7. Let this be a lesson

Don't do drugs or you might end up a President of the United States, a record-breaking Olymipic athlete, or maybe a professional athlete who pitches a no-hitter while under the influence.

Drugs are bad....umkay?