Michael Phelps — Out of the Pool, into Hot Water (again)
Oops, he did it again. News reports of Olympic swimming phenom Michael Phelps’ latest embarrassing brush with drugs and alcohol last weekend almost outpaced news of our troubled economy and that other big sports event that takes place every February.
Following the 2004 Olympics, Phelps was caught drunk driving, and promised his fans it would never happen again. Just four years later, Phelps was photographed taking a bong hit at what was reported to be a party at a university Phelps was visiting. (View the photo here.) The US Olympic Committee said, “Michael is a role model, and he is well aware of the responsibilities and accountability that come with setting a positive example for others, particularly young people…in this instance, he failed to fulfill those responsibilities.”
Many of us know by now that the brain doesn’t fully develop the ability to make good judgments until age 25 — Phelps is 23 — but I’m still surprised at seeing that this unfortunate decision was made so publicly. Reports that Phelps has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder also pique my concern — some research studies have shown a greater risk of drug abuse among kids with this diagnosis. It’s not my place to be a parent to Phelps, but it’s definitely my place to talk to my kids about this situation.
Have you talked to your kids? What did they say — and what did you tell them?
del.icio.us
Digg
Facebook
Newsvine7 Comments
Post a comment
Loading ...
To me, I think his lapse in judgment is disappointing because he’s a role model for many young kids out there (whether athletes and actors and other public entertainment figures should be role models is another story). The fact is, thousands of kids admire his athletic ability and have been inspired by his swimming prowess. I really hope this poor decision doesn’t encourage these impressionable young minds to make the same mistake.
The same mistake? Linna, you are saying that the current most talented athlete -in the world- is unable to decide for himself what he will and will not do. Ignoring the coaching and education he has received, which by any standards has been exemplary, Phelps has only gotten to where he is now a lifetime of hard work and sacrifice. Apparently this isn’t enough to convince you that he might know what he’s doing.
Is it a mistake? Well, from an economic standpoint, yes. Phelps will lose millions in endorsement money, but from a personal standpoint i’m not so sure. If he wants to smoke marijuana, let him. Phelps already has more gold medals than any other athelete in history so you can’t claim that they have inhibited his success. Indeed, as an adult, I’m sure he made a reasoned decision to smoke. He isn’t some naive 12 year old; he is a grown man. Just because he chose to smoke doesn’t make him incapable of thinking rationally. All it really says is that he has different values than you.
Perhaps we shouldn’t lionize and romanticize our star athletes so much. He is just a guy. A guy who is freakishly good at swimming, but just a guy.
On a separate point, Phelps is doing drugs that will work against him in his professional career unlike Arod, who was despicably using them for gain. So who is worse?
Ahh, I do love it when people turn on their idols. In the news for weeks now, I see Phelps’ picture with his bong, and honestly, doesn’t phase me at all. Maybe being a sixteen year old with a soft spot for sativa has something to do with it, but I just don’t see the POINT of demonizing Phelps. Not too long ago, we were applauding this man, heralding him as the champion of America. Now we turn on him and rip him to shreds because a single PICTURE of him smoking (well, technically, he’s just holding it to his mouth. The picture doesn’t depict him SMOKING, now does it? Irrelevant? Yes. But isn’t all of this?) weed came out of a British tabloid. Sure, the guys an idol to many. But so is Serj Tankian (I’ll leave you all to check the name on Wikipedia, since I have a sneaking suspicion that most of the people reading this aren’t exactly System of a Down fans.) to millions of people. As someone who’s a part of the culture that’s also demonized by most of society, I feel like I can relate just a little to him. And I feel bad. The man served his country, maybe not in the way a soldier on active duty in Iraq would, but he served his country. We owe him some respect. Lets show it, shall we? I propose any major news organization that’s paraded this picture around for views be made to apologize, just as Phelps was made to wrongly apologize to us.
Well, the Phelps incident certainly helped me prove to my teenagers that - no matter if you think marijuana is a big deal or not - it is still an illegal activity! As such, there are very real (and sometimes dire) consequences to using.
The man is a hero.
He is 23. Think of what you did at 23. He’s a kid not a role model.