Michael Phelps is being treated disrespectfully

[pgnewarkboy]

Michael Phelps brought great honor and respect to the United States. He single mindedly devoted his life to achieving a near super human feat. How quickly the media forgets. He smoked some marijuana! Tens of millions of people smoke marijuana every day. He hurt nobody. He did not cheat to enhance his swimming performance. When you are placed on a pedestal you must surely fall - unless you do nothing and make no movement.

I hope Michael learns from this how cruel and nasty the media can be. I hope michael learns that all this "we love you, you are great for the country, blah blah blah) is just junk. The price of fame and fortune is to become a slave to the opinions of the media and others. He has totally given up his freedom as an individual for endorsements and praise. That is hardly worth the trade-off.

I hope he learns that he should become a free man and stop apologizing for not living up to the expectations of others.

 

[UWSurfer]

Regardless of which side of the arguement you fall under regarding marijuana use and it's legalization, Micheal Phelps did something very human...he got caught at a party with other 20-something's using, which doesn't reflect well upon the image all his corporate sponsers hitched their wagons to.

Life has consequences for one's actions and just like all the positive attention he got for his truely amazing accomplishments, he now gets the negative attention for doing something which goes against the positive, squeeky clean image he was cast in. It's when you take the money to reflect that image you need to be aware of what you are doing at all times.

He's young, he'll survive and this is just another lesson of many he'll experience in his lifetime. It's difficult for anyone in the spotlight...but amazingly difficult when you have been stuck in a training bubble working the hours he has for so many years, to emerge as a super human success story and then come out into main stream as a celebrity with all the coverage that brings, almost over night...and he's lucky his chink in his persona armor is only that of taking a hit at a party off a marijuana pipe.

 

[geekette]

many people forget the drunk driving incident a few years ago. He's not been squeaky-clean for a long time.

He seems to be taking his punishment like a big boy, so, glad for that. He admitted he did it. Didn't try to claim fake photography or "I didn't inhale" or any of that stupid excuse crap. He's learning. We all do. Most of us get to do it privately.

A little dope incident does not take away from his incredible feats, imo. Of course, one could hardly paint mariJ as a performance-enhancement drug!

 

[pjrose]

Presumably his contracts include a "morals clause". He did something stupid - not unusual, maybe not all that terrible - but stupid. He seems to have handled it in a mature and honest manner, and this will probably blow over.

Unlike the rest of us, he is being paid millions to represent various companies which have the right to cancel the contracts if he does something to violate the agreement. There are consequences for actions, and like the rest of us, he can (and did) lose a job for using drugs. For him, it was certainly an expensive toke!

I think the person who took and then publicized (or sold) the photo is a slime.

 

[dioxide45]

Don't forget the incident at the 1998 Winter Olympics where Ross Rebliati temporarily lost his gold metal due to testing positive for marijuana use. It was challenged by the Canadian team and overturned. Though that led the IOC to ban its use in the future. Had this happened during time leading up to the Olympics he wouldn't have those 8 gold medals. Just because it isn't a performance-enhancing drug, doesn't make its use right. There is an image that the sport wishes to portray for the youth who aspire to replace Michael in the sport.

 

[ownsmany]

sorry - as a mother of young impressional children - I was upset to see the picture of him and the bong. I think he does need to lose some of the corp sponsorship. It help to teach the lession - no one is above the law. When you do something wrong - there are consquences.

It is not a good example for the young children who idolize him.

Micheal has been looking like a "party animal" since the medals. Time to come back down to earth.

JMO.

 

[falmouth3]

They are so concerned about the image he's projecting for children. If they had not blown this thing way out of proportion, children would not even have heard about it.

However, I do support sponsors pulling their contracts if they believe that he has broken the terms.

 

[Lawlar]

Say It Isn't So

Now we learn A-Rod has taken steroids. How sad.

Maybe we need to live through an economic depression in order for our American values to be strengthened .

 

[pcgirl54]

It's really simple. What he did in the Olympics was amazing as is his dedication to the sport. Drug use is illegal. It is his responsibility to lead by example as a renowned American champion.

He should not have any less accountability for drunk driving or drug use than anyone of our own children but he will get it because he is famous. A 3 month suspension is a warning and I hope he heeds it well. With fame and mega contracts comes media scrutiny. Morals clauses in his contracts may come into play should something further occur.

 

[easyrider]

Weed is illeagle in USA under Federal Law but these laws have been modified for use as an alternative medicine in some states. Some state, like Hawaii and Alaska really dont go after the casual pot smoker. So, if you want to smoke weed you should consinder getting a perscription. It would still be illeagle.

Phelps is just a victim of his celebrity as no one would care if this was a picture of you or me taking a bong hit.

 

[pedro47]

What can of friends was he hanging around with that would take a picture of this incident and turn him in? He was wrong for smoking and inhaling what ever was in the glass tube.

 

[ondeadlin]

Now we learn A-Rod has taken steroids. How sad.

Maybe we need to live through an economic depression in order for our American values to be strengthened .

Or maybe we need to learn not to judge our country's values by spoiled millionaire athletes who have little to nothing in common with the average working American.

Seriously, our national obsession with sports, and the way we push athletes as role models is nothing less than embarrassing. We're laying off teachers, yet every high school has a football team. What does that say about us as a people?

 

[pgnewarkboy]

Clearly the sponsors have the right to do what they are allowed to do under their contract. I think that these sponsors are full of bull, however, when they waive the flag. All they want to do is make a buck. IMHO, if they cared about this country they would care about this human being who worked so hard to bring medals back for our country. From hero to villain in one toke.

The media loves to build em up just to tear em up later. More money that way. And yes, he should never have been a role model for anything except how to be a great swimmer.

This country is full of phony baloney role models. Make a million bucks and your considered to be brilliant and a role model. It doesn't matter how you make it as long as your not caught. If you don't make alot of money but work for social justice, peace, caring for those who can't care for themselves you may be considered subversive.

 

[uf_gator_87]

Michael Vick messed up, but ask someone on the street to name 20 other football players. A-Rod messed up, but ask someone on the street to name 20 other baseball players. Charles ("I am not a role model") Barkley isn't the only role model: name 20 other basketball players.

Now, name 3 other swimmers... What about 1 other swimmer?

Michael Phelps is (was) THE representative of the sport, and is in a position to to more to help, or more to damage the reputation of the sport than Vick, A-Rod, or Barkley.

 

[Kona Lovers]

Or maybe we need to learn not to judge our country's values by spoiled millionaire athletes who have little to nothing in common with the average working American.

Seriously, our national obsession with sports, and the way we push athletes as role models is nothing less than embarrassing. We're laying off teachers, yet every high school has a football team. What does that say about us as a people?

Well said!

Marty

 

[AwayWeGo]

Splish Splash.

Now, name 3 other swimmers.

Mark Spitz ?

Johnny Weissmuller ?

Esther Williams ?

-- Alan Cole, McLean (Fairfax County), Virginia, USA.​

 

[Elan]

I couldn't care less what Phelps does in his spare time. Was he stupid to get caught taking a bong hit? Absolutely! And, he'll likely pay the price financially. But it's ridiculous for anyone to expect professional athletes to be role models. If they choose to be, then that's great. But if they choose not to be that's fine also. I don't want my kids looking up to anyone just because they swim fast, can jack a heater 500 feet into the upper deck or throw a tight spiral 60 yards flat footed. They're athletes and that's what they're paid to do, not be role models for our children.

 

[summervaca]

I do not consider Michael Phelps a victim of anything. He thrust himself into the limelight after the Olympics when he could have just chosen to go back to his anonymous life. Those millions do not come without a cost. In fact, I wish he would just go away...

 

[ownsmany]

I don't choose these people to be role models for my kids or anyone's kids. It happens though. Kids look up to them.

If they want to live in the public life, and make tons of money from sponsers they need to think about what they do.

Hope he and others learn from his mistake.

 

[pgnewarkboy]

I do not consider Michael Phelps a victim of anything. He thrust himself into the limelight after the Olympics when he could have just chosen to go back to his anonymous life. Those millions do not come without a cost. In fact, I wish he would just go away...

Phelps is a victim of our society and its values. LIke most young people he couldn't have known better. Now he has the opportunity to stop being a victim. He can say take your money and fame and stuff it!. He can live his life the way he sees fit as a free man. He can find one thousand ways to disappear. If he hasn't learned his lesson from this that living your life to meet others expectations or for money is a kind of slavery, it is on him. I think the Phelps fiasco is an opportunity for parent's to teach their children that seeking approval and money is no way to live.

 

[Floridaski]

How much does anyone know about Phelps?

Have any of you read Phelps book?

Do you know his background, history and learning disabilities?

Do you know he has ADHD?

Finally, we have a young son who happens to be a very good swimmer. He idolizes Phelps. Has read his book not once, but twice. He used to say he was the next Micheal Phelps, today he says something a little different. My son was very disappointed in Micheal, IMO he let my son down. In his book he states several times that he wants to lift the sport of swimming up to the status as other sports. He appears to have lost some of his vision, could be that he needs to set new goals for himself.

But, even as adults ADHD can cause people to make impulsive choices and not always make a wise choice. It appears to me that this is exactly what happened at the party. He made an impulsive, unwise choice and now he is paying the logical consequences.

USA Swimming has sanctioned him for 3 months, since Phelps really does not have much more to prove this may not mean much to him. But, I suspect that it does - not swimming in a USA Swimming event for 3 months is a long time for a swimmer. So, hopefully Phelps will move on and continue to grow into the Man he hopes to become. Clearly he is still growing up and I am sure he will get past these mistakes.

IMO - he deserves the consequences, it will make him a stronger person in the long run. Also, for all the children out there - it sends a clear message that not even the elite athletes are immune to the consequences of an unwise choice.

 

[ondeadlin]

Phelps is a victim of our society and its values. LIke most young people he couldn't have known better.

Do you really mean to say he COULDN'T have known better?

Because if so, that's an absolute joke. You're telling me Michael Phelps didn't know better than to risk smoking pot and, as a result of which, potentially being embarrassed or sanctioned?

Please. This is a man - yes, a man - who has owned his own home, made millions in endorsements, and had media training since he was 16.

He's not a victim of anything but his own decision to smoke marijuana (a decision that I could, quite frankly, care less about, but which I'd expect might have serious ramifications for me if I were the world's most famous Olympian). How you can blame society is beyond me.

 

[Patri]

Why is the media at fault? Phelps and everyone else certainly loved the media's attention when he was winning the medals.

 

[Timeshare Von]

Let me start out by saying that I respect all that he's accomplished as an athlete. To do what he has, proves that he is an incredible talent in the pool. Beyond that, however, he is very short on judgement. Further, he has struck me as a complete media [glutton] and he shouldn't have expected that such a photo wouldn't be leaked or sold given the demand for such. Even his "dating" an exotic dancer or whoever she was, seemed to be big news as though that was some example of a lack of judgement. Strippers need love too. LOL

 

[tlwmkw]

Don't feel sorry for Michael Phelps- wasn't it Donald Trump who said "No publicity is bad publicity"? He has 8 gold medals and already has made more money than most of us will in our working lives. He will probably bounce back from this- he seems to have many handlers who will get him through this. The time to feel sorry for him will be 40 years from now if he's blown all his money and has nothing to show for all his hard work. Hopefully he's learning from all this and will realize that it can all go away very quickly. I hope he is keeping an eye on where all that money goes and not wasting it all on frivolous things- after all his career will end early in his life and he'll need to be prepared for the next phase of his life.

I agree with the poster above who complains about the focus on athletes and sports in this country not to mention the celebrity culture that is closely related to the sports culture.