Commentary on Phelps and Pot...

[Matt J]

They don't idolize Phelps or any other celebrity (or drag queens.) They are lost. They follow anyone who will lead them: "Hey! Lets go smoke in the stairwell and light the bathroom on fire!" "Hey! Great idea!"

But where are the good role models?* Lucifer Sam says they're only in fiction. As for the flesh-and-blood examples, we have to cut and paste their good parts. It makes me sad to know that there have been so many awful teachers that I can't even hug one of my students when he's upset or hurt.

I don't mean to make a mountain out of a molehill, either--Toots is right to still be proud of Phelps. He has worked really hard, and he is obviously already paying for this mistake.

* Here's a bright side: As I'm typing, I'm thinking of a few: Paul Newman. Harry Connick, Jr. Prince William--I really hope that kid continues to keep his nose as clean as he has so far! Dara Torres. Even Brangelina is making a name for themselves as philanthropists. Bill and Melinda Gates.

I don't know if any of you have heard of Micah Owings, but he's a young baseball player who was with the Diamondbacks and is now with the Reds. (2007 Silver Slugger award. Google him--crazy.) His younger brother is in the minors, and they have 3 other siblings who are all in different ministries and/or run charitable foundations.

There are a few heroes out there...

It doesn't sound like they need roll models. They need mentors. Right now they are very impressionable sheep that need a leader. They need someone to actually spend time with and learn from. Unfortunately they're not going to get that through movies or TV.

I'm not disappointed in Phelps because I need a perfect celebrity on a pedestal to validate my life, I am disappointed in Phelps because I know firsthand what kind of hard work and sacrifice it takes to be a swimmer of that caliber - and he threw it away for drugs (you can justify it all you want, but it's still an illegal drug that ruins people's lives in a variety of ways).

Anyone who scoffs at the importance of a good role model doesn't work with kids. The rare person famous for his hard work and talent is now a punchline whose 10,000 calories a day are for the "munchies" not because he works 5x harder than the rest of the population.

Regardless of your views on whether or not pot should be illegal, whether or not people should be taking pics of him and sending it to the media, and what you consider acceptable as a way to unwind - he chose to risk his health, his future, and his place in history because some stranger handed him a bong full of an unknown substance and he said yes.

How is that pedestal?

 

[Teresa]

the only perfect celebrity/athlete role model that comes to mind is Tebow. But, let's be realistic. He is a beautiful soul with extraordinary talent. He ain't normal.

Most role models are just normal people with some kind of gift or talent, and they make big and small mistakes along the way. It is just what we all do. This is the most important thing we can teach our children.

Scooter - I do not blame you for your disappointment. It makes me upset too, but for different reasons. Has he really thrown it all away? now, if I was his mother, I would yell and scream and tell him he's thrown it all away. then I would cry and ask him "how could you do this to me?"... ha ha. then I would get behind him all the way and tell him he is wonderful and I love him no matter what, he needs to hold his head high always, and the rest of the world can go jump. I would frame the bong picture and use it to remind him and others of how he is only human and no better than anyone, regardless of his gold medals. after about 20 years we would actually laugh at the picture, and say what a great decision he made to smoke pot and not put a needle in his arm. but, seriously. No one can take away what he has achieved, even if he never swims again. maybe he needs a break and college and normalcy for once in his life. maybe he just needs to party his ass off for a while. somebody give him a dam bodyguard and a driver. (somehow we survived youth without hiring a driver, but something tells me he can afford one).

How about considering for just a moment Phelps and his own needs, his state of mind (as mangy said earlier). It is really something he needs to personally and privately handle, with the support of his family and friends. My heart goes out to them, especially after reading and hearing the insensitive/judgemental words in the news media by people who know very little about him beyond his athletic achievements. this is what we teach our children?

give the guy a small break.

 

[TooFarTampa]

Getting suspended is tough. Maybe he can do Shamwow commercials. Olympic divers "use it as a tawel", so why not swimmers?

Only if he needs to dry off his hands to better grip the bong.

 

[Miss Kitty]

Apparently.. pot is NOT the breakfast of champions. Tony the Tiger jsut shed a tear.

 

[Teresa]

Apparently.. pot is NOT the breakfast of champions. Tony the Tiger jsut shed a tear.

a fair consequence, along with 3 month suspension from competition. these seem to be kind consequences so far. he probably needs a break (suspension). and he needs only sponsors who will back him. The Olympic Committee has his back... and this should help him most..

The U.S. Olympic Committee also issued a statement that said in part: "Michael has acknowledged that he made a mistake and apologized for his actions. We are confident that, going forward, Michael will consistently set the kind of example we all expect from a great Olympic champion."

I will be interested to see if new sponsors step up as a result of this huge story.

also, wonder why his sponsors didn't drop him like a hot potato after the DUI - he wasn't Mr. Golden then - it would have been very easy to do. the DUI was much worse in every way, resulting in arrest and probation.

 

[traderx]

Additional sponsors were in the works apparently. Phelps was currently earning $5 million annually from sponsorships and according to news reports he was on his way to $30 million annually. It was believed that he would earn a billion dollars over the next ten years.

My guess is he will lose another sponsor or two and who knows how many new sponsors he will not get now. This will likely prove to be an expensive lesson for him. I bet his other sponsors are conducting surveys behind the scenes to measure the impact and how it may affect their image if they keep, or drop, Phelps. I hope he has learned a lesson from this. Most people understand mistakes but do not support a string of mistakes.

 

[John R]

Who knows, maybe others will initiate sponsorships with him now?
He could be picked up by NORML as a spokesperson.

 

[sunspotbaby]

1 billion in 10 years living under a microscope compared to 5 million living in obscurity. I'll take 5.

 

[LuciferSam]

Additional sponsors were in the works apparently. Phelps was currently earning $5 million annually from sponsorships and according to news reports he was on his way to $30 million annually. It was believed that he would earn a billion dollars over the next ten years.

My guess is he will lose another sponsor or two and who knows how many new sponsors he will not get now. This will likely prove to be an expensive lesson for him. I bet his other sponsors are conducting surveys behind the scenes to measure the impact and how it may affect their image if they keep, or drop, Phelps. I hope he has learned a lesson from this. Most people understand mistakes but do not support a string of mistakes.

Expensive??? He's going to rolling in the dough no matter what. Beyond a certain amount, net worth has nothing to do with quality of life, it's just about keeping score. Big deal. He gives up a high point total and gets his life back. Sounds like a bargain to me. We could all stand to be schooled in such a manner.

 

[Alicia Leonard]

Wow, sending him home so he is bored, not working and stuck in aprtment will be a great way to keep him off the Mary Jane:roll: