When I first became aware of Michael Phelps' photograph with a bong in a British tabloid, I did not know what to think. I kept wondering if the stress of being so successful at such a young age caused Phelps to rebel, but then realized that acts such as these are simply unacceptable when you have a positive image to maintain.
I'm sure most sports fans know of Phelps, but just in case, here is a brief rundown of his most impressive accomplishments as an Olympic swimmer: Phelps won 14 career gold medals, with eight coming from the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. Both of these numbers are Olympic records. Oh, and speaking of records, he also held seven world records in swimming at the end of 2008.
The photograph with the pipe may have been taken months ago, during the swim off-season, but Phelps needs to understand that people are watching his every move. Any little mistake like this could cost him millions in endorsements. One would think brands like AT&T, VISA, Kellogg's, Mazda and Subway would frown upon Phelps' slight mishap with the marijuana pipe. Athletes in the past engaged in similar activities or held similar reputations, and they were dropped by endorsers in the blink of an eye. I certainly would not offer an endorsement contract to a man who was engaging in illegal or promiscuous activity, especially if he is supposed to be a role model for children and athletes across the globe.
It appears as though Phelps and his marketing agency are not refuting the validity of the photograph. However, the substance being used remains uncertain. Phelps has never tested positive for any illegal substance, so it is not fair to jump to conclusions. This being said, it is also not acceptable for Phelps to engage in activities that could negatively affect his reputation, considering children need a man like him to idolize.
One would think Phelps learned his lesson and understands what it means to be a role model makeing a public apology back in 2004 when he pleaded guilty for drunken driving at the age of 19. There are very few professional athletes and Olympians who have inspired the Americans the way Phelps has, and even though he is only 23 years old, it is important for him to act with great maturity.
In an interview with the New York Times, Phelps said, I engaged in behavior which was regrettable and demonstrated bad judgment '¦ and despite the successes I've had in the pool, I acted in a youthful and inappropriate way, not in a manner people have come to expect from me.""
But is an admission of wrong-doing and an apology good enough? Isn't the harm already done? It is impressive that Phelps has acknowledged his mistake and stated that it won't happen again, but getting himself tangled up in this situation could easily have been avoided. It's really quite simple. If Phelps wanted to play with a marijuana pipe, he should have done it in the privacy of his own home and not at a party where he could be photographed.
People often make mistakes. Nobody's perfect. But the stakes are much higher for Phelps compared to most other individuals, especially after being the topic of discussion throughout the entire Olympic Games which wrapped up just months ago.
Phelps is an amazing swimmer and U.S. fans will hopefully be cheering for him in the 2012 Olympics, but until then he really needs to keep his nose clean. As a young, successful athlete, every choice he makes will be examined under a microscope. The little things build around an individual's image, and those little things are what people sometimes accidentally let slip away from them.
Perhaps Phelps should think about that in the future.
Are you wondering if Phelps consumes 12,000 calories of food when he gets the munchies? Discuss that with Crystal at crowns@dailycardinal.com
