Michael Phelps: High Times Stoner of the Year?

2008 Beijing Olympic 8-Time Gold Medalist. American Hero. The Golden Boy. The Man of Gold. The Man with King Midas's touch. Flipper. A Symbol of Hope. Olympic Legend. Closet Stoner? The recent photograph of Michael Phelps which portrays him in a compromising position...with a piece of marijuana paraphernalia..aka a bong appeared in a British tabloid a few days ago has caused quite a stir. The image of this great Olympian and symbol of everything that is good and decent about America is on the verge of being tarnished. While marijuana is not only an illegal substance in America (with the exception of medicinal uses) it is also a banned substance by the IOC, and had Phelps taken a drug test in which the marijuana showed up during competition, he could have been stripped of his medals and his name would be going down in history for a much different reason. While Phelps appeared apologetic and embarrassed by the photograph which allegedly was taken at a party Phelps attended after a University of South Carolina football game, the fact remains that his image, and the image of American Olympians as a collective group is on the verge of being altered in the minds of many. In my personal opinion (which is all that matters since this is my blog) I feel that Phelps made a mistake. As hard as it may seem to believe, especially after his total and complete domination in the Olympics, Phelps is a human being. A 23 year old human being. He is not legally able to rent a car yet and people expect him to say and do the right thing in each and every situation. As a college student, I understand the temptations that exist in a college party setting. I believe that Phelps became a victim to his own success. Had this been any other 23 year old college student, lighting up and smoking down, no one would think twice about shrugging it off as one of those "college things." I understan that he has endorsements and an image to uphold, but give the guy a break. After all, he did win 8 gold medals and restore America to the powerhouse in the pool that it once was.

Be Well.