To recap: Michael Phelps, who won a record-breaking eight gold medals at these past Olympics in Beijing, had a picture released showing him with a marijuana bong at a party.
This is the second time Phelps has been in trouble with the law, the first being a DUI incident after the 2004 Olympics.
There are many different angles to analyze this from. First and foremost, if you are Speedo, Kellogs, or any other of Phelps' endorsers, do you keep him or break your contract?
While this is Phelps' second run-in with the law, you cannot demean his athletic achievements. Phelps' sponsors gambled by signing him to endorsement deals at age 16. Granted, he showed great promise from a young age, but how many young athletes actually follow through on their potential without letting all the money they are making get to their head and ruin their careers?
Up until this most recent incident, Phelps' sponsors got more from their client than they could have ever dreamed of. This man was the talk of the Olympics before, during and after the competition. Nobody pulled in more headlines over those few months and companies tied to the athlete reaped the benefits. It would be hard to imagine these companies blindly dissociating from Phelps seeing as many of their marketing plans were based so heavily around the Olympic star.
If you are Michael Phelps, you have to wonder what was going through your head at the time. You became a global icon at age 23, and yet decide to walk into a fraternity party in South Carolina and engage in all different types of college-party stereotypes. It is almost surprising that the bong picture was the only one that made it to the public.
After performing the way Phelps did at the Olympics, one can agree he is entitled to having some fun, especially during a time period when he is taking a break from training. To do so in a such a brass, public manner seems to be crossing the line of entitlement that comes with his achievements in the pool. He needed to understand the microscope he was under after becoming arguably one of the greatest swimmers of all time.
Also, if you're an average Joe tuning in to Sportscenter and hearing all about this issue, you really might not be phased. When push comes to shove, let's try and be honest: Michael Phelps, for as good of an athlete as he is, is a swimmer. Not a basketball player, not a boxer, he is a swimmer. This is not to demean his accomplishments or his career, but there are not many highly-publicized swimming competitions aside from the summer Olympics. This equates to most spectators only showing real interest in the athlete every four years.
Therefore, as we sit three and a half years away from our next chance to see Phelps shine, do his actions right now, especially those in his personal life, really concern us that much? Are we that nosy?
No one ever likes to see the non-angelic side of an American hero, but anyone with a realistic side to them knows that side is bound to exist in a 23-year-old and that everyone makes mistakes. Phelps was quick to apologize and, judging by the incessant paparazzi surrounding his house at all hours since the picture's release, has probably learned his lesson.
Let's move on.
Sean Silva
Ehling Blogger
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