I’ve been reading quite a few op-ed articles about Michael Phelps, America’s swimming
wunderkind from the ‘08 Beijing Olympic Games. Recently, he was shown in a photo, which appears to have been snapped on a cell phone camera, taking a deep drag of marijuana smoke from that ubiquitous piece of teen paraphernalia affectionately known as “the bong pipe.” Now, any fan of the Jeff Spicoli character from Fast Times at Ridgemont High or those lovable stoners from the movie “Dazed and Confused” (my era, by the way, and COMPLETELY in character with what went on) knows what that contraption is, and how it’s used.
Aside from the fact Phelps could probably use a little quality bong-hit coaching much as he might get when he’s in the swimming pool doing that gold medal-winning thing of his, I don’t really see what the big issue is. Are we still living in a fantasy world which believes citizens of the United States, who also happen to lead very public lives, have no expectation of privacy whatsoever? When did this happen? I must have missed the memo.
Let’s get back to that “winning of 8 gold medals” thing for a moment: As best I can tell (and I researched it), he tested clean for every banned substance known to man at this past Olympic Games and at the one back in 2004 (in Athens, Greece). This means he did no drugs either before or during the Games, where he held himself up to the highest standards of sportsmanship and rectitude. His achievement was so sublime and amazing at the same time, and conducted on the largest stage in the world, we mere mortals can’t even begin to comprehend the titanic pressures which he had to bear. Maybe that had just the tiniest bit to do with his blowing off a little steam at a private party where he THOUGHT he was among friends, and in a place where he could let his hair down, so to speak.
This appears to be a media-generated tempest designed to drive viewership on all the talking-head shows, and not done out of concern for this 23 year-old kid. Manning up completely, Phelps admitted fault and was utterly honest about what went on. And he hasn’t protested his suspension by USA Swimming, the sport’s governing body. If only every person in his or her 20s did the same thing when confronted with a foible such as what the guy’s found himself in.
Now, don’t get me wrong: Phelps has slipped up in the past. After the ’04 Athens Olympic Games, he was caught drunk driving in November, 2004. He not only endangered himself but every single person out on the roads that night. He was only 19 at the time, and could have tried to use age as an excuse. But he didn’t. He knew he’d left a private party and driven a vehicle on the public roads that evening. No excuse for it, folks, but he did the right thing; he stood up and admitted fault, apologized profusely, didn’t try to duck the media glare surrounding the issue and worked closely with Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) to make up for it. If only every 18 or 19 year-old had the guts to do that after being caught in the same circumstance.
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Very good objective article on Phelps. Thank you for keeping him human.