For Michael Phelps, another behavior issue

Michael Phelps is at least as tech savvy as most people in his generation.  He certainly knows that 1) almost every person his age carries a cellphone and that 2) nearly every one of those phones has a camera.

Yet Phelps, surprisingly, either did not know about or chose to ignore the ramifications of all those camera phones: A celebrity whose tens of millions in sponsorship money depends on image cannot do anything stupid in public, because someone will have taken a picture or video of the indiscretion.

And not all those people will feel inclined to let what happens in Vegas stay in Vegas.

So it was that a picture of Phelps sucking on a bong showed up in Sunday’s editions of the low-rent British tabloid News of the World in a story headlined, "WHAT A DOPE."

Such pipes generally are used to smoke cannabis in the form of marijuana or hashish.

We don’t know (yet?) what was in this pipe, which the newspaper said was being used during a Nov. 6 house party at the University of South Carolina.

But we do know this is a real picture (not something digitally created), because Phelps’ management company, Octagon, did not claim otherwise when it issued a statement for him Sunday morning.
Phelps’ statement:

"I engaged in behavior which was regrettable and demonstrated bad judgment.  I’m 23 years old, and despite the successes I have had in the pool, I acted in a youthful and inappropriate way, not in a manner that people have come to expect from me.   For this, I am sorry.  I promise my fans and the public -- it will not happen again."

But that doesn’t deal with at least two issues.

1. If there was cannabis in the bong, Phelps has used a drug on the World Anti-Doping Agency's banned list. Though cannabis is a banned substance only if used in competition, we are talking about image here.

2. If it was cannabis, this is not the first substance case involving Phelps, and the other was more serious, even if it involved alcohol rather than an illegal drug.  In December 2004, he got 18 months' probation after pleading guilty to drunk driving.  He was just 19 when that occurred in Maryland, where it was also illegal for Phelps to have been drinking.

While it is hardly a surprise to find marijuana being used at a college party, it is illegal.  For Phelps to put himself in a position that someone can photograph him doing whatever he was doing in South Carolina shows that his maturity level has yet to catch up to his bank account.  Just like his having been photographed a few months ago fondling strippers in Las Vegas -- nothing illegal about that, but probably not a picture that delights the companies he endorses.

Bad judgment is not a crime, but repeated bad judgment carries its own punishment.  Yes, Hollywood stars act far worse, but Phelps owes his celebrity to the special glow that comes from being an Olympic champion.

No wonder the U.S. Olympic Committee said Sunday it was "disappointed'' in Phelps' behavior and that he "failed to fulfill (the) responsibilities'' that come with "setting a positive example for others.''

Phelps had become a star after winning six gold medals (and eight total medals) at the 2004 Olympics.  He turned into a megastar after the eight in Beijing.

Sponsors accepted Phelps’ apologies after the 2004 incident, especially because Octagon wisely got out ahead of the story by having him call several U.S. reporters to express his contrition.

Who knows if they will be so forgiving this time?

-- Philip Hersh

Comments

[Blowing Grass for Decades]

Come out of the Dark Ages, world. Millions around the planet, some who would surprise you, have been smoking pot for decades, hiding from law enforcement, and ignorant finger-waggers who know nothing about it. It's relatively harmless, and doesn't ruin people's lives. Dr. Carl Sagan smoked it. Holland has turned pot sales into a viable business model. Thanks for your welcomed effort, Michael.

[Dan]

OK, 4 questions: yea? And? So? What?

[Gary]

Please, at least he wasn't driving this time. If a guy can smoke pot and still win 14 gold medals, it's obviously not as bad as people are making it out to be.

[kelly]

Ahhh...remember whan there was something called a PRIVATE LIFE? I dread the future when everything you do, good or bad will be trackable. The only winners will be the papparazzi....

[Richard P. McDonough]

Who gives a flying whatever??

[Jon]

Weird, a kid with a very well documented case of ADD is getting baked. That's interesting! When it's Adderol, you can eat it like skittles and nobody says anything. When it's cannabis, people want to take away all of your medals and sponsorships.

What a joke, shouldn't you be covering the Super Bowl or something?

[so_what]

big deal... so Phelps ripped a bong at a party. There are much bigger things to worry about than whether some swimmer, albeit a gold medalist, smoked a little wacky-weed. Its time to legalize it anyway.

[a registered citizen]

i forgive you, michael phelps.

[Walt F]

This is news? Next the Times will be running stories on Paris Hilton. Get a life.

[Valerie-from-Columbus]

Oh my GOD. A kid smoking POT. What a shock.

You go, Michael. Toke up. Who cares????

[Ed Becerril]

What are we all two years old? Come on, people! This goes to show how widespread, and socially acceptable (except in the media) marijuana use is. Were there any "after" pictures of him tearing up the place? Did he plow recklessly into oncoming traffic? None of this happened, or else we would have heard about it. Alcohol, is the real enemy, but it has the corporate funding to de-stigmatize it, thereby making it socially acceptable for the sheeple. How many marriages have been broken up because of alcohol compared to pot? The man broke a record for being the fastest human alive in water, and he smokes pot. He should get a medal for that as well. Face it people, even the best and brightest engage in this behavior. The real dopes are the people buying into the federally sponsored hysteria. Find a real problem, and then fix it. Alcohol... I'm looking your way.

[George McGinnis]

America loves nothing better than to see someone fall from grace except to see them rise again from the ashes. Just look at Robert Downy Jr. He'll be just fine and I doubt many of those endorsements wither away either. Cut the guy a break.

[Jill]

Who cares? Leave him alone.

[fazsha]

The guy won 8 gold medals. Let him have a toke, you losers!

[teXas]

For God sakes, let the man enjoy life. What do you care? I can understand drinking and driving not being a good idea, but marijuana? The stuff shouldn't be illegal anyway. It doesn't enhance anything. And shame on today's society for looking so down on it.
The man's a hero, leave him be.

[John Normanton]

Who cares more Americans have smoked pot than haven’t. Get a life and report news worthy articles like what the banks have done with the bail out money.

[LaVerne Wheeler]

So another person proves you can't trust anyone when there is the possibility of adding another tabloid story to the growing mound of this garbage in which the world is now inundated. It is unclear to me why EVERY human seems to believe it is their right, nay-their duty, to make sure every human action is recorded for posterity; and, oh yes, for a chance at the tabloid money jackpot. It is to be assumed there were other folks at this gathering. Did this individual also take and disseminate photos of these other people? Or were they simply going for the gold abundantly available by outing Mr Phelps? While Mr Phelps actions were regrettable, the shutterbug's actions are deplorable and disgusting.

[Seebeem]

Another role model gone to the crapper. But as usual Phelp's handlers come out with a so carefully prepared statement looking for forgiveness. Well I am tired of forgiving athletes for their poor judgement mistakes. We need to draw the line at some point. I personally don't really care if this guy does illegal activities, but he should have enough common sense to do this in private. Does he get in trouble with the Olympic rules committee. I guess we will wait and see.

[Doug]

I could really care less if Michael Phelps smokes/smoked pot. It doesn't take anything away from his accomplishment in my mind. Marijuana ought to be removed from the anti-doping list. If you can win an Olympic event whilst high on weed you should get a bong along with the medal for being able to overcome the effects of an anti performance enhancing drug.

[bruce]

using a bong doesn't detract from his image at all as far as i'm concerned.

[HarrisTheYounger]

Yeah, I have a comment: WHO CARES? Is it performance-enhancing? No. Is it physically addictive? No. Is there anything terribly hazardous about it *other* it's illegality, and the hazards of getting caught by law enforcement? No. Is it in any way uncommon among people his age? No. Is it more harmful than Mr Phelps drinking beer? Definitely no.

So the only way this is a problem is if the media, and 'concerned parents', make a big deal out of it. Which they will, of course. *That's* the part that will guarantee your kids know about it, and not the photo.

He swims very, very fast. Faster than anyone else. He got that by training harder than anyone else. He is to be admired for his training and his ability. End of story.

[Web Smith]

My son has not learned how to pick his friends either. This a kid, not a god, that still has some growing up to do. He hasn't discovered that the higher up you go, the more anxious people are to tear you down.

This will dies down after the media maxes out the ad spots.

[cohsam]

What is so irresponsible about smoking a bong, the water filters the smoke. I guess he should have been using a vaporizer.

[Lisa]

Drinking and driving AND underage drinking are both very, serious issues. I do not need to elaborate. Cannibis, as you so coldly referenced , is not a drug where inappropriate or self destructive behavior is widely reported. Please get with the times and recognize that this is a drug, which happen to be illegal at this writing, is an recreational enhancement and is enjoyed by all classes of individuals. My guess is that Michael Phelps is a more disciplined person that anyone you and I could imagine being. Calling celebrities out on bad behavior because of alcohol abuse is justifiably reported. But, marijuana? I just don't see anything wrong with partaking in this way of celebrating. And I know I'm not alone. Far from it...

[savvydude]

"What a dope" is right. There doesn't seem to be a lot of depth of character in Mr Phelps. As for me, I'll keep following beach volleyball champs Treanor/Walsh as real champions.