'Twas a big day for weed on Saturday. The same day George Obama, Barack's half brother, was busted for being with people in possession of the drug in Kenya, Star magazine published a picture of Olympian Michael Phelps toking a bong at a college party. According to a University of South Carolina source, "[Phelps] looked just as natural with a bong in his hands as he does swimming the backstroke."
Appending its story, Star asks readers to "Talk Back": "Are you shocked by Michael's behavior? Have you lost respect for the Olympic hero?" Um, no and no. And about that hero thing…
Michael Phelps isn't a hero and he never was. Michael Phelps is a talented athlete who is better at his sport than everyone else in the world. Does that make him remarkable? Certainly. Heroic? Absolutely not.
Usually when people come across things so simply, they're not very disappointed if the things break or disappear. "You get what you pay for," remember? Oddly, the ease with which it bestows upon people the title of "hero" has yet to prevent the American public from becoming distraught when said heroes inevitably fail it. Now we're expected to "lose respect" for a 23-year-old jock who made no promises to anyone except that he'll try hard to be good at swimming (and technically, he didn't even promise that). Had everyone been respecting what they should have been respecting about Michael Phelps in the first place – his athletic prowess – the swimmer and his pot habit wouldn't even be news, because he never gave us any reason to respect his ability to not abuse substances. In fact, we're even more impressed by his swimming now that we know what kind of damage he does to his lungs.
Meanwhile, in Nairobi, the drug charges against George Obama, also in his 20s, have been dropped after being deemed too petty. Obama was arrested, imprisoned and released, all with nary a public word on the matter from his world famous half brother. Another unheroic day in an African slum.
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Totally on point. They were smoking weed, not meth; so booty. As for the "Phelps Hero" bs, it's just that Americans are such dullards that we apply the hero title with routine desperation to anyone who's disciplined and steadfast.
HOW ABOUT A LINK TO THE STORY INSTEAD OF JUST STEALING THEIR PHOTO?
It may sound bad what i am about to say but I am glad this has happened. Michael Phelps is a 23year old Olympic champion, but still 23 years old. This is what is wrong with the US, we idolize people and put them on a pedestal because of their accomplishements. Their accomplishments sometimes have nothing to do with who they are as a person. He did what most guys his age do, date, go to strip clubs and yes smoke pot. Big deal. This is great that he has been knocked down by one notch. Take note people, no one is perfect and the only people we should idolize are people who have earned the honor.
Guess Mom was right when she taught us that "No One is perfect". Says it all.
Whoever took this photo is a loser. Pretty smarmy thing to do.
The thing is, this isn't even a taint on his accomplishments, because he clearly wasn't stoned when he won all the medals. And if he had been, it would not have been an aid to his work at all. I am enjoying laughing at the people who are so deeply deeply disappointed. Cause I'm mean like that.
and let's all remember that he was most likely drug tested out the wazoo when he was competing.
lord, when I was in college the swim team members were some of the BIGGEST pot smokers on campus.
and I agree completely about the overuse of the term "hero". cord, you got it right. but you usually do!
and this
"I am enjoying laughing at the people who are so deeply deeply disappointed. Cause I'm mean like that."
was awesome.
I agree - the media needs to give it rest already - who gives a *$#@! - It's really a shame someone actually felt compelled enough to photograph Phelps during such a moment - why would you ever have needed to take such a comprimising photo of such an athelete without first realizing the potential fallout (if you were a friend - or at the very least a decent human being)
Drugs are for fuckups.
He is paid to endorse products not be your children's big brother. You want a role model kiddies look to your parents or grandparents to set your moral compass by. Phelps is young and still sowing his oats which will naturally include mistakes like this one. The term role model is vastly overused already!
What a loser
I agree that the hero thing has been a bit blown out of proportion. However, the fact remains that what he was doing was illegal. He also has many deals for promoting merchandise based on his mighty achievements, many young people will see his promotions and think it's okay to smoke pot. Which, legally, it is still not. I'm not arguing whether marijuana should be decriminalized, but look at the mess that's going on in Mexico because of the drug wars. Smoking marijuana = consuming illegal drugs = funding illegal drug sellers. Someone bought that pot. Even on the odd chance it was medicinal, Mr. Phelps I'm sure is not a prescription holder for marijuana.