I don’t care what you may think, if you’re an athlete you are a role model. Don’t like it? Don’t take the millions of dollars in sponsors.
We waited a little while to talk about this story. You know how we are here at BSR. We’re gonna give you the Michael Phelps story straight.
I’ve heard both sides of this story. Last night a woman had to be dumped on a sports talk radio station because she dropped the “F” bomb when talking about how relaxed the radio host was with Phelps’ behavior. That is an over reaction.
Then I’ve heard people say that Michael Phelps can do whatever he wants in his free time and that it doesn’t effect other people. That’s not a fair opinion either.
At age 19 Phelps was arrested for a DUI, which in my opinion is a dumb reckless crime and not only was he driving drunk (illegal), but he was 19 (double illegal).
Being in Baltimore and living in a college town, I’ve heard stories about how Phelps is an ass hole. But its always one of those friends of a friends whose room mate’s cousin ran into him at Panera. So I take it with a grain of salt.
But this is it for me. Phelps actions weren’t immature. Is it immature to do something illegal? I don’t think so. I think it is idiotic. He might’ve apologized but it means nothing. Phelps learned nothing from his prior crime and I’m tired of people just accepting athletes for smoking marijuana. It might not be illegal in their sport, but it is illegal in this country.
We ought to be harder on Phelps this time around.
I suggest you consider the expansive list of successful people who admit using marijuana.
That list includes at least two Presidents of the US, a number of Nobel Prize winners, and a number of high level athletes.
I’d much rather we discuss how smoking a little pot won’t destroy your life, the effect prohibition has, and that the government propaganda regarding the war on drugs is full of lies.
Why single Phelps out?
Signed,
A 38 year old millionaire with a graduate degree who smoked pot in high school and college.
Phelps is being singled out because this blog is the BALTIMORE sports report and he is a Baltimore hero. Whether your opinions of the causes of smoking marijuana are true or not they do not matter because it is illegal in this country. You might be right, but we can’t legally find out.
Who’s to say that because you are a celeb and good at what you do that you are above the law. No matter who you are, there are standards and rules and laws we all must follow no matter who you are. It was wrong of him and it would make sense for him to do something publicly to adjust for it.
Signed,
A non-millionare who smoked a ton from high school through college until he had to find a job after college.
He’s not above the law. But he really didn’t get into a lot of trouble for the underage DUI and I’m upset because I feel that nothing will be made of this. I get tired of athletes talking about smoking pot, like its something that is just against league rules…its also against the law.
Funny how no one cared this much when Phelps got arrested for DUI. It was just as illegal for him to be drinking then as it is for him to be smoking pot now, and by getting behind the wheel, he put other people at risk of suffering for his bad decision. But after he offered some lame apology that was probably written by someone else, his wrongs slid off him like Teflon and were quickly swept under the rug. It’s too bad, really, because when someone with millions of dollars in endorsements is willing to throw caution to the wind by acting so carelessly, that’s usually indicative of a bigger problem.
@ BSR
You kinda missed the point.
The PRESIDENT admitted to smoking pot. Is he a tool?
No one cares if Phelps smokes. Did it occur to you the problem might be that you consider a 23 year old swimmer a ‘hero’?
It’s also not against IOC rules. Pot is on the ‘in competition’ banned list. He can smoke all he wants outside of competition.
@ Beaker
If you think it’s wrong, I certainly hope you are surrendering yourself to authorities tomorrow to serve your time for breaking the “laws and standards that everyone must follow.”
Right on Paul, I’m going to surrender for my actions years ago without any other evidence other than my word. As soon as you’re ready, we can both walk in together. “No” you say, that must be your millions talking.
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