Michael Phelps - Bong shot

PrairieMom wrote: What do you think should happen to Michael now that the images of him doing Pot from a bong have come out? I am surprised I haven't really heard much about it on the news.
Personally, I think his sponsors should pull out. If they continue to sponsor him its like saying that his behavior is Ok. I don't think he should be stripped of his medals or anything, but I do think that there should be an investigation into if he used any other kinds of drugs.
How sad. And how stupid of him to put himself into this situation!

Hillbilly Housewife replied: Honestly if every political personality was to be fired over pot/other drugs.. it wouldn't leave many in office.

luvbug00 replied: His sponcers all back him. He admited he did it. I think everyone does somthing rebelious at some point. from simple staying out late to trying a drug. Just becuase you try doesn't mean you have to use continuously. ( personally i am pro legalization) I don't think this is much of anything. If it were coke or somthing then i think they would have pulled.

coasterqueen replied:
While I agree with you, I tend to lean more towards his sponsors should remove themselves. I'm sure a ton of public figures have done drugs at one point or another, if even to try them, but I still lean towards the other way.

PrairieMom replied: I'm not saying they should toss him in jail or rehab or anything, I just think that his sponsors should show that they don't approve of the behavior. He is a role model, and if you are going to be in that position, you should act like it.

Danalana replied: I'm actually not surprised...after his first olympics, he was charged with s DUI. He did say he shouldn't have done it. I've seen him in several photos, and he seems to be different all the time. I think it's hard when you acquire fame...all of a sudden, the big names want to hang with you and get you to try stuff. For me, it's disappointing. I have been a wild fan ever since the 2004 olympics. He is a huge role model, too. Why can't somebody just get famous and still have fun without drugs/alcohol? As far as what his sponsors should do, I don't know that I have an opinion.

lisar replied: Everyone who goes into the Olympics is drug tested for everything from pot to steroids so I dont think he should be stripped of his medals. His worked very hard to get them.

boyohboyohboy replied: I agree he earned his metals, however he shouldnt be sponsered..this isnt a role model for my kids anymore...he made the choice and now has to live with that.
its to bad..

Calimama replied:
I agree.

Danalana replied: I just hope he doesn't get sucked into the drug trap. Even if there were no drug testing in the olympics, drugs destroy your body. It would be a shame for him to fall.

MoonMama replied:

jcc64 replied: I really think marijuana should be legalized, and it logically follows that I don't think he should suffer any consequences because he's a young guy out partying with friends. Yes, I know it's illegal, but that's a whole other conversation. To me, drinking and smoking are two sides of the same coin. Different delivery system, same result.
Regarding his status as a role model, I am reminded of something Charles Barkley once said. (former NBA star, for you young 'uns) Professional athletes should not be held up as your children's role models. Parents, teachers, family, religious leaders---the people intimately involved in your lives who share your values should be your role models. What do any of us really know about Michael Phelps besides what the media wants us to know? He could be a total idiot who just happens to have 8 gold medals hanging around his neck. I don't think he is, btw, but my point is, he shouldn't be held up as a role model simply because he's a phenomenal athlete. There needs to be character, kwim?

Nina J replied: A lot of people smoke marijuana. At least he admitted it, rather than denying it or making excuses.

In all honesty, it's not like he was sitting there snorting coke, shooting up heroin and getting it on with a bunch of girls. He smoked a bong. It's not something you want your children to see or to aspire too, but in the end you have more influence as a role model for your children than Michael Phelps does.

I doubt his actions are going to cause a bunch of kids to aspire to grow up and smoke someone's home grown. He should be more responsible because he is in the public eye, but if no one ever took a photo, no one would know, and people would still see him as fabulous.

redchief replied: Cannabis isn't on the list of banned substances in international athletics. There is ample proof that it has the opposite effect of the so-called enhancement drugs. Basically it appears that the international sports community takes a don't ask, don't tell stance toward marijuana.

I don't think pot should be illegal. It simply costs too much to try to control and it's just about impossible to do so anyway.

Charles Barkley is right... Kids shouldn't choose sports personalities as role models. Time and again these bright stars' personalities and personal choices haul them down off the pedestal. That being said, I believe the fact that they become role models in the first place is partly their fault, and partly the fault of the sponsors. The sponsors offer them money to be just that, because it's proven marketing fact that names sell merchandise. In that regard, as soon as a sports personality signs on the sponsors' dotted lines, he/she is acknowledging that a following exists and responsibility goes along with that. The sponsors should suffer the consequences of standing by their man, in my opinion. If they do, then people always have a choice to boycott their products because they disagree with the actions of their spokesperson. If Phelps' actions cause loss in revenue, they'll drop him like a hot potato.

stella6979 replied:
I absolutely agree.

Hillbilly Housewife replied: What?! Jeanne and Ed, Agreeing once again??



Besides... a cup of coffee is more harmful to your body than a couple tokes off a joint or a bong hit.

CantWait replied: While on one side I'm on the stance that athletes shouldn't be held up to standards of idolization; I think our children who want to become the greatest basketball player etc need that sports hero to look up to, and by being in that spotlight it's a responsibility that athletes automatically take on. Children who want to be athlete's aren't going to look up to the chemists and teachers when they want to win a gold medal at the olympics, they're going to look up to a famous athlete.

What he did was stupid, and it's obvious it's not the first thing he's done that is immature and irresponsible in the public eye. The Olympics is a dream and sponsors should make their athletes aware and send out the message that things like this aren't tolerable for today's youth.

msoulz replied: I think he showed more character than a certain former president (who did not inhale) by admitting he did wrong. He is a young guy who is suddenly rich and famous and I am sure he has had many temptations; his lack of experience got him, otherwise he wouldn't be hitting the bong with "friends" with cameras around.

I still don't think what he did was right but who among us has always done the right thing.

coasterqueen replied:

jcc64 replied: I think it's wise to remind our kids when they're dreaming big that certain types of success come at a very high price, and maybe this is one small example of that.

Danalana replied: Charles Barkley might have said that professional athletes shouldn't be kids' role models, but they always have been and always will be. I'm not even a kid, but I get all teary-eyed watching the Olympics...imagining what it took to get where they are and spending that glorious moment in the spotlight. It doesn't make sense to expect children not to look up to them. Look at the importance our society places on sports. Parents get in fights over plays at little league games...spend tons of money going to college/pro games...stress the importance of playing well to our children because of the possibility of scholarships, etc...sports are very prioritized, so why in the world would children (and even adults) not look up to them and aspire to be great like they are? Bottom line is this...if you don't want the responsibility of being an "idol" for children/teens, don't put yourself in that position. Better yet, show a little sense if you DO get there.

jcc64 replied:

Yeah, but Dana, people don't become professional athletes for altruistic reasons. And truth be told, getting to the elite levels requires an incredible amount of selfishness along with the sacrifice, dedication, and hard work. Kids look up to athletes because that's who's front and center, but my point is that we need to redirect our children's admiration to more appropriate role models. Or, at the very least, make it clear to them that just b/c someone can throw a ball 90 mph or swim faster than anyone else doesn't automatically make them a good person. It just makes them good at what they do.

luvmykids replied:
That is a great point, Jeanne. I'll be using that in the future!

msoulz replied:
VERY well said.

Crystalina replied: I didn't read all the other responses but I think he should go without sponsors for awhile. He really didn't do anything that bad IMO but the man has a lot of kids looking up to him (mine included...never missed a swim and even stayed up past bedtime to watch) and it kind of ticks me off that he would get himself in this situation.

Hillbilly Housewife replied: a friend of mine just wrote an article for this.. he's an editor in Toronto.. he hasn't published it, but I'll ask him if I can post it. It's something along the lines of professional sports just being a government/public funded game... and something about he doesn't get why ppl freak about about children and videogames.. one is no better than the other..I'll ask him if I can post it, it's awesome.

Cece00 replied:
This. I agree completely.

gr33n3y3z replied: What ppl. do behind closed doors is their business
I really dont see what the big deal is