Michael Phelps and the New Controversy



Michael Phelps is the latest casualty in the athletes vs. drugs saga. Many of you have heard by now that a picture of the Olympic medalist surfaced that showed him smoking a "water pipe". The resulting punishment? Phelps received a three month suspension from swimming. There are many ways to look at this incident:

1. Intolerance - marijuana is illegal and therefore he is wrong. He should know better.

2. He's not the only one - how could he be the only athlete that has used the drug?

3. The bright side - he didn't try to make up some story that he was smoking a legal substance or just fooling around for the camera.

4. Lucky - he was only given a three month suspension.

5. Apathy - it's nobody's business what he does in the off-season.

What do you think? Did he get off easy? Is the punishment fair? Is this minor?

Comments

Jan said…
I think it increases his believability. He could have said something stupid like that he didn't inhale.
February 6, 2009 at 12:50 PM
Apryl DeLancey said…
Yeah, I'm so glad we didn't hear that one!
February 6, 2009 at 12:56 PM
Doret said…
Its just weed. Though I am surprised he smoked not because its illegal but because he's a swimmer and their lungs are very important to what they do. Lets be honest swimmers don't have a long life span in the public eye anyway. They only show up every four years to be forgotten all over again
February 6, 2009 at 4:13 PM
Apryl DeLancey said…
I was thinking the same thing about the lungs.
February 6, 2009 at 4:47 PM
Lindsay said…
It was stupid and he admitted it. He disappointed a lot of people. But seriously, haven't most athletes smoked pot at some point? He can make his own decisions, although I'm glad he was suspended for awhile. It would've sent a bad message if he got away without any penalty.

I was really glad that he didn't try to deny it.

What were your thoughts?
February 6, 2009 at 8:24 PM
Apryl DeLancey said…
I am also glad that he did not deny it. It would have been absurd to make up some "I didn't inhale" or similar story. I think it speaks to his character that he was willing to admit it and pay the consequences.
February 6, 2009 at 8:35 PM
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