The Michael Phelps Angle NOBODY Is Talking About
Michael Phelps spoke out to our sister-newspaper The Baltimore Sun today, telling the paper he “clearly made a mistake” smoking pot and that “this was stupid and I know this won’t happen again.”
Phelps’ damage control is in response to critics from all arenas – the media, athletic circles, schools, etc. – weighing in on his decision to do drugs in light of his position as a role model.
Other Phelps/Bong-related topics thoroughly being covered include:
-How he allowed himself to be photographed
-His previous DUI
-The status of his many endorsement deals
But what amazes me is THE ONE TOPIC I HAVE YET TO HEAR DICUSSED, and to honest, it was the first thing I thought about when this story broke….
How could Phelps, arguably the most health-conscious athlete in recent memory, do something SO DESTRUCTIVE to his body?
During Phelps’ amazing run at the Olympics, we were inundated with reports of his insane training regimen, unfathomable diet, and freakishly efficient body.
In fact, in a memorable feature during NBC’s Olympic coverage, the network profiled the exceptional parts of Phelps’ body that contributed to his swimming prowess.
Among them were flipper-like hands and feet, a heart that works twice as hard as the average human’s, and a set of lungs that pumped oxygen through his body at a rate better than any of his competitors.
That’s what struck me about this story. The lungs. We all know the damage smoke does to the lungs of a slacker whose most strenuous activity involves getting more Cheetos from the cupboard. But what about a world-class athlete like Phelps?
When I think of Michael Phelps and his legendary training schedule, the first thing that comes to mind is Ivan Drago in Rocky IV. Remember the training sequence where Rocky, training in the Russian wilderness, is juxtaposed against Drago in his state-of-the-art Moscow facility?
When I picture Phelps and his handlers, that’s what I think of. Every aspect of this guy has been tested, timed, and tweaked to allow for optimal performance. His whole life has been devoted to this. To me, the WORST thing Michael Phelps could do to his meticulously maintained body is smoke (pot, cigarettes, hukah pipe…anything). And amazingly, that’s what he did.
I can only hope for the sake of his athletic career that this is something he didn’t do often.
I understand he’s young and probably felt a bit rebellious, but he’s no ordinary kid. We were led to believe that Phelps is the most focused individual in sports today, which is why I find this behavior so shocking.
Am I overreacting? It’s possible. But I’ll leave you with this thought: when Phelps won his 7th gold medal in 2008, he famously beat out Serbian Milorad Cavic by 1/100th of a second in the 100 m butterfly.
Subtract just an OUNCE of lung capacity from Phelps in that race and does he still take the gold?
Matt Esteich for The Huddle
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Comments: 5
ME...cut the guy a little slack. I am NOT condoning his actions but even Olympic athletes aren't perfect.
That being said: "Just say no"... how many times did we hear that as children? (I just totally dated myself). I think that if he wasn't Phelps, it would be another kid (he's what, 23?!) getting into mischief. One thought: maybe Mom and Coach should accompany Michael on his trips and reign him in. My dad trains world class track & field athletes and keeps a keen eye on all his "girls". Can he be with them 24/7, no? But he might as well be with the texts, the calls and the "don't make me lose my trust in you" (I hated that, still do at 32)
I'm with you on the health and to be that good, you have to be extremely strict, at all times. Phelps needs to recognize he has gotten his demerits, detention is over and suspension (from the advertisers and the fans)will follow if he keeps showing poor judgment. For now, be smart Michael, if you have a problem, take care of it please and "just say no". You still get a chance from me!
I believe Phelps just took the shot once and that's it, not addicted to it.
And, compare to those stars on screen who get in trouble (DUI, drug, heavily drunk...) over and over again, I can forgive Phelps A LOT easier, and I think he deserves a second chance.
This incident will hurt his reputation to a degree, but probably not a whole a lot.
Now people are thinking whether he can join the coming Olympics in London.
Also, I wonder if the guy Serbian Milorad Cavic is laughing at this now (hey, we are just human).
As for Phelps, he REALLY need to make a better decision next time.
Hey Lolita and KC - I agree with you both. The ONLY point I'm trying to make is that I'm surprised Phelps would choose to do something like this to his body....a body he's spent an entire LIFETIME looking after and perfecting (and let's face it, the guy is damn near close). As for the youthful indescretion, I have NO PROBLEM with it. Nearly everyone goes through such a phase. Again, I'm not surprised that he experimented, I'm surprised, SHOCKED even, that he did something that could possibly NEGATIVELY affect his performance in the pool.
Please, I've had as much as I can handle about Phelps. He's right up there with our new messiah-Obama.Nobody mentions that not all his medals were individual efforts but TEAM efforts. He should be taken down a notch;thre were/are many outstanding atheletes from the Olympics that no one hears about. Anybody ever glance at some of the truly amazing people from the Paralympics which followed immediately afterwards?
The boy done bad and being the role model he has been built up to be should pay the consequences for his actions. Btw, it's still illegal is'nt it?
Mr Phelps is doing what any college age student would be doing to relieve some stress. He's at an age where young adult are learning their way through are tough world. I would hope he would learn frome this experience but for now lets let Phelps be a 20 something year old.