Ok. I'll bite.
"Weston, the author, fears that if Phelps emerges unscathed, parents seeking a teachable moment are going to have a tricky situation on their hands. "If this all works out for him, parents are going to have a pretty hard time saying drugs are bad," she said.
Ok. So reporters, famous for painting the world with every degree of grey shades is suddenly implying that it is black and white. Right. And just because someone is a famous, successful athlete, and they happened to smoke pot, God knows when (I haven't actually seen the photo), the argument that drugs are bad is a complete wash and makes no sense - even though Phelps is at risk of losing hundreds of thousands of dollars of contracts, he has been publically embarrassed and his crystal clear, impeccable image is now tarnished and, by some people's standards - beyond repair. He will likely lose some present income, and he will definitely lose future income and opportunities. The extent of which, we would never really know.
However, he is definitely not better off now that this information out considering his image is on the line. And I am sure he is not at home just whistling "Dixie" and laughing this off. So on what planet does that translate to, "Drugs are o.k.?"
Whatever happens, syndicated ethics columnist Randy Cohen sees a different problem. He takes no issue with possible pot smoking — only with what he sees as hypocrisy implicit in Phelps' apology.
"So the guy smokes pot," Cohen said. "For once I'd like someone to say, 'Yeah, I smoke pot, it's harmless and I enjoy it.'" Instead, he said, Phelps is lying by pretending he'll never do it again.
"As for whether Phelps is a role model for kids, Cohen dismisses the notion that any athlete or celebrity, for that matter, should be seen that way."
For all this Cohen jerk knows, Phelps was just screwing around and posed for the picture...he didn't smoke pot then, nor does he smoke pot now. I can't say that I know one way or another - personally. How many people really can? I can almost guarantee that he has gone to his sponsors and issued a statement to them saying that, while he acknowledges the photo was childish, immature, and potentially horrible for his career, he was just posing. He didn't smoke pot then and certainly doesn't smoke pot now., etc., etc., ad nauseum.
And for all we know, until he states otherwise, or someone else (who may have their own ulterior motives) steps forward as a witness of his smoking, all the aforementioned is true. Personally, I don't care what he does or doesn't do in his personal life. He isn't going to publically come out and say, "Drugs are awesome. Look how much they have done for me!" And his records and medals stand on their own as a testament to themselves, in my eyes.
My main point is - these reporters are sensationalizing this "story". They don't know the facts and are assuming that he is an avid pot smoker and making the jump that smoking marijuana is an action endorsed by him and impossible for him to publically renounce because of his success and the assumed lack of fallout over the photo's controversy.
Both ideas are jumps that are an affront to logic, which I doubt his sponsors are making for themselves considering how much money is at stake. Not only that, but I'm willing to bet his endorsement deals are going to be an all-for-one, one-for-all shot. They are all going to keep him on and accept that it was either a posed picture while he was goofing off, or it was a one-time deal, he obviously can't perform and win on an Olympic level while smoking pot. Not to mention that they have drug testing. Very, very extensive drug testing. Why wasn't that brought up by this wonderful article?
So his sponsors are probably all going to keep him signed on write him off depending on what his explanation of the situation is. I know I would be encouraging a particular story if I were them. But it wouldn't surprise me in the least if this is given a pass, explained away and contracts are kept, keepin' on. I could even see the sponsors talking with each other and deciding to collectively give him a pass in order to both insulate his character and protect their once-in-a-lifetime contract with one of the most famous athletes of all time.
