Jay Mariotti is a hypocrite because he has smoked pot and is condemning Michael Phelps for doing the exact same. Jay Marotti is vindictive because he has already broached the "Michael Phelps as a pothead" story with his readers and refuses to let it drop. Jay Mariotti is a hack because he is not a good writer. Now that we have the basis of my feelings out of the way, let's delve into his column.
So now he's threatening to seek an escape hatch, not compete in the 2012 Olympics -- you know, take his Speedo LZR Racer trunks and 14 gold medals and swim home.
He has accomplished more than any other Olympic swimmer has accomplished and maybe he is tired of the scrutiny from shithead columnists like...Jay Mariotti. I can't say I blame him. When I am defending Michael Phelps, who is probably a douchebag, you know Jay Mariotti has gone over the edge with his constant hypocrisy and cowardly journalism.
That would be a regrettable and rather cowardly backstroke by Michael Phelps, who finds himself at an unexpected crossroads in his charmed life and needs to make a mature decision to counter his reckless immaturity.
How many people died/were injured because of Phelps' decision to smoke pot: 0
Who his decision to smoke pot affects: Michael Phelps
Calling this one incident and his DUI arrest four years ago, reckless immaturity is being an absolute drama queen about this situation. Our President has smoked pot, Jay Mariotti has smoked pot, and about 90% of America has smoked pot, yet somehow Jay Mariotti believes he is in the perfect position to judge. Why is he in the perfect position? Because he has a computer and can type, so he feels he can judge Michael Phelps for his decisions.
Mr. America has soiled himself, making us wonder if he has become another burned-out stoner who can't control his partying.
He's 24, wealthy, and popular. He worked hard to get where he is now, if Michael Phelps wants to quit swimming he can. He doesn't need to give a reason because he has accomplished more than anyone else can imagine they would like to accomplish in the sport of swimming.
It just infuriates me that a person who admitted to smoking pot in his last column now thinks after one picture of Phelps smoking pot, he is a "burned-out stoner." I don't like Michael Phelps, but gutless and audacious comments like this should get Jay Mariotti punched in the face by a grizzly bear.
Maybe you and I plunged into the same sort of activities in our early 20s, but none of us was Sportsman of the Year and the most acclaimed Olympian ever.
Seriously, it doesn't matter who he is or what he has done. He is still human. He should never have put himself in this situation, but to jump all over him and hold him to a higher standard because he has done more for kids and charity than Mariotti ever will is outrageous.
He can go one of two ways, either turning a negative into a positive or letting the negative bury him by retiring from competition.
Sure if he keeps swimming, he says, "hey kids, you can smoke pot and still be a great swimmer," and if he quits he says, "hey kids, I have worked hard for 8 years and achieved things others can only dream of, but I am quite tired of assholes like Jay Mariotti trying to make me seem like Pablo Escobar."
To Phelps' credit, he apologized quickly and didn't try to cover up the bong photo, which inevitably was published by a sleazy London tabloid.
I like how Mariotti calls the London tabloid "sleazy," but is still freaking out over the picture, wondering if Michael Phelps is a "burned out stoner," and giving even more credence to the picture from the "sleazy" tabloid by talking about the picture as if it were the smoking gun that buries Michael Phelps forever in the minds of children everywhere.
Jay Mariotti: Where Hypocrisy and Leaps in Logic Happen
Then why run away from 2012? The last time Phelps slipped up, with a drunk-driving arrest following his Athens medal haul in 2004, he vowed to overcome it by focusing on his swimming.
Because he will be 8 years older, has achieved the goals he wanted to achieve, wants to pursue other options, realized the media scrutiny over his life is not what he wants, or just doesn't feel like training for 2012 and is such a competitor that if he can't win more gold medals he doesn't want to be there.
Those are some good reasons.
But now he has a dope issue, too, which means he might have a problem much larger than a guy getting high one night at the University of South Carolina.
It's not like he is fucking rehab right now. He made a mistake one time and someone took a picture of it. That's it. He may be a potential douchebag but he is not a douchebag with a severe drug problem.
This is not a dope issue Phelps has, it's a public perception problem. He does want to be a role model and doesn't want kids to think it is fine to smoke pot.
I wish someone would punch Mariotti in his fat face. What I would give to allow Ozzie Guillen 10 minutes alone in a locker room (Mariotti may not know where the locker room is, so someone could show him), and just see what kind of damage he could do to this self righteous prick.
That reflects the divided opinion surrounding Phelps, who also is backed by Dara Torres, the 41-year-old comeback star who won a silver medal in Beijing. "I see him as a kid trying to grow up in the most intense spotlight known to any athlete. He has apologized, and what else can he do?" she told the Associated Press. "The thing I hope is that people realize Michael is still a person and not just a swimming hero.
Let's look at this divided opinion on Michael Phelps:
Those for Michael Phelps still being a good person: All of his sponsors except for one and the rest of the world.
Those against Michael Phelps and think he is a pothead who should go to rehab and take 300 lashes on the back as punishment: Kellogg's Company and Jay Mariotti.
Since Beijing, his doings have been fodder for TMZ.com and other Internet sites, which have shown him on the party scene, hanging out with various women and enjoying life. There's nothing wrong with any of that until he goes bong-hit on us.
This is not like this criticism is coming from the Reverend Billy Graham or the Pope. This is coming from Jay Mariotti, a guy has admittedly smoked pot on more than one occasion. It's not a big deal for Jay to smoke pot and he is not a hypocrite because he has never held himself up to be a role model. Jay has always held himself up to be a vindictive man who takes out his vengeance with a pen and computer, then hides when anyone tries to call him on it.
In Jay's bizarre world, if you give everyone low expectations for yourself then start smoking pot and drinking excessively, it is no big deal. If you dare to try to change kids and the world for positive and do those things then you are a hypocrite and a horrible person. All that you have ever done has been washed away by this one incident.
Never mind the double standard: If the sheriff, Leon Lott, busted every kid who smoked pot at the university, there wouldn't be much of a student enrollment. Because the smoker was Michael Phelps, it opens the door to an avalanche of hassles.
Nevermind Jay doesn't see the double standard: If Michael Phelps was Pacman Jones, he would never have written an article about him, but because it is a Phelps who was a national hero and has tried to get kids into swimming, Jay unloads on him.
But sometimes, the best friends in troubled times are those unafraid to state the truth. And the truth about Phelps is, he let his country down when a little discretion could have gone a long way.
I don't feel let down because I knew he was a 24 year old kid who has faced more scrutiny and fame than he had ever seen before.
"Once we're allowed to call ourselves U.S. Olympic athletes, there are certain guidelines and protocols that go along with that," said the legendary U.S. speedskater, Apolo Anton Ohno. "I think it's important to represent what you'd like your mom to see or what you'd like little kids to see. It's important to be aware of your surroundings and the choices you make."
Apolo Anton Ohno's answer to his post-Olympic career to represent what the kids and his mother want to see?
Dancing With the Stars!
I can imagine the kids were around the television set in breathless awe at Ohno's ability to dance around a stage with a shitty wanna-be country music singer. I also can imagine the kids were inspired to see him beat the world class athlete Joey Fatone to get the Dancing With the Stars crown. Now that is some inspiring stuff.
The most obvious choice for Michael Phelps is to dive into that pool and keep swimming for three years, all the way to London.
Phelps smoking pot is a completely separate issue from the Olympic games in London. If Phelps wants to quit swimming, it may not be just because he had a picture taken of him smoking pot, it may be because he has dedicated his life to swimming and may be ready to quit. Just because Mariotti wants to be able to write 1,256 "Michael Phelps has redeemed himself stories" doesn't mean Phelps should have to train for 2012 if he doesn't want to.
That way, you teach the children well about correcting a mistake. To run from it would be legacy suicide.
He could also teach kids through his words and by helping them get into swimming. I don't know if kids can see the correlation Jay sees, between having a picture taken of Phelps smoking pot from a bong and Phelps competing in the 2012 Olympics to prove.................something that I haven't figured out quite yet.
Quitting swimming would be a career decision, not a decision based on one stupid picture that was taken of him at a compromising time. (While I am typing this, The Authority Song came on my ITunes...I am not kidding. The first lyrics are: "They like to get you in a compromising position, They like to get you there and smile in your face, They think they're so cute when they got you in that condition, Well I think, its a total disgrace." I wish I could make this up.)
Is there a better way to end a post than with John Mellencamp lyrics? Only one way...
Jay Mariott is a hypocritical hack writer who got too many wedgies in high school and now feels the need to take it out on everyone by writing daily columns that combine his own unique blend of piss poor journalism and cheap shots at those who have wrong him. I take solace in knowing he will one day pass from this life before I do and I will one day get peace and not have to be burdened with the knowledge he is walking the same earth I am.
19 comments:
I couldn't agree more...great commentary.
Thanks, I appreciate it. I enjoyed writing this. I am kind of glad Bill Simmons did not post anything now.
Lousy commentary! Stupidity is an understatement. Apolo Ohno is training for his 3rd Winter Olympics. He is one of the most decorated and celebrated athletes ever. This man has given an incredible amount of time and talent to worthy charities ranging from MathMovesU's Math Education Awareness, Boy Scouts and AIDS education. You should be ashamed of yourself.
Yes, I have gotten some good haters. I have been waiting for this. I thought this column was pretty innocent though.
Anon, I don't know what you mean about uninformed since there was not too much information discussed in here. Mariotti is being a clear hypocrite by admitting he has smoked pot and then writing two different columns holding Phelps' feet to the fire for doing the same thing. Simply because Phelps wants to be a role model does not mean we should hold him to a higher standard. I am sorry you think my writing borders on stupidity, I am assuming that was a question and not a statement though.
Nana, Michael Phelps is also one of the most decorated and celebrated Olympics athletes ever, so for Jay Mariotti to say he has to compete in the 2012 Olympics to prevent his legacy from being tarnished is completely false. They are two separate issues. Phelps already has a great legacy in the sport because of his achievements in the past two Olympics games. I am surprised you are not angry with the comments Mariotti made about Phelps, they are much more severe than what I have said about Ohno. I made no negative comments about Ohno, I just said he spent time on Dancing With the Stars and that it probably did not inspire children. I said nothing negative about his Olympic career or anything he has done for the charities he is involved with. How you can be so offended about my mentioning Ohno was on Dancing With the Stars, when Mariotti insinuates Phelps is a "pothead" is beyond me. They are both Olympic stars, so I would think you would fall on my side with what Mariotti wrote.
Thanks for reading and I do like feedback.
You apparently have a personal vendetta against the columnist, and in your defense of Michaels behavior, it's a given you don't have any kids, as your diatribe completely misses the point. Yeah, the original faux pas wasn't akin to being Hannibal Lector. But those endorsement checks supporting Michael are written with the understanding that they are supporting a person that kids can look up to - and that's the persona they are promoting whether you agree with it or not. Kellogs decided Michael broke faith with that agreement and trust, and pulled their sponsorship as a result. Even Lindsey Lohan or Brittany Spears would not have been THAT stupid to put themselves in a position of being photo'd with a bong.
That being said, you completely crossed the line when you turned your rant on Apolo Anton Ohno(or more accurately, broke every rule of good journalism, by not checking your facts. Research, what a concept, - ever heard of it?) If you had, you would know that Apolo has dedicated his life and worked his butt off not only to be excellent at his sport, but has always carried himself and treated others with integrity, graciousness and respect. I am always proud of how he represents us as a nation. As Americans, I would like to think he is us on our best day. DWTS was a mere blip in his career. It DID get more attention and exposure to Short Track Speedskating,(which can be witnessed by the fuller stands at competitions), so it served its' purpose. The true measure of a good man is how he conducts himself every day of his life. Read up. You'll change your opinion of him if you actually knew anything about him. Which is why the USOC wasted no time getting Apolo on board to do spin control after Micheal's indiscretion.
The USOC knew it wasn't Micheal who would ultimately suffer the most from this. It's the Olympic movement as a whole that we Americans don't well support, and every other struggling Olympic athlete who is already scrounging for funding because their faces or sports merely aren't touted by the American press. In light of current circumstances, Micheal just made it even that much harder for them. I'm not ragging on Micheal for being a clueless kid (he is) but as a result, he did other hard working athletes a grave diservice.
Is a bong really all that tragic? No. But it plain and simply is NOT the image the US Olympic Committee wants to promote, and it sure as hell isn't one that Americans (even if they toke themselves) will support. Apolo is right. Once you put on that USA uniform, like it or not, you're held to a higher standard. Fair? No. Cold, Harsh reality? Yes.
Bengoodfella, the negative comments here are from members of an Apolo Ohno/Julianne Hough message board. A link to your blog has been placed there and the members are furious because they believe you have insulted their super hero. It has nothing to do with the content of your article. They simply go on the warpath if anyone doesn't worship Apolo the way they do. You are one of many bloggers and others that have been the target of their fury.
I never smoked pot and I think Michael Phelps never stopped to think about how his actions would affect his career and reputation.
The man is selfish and immature.
MP needs to pull his head out of his hindquarters and start behaving like an adult.
I did not intend to insult Apolo, and I did not insult Apolo. For which ever anonymous accused me of not checking my facts. There are no facts to check, I did not say he was a bad person, I just said he was on Dancing With the Stars and I am not sure that was a show children who need a role model look to. I am not defending Michael Phelps or what he did. I am saying he is 24 years old and he made a mistake. I don't particularly like Michael Phelps and think what he did was wrong. He apologized quickly and now is being contrite. The problem is with those who won't let it drop and feel the need rake him over the coals.
If any of the anonymous writers did research they would know Jay Mariotti admitted to smoking pot but doesn't think it is a big deal because he doesn't portray himself to be a role model. I see no difference in the act and what the person attempts to portray himself as. I have no vendetta against Jay Mariotti, again if you followed him, you would know he carries out vendettas against athletes and now it seems Michael Phelps is on his list.
Thanks for writing and I would love to know which board this got posted on before I ever get bombarded from a group of anonymous people, ironically of all things based on what they accuse me of doing to Apolo, make attacks against me. I have no vendetta against Apolo and never will, he is a great Olympian.
More misinformation by an anonymous poster ( who also didn't do their research). As a participant in an organization that raises money for Olympic athletes, I get my information from google alerts,(in this particular instance) newpapers and TV reports, not fan boards. The Olympic spirit is something I have always believed in, and sadly, a large majority of its' participants are greatly underfunded by the country they represent.
I disagree with the original blog post, irregardless of the mention of Apolo. Micheal is acting childishly. To threaten to walk away from his sport not because it's time, but because he can't take the heat is a sign of real immaturity. Heat he brought upon himself by not kicking in a few functioning brain cells. (which says to me he really can't afford to lose any more of 'em by drinking or smoking of banned substances.) ;-D
It also doesn't speak to the kind of hard work and dedication it must have taken to attain the level of success he has. Does that sound like the heart of a champion to you? Someone who quits and stomps off in a huff when life gets a little rough? I didn't think so.
I also believe that Apolo represents how an Olympic athlete should behave. A fan? Absolutely.
I make no apologies for it.
"Anonymous said...
Bengoodfella, the negative comments here are from members of an Apolo Ohno/Julianne Hough message board. A link to your blog has been placed there and the members are furious because they believe you have insulted their super hero. It has nothing to do with the content of your article. They simply go on the warpath if anyone doesn't worship Apolo the way they do. You are one of many bloggers and others that have been the target of their fury."
Well Anonymous, this is laughable since it just occurred to me that since you seem to be in the know about where these comments are coming from, then you are obviously a member at that fansite and just outted yourself as belonging to it...you really are an idiot aren't you?
If you feel that negatively about the membership and Apolo Ohno, then are you a member there?
I don't really care who is a member of the Julianne Hough/Apolo Ohno message board, I just think that everyone is being kind of hard on Michael Phelps. I realize the Olympic spirit does not include using drugs and I am sensitive of that. I just believe Michael Phelps made a mistake. I did not think I had offended the entire Apolo Ohno community with this post...especially since it is against Jay Mariotti.
I guess my biggest issue is that I never said anything negative about Apolo Ohno and I was really attacking Jay Mariotti. The title says it all. I would still like to know the message board my post got posted on.
I can't believe I am semi-defending him, but Michael Phelps is not walking away from swimming, solely based on this incident.
He has not made up his mind about 2012 as of yet. As I was saying in the original post everyone seemed to hate, Michael Phelps (why is it so hard to spell Michael?) but he has earned the right to compete or not compete in 2012 based on whether he thinks he can compete or not and it has nothing to do with this incident. I was actually attacking Jay Mariotti in this post, a person I would guess no one who wrote a comment on my post actually knows anything about. It was not aimed at Apolo Ohno but somehow people felt like I had insulted him by saying he was on Dancing With the Stars.
This whole post was aimed at Jay Mariotti and somehow that how idea was completely missed.
Bengoodfella:
I agree with the general gist of your take on Mr. Mariotti's article. I am familiar with Mr. Mariotti, and I'm all for locking his self-righteous, pompous self up in a room with Ozzie Guillen. But then again, I'd pay to watch anyone tangle with Ozzie. The type of press this incident has been receiving, you'd think Phelps had murdered someone. I don't think Ray Lewis got this much press after actually being tried for murder (charges dismissed), and he's back to playing football to boot. It's time for the mainstream press to move on. As for Phelps being a role model for kids, I suppose most hero athletes assume that responsibility whether they like it or not. It's alot to live up to. Charles Barkley was one of the few who had the guts to say NO to that up front--what about parents as role models, he asked??? What a concept.
I had to laugh at your Apolo comment that has caused quite a stir amongst a few bloggers. In that regard, it seems you're right about one thing--Apolo's stint on Dancing with the Stars didn't inspire a bunch of kids in breathless awe tuning in each week. It inspired a bunch of middle-aged women in breathless awe, which is the core audience for Dancing with the Stars. That's the wrath you incited. LOL!
I don't think you insulted Apolo, but I also don't think (as you imply) that his motivation for appearing on DWTS was to inspire kids (or middle-aged women for that matter). He's not obtuse. He's not obtuse at all. Therein lies the difference between him and Phelps. What Ohno has that Phelps doesn't (and probably never will) is that behind that sweet, Zen demeanor, he is smart and shrewd. Just listen to him talk--even after his first Olympics when he was only nineteen--never a word spoken that hasn't carefully been thought out. It's been well documented that after his wild early teen years, he had an epiphany and decided he was going to do "grownup," and with maybe the exception of Tiger Woods at his age, not too many of our current, young athletes do "grownup" as well as Mr. Ohno. Is it a coincidence that he and Tiger are both the products of an Asian parent??? Probably not.
He said he did DWTS to attract more fans to his sport, but I'd venture to guess that Apolo did DWTS for the money and the exposure, and definitely not to inspire children. He himself has said that he is not financially set for life and that he's considering pursuing a career in entertainment when he retires--he had some endorsements after both Winter games he's competed in, but none of the Phelps mega dollar magnitude. The money DWTS pays might not be much to some celebrities, but to an athlete in an expensive, obscure winter sport that is training for a 3rd Olympics out-of-pocket, it's nothing to sneeze at. So even though I'm a bit of a sports snob, I cut him some slack for doing Dancing with the Stars. Based on his recent remarks, which Mr. Mariotti quotes in his article, as an Olympic athlete, Ohno obviously and gladly embraces the responsibility of role model to kids. That's his thing, and so far his conduct has been beyond reproach. Good for him. I don't think he'll fall either--he's half Japanese, a culture that honors "honor", and besides, he's just too grownup and smart for that.
Phelps, reluctantly or not, accepted his responsibility as role model to kids the minute he signed up for all those million dollar endorsements. When you're on the face of a cereal box, America expects you to be squeeky clean. He's fallen, and while what he did was stupid and not so grown up, his "sin" was not that egregious. America needs to let him get back up, dust himself off, get back to what he does best or not if he chooses. . . and maybe, just maybe, not be so quick to place the burden of being a good role model for their children on some superstar-stranger-athlete, but consider taking the majority of that burden on themselves. Where's Charles Barkley when you need him? In Scottsdale getting charged with DUI, you say. I'm sure Mr. Barkley's not losing too much sleep over that one; as a matter of fact, that story was in the news cycle for one whole day.
WTF does Ohno have to do with all this? Sweet Christ, you used him as a benign example of how somethings are and aren't what children are looking to role models for. Phelps is just another self involved 23 year old. I doubt the guy thinks 3 seconds ahead of any action he takes. He's pretty much lead a sheltered life of school and training, so in a way it's to be expected.
The problem I have with Mariotti and the rest is the entire concept of pot smoking being a "mistake". Mispell a word, take the wrong off ramp, adding a tablespoon instead a teaspoon vanilla, are mistakes. Taking a hit off a bong is a what the hell decision, thinking he wouldn't get caught. Speeding on purpose isn't a mistake, it's a calculated risk, and that's what Phelps did. He got burned, sucks to be him.
Last anonymous who commented, you are exactly right in that Michael Phelps did choose to be a role model for kids and he let everyone down with this incident. I wasn't specifically comparing Ohno and Phelps but clearly Ohno is a much better role model.
That being said, Phelps shouldn't face such a wrath that it seems like he is currently facing. I think a little forgiveness can go a long way for him. Especially, despite this incident, he claims he does want to be a positive force for kids. Most of my commenting is directed towards Jay Mariotti though, since he admitted to using drugs and then claiming Phelps needs to compete in the 2012 Olympics as redemption/contrition. It just doesn't make sense to me at all. I just feel like he is a bit of a hypocrite in that fashion. He wants Phelps to be held to a higher standard because he is a role model, basically excusing the normal person's similar behavior if that person does not hold themselves out to be a role model.
Martin, I was wondering when you were going to chime in on this. It became an issue of me insulting Ohno, even though I was more aiming for Mariotti. I think it is unfair and incorrect for Mariotti to say Phelps has to participate in the 2012 Olympics to make up for this. It just doesn't make sense.
Why are you apologizing to these Ohno fan mouthbreathers? If they're too dumb to separate an innocuous dig at his Dancing With the Stars stint from the larger point of your post, then they're not worth the time or effort of a reply. Newsflash: No one cares about speed-skaters outside of the time they're shoved down our throats by NBC during the Winter Olympics. If you're intimately aware of this guy's charitable work and the deep details of his world, you've wasted your life.
As for the Phelps issue, I cosign your post, and would like to add this: The heat he has taken for abusing his supposed responsibility to "the children" is infuriating. It's an extension of the obnoxious idea that the responsibility of explaining what right and wrong is, and how a child should act, doesn't belong to a parent, but to everyone else, be it the government, celebrities, or sport figures. If you are a parent and the life path of your children is affected by Michael Phelps smoking weed (which it likely won't be), it's stronger evidence of you being a crappy parent and your child being borderline retarded than it is of Michael Phelps being a horrible person.
Looking at the guy objectively, he's a 23 year old who is worth millions and millions of dollars, is an international celebrity, and has carte blanche to essentially do whatever he wants. If the average person switched places with Michael Phelps, they'd likely be dead of over-indulgence within a week.
Phelps is very publicly coming to terms with the fact that he is now fair game for judgmental asshats in the media, as well as anyone looking to make a quick buck off of his fame. The outrage over this is an annoying collision of the puritanical undercurrent of our society and celebrity culture.
To conclude, f**k Apolo Anton Ohno.
I like how you don't hold back rawshark, that second paragraph is actually some really great stuff. I am not sure if I could agree with that more. I am being semi-apologetic to them because I want them to quit invading this blog with their rage towards me. I just wanted them to know I have nothing against Ohno, but I did not apologize for what I wrote in my post.
I don't have quite as strong of an opinion as you do but I do think everyone is being hard on Michael Phelps and that Jay Mariotti is expecting a little bit too much from him. He is 23-24 years old and a millionaire, how does everyone expect him to act. This all took me off guard and I am not sorry I put Ohno's name in there, simply because he was quoted in Mariotti's article. I did not expect to incur the wrath of the entire Ohno fan club.
Jay Mariotti is still a vindictive, hypocritical hack and I never compared him to Ohno in any fashion, which is why I was taken back by the response.
Thanks for the comments though, because I could not agree more with that second paragraph. If there is a parent out there that is letting a kid get raised by Michael Phelps' behavior, instead of being a role model for their kid themselves, that kid is already behind the 8 ball as it is. We live in a society where Michael Phelps is supposed to help raise our kid and be a role model. Then the media and parents get angry when he does something wrong, but really everyone should worry less about Michael Phelps and realize he made a mistake.
I think my favorite was the Anonymous poster (aren't they always anonymous?) who said it was a given I don't have kids. Any view point that disagrees with his/hers automatically disqualifies me from being a good parent. I don't get personal about my life on my blog and people who say shit like that are why.
God, I can't wait to talk about something else tomorrow.
Why is it so terrible that Phelps may not participate in the 2012 Olympics? Shouldn't the Olympics be bigger than one person? The only difference between Phelps skipping the Olympics and an NBA player skipping the Olympics is that the Olympics represents Phelps' best (by far) chance to insert himself into the public eye in a positive way, leading to endorsement deals. Phelps can compete or not in 2012, the decision and consequences are all his.
Casey, thanks for seeing the point of what I was writing. It doesn't matter if or why Phelps skips the Olympics it is a personal decision. Besides the Olympics are much bigger than just one person, as you said. I don't think him being a "pothead" should have anything to do with his decision.
Post a Comment