Phelps Rips Another Record

The Steelers have won the Super Bowl and practically everyone got a free meal at Denny's. So what else is new? In the past few days our beloved Michael PhelpsMichael Phelps has seemingly fallen from grace, having been caught in a dramatic picture smoking a bong. Why, then, is an athlete held to a higher standard than a Hollywood actor? The athlete represents the personification of excellence. We all know that an athlete has to be in tip top shape in order to be any good. The use of drugs diminishes that view. In fact, any partying whatsoever seems to be frowned on by certain people (see Rush LimbaughRush Limbaugh). Other famous people do not live by such rules.

Athletes are paid to get certain jobs done. When that job is not done, the athlete is docked in pay, traded, fired, whatever. If there is a reason that the job is not done, i.e. drugs, alcohol, an obnoxious famous girlfriend who jinxes every play, then management likes to get down to the truth. But what if the job is already done; not only done, but done in spades? Do we not owe Michael Phelps some breathing room (pardon the pun)? He is, after all, a 23 year old who is receiving more attention than any of us could dream of at a young age.

When an actor has a picture published of them caught in a compromising situation, people shrug their shoulders. The supposed outrage over the Michael Phelps picture is palpable. Most of the outrage comes from uber-conservatives, granted. But some people hold athletes on a pedestal and expect them to act as a demigod. Understanding that all people are fallible is a virtue that everyone should strive to attain. It is only when people find themselves at fault that they expect others to forgive them. At this point a large portion of society has done something that would be frowned upon. Everyone tells you they're "good" people until you see them behind closed doors.

There are certain obvious exceptions for the true fallibility of the athlete. Rae Carruth is a good example of an athlete gone bad. Remember him? He had his pregnant wife murdered then hid in the trunk of his car eating candy bars. And I certainly believe that any athlete who uses steroids is a fraud. Yeah, I'm talking to you Bonds. I am not opposed, however, to having every athlete use steroids. At least that would be fair. Are we to hold Michael Phelps in a category with these other athletes? I think not. In fact, we should all be thanking him for making our country look so good, then coming home and hitting the bong like it was no big deal.