Athletes are becoming more apparent in the media. The media and fans are always trying to find ways to see what their heroes are doing out of their sports. We talked about how athletes are getting less and less personal space in their lives, especially athletes who are thought of as all stars in their sport. Media try to capture everything that these all stars are doing at any time of day. One incident that I would like to talk about is the one where Michael Phelps was caught in a picture holding a bong. The article can be found in this link: http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/swimming/news/story?id=3876804 .
Phelps is thought of as the best swimmer to ever walk on this earth. He is an idol to a lot of young athletes, especially swimmers. How far is too far though? Should athletes always be under the microscope, or should they get some freedom sometimes? Phelps was caught in a picture with a bong, which lead to accusations of him smoking marijuana. This was stupid on his part first of all, but with how much pressure he always has on him, is this really that unexpected behavior? I would have to say that he deserves personal space as well as most other athletes. Phelps was on a break from swimming and doesn't get very much time to him and time to let loose and be a normal person. He always has pressure and is always in training so he doesn't get to have a "real" life when it comes to parties and living like most recent college graduates.
Was it wrong for him to be doing something like that? Of course it was, and he apologized for it immediately and knew he was in the wrong. Most athletes would deny incidents like this, but he came clean and knew it would hurt his reputation. He made a mistake and for someone who never lives a life style like this is bound to make a mistake once he get into situations like this.
Athletes in general are always under pressure, so the media should understand that they should be able to have some time to themselves, especially when they are on a break or vacation from their sport. Phelps just won 8 gold medals and was living the life of a stupid young man. He is help to such a high level as well as most athletes. It comes with the territory these days and it would be nice if these high class athletes can live a life of privacy someday in the future free of media.
Curtis Carlson
In my opinion, let what athletes do on the court, field, and in the pool speak for themselves as athletes. It brings the question if children are likely to look at athletes as a role models rather than their parents or close relative but it is disgusting to think that there are children idolizing the wrong athletes driven by greed and glory.
Yes, it is unfortunate that Michael Phelps was caught smoking out of a bong but to me it is better than being caught running a dog fighting ring or using enhancing performing drugs like steroids. What Michael Phelps did is not technically illegal and he did apologize for it immediately rather than deny and like in the case of Michael Vick, Barry Bonds, and Mark McGuire.
We are a society built on tabloid journalism and it is hard for me to decide if I am reading the sports page or the crime report. I take athlete's personal lives with a grain of salt but I know there are individuals who are better equipped for being a role model.
“ I am not a role model. I am not paid to be a role model. Parents should be role models. Just because I dunk a basketball, doesn’t mean I should raise your kids.” -Charles Barkely
I really think Phelps is such an interesting athlete to look at on how much he is dissected by the media. I think it has something to do with the way he is supposed to represent America because he dominates the Olympics so well. It’s so funny to me that we allow him to represent us and win us 8 gold medals setting records and shattering previous ones, but if he wants to hit a bong at a party with his friends it’s on him to watch out for his friends taking pictures on their camera so they can make some money from the media who is drooling at the mouth for a photo like that. Imp sure when the next Olympics comes and he is representing America everyone will forgive him for smoking some chronic, as long as he wins the U.S.A some gold medals.