Michael Phelps and the Bong....

[oneSLOWex]

I could give a shit less....its his life....let him enjoy it how he wants to.

[ISAtlanta300]

But wouldn't it kind of set a 'bad' example for those looking up to him? The bottomline is that he was doing something 'illegal'. Small as it may be, it is not like he just ran a red light, but he was in essence, doing 'drugs'.

This is something to be expected from normal 'celebrities', but not from an athlete, who is expected to keep his body 'healthy' so to speak.

[Spectic Tank]

But wouldn't it kind of set a 'bad' example for those looking up to him?

No, nobody is perfect. And if your children think they have be perfect, they're setting themselves up for failure for the rest of their lives. IMO he's still a good role model. He's one of the best athletes the world has seen and it's the medias fault for blowing this WAY out of proportion.

[oneSLOWex]

But wouldn't it kind of set a 'bad' example for those looking up to him? The bottomline is that he was doing something 'illegal'. Small as it may be, it is not like he just ran a red light, but he was in essence, doing 'drugs'.

This is something to be expected from normal 'celebrities', but not from an athlete, who is expected to keep his body 'healthy' so to speak.

Thats what would really be shitty about being "famous"...you cant enjoy your own damn life without someone with a camera breathing down your neck

[_Christian_]

But wouldn't it kind of set a 'bad' example for those looking up to him? The bottomline is that he was doing something 'illegal'. Small as it may be, it is not like he just ran a red light, but he was in essence, doing 'drugs'.

This is something to be expected from normal 'celebrities', but not from an athlete, who is expected to keep his body 'healthy' so to speak.

It think he could be setting bad example for children looking up to him. I think the biggest issue is that it's illegal, because smoking pot is not as bad for your body as drinking alcohol or smoking cigarettes. If he can smoke pot and stay healthy thats fine with me. If he wants to destroy his body that's also fine with me.

I think he gave an empty apology, but I really don't care. I don't think it's the government's, or anyone else's, business what people do with their own bodies.

You can also live a perfectly successful life and rape children..... doesn't make it a right life, though...

I know it's an exageration, but it puts things into perspective.....

That's infringing upon someone else's wellbeing vs just your own.

[americanctm]

But wouldn't it kind of set a 'bad' example for those looking up to him? The bottomline is that he was doing something 'illegal'. Small as it may be, it is not like he just ran a red light, but he was in essence, doing 'drugs'.

This is something to be expected from normal 'celebrities', but not from an athlete, who is expected to keep his body 'healthy' so to speak.

Ok i see your point... BUT - Michael Phelps never accepted being a "role model" or being an example to anybody, all that motherfucker does is swim, he likes it and he's good at it. If somebody chooses to look up to him or put him on a pedestal, that is on them or their parents.

[ISAtlanta300]

Ok i see your point... BUT - Michael Phelps never accepted being a "role model" or being an example to anybody, all that motherfucker does is swim, he likes it and he's good at it. If somebody chooses to look up to him or put him on a pedestal, that is on them or their parents.

Good point. But he has a gift that automatically makes people strive to be just like him. Just like any star athlete, some people want to use him as an inspiration.

Yes, he did not ask to be a role model, but it comes with the territory. Once you do something great, you are going to have followers.

[The Ninja]

I could give a shit less....its his life....let him enjoy it how he wants to.

A strong argument for legalization.