Free Michael Phelps: Why we should lay off the Golden Boy

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For those who may not have heard, a certain swimmer by the name of Michael Phelps was recently photographed smoking marijuana from a bong at a party near the University of South Carolina. The fallout has the national media buzzing about the newest golden boy’s fall from grace. Phelps’ act was without a doubt stupid; celebrities cannot just toke up at frat parties and expect not to be seen. But condemnable? No.

Marijuana is illegal in this country, yes. But if you think a 23 year old male smoking reefer at a party is uncommon in this country, think again. And no, I’m not just talking about the NBA. Some fans have even labeled it a ‘betrayal of trust’. This does not even mark the most embarrassing storyline or photo of the past year for Phelps, dicounting a DUI four years ago at age 19. He is currently in a relationship with a Vegas club waitress that has done multiple nude spreads in magazines. Show these pictures to your kids, parents! Photos recently surfaced of Phelps with a hand on a stripper’s leg at a club. This is wrong on MULTIPLE levels. Phelps is quite possibly the most popular man in the country not named Obama and a ‘sex symbol’(I have to admire any barrel-chested man who can be called a ‘sex symbol’ while having a waistline thinner than one of the Olsen twins). He shouldn’t have to resort to risking his reputation at a strip club to see beautiful naked women.

Adding to Phelps’ troubles, the South Carolina Police are gathering evidence to mount criminal drug charges against Phelps. This is coming from the state that jailed a Black HS senior for having sexual relations with white student two years younger(OK, maybe that was Georgia, but we’re splitting hairs here people). For me personally, I never envisioned my tax dollars going to prosecute kids caught with a bong in a cell phone picture. This is why I worry how the stimulus money will be spent. Suddenly a bailout of the porn industry doesn’t sound so bad!

Again what Phelps did was extremely stupid. But pundits and parents alike should take a step back before condemning a 23 year old kid for doing…what 23 year old kids do. And Michael Phelps must get back to doing what great swimmers do best…vanishing into obscurity for four years.

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