Oh, Phelps

The first reaction I had to hearing about Michael Phelps latest image tarnisher was disappointment, but not surprise. The drug and alcohol culture among athletes surprised me my first year in college (having been sheltered from it to that point), but does not surprise me anymore. It seems the close bonds of a team that create trust (and desire for inclusion) and the high pressures of competition are fertile ground for this kind of forbidden escape. It's just disappointment because Phelps has been raised to a good-boy, perfect, almost god-like position as a role model for youth in sports. And then again, perhaps that is what we are forgetting...Phelps is, afterall, and in spite of his recent 8 Golds in one Olympics, human. But where have our role models gone? Can he still be our hero in spite of it?

Another point to consider is that he is getting far more publicity than athletes in the past. He has celebrity status, but not celebrity forgiveness. We readily look for and expect the downfall of our favorite actors, actresses, and singers, but athletes - new to the celebrity scene and known for their physical prowess rather than starved or flaunted figures - we expect to be perfect. Or maybe we just desperately want them to be perfect.

From a sports psychology perspective, I have to wonder what kind of pressures this puts on athletes. Top athletes are not only expected to excel in the sport, they are expected to excel in all aspects of life, and all in front of the watchful eye of the media.

Are Phelps mishaps forgiven? I believe they will be. I support what I see as fair consequences: losing sponsorships, including Kellog's, since they are counting on a clean image to promote child-friendly products, and suspension by USA Swimming. After Phelps has paid the price, he deserves another chance at winning fans for his character. We all slip up, and Goldberg has some valid points (watch video).

Of course, Phelps will always have fans for his abilities. In spite of disappointment, we all still rally and truly want him to succeed. Maybe he can still be our hero.