2.16.2009
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.
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With Mass-media, paprazzi, and all the pressure to MAKE NEWS, any celeb is battling for privacy. If we are going to expose our children to this type of world, then our children must be made to understand that "role models" are humans as well. Phelps is in his young 20's and HASN'T HAD TIME for a social life. Of course, now that he has time, he is going to make some immature blunders. We see this in pro sports as well: to give a college star an instant 10 million dollar signing bonus, before he has ever done anything to earn it is ludicrous! With money comes notariety and with notariety comes power and influence and with power and influence comes responsibility. What other 22-25 year old can handle this type of pressure WITHOUT making a few blunders? I am a coach and an athlete. I do not condone this action and I have gone out of my way at that age to avoid situations such as this, but I certainly was not under the same pressure as Phelps. A costly mistake, and a deserved one for anyone who can see the whole picture. However, I agree with Tonya, he still deserves to be respected and admired for his talent in and dedication to the sport...for being a swimming hero. If we looked at him just for that and didn't dump on him (or any other athlete) god-like or superhuman qualities and character, then incidents like this wouldn't hardly make the news or upset our children who are looking for role models. Our children's role models should be their family, their teachers, their coaches, etc. first and foremost, and stars and celebrities later.
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