The Media's Role in the Phelps Ban

There it was, a clip on a UK news feed showing Phelps, the Gold Medal hero of the Olympics, taking what looked like a toke from a Bong.

For the UK media to have this kind of clip, someone at the party, perhaps a 'friend' of Phelps had to have taken the video with probably a camera phone. That same 'friend' would have then had to contact the media to sell the video/ My favorite part was the comment "a source also told the paper it was obvious Phelps had smoked before and seemed a natural." Then Libby Trickett says that a three month ban is too lenient and that "it's a pretty big fall from grace after what he achieved in Beijing. It takes some of the shine off his spectacular performances in Beijing".

So let's look at the background of Phelps. He trained every day all year round for years where most athletes take days off in their training schedule. He was tested regularly for drugs and any cannabis would have been detected. He did what no other human being has ever done and won 8 gold medals in an Olympics and Libby Trickett tells us that it takes the shine off his achievement.

What planet is she from and the rest of the commentators? He won 8 gold medals. You can;t take the shine off that. The guy went to a few parties and some unnamed commentator declares that "he was smoking it like an expert." What defines an expert here? The ability to put a pipe to your mouth and suck? I bet you could train a money or a two year old to do it in a few seconds (not that I am advocating that in any way).

Here is a more likely scenario. Phelps is at a party. Someone has an idea on how to make some money and urges Phelps to give it a try, or even simulate it (you know like Clinton, I smoked but never inhaled). Conveniently as he does someone has their camera ready to record it. A day later a reputation is ruined but they have a pocket full of money. Notice how you never get any of the back story from the press?

This is Woman's Weekly or National Enquirer kind of trash reporting but sadly our media and some of the public just lap it up without ever thinking it through. One toke is certainly less destructive that a drag from say a cigarette. He didn't go out and beat someone up afterwards like some of our athletes do after drinking. It is a matter of perspective and proportionality and as usual we can count on people like Trickett and the media to make sure we forget this.