Re: Michael Phelps likes to smoke...
 

Athletes are role models whether they want to be or not. Kids look up to players. Thats just the way it is. It doesnt matter if we think that kids shoudnt consider them role models. A kid playing little league baseball is going to have a MLB player he likes and follows. That player cant control whether or not he wants to be that kids role model. Cal Ripken Jr. addressed the issue of athletes and being role models at his Hall Of Fame Induction--"As years passed, it became clear to me that kids see all, not just some of your actions but all," Ripken said. "Whether we like or not, we big leaguers are role models. The only question is, will it be positive or will it be negative? Should we put players up on pedestals and require that they take responsibility? No. But we should encourage them to use their influence positively to help build up and develop the young people who follow the game. Sports can play a big role in teaching values and principles. Just think. Teamwork, leadership, work ethic and trust are all part of the game, and they are also all factors in what we make of our lives."
http://sportinsociety.blogspot.com/2...le-models.html

I think the point is that we cant force athletes to do the right thing, but we can encourage them to and let them know that they are role models. And i think most of them know that kids follow them. Even though they dont choose to be. Thats how it is. Thats just my opinion:2:2

Re: Michael Phelps likes to smoke...
 

Re: Michael Phelps likes to smoke...
 

1. he was a role model because kids looked up to him
2. I agree, he gets paided to put points on the board
3. No, he shouldnt raise your kids, but if you let your kid watch him play, they will be influenced by him and the way he plays. He is charles barkley. I know kids looked up to him.
4. Barkley cant choose not to be a role model.
5. No one can force him to be a good role model or a bad one, its his choice

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0AGiq9j_Ak
I dont agree with some of what MJ did in the later years, but that doesnt matter. He didnt choose to be a role model. He was a great player. Kids wanted to be great players. Some of what he did in the later years is his own responsibility.

Re: Michael Phelps likes to smoke...
 

I completely disagree.
One thing is to idolize a sports figure for being that, a sports figure.
Another thing is to have that person be your "role model".
For kids to be allowed to confuse the two terms is unacceptable.

My son was a die hard fan of Michael Jordan but I assure you, Michael Jordan was not his role model.

That's the way it is can't be accepted as that is the way it is. It is up to parenting to teach children what the difference between idolizing someone for their accomplishments in their sport in contrast to considering them a "role model". That latter term should be clearly defined and I bet dollars to donuts, kids will know the difference if properly taught. Mine, who are 25 and 21 did.

I alluded to the pilot earlier because what he did can be considered a "role model".
He didn't score a touchdown or a basket.
He saved lives.
He placed his life on the line to save others.
He was valiant to wait for all to exit and checked twice.
His actions warrant being a role model.
He illustrated composure and valor.
That is what I would teach my children.

Re: Michael Phelps likes to smoke...
 

The definition of a role model is a person whose behavior in a particular role is imitated by others. http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/role+model
MJ was and still is a role model for kids. So was Barkley. And so is Phelps. It is the parents responsibility to teach there kids right from wrong. The parents have a responsibility to do that. Phelps worked hard, put in his time and effort and it paid off. He won all of those gold medals. Kids are looking at him and saying to themselves "if i can put effort in and work hard, it will pay off". I look at that as being a role model. But with the drug issue, that is where its the parents responsibility to teach right from wrong. They can pull the plug and tell their kids not to watch him anymore and explain why. Kids look up to people. And i think star players have the most pressure. They have the most light on them because they are good at what they do. They have worked hard and put in effort and it is paying off. Kids see these players doing well and want to do the same. I definately see your side Blueface and agree that parents should ultimatly be the role models. Some Athletes can be good role models for hard work and dedication. :2:2

Re: Michael Phelps likes to smoke...
 

I agree that to some degree kids choose their own role models, but we're not helpless. Since society reinforces an unhealthy regard for celebrity, we as parents have to infuse some sense of proportion to help our kids mange their expectations. My kids know that it's ok to be in awe of and even try to emulate the accomplishments of their favorite athletes, but also that they're only people, far from perfect, and their personal lives are just as prone to missteps as anyone's. I have more confidence in my ability to help my kids deal with reality than I do in an athlete's ability to avoid temptation. Maybe they can't help being role models, but we can temper the extent of it with our kids.

Re: Michael Phelps likes to smoke...
 

Im a swimmer, and a coach. I actually swam against phelps at a national level meet when I was 16. He whopped my ass. I talked to him for a bit and he was kinda a prick, great swimmer yes, but not that nice of a guy. I talked to him some years later when he first entered UofM at a meet and he still was a bit of an ass. Not role model material, and he his a kid like me. Indescretions or what ever, he did something wrong, stepped up and will probably take his licks. Theres something to be respected, but ive never seen him as a role model in the very least. However, when you live in the world we do and are a successful person, you need to live with a higher moral fiber than the rest of us. unfortunatly, people, espessially my 5-18 year olds look up to you, You need to act understanding that.

Partying? who cares, Getting photographed with a bong? probably not a good idea and with todays electroics, youve got to be even more careful.

well have a new thing to talk about tomarrow.

Re: Michael Phelps likes to smoke...
 

I agree 100%

Re: Michael Phelps likes to smoke...
 

Highly agree with my statement!

Re: Michael Phelps likes to smoke...
 

I think what we're debating is what constitutes a positive or preferred role model.

By the strict definition, drug addicts and pedophiles are role models, too.

Re: Michael Phelps likes to smoke...
 

I have an 8 year old on a swim team that looks up to Michael Phelps as someone that has done something amazing. Phelps is a role model to my swimmer as I am sure that Phelps is a role model to a lot of young swimmers. Kids look to people like Phelps and think that they can accomplish what he has accomplished. Hopefully this blows over because I do not want to have a discussion with Lauren to explain why if drugs are so bad then how did Michael Phelps accomplish what he has accomplished when he is doing drugs.

I completely agree with Bazooka Joes earlier comments. Phelps is just another human prone to mistakes and that there is another lesson hidden in this. Maybe he doesn't want to be a role model but by virtue of what he has accomplished, he is and needs to watch his conduct.

On a lighter note he could still be appear on a cereal box

WEEDIES:r

Re: Michael Phelps likes to smoke...
 

I havent, and I am soon to be 23. Hes got a reputation to uphold. Stupid thing to do IMO. Why risk your rep and or lots of money worth of endorsements?

Re: Michael Phelps likes to smoke...
 

Looks like he picked up a new endorsement over this ....

http://filebox.vt.edu/users/okeefes/...doresement.jpg

Re: Michael Phelps likes to smoke...
 

get a few of the wrestlers there...should make moving that bed out pretty easy....

Re: Michael Phelps likes to smoke...
 

Now we know why he eats 10,000+ calories a day. :D It's unfortunate. It could have cost him his $5 million+ in sponsorship.

Re: Michael Phelps likes to smoke...
 

My friend Brian was trying to pick up her TV, he was struggling to carry it and Vince said, "Move out of the way..." and carried it himself.

Re: Michael Phelps likes to smoke...
 

He does not swim for endorsements and never asked to be a role model. Just as some companies won't want to be associated with Phelps, there will be a whole bunch of companies that will want to. The persona that he has now created also has cache.

Phelps is an international icon, and there's plenty of World and Euro brands that aren't concerned about his private matters at all. Some sponsors are using his past time as reason to sever their relationships, while it is really that they want to cut costs and this is a good excuse to save.

He is a swimmer first, and he should not lose sight on that. I would be more concerned with his drunk driving as that is way more serious than smoking pot at a party.

Re: Michael Phelps likes to smoke...
 

Well, at least swiss army can use that pic to plug the watch he's wearing....

Re: Michael Phelps likes to smoke...
 

vince was on the juice back then I'm willing to bet. Steph is married to one of the wrestlers now but she's looked better

Re: Michael Phelps likes to smoke...
 

Corey (sp) is the daughter I knew. For sure he took steroids (perhaps for decades), but I do not consider that a negative. I assume she moved back to CT, my friend was closer to her than I was.

Re: Michael Phelps likes to smoke...
 

He is sponsored by Omega, but I can't tell if that is a Planet Ocean with a diamond bezel?

Re: Michael Phelps likes to smoke...
 

I never said or meant to imply that him being on roids was a bad or negative thing. I don't really care about that, I was just saying that's why he was able to move thigns so well. vince is an amazing business man no doubt

Re: Michael Phelps likes to smoke...
 

The one positive thing I saw was that he owned up to it. He didn't pull a big smoke and mirror show that would have lasted for weeks. Yes, he made a mistake. He apologized. He will lose money on this and he knows it. His real friends and family will stick by him. He is the greatest swimmer I have ever seen, but I don't consider him a role model. I consider him the greatest swimmer I've ever seen. All of us have made mistakes, we just don't have the international media looking for them.:2

Re: Michael Phelps likes to smoke...
 

Ya know, his stardom was fading slowly anyhow. How many swimming events have you watched outside the Olympics? It's not like Tiger or Jordan who are/were always playing on TV. Phelps fame was just a short period.

His international fame won't be tarnished much, and I think that's where the long dollars are. Just like US celebrities being the spokesperson or advertising in Far East. He's not going to be hurting from this.

Re: Michael Phelps likes to smoke...
 

Anyone as old as me remembers the WWF way back when Vince McMahon first got involved with them.
The man was a skinny as a tree limb.
I stopped following the WWF and then one day, WHAM!!! Vince McMahon is a monster dressed in a tuxedo.

Steroids? No way.:rolleyes:

For comparison, look at Barry Bonds when he first got in the league as compared to now.
Same with Vince McMahon.

Re: Michael Phelps likes to smoke...
 

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090206/...phelps_kellogg


Ha I'm glad Kellogg is dropping his ass.

Re: Michael Phelps likes to smoke...
 

Nowadays he could be president if he inhaled cocaine, well, that is, if he was a ********.

Re: Michael Phelps likes to smoke...
 

But he's getting the Doritos and Papa John's Pizza accounts instead.:r:r

Re: Michael Phelps likes to smoke...
 

It all doesn't really matter, as his endorsements with Kelloggs couldn't go for ever, an Olympic champion in a sport no one cares about only goes so long. Phelps will have a career in something other than swimming eventually and all the bong hits won't mean much. He has the world in his hand to pursue a career of his choice.

Remember Eric Heiden?

Re: Michael Phelps likes to smoke...
 

He's 23....Leave him alone...and legalize it already!

Re: Michael Phelps likes to smoke...
 

Disregard...

I couldn't remember the name of the snowboarder that was stripped of his gold for being stoned.....

Re: Michael Phelps likes to smoke...
 

I am 23 and i have smoked weed wait i carnt remeber if i did silly drugs made my memory go away lololololololol

Re: Michael Phelps likes to smoke...
 

i think its hilarious that Kellogg dropped their sponsorship of him when cereal is a classic cure for the munchies

Re: Michael Phelps likes to smoke...
 

"The economy has gotten so bad that Michael Phelps took a job being a life gaurd at snoop dogs house"---The very funny Jay Leno

Re: Michael Phelps likes to smoke...
 

Seth Meyers - "Really?" (on Michael Phelps)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2KxX...layer_embedded

The end is my favorite!

Re: Michael Phelps likes to smoke...
 

Exactly ... that was my first thought .. what kind of scumbag chump would take a picture of Phelps smoking a bong and sell it .. little piece of SCHIP.

And for 5 grand?

http://scaq.blogspot.com/2009/02/per...-may-have.html

Little punk needs his nose adjusted. If its a girl, nippie twist time.

Course, the big goofy git caused his own problems. Betting on beer pong? Smoking bongs. Big doofus on campus.

Re: Michael Phelps likes to smoke...
 

Re: Michael Phelps likes to smoke...
 

That's what people his age do in college.