Michael Phelps Fiasco

I feel sorry for Michael Phelps. He's a young man, in his 20s people! He went to a house party in November, and this week a picture surfaced of him using a bong. Really, I have to say so what. I seriously can't believe some people. One lady on the news was saying that she "expected better of him" and that "he should know how to conduct himself in public better", etc.

People, first of all, he's in his 20s. Secondly, it wasn't as though he was sitting in Times Square with that bong! That's "public life". He was at a PRIVATE house party, having a good time with his friends. It's none of our business!

Somehow joe public always thinks that star athletes and celebrities, etc. should be these upstanding, flawless people. They are PEOPLE! They engage in certain activities that aren't always becoming to a "hero" because they are HUMAN! Let them be!

Moreover, simply because we are unaware of the activities that some stars/celebrities/sports heroes engage in does not mean that they aren't doing "bad" things too! We don't know how many mistresses married public figures have! We don't know how many lines of cocaine various public figures may do! Simply because we don't see if doesn't mean it doesn't happen! They're people too!

And, let me get this point across, THEY ARE THE ONES WHO ACHIEVED THOSE THINGS! Not you. They worked hard, they made sacrifices. They were the ones at the gym or on set at 6 am. They were the ones working non stop for 6 months straight with no time for a night out. They made sacrifices and so they are fully entitled to some time to themselves. He was at a private house party people. It wasn't as though he put those pictures up on his Facebook account or something.

It's the general public that needs to get a life, that engages in "bad" behaviour. The general public who is constantly haranguing and harassing stars/celebrities/etc.

AND FINALLY. The most important point of all. Did Mike ask you all to make him a public figurehead? Do you think that's why he went to swimming? What if some of our sports heroes/stars/celebrities DON'T WANT the admiration (and subsequent EXPECTATIONS!) we place on them????? Has anyone ever thought of that???? Did Michael Phelps ASK for that fame or was it OUR magazine editors, OUR newspapers, OUR youth, etc that raised him up on a pedestal?

Stars/sports heroes/celebrities are people too! Don't be surprised if they sometimes let us down.

UPDATE:
While waiting for my girlfriend at her doctor's yesterday I came across an older issue of Sports Illustrated (presumably published right after the 2008 Olympics) that had dedicated nearly half of its pages to Phelps. In summation here is what it had to report:

1 - Michael Phelps is an avid volunteer with the local chapter of the Boys and Girls club where he resides;

2- Michael Phelps gave hope to, and was inspired by, a young protege who was dying of cancer (and who did eventually pass away as a result of his cancer). He stayed up with the kid when he was in hospital, speaking to him for 2 HOURS!!! while he was in a coma (the child's mother reported);
When the boy passed away he was at his funeral bearing purple flowers, the boy's favourite colour;

3- Michael Phelps would get up at 6 am EVERY SINGLE day and head to the pool to train! Do you have that kind of dedication?

4 - Michael Phelps feels it is "an obligation" to promote the sport of swimming - since winning his 8 gold medals he has managed to draw with Barack Obama! in terms of "most searched query" on Google.

5 - Michael Phelps is 23 years old. What were YOU doing at 23?