Phelps' fans deserve role model

One picture. That is all it took to tarnish the golden reputation of one of Olympics' biggest heroes. In case by some odd chance you haven't heard, Michael Phelps got caught smoking marijuana. The picture, published in a British newspaper last week, shows Phelps taking a hit from a water bong while at a party here at the university.

As talented as the unbeatable swimmer is in the pool, he seems pretty uneducated on how a positive role model should act. What's even less impressive is that many people, including the authors of Monday's editorial in this paper, believe that what Phelps did doesn't really matter. The logic is that he is just a swimmer and should not be held to a higher moral standard than any of the rest of us.

One thing that can't be disputed is that Phelps is without a doubt a role model to millions of kids across the nation, probably millions more around the world. Every dedicated young elementary, middle and high school swimmer out there gets in the pool every day hoping to one day become like Phelps.

Regardless of how you personally feel about the act of smoking marijuana, it is still a drug, and it is still illegal. Now when your 12-year-old son has posters covering his walls of the swim superstar, you're not going to be ecstatic to hear about his hero's recent slip up.

Sports superstars are by no means bound by any moral code. However, one would hope that an athlete with as much influence as Phelps would make a conscious effort to be a positive role model. In a time when so many potential role models have fallen terribly short, from Marion Jones admitting to doping, to countless political figures engaging in a myriad of unethical and illegal activities, wouldn't it be nice for someone that has the spotlight to put forth a good example?

Without a doubt, Phelps knows the impact he has on countless kids that look up to him, and he needs to make a better effort to be a positive role model. What's worse is that this same scenario has played out before, and he didn't learn his lesson - Phelps was arrested and charged with a DUI a few months after the 2004 Olympics. So now kids have seen him engage in what is the leading cause of death for young Americans, as well as take part in an illegal activity that is 100 percent a bad example for kids. I don't care how harmless someone might say marijuana is.

Yes, it's unfortunate that one mistake by a guy who clearly meant no harm in his actions is blown up to this big of a story. However, when someone is in a position with as many young fans and has as much impact as Phelps does, that person needs to step up and hold themselves to a higher moral standard.

It's honestly quite sad that there is a sense of apathy by some towards how major role models act and conduct themselves. Famous athletes, movie stars and musicians are who young kids look up to. Few can dispute the major effect a positive coach, teacher or role model can have on an individual. With the unbelievable amount of influence Phelps has, I wish he and other superstars like him would realize how great and far reaching of an effect to young kids everywhere exemplary behavior would merit, rather than blowing smoke in the face of integrity.