Michael Phelps Controversy Misses Real Scandal

Micahel Phelps has created a lot of controversy and tabloid fodder recently. The website TMZ.com tried to create buzz by running a risque photo of his alleged stripper girlfriend with the headline "Phelps' New GF Out for Bare." Then today (1/2/09), the British tabloid, News of the World, published an exclusive photo of Phelps allegedly inhaling from a bong pipe. The photograph was sensational, a color image of the man who won eight gold medals in a single Olympic Games, using an orangish-red bong. The headline read in giant bold letters,"WHAT A DOPE." Callers to TV and radio stations around the world were packing the phone lines eager to either come to the aid of Phelps, calling his actions 'youthful indescretion' or to scorn him for his failure to be a role model. The tabloid reported that Phelps himself issued an apology for his actions.

Absent from this discussion was the real scandal. The same article that showed Phelps with a picture of the bong pipe claimed that "(Phelps) Spokesman Clifford Bloxham offered us an extraordinary deal not to publish our story, saying Phelps would become our columnist for three years, host events and get his sponsors to advertise with us." All this in return for not reporting the story. The tabloid added that Bloxham said to them, "It's seeing if something potentially very negative for Michael could turn into something very positive for the News of the World." It should be noted that the allegation was made by a British tabloid, but if true, this is where the outrage should be.

First off, it is very naive for Phelps spokespeople to think that if they had reached a deal with the tabloid that the photo would never see the light of day. But that aside, if this incident is true, people should be alarmed that Phelps and his people resorted to 'bribery' to suppress the fact that Phelps had allegedly committed an illegal act.

As Nixon learned, sometimes the coverup is worse than the crime. Phelps act with the bong might be forgivable and just a 'youthful transgression' if he had just owned up to it without him and his handlers trying to suppress it. But if Phelps truly thought of his acts as just a 'youthful indescretion', then why bother with the cover up. Imagine the injustice that would have been done if the News of the World had accepted the alleged offer and the story had never seen the light of day. If he was successful, imagine how fast word would get out to politicians and the rich and famous that all it takes to kill a story is money or favors. And if you can bribe your way out of troubles with the press, than maybe you can do the same with the police and Olympic officials. It's a slippery slope.

As an Olympian and Sportsperson of the Year, Phelps should use better judgement and surround himself with people who use better judgement. If his spokespeople attempted to suppress the story, he should fire them immediately, but it would be hard to believe that they would have made this offer without his consent. He has taken millions of dollars from corporate America at a time when corporate America is facing its biggest crises in more than half a century, and he has chosen to continue to be an Olympic Athlete in an era when people are no longer trusting of Olympic athletes. His 'people' allegedly offered 'incentives' to kill stories in an era when newspapers are fighting for their lives and the only thing that newspapers have left is the notion, false as it may sometimes be, that reporters will be the eyes and ears of the people. Phelps may be 'youthful' but his actions and the actions of those he surrounds himself with have serious consequences to the integrety of the Olympic Games and to the future of publications around the world.

http://www.tmz.com/2008/12/02/phelps-girlfriend-no-stranger-to-the-pole/

http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/news/150832/14-times-Olympic-gold-medal-winner-Michael-Phelps-caught-with-bong-cannabis-pipe.html

http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/news/157299/Olympic-hero-Phelps-acknowledges-marijuana-pipe-photo-is-authentic-and-issues-apology.html