Are you kidding me? You win a gajillion Olympic gold medals, your family watching from their seats and Mom was crying and so thrilled, then you became a super-human superhero role model, the idol of children (and adults) around the world - and you go and toke on a bong at a party. Did you forget that every cell phone in the world has a camera these days? Did no one tell you to watch out because celebrities (and you're one of them) get caught exhibiting inappropriate behavior all the time (scandals are about the only thing that can sell newspapers and magazines anymore; getting a story and photo evidence mean big money for the person selling it AND the media that gets the scoop); sadly, people are watching you like a hawk. You're going to be under a microscope so you have to be squeaky clean all the time. It's the cost of that ol' double-edged blessing, fame.
I'm shaking my head, wondering how to discuss this with my kids. How believable is it to say that drugs are bad for you, then try to use an Olympic record setter as evidence ("oh yeah, Mom, pot turned him into a slacker"). The only thing it did to you was make you stupid (the munchies aren't the only thing pot does to ya). Speaking of which - how many people, teens included, will blow off the "don't do drugs" message by retorting that "it was only bad because he got caught, 'cause almost everybody does drugs, especially the cool people." Bad choice, Michael, but you know that now and you're paying the price, with people screaming at you, sponsors wailing and endorsements on the line.
In a related matter... people still have bongs? Really? I imagined that they surely would be extinct by now, but I obviously don't monitor the world of drugs and drug paraphernalia. But bongs? The last time I saw a bong it was probably in the possession of some long-haired, mustached hippy guy (maybe similar to the guy in this photo). So these guys still exist, too?Damn, I'm old.
Photo credit: Kris Krüg
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