Sometimes, keeping it real is a lost commodity in America. Often times, when athletes keep it real, it quickly becomes headline news. And seldom times, when white athletes are actually punished for keeping it real.
Over the weekend, a photograph depicting 88 time Olympic gold medal winning Michael Phelps smoking marijuana out of a bong was published in a tabloid newspaper in Great Britain. Phelps, who admitted to the accuracy of the photo, cited peer pressure from friends and poor judgment as reasons for getting high at the college party in November. Phelps’s who is 23, is apparently a PR genius as he emphasized his youth as a key factor in his errant decision making when he said"I'm 23 years old and despite the successes I've had in the pool, I acted in a youthful and inappropriate"
Of course the issue here is Phelps’s image. He was the world's greatest after he smashed every record at the Beijing Olympics, and the following Fall, to the victor goes the spoils of endorsements. Now, after his second run in with reckless, illegality, (let's not forget his DUI after the 2004 Olympics when he was caught blowing stop signs while smashed after another college party) will his endorsements with Visa, Speedo, Nike and etc go south after Phelps labeled as a pothead?
The answer is "no". Throw away all the speculation. Not going to happen. It's not a money decision, because Buick dropped Tiger reasoning that it sent a bad message to their customers and investors to pay his endorsement contract in bad economic times. But please believe Tiger sold more of Buick Rendezvous than every salesman on the lot combined. So as bottom-line as you think a major corporation is, they really don't sell their image short to make money. So as long as Phelps' image is restorable, which it is, he will still reign as king of Athens 04' and Beijing 08' and king of all our hearts for bringing so much Olympic gold back to the U.S.
Which brings me to the why? Why is Phelps so damn likable? I am shocked at how objective the media has been in the coverage of this weed story. I've seen no columns about ripping his posters off the wall, no analyst saying that after his DUI and now this photo that he has a substance abuse problem. Just a couple jokes on read aloud on Letterman and published in High Times magazine will be the only fallout from this. Phelps kept it real, apologized, and this will not be a story come Friday. (Just like his DUI in 04')
What's hilarious to me is the strict dichotomy of similar situations when it comes to black athletes. In 2003, similar stories were written about Wake Forest star, and ACC player of the year Josh Howard. Howard, in local Winston Salem publications was contrite and said throughout college he smoked weed recreationally. Yet he was ripped in the media, his draft position plummeted from a projected lottery pick to going 29th in the 1st round, and 5 years later, he was fined by both his team and the players association for retelling that story to the Dallas morning news. Josh Howard kept it real, apologized (twice really) he lost millions in draft position, and thousands in fines 5 years later.Howard is not even on the same planet as far as iconic image, marketability, or celebrity status. And this precisely my point. Why is Howard, a role player for a NBA team, and is actions so reprehensive and lamentable while those of Michael Phelps, the greatest US Olympian of all time, are so "youthful" and forgivable. I am not arguing for Phelps reputation to be torn down, but I am lobbying for Howard reputation to be restored to that of a youthful, sometimes inappropriate, young man, but a respected and phenomenal athlete. That is the reputation that Phelps enjoys despite private behavior that while expected for someone his age, is alarming for someone of his superstardom.
Keeping it real can go terribly wrong when you're a black athlete, because the flaws you admit to can affirm what the public already believed. Admitting to smoking weed or any illegal activity is a bad idea for a 23 year old black basketball player because it entertains America's worst fears about black people. For Michael Phelps, admission to the same behavior might just save him millions of dollars in endorsements because he is a 23 year old white Olympic swimmer. America has no fears to be entertained by Phelps, thus the DUI, the marijuana, just lapses in judgment, because well boys will be boys.
It's always going to be presented this way through the media, no surprises there. But as far as who they are as people, romanticize Michael Phelps and turn him into a hero any more than you would Josh Howard. Just because he wins Gold Medals, doesn't mean he's a hero or a role model. Casual weed smokers do not smoke out of bongs. So it wasn't poor judgment, it was typical Phelps recreation. He's a pothead, which doesn't mean you should take his poster off the wall in your room, just make sure you're thinking about swimming when you look at it.
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4 comments:
Well after reading this horribly written and widely over exaggerated blog only one question comes to mind... are you completely irrational and blind to how things really are in this world? Now while I do agree Michael Phelps should be held a little more accountable for his actions, I do not find any similarities or comparisons of the discipline received between white athletes and black athletes. There are a plethora of instances, both in sports and entertainment, that black entertainers are held to different standards, and justly at that. Before we get into distinct examples lets answer one question first.... QUESTION: Can a black athlete ever really participate in "recreational smoking?" ANSWER: (English)- NO.. (Chinese)- Yanjui Yanjui.. (Danish)- Nej... (Czech)- Ne...
1. Allen Iverson (an admitted "recreational Smoker." In 1997 Iverson was charged with gun possession and drug possession. In 2002 he was charged with criminal trespass, simple assualt, and Terroistic threats. No once again I pose the question: Is it ever JUST casual weed smoking with black athletes? In this case: NO!!! But it gets better.. The 2001 MVP was hunting for his wife, Tawanna, who had been in hiding for two days--allegedly after he tossed her out on the street, naked, following a two-day argument. Damn I guess your right... maybe this is just The Answer "keeping it real" with his wife. Forgiven!
2. Now should the phrase "it's a dog eat dog world" be taken literally, Michael Vick? (Yes, yet another proclaimed recreational weed smoking black athlete). Michael Vick apologized (more than once) and pleaded guilty so according to this logic we should simply forgive and forget because yet again... this black superstar athlete was "keeping it real" in... dog fighting??? Well Mike, since you kept it real with us, all those dogs that are dead, malnurished, injured, blind, etc... we'll throw that on the back burner just because you were "real." FORGIVEN
3. Lastly, moving away from sports.. Lil Wayne and T.I (guess what? yes, more "recreational weed smokers) who are both facing 20-40 years in prison for... smoking weed casualy? NO, its for having boat loads of guns, more illegal drugs, and possibly gang affiliation. But they have both apologized and kept it real once again... so you know what's coming next... FORGIVEN..
Black people must take a step back and realize, however wrong it may be, they are scrutinized a lot more than white athletes. So with that in mind why smoke weed? why affiliate with gangs? why stay connected with the streets? To keep it real? Really? Why not realize you were blessed with this gift to play a sport, so make your millions and stay out of trouble. Now i do acknowledge white athletes are FAR from perfect, but with black athletes- its never JUST causal smoking, its ALWAYS more extensive.. there are always people ending up death, guns are always invloved, and somehow someway gangs pop their ugly head into the picture. SO comparing Josh Howard and Michael Phelps is not only ridiculous but completely irrational. Let's look deeper into Josh Howards life shall we? In 2008 he was charged with drag racing, wreckless driving to endanger.. So yet again it wasn't just "recreational smoking" it's always more.
hahaha oooooooh I almost forgot, there was once this "gentleman" named OJ SIMPSON. Now he also admittedly confessed to having smoked weed. But let me "keep it real." This man killed, here lets try this, this man KILLED his wife AND her friend. KILLED THEM. DEAD. NO LONGER ALIVE. He not only killed them but he left his glove, knife, and virtually convicted himself in everyway possible. And lets not forget he fled from police (I don't mean he hid or was scared, he actually was on the expressway running from the police, who were hard on his tail). INNOCENT... OJ SIMPSON ruined it for all black athlete "recreational smokers." When it comes to black athletes its NEVER, NEVER, NEVER EVER EVER just "casual pot smoking" NEVER EVER EVER EVER NEVER EVER. I'm not favoring or condoning any illgal activities for people getting paid millions to play a GAME but i'm "JUST KEEPING IT REAL"
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None of those ppl are forgiven at all...ivo, vick, o.j., lil wayne, and T.I. are not forgiven characters.....T.I. and Lil Wayne are just pop culture because hip hop is in,...no nfl franchise wants to sign vick caus there will be peta protests,.....o.j. is the most villified black athlete in the last 30 years. and Iverson is still regarded as a thug, its just the entire nba wears their hair like him and has a million tattos now, so its not that relevant.....Phelps has been referred to as a "hero" and will continue to be
I never said they were forgiven, nor should they be. The forgiven comment was sarcasism. My point was its never just "recreational smoking" with black athletes. Phelps parties- ok... but black athletes are partiers (ok)....but they are also gang members.... jail birds... gun totting thugs... so yes, they should be scrutinized... until I see Phelps wearing a sideways hat, jeans off his ass, and throwing gang signs (see: Paul Pierce) up during a swim meet, I will continue to look at Phelps as a "hero" over gang banging black athletes.
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Mike got yo ass. nasty. the reason why your so called black athletes are more scrutinized, is because they belong to an organization within the united states. THE NBA. a business. a sport that is followed so closely (something u blogged about) how they are given this life style blah blah blah by fans and media. M. phelps belongs to nothing. he swims every four years in the olympics. And then we dont hear about his ass in between unless he fucks up. In the NBA or any sport, there season in prolonged, coverage is year round. they are in the media spot light, and covered nationally 6-9 months out of the year. although he may not be as famous, j. howard. who do u hear about more often? exactly. phelps may be a hero to some. but no one talks about his ass unless u is driving drunk or smoking pot. AND the mother fucker didnt volunteer information. he got caught. why the fuck would j. howard go out of his way to get himself in trouble? dumb ass casual weed smoker if u ask me.
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