Bong Hit of Champions

So Michael Phelps got caught doing a bong hit. So a 14-time Olympic Gold Medalist with more pressure on him than the scale on “Biggest Loser” took a hit of weed during a four-month break from swimming. So maybe the guy who graces Wheaties boxes would be more at home fronting “Weedies – Wake and Bake of Champions.” So what?! Yes, that’s right. So what! Like you have any idea what it is to cope with being Michael Phelps. Like you have any idea how to wind up that machine to do what it does against all comers, and win, and then keep yourself human while winding it down. Like you’ve never smoked weed. If you’re reading this, you’re high right now.

The fact that Phelps even apologized for his "youthful behavior," almost strikes me as strange. Smoking weed should not be "youthful behavior," but rather "adult behavior." He's 23. He's an adult. If he wants to do a hit of weed, he should be allowed to do a hit of weed. It's doubtful Phelps is a regular pot-head, and more likely that he only smoked during his four-month break from swimming. He won EIGHT FREAKING GOLD MEDALS at the Beijing Olympics, and now it's time to relax -- just a little?! And say he does smoke weed all the time. SO WHAT? Marijuana is certainly not a performance-enhancing drug. On the contrary, any pot head who gets up the steam necessary to turn off Hogan's Heroes (even if it's just to switch over to Robot Chicken - dude, that show is so high!) to do anything else, let alone swim more races faster than any human in history -- in front of the entire planet -- in a Speedo has my respect. If I'm another swimmer, I'm saying "Thank you, Michael! Take another hit. Anything to let one of the rest of us have a freaking chance at beating you for once -- I'm all for it!"
Let's be honest. Smoking weed is nearly a victimless crime. The only people in danger because of weed are those who suffer the wrath of drug traffickers who must operate in illegality. All the more reason to legalize it. Then, production, distribution and sales all become regulated and as safe as a walked-in run.
And here's more truth: Speedo, Omega, Hilton Hotels, Kellogg's, General Foods, Visa, Power Bar, AT&T, Rosetta Stone, Pure Sport and Swim Room all get this simple fact: no one thinks doing one hit of weed is all that bad. It doesn't tarnish Phelps' image or the image of the sponsor. Answer this: are you more likely, less likely or as likely as you were two weeks ago to purchase any of the products Phelps endorses? I'm betting you are probably saying "as likely as you were two weeks ago," although the truth is that this press is that sort of "any press is good press" press, and Phelps has done nothing more than what those companies want him to do: create a little buzz.