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Phelps Penalty Misses Point

Swimmer, clueless on dry land, should be forced back into pool as community service

By Wesley Oliver, Newser Staff

Posted Feb 6, 2009 3:32 PM CST

(Newser) – US swimming authorities flopped in their decision to suspend Michael Phelps from competition, George Vecsey writes in the New York Times. Now Phelps “has more time to wander into parties and hold interesting-looking objects up to his face and say, ‘Hey, dude, what’s this?’” Instead, the Olympic golden boy should be compelled to practice and compete every day of the week.

Phelps “obviously functions better in chlorinated water than on terra firma,” where his “limited instincts of danger to his reputation and his fortune” prevent him from realizing that his high profile made him a prime target. Now short a sponsor, Phelps is learning about the pitfalls of stardom. Besides, he “was probably making way too much money” anyway, Vecsey says.

[Images (2)]

[Quotes (3)]

Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps trains yesterday at the Meadowbrook Aquatic Center in Baltimore. (AP Photo)

Michael Phelps doesn't function too well on solid ground, George Vecsey writes in the New York Times. (AP Photo)

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Like it or not, by winning eight gold medals, Phelps automatically became a role model by virtue of being sent out there as a highly paid spokesman for multinational corporations. - George Vecsey, New York Times

We like our sporting heroes to be perfect, but it’s hard to be perfect in the 24-hour electronic buzz where everybody is a blogger and has a cellphone camera within reach. - George Vecsey, New York Times

The penalty should have been: go out there and swim, ya big lug ya. The chlorine is good for you. - George Vecsey, New York Times

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Phelps Penalty Misses Point