"Made it, Ma! Top of the world!"
Michael Phelps was on top. After his triumphant performance at the Beijing Olympics, he couldn't have been any higher, so to speak.
Rather than savor that glory responsibly, Phelps squandered it. He was reckless.
PORTLAND, Ore. -- Michael Phelps has been suspended from competition for three months by USA Swimming, the latest fallout from a photo that showed the Olympic great inhaling from a marijuana pipe.
The sport's national governing body also cut off its financial support to Phelps for the same three-month period, effective Thursday.
"This is not a situation where any anti-doping rule was violated, but we decided to send a strong message to Michael because he disappointed so many people, particularly the hundreds of thousands of USA Swimming member kids who look up to him as a role model and a hero," the federation said in a statement.
"Michael has voluntarily accepted this reprimand and has committed to earn back our trust."
Also on Thursday, Kellogg Co. said it will drop Phelps' endorsement deal.
Most of his major sponsors, such as Visa Inc., Speedo, luxury Swiss watchmaker Omega and sports beverage PureSport's maker Human Performance Labs, stood by the athlete following the news, even if they didn't condone his behavior.
But Battle Creek, Mich.-based cereal and snack maker Kellogg said Phelps's behavior is "not consistent with the image of Kellogg."
USA Swimming did a very safe thing.
Phelps' penalty seems harsh enough. Some consider it too harsh, but it probably won't impact Phelps' potential future success at all.
I think Kellogg did the safe thing, too.
Phelps was Mr. Frosted Flakes. Kellogg used him to appeal to kids.
BATTLE CREEK, Mich., Aug 19, 2008 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ -- He's already taken his place in history alongside the legends, but now Michael Phelps can add one more milestone to the list. After earning eight gold medals in the 2008 Olympic Games, Michael Phelps has earned a place of honor on the front of specially-marked Kellogg's Frosted Flakes (R: 66.26, -0.45, -0.67%) and Kellogg's Corn Flakes (R: 66.26, -0.45, -0.67%) cereal boxes.
The gold medal winning Olympic champion from Baltimore, Maryland will be featured on Kellogg's Corn Flakes and Kellogg's Frosted Flakes cereal packages that are expected to hit grocery store shelves across the U.S. in mid-September. The boxes will feature images of Phelps during what were some of the most memorable moments of this summer's Olympic Games.
"As an Official Sponsor of the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team and a proud sponsor of Phelps, it is only fitting that Kellogg Company feature this world-class athlete on its iconic boxes of Kellogg's Corn Flakes and Kellogg's Frosted Flakes cereals," said Marta Cyhan, Vice President, Global Promotions, Kellogg Company. "Michael embodies the values behind our Frosted Flakes Earn Your Stripes (TM: 87.59, -1.33, -1.49%) program. He knows that winning is not just about the glory that comes with gold medals, but about good sportsmanship, working hard and being your best."
Kellogg's Frosted Flakes helps kids be their best through its Earn Your Stripes program. With inspiration from Tony the Tiger (R: 66.26, -0.45, -0.67%), the Earn Your Stripes program is designed to encourage kids to eat right, be more active and work hard to achieve all of their goals.
There really was no way for Kellogg to stick with Phelps, what with its "Earn Your Stripes" program to help kids.
Phelps is an adult. He smokes pot. OK. Who cares? As an adult, it doesn't influence me in any way.
It's a different story for kids. They might have difficulty sorting out the mixed messages. Phelps' behavior could influence them in a negative way.
"Michael embodies the values behind our Frosted Flakes Earn Your Stripes program. He knows that winning is not just about the glory that comes with gold medals, but about good sportsmanship, working hard and being your best."
Yeah, I don't think the imagine of Phelps sucking on a bong embodies the values behind the Frosted Flakes Earn Your Stripes program.
Phelps is earning so much in endorsements I doubt that he cares about losing his Kellogg deal. If the others started peeling away, that might concern him. That might hurt.
There is a good lesson here:
Phelps has shown that winning a slew of gold medals doesn't necessarily make one a good role model, especially for kids.
And not all good role models have gold medals to show for it.
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