Fred Bowen's "The Score" column,
February 12, 2009, Washington Post

Even the Biggest Sports Heroes Aren't Perfect

USA Swimming has suspended Olympic superstar Michael Phelps from competition for three months. The national body took that action after a British newspaper published a photograph that seemed to show the 14-time gold medal winner using marijuana, an illegal drug, at a college party last fall.

Phelps admitted that his behavior was "regrettable" and that he had used "bad judgment."

USA Swimming said it was punishing Phelps because it wanted to "send a message to Michael" and especially because he is "a role model and hero to hundreds of thousands of kids."

So should all the kids who look up to Phelps and were so excited when he won a record eight gold medals in the 2008 Summer Olympics take down posters of him from their bedroom walls?

I'm not so sure they should.

Let's be clear. I think using illegal drugs is wrong. It's wrong for adults, for kids and for Olympic champions. And I agree that Phelps should be punished for his actions.

But I also think it is good for kids and their parents to remember that just because someone is good at a sport does not automatically mean that he is a good person or good at something else. Being a hero in a game or a match or in the Olympics does not make you a hero in every part of your life.

For example, a few days ago, Tiger Woods's wife gave birth to their second child. Woods has won 65 PGA golf tournaments, including 14 majors. He may be the greatest golfer who has ever lived. But all of his skill as a golfer won't help him be a good dad. Being a good dad is very different from being a good golfer.

Think of your own school. Is the kid who is the best athlete in your grade always the best student? Or the best friend? Or the nicest kid?

Phelps is a dedicated, hardworking swimmer. Reports indicate that he is back in the pool training hard, despite the suspension. Just because Phelps can swim faster than anyone in the world does not mean he doesn't make mistakes.

Kids can still admire Phelps for his swimming skill and for the effort he showed in becoming an Olympic champion. And kids can use him as a good example of how they can become better at their favorite sport if they work hard.

But that doesn't mean that kids should always try in every way to be like Mike.

Fred Bowen writes KidsPost's sports opinion column and is an author of sports novels for kids. To listen to Fred Bowen talk about writing, go to http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/library/bookcast.

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