Consequences

The courts have decided not to prosecute Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps for possession of marijuana. The reason? "Not enough physical evidence."

Phelps described his behavior as "regrettable", "bad judgement", and "inappropriate."

According to the Minneapolis Star Tribune, (http://www.startribune.com/) Phelps, 23, and his team have not disputed the photo's accuracy. Phelps has issued a public apology, acknowledging "regrettable" behavior and "bad judgment" after the photo appeared. The photo appeared? So, let me get this straight...we have a PHOTOGRAPH of Michael Phelps smoking marijuana from a pipe? Phelps has apologized, acknowledged regrettable behavior and bad judgement. How much physical evidence does it take? He CONFESSED!

We wonder why values are confused. We wonder why people do things that we don't understand. My opinion (and isn't that really what this is all about?) is that there are no consequences associated with bad behavior.

We have children in elementary school who pick on other children. So, we develop "anti-bullying" programs. What are the consequences for bullying? I don't know, but they must not be sufficient, because children progress from being "bullies" to being "gang members." And the gang members don't even try to hide...they dress alike.

We have CEO's who profit from investments that succeed, and lose when the investments fail. Oh, that it were true. Instead, they profit with success, and profit a little less when the investments fail.

According to the Associated Press, major league baseball commissioner Bud Selig says " I don't want to be blamed for the steroid problem in baseball. It bugs the (expletive) out of me. We tried to implement a steroid policy and were fought by the union every step of the way." OK, Bud, we won't blame you. Who do we blame? Who accepts responsibility? Selig went on to say "What Alex (Rodriguez) did was wrong and he will have to live with the damage he has done to his name and reputation," the commissioner said Thursday, three days after the Yankees star admitted using banned substances from 2001-2003 while playing for the Texas Rangers.

You might think that since Rodriguez admits using steroids, that he might be punished. No, he won't, because the tests he took were designed to expose the level of steroid abuse in baseball.

We ask why the rules are different for major league athletes than they are for the rest of us. Fair question, I agree. But here are a couple of my questions - Why do we allow elementary school children to bully other elementary school children without consequences? Why do we allow middle school and high school students to wear gang colors to school? Why (and maybe this is just me) do we allow young men to wear pants secured at their knees that are designed to be worn at the waist and cover the butt?

I think I know why. I think we are too busy doing what we think we have to do to have time to do what we know we need to do. We are too busy worrying about budget cuts and unemployment (worth while as they are) to teach about the consequences of behavior.

So, A-Rod, please follow the rules. But if you don't, we'll look the other way. Michael Phelps, you are arguably the greatest swimmer of all time. Smoke a little dope, we'll look the other way.

To those in elementary and middle school, please follow the rules. Because, while we aren't looking the other way, we don't know what to do, because we have demonstrated that there are no consequences for bad behavior. We want consequences, but we just don't have time to figure out what they are and how to implement them. And, oh yea, we have to find more money because the state may not make their next payroll.

Michael Phelps will suffer consequences, to be sure. Kellogg's has dropped them as their spokesman. Not a good role model, they said. I thought Charles Barkley said professional athletes were not role models. I am so confused.


Two final comments:

(1) To the executives at Kellogg's - I am a great role model. I am a middle aged man who has never taken drugs. I can't swim exceptionally well, and I can't run very fast. However, I am drug free and available. Also, my salary expectations are not as high as you previous spokesman.

(2) To the young men with the baggy pants. Please pull them up, I am very nervous that they are going to the ground at any minute.