Why so little controversy about Phelps’ bong hit photo?

Michael Phelps, it seems, actually can do wrong.

The American swimmer, who dominated the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games in August with his record haul of eight gold medals, was the subject of headlines this weekend after a photo in a British tabloid showed him heavily involved with a glass water pipe.

Such a pipe, I’m told, can be used to inhale the smoke of certain illicit cannabis-like substances, though Phelps has not said what he was smoking.

In other words, Phelps – just recently honored by Sports Illustrated and the United States Olympic Committee as the sportsman of the year – could have been getting high with the assistance of marijuana.

Feel free to take in that irony.

Phelps released a statement shortly after the photo and an accompanying article was published. He acknowledged the incident, terming it “regrettable behavior” and “bad judgment” – both of which are hardly understatements for an athlete of his magnitude.

For Phelps, this incident brings to mind some interesting questions about his possible use of the leafy green substance. Would his abnormal lung capacity – he is, after all, the best Olympic swimmer ever – positively influence the use of marijuana? Also, why in the world would he allow a camera in the general vicinity of his bonging endeavors?

And does his 10,000-calories-a-day diet made famous during the Olympics create an uncontrollable post-toke hunger if he was to smoke pot?

Kidding aside, I’m curious to know why the dust-up over Phelps’ alleged toke-up hasn’t sparked any more controversy than it has. There have been no large-scale calls for punishment by American Olympic officials, and the IOC, while disappointed, has accepted his apology for the self-termed “youthful and inappropriate” actions.

Now this isn’t a commentary on the legalization of marijuana, but rather one on its possible use by Phelps comes across as an acceptable act for an athlete who should serve as a role model for youngsters and as a face of American sports for the rest of the world.

Sure, he didn’t join any ex-Indiana Pacers on a gun-toting romp through Indianapolis’ oh-so-classy bars and clubs, and he hasn’t been sponsoring dog fighting – but Phelps might have committed an illegal act, potentially tarnishing his reputation.

And lest we forget, this could be the second strike Phelps’ image has taken during his rise to the top of America’s swimming scene. In 2004, the then-19-year-old Baltimore native was arrested for a DUI and had the charge cleared after paying a fine, serving 18 months’ probation and participating in community outreach programs.

I get the fact that when you boil everything down, Phelps is still just a 23-year-old making mistakes that more than a handful of young adults make at that stage in their lives.

Unfortunately for Phelps, his rise to fame and dominance in Beijing doesn’t afford him the luxury of getting caught smoking from a bong and seeing it just disappear over time.
Hopefully, Phelps will recognize his luck in not seeing a more substantial punishment for his actions and resist future urges to partake in said activities.

After all, don’t we need somebody who can overshadow China’s dominating and allegedly underage gymnasts in 2012?