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Inside the
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February 9, 2009 The great Sparky Anderson once said, “Every time the
earth rotates, someone at the top ends up at the bottom.” However, I do not and never have, condoned the use of marijuana. I think the stuff is disgusting and it makes your fingers stink. Plus, it’s illegal. If you think it makes you feel good, then you must be willing to pay the price. In Michael Phelps’ situation, that could range as high as $10 million dollars. If you’re Joe Nobody and you’re at a party, your actions might go unnoticed, but if you’re an athlete of international caliber, then you have no reasonable expectation of privacy when out in public, even if it is in somebody else’s home. But as a former minor league instructor of mine by the name of Dick Little used to say, “What have we learned from this?” Michael Phelps will rebound nicely, eventually, because it’s clear he’s remorseful and it’s clear he now understands his station in life, and the impressions he can make even when he’s just minding his own business. Coach Little used to always say, “As an athlete, 100% of what you do is observed 100% of the time by somebody.” You could be the 6th man on the freshman basketball team, or the starting quarterback at a major university, and you’re actions are going to be noticed. What we will learn from this is that other people’s mistakes can serve as a reminder on how we should conduct ourselves. And I believe the dedication and effort that led Michael Phelps to his success as a world-class athlete will resume, and he will be judged on his behavior for the rest of his life, not simply this recent mis-step. Much more is expected of Michael Phelps because of the contracts and agreements he’s engaged in with his sponsors. But everybody, from the freshman basketball team on up is expected to maintain a certain decorum, and the earth rotates every 24 hours. (c) 2009 Novi
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