HOLDING HIS HEAD HIGH

There are tempests in teapots; then there are people so mistakenly
obsessed with their own self-importance they can't get their heads out
of their own reflections long enough to see anything but their own
concerns.

Such is the case with the the U. S. Olympic Committee and the U.S.
Anti-Doping Agency.

Those two bodies had the temerity to condemn Olympic superstar Michael
Phelps after News of the World published a photograph showing him
inhaling from a marijuana pipe.

In a statement to The Associated Press, the swimmer, who won a record
eight gold medals at the Beijing Games, did not dispute the
authenticity of the picture published Sunday.

"I engaged in behaviour which was regrettable and demonstrated bad
judgement," Mr. Phelps said in the statement. "I'm 23 years old and
despite the successes I've had in the pool, I acted in a youthful and
inappropriate way, not in a manner people have come to expect from me.
For this, I am sorry. I promise my fans and the public it will not
happen again."

To his credit, he didn't try to explain, he didn't deny -- he took
responsibility and apologized.

Now, the appropriate response to all this is the one taken by USA
Swimming, which noted its Olympic champions are "looked up to by
people of all ages, especially young athletes who have their own
aspirations and dreams.

"That said, we realize that none among us is perfect. We hope that
Michael can learn from this incident and move forward in a positive
way."

Even the International Olympic Committee got it to
right.

"Michael Phelps is a great Olympic champion," the IOC said in a
statement Monday. "He apologized for his inappropriate behaviour. We
have no reason to doubt his sincerity and his commitment to continue
to act as a role model."

That is the proper response to what is an unfortunate misstep by a
23-year-old who has already accomplished much in his short life.

What is not an appropriate response is that of the U.S. Olympic
Committee, which said it was "disappointed in the behaviour recently
exhibited by Michael Phelps."

"Michael is a role model, and he is well aware of the responsibilities
and accountability that come with setting a positive example for
others, particularly young people," the USOC said in a statement. "In
this instance, regrettably, he failed to fulfil those
responsibilities."

Also inappropriate was the response from the U.S. Anti- Doping Agency,
of which Mr. Phelps was part of a group of elite athletes who agreed
to take part in a pilot testing program designed to increase the
accuracy of doping tests.

His spot in the program could be at risk, said Travis Tygart, head of
the U. S. Anti-Doping Agency.

"For one of the Olympics' biggest heroes it's disappointing, and we'll
evaluate whether he remains in that program," Mr. Tygart said. "But
some good education comes from this because he's going to suffer some
penalties."

Nice. Slam one of your country's greatest athletes -- one of your
country's greatest drug-free athletes -- for smoking pot. POT! (Surely
nobody would even have taken notice had he been chugging a beer.) This
from people who have had athletes competing after shooting and popping
enough performance enhancing drugs to hop up a small town.

The term hypocrite doesn't come close to describing these
sanctimonious officials.

In fact, we wouldn't blame Mr. Phelps if the told the Olympic
Committee and the Anti-Doping Agency to kiss his muscular and
needle-free backside.

But he is too much of a class act. And he showed that class not just
during the good times when it is easy but through his recent tough
times as well.

Let he or she who has never fallen victim to a little "youthful
indiscretion" cast the first stone.

A lot of adults could learn an awful lot from this young man.