PHELPS HAS BEEN PUNISHED SO CAN WE LEAVE THE KID ALONE?

We could quibble with the punishment meted out to Michael Phelps,
master of the Olympic pool -- but not his own impulses.

He has been suspended from swimming competitions for three months for
being dumb enough to be photographed inhaling from a bong.

We'd argue Phelps needs to stay more busy, not less. Make him perform
some community service and keep him in the pool, where he excels --
if not in real life, where many young men do not.

For his stupidity, Phelps has lost his endorsement deal with Kellogg,
and this is appropriate.

You can't inhale and hawk corn flakes at the same time, no matter how
bad your munchies.

So knock several million off the $100 million Phelps is expected to
make off endorsements.

But now, it's time to leave the kid alone.

He wasn't smoking crack or snorting OxyContin.

He was doing what millions of Americans -- old, young and middle-age
- -- do every day, without serious ill effects.

Smoking pot is a knuckle-rapping offense, at best.

Can we stop pretending otherwise?

And Phelps' knuckles have been rapped, and then some.