The media has made no secret of the story of U.S. Olympic athlete Michael Phelps being caught on camera in November at a party, just toking away at some of that sweet Barney.

Although the “narrow iguana” is not a banned substance during competition that would allow for his medals to ever be taken away. It would seem that Mr. Phelps does not own himself, or that would be the impression that the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) would love for everyone to believe.

The simple truth is that Michael Phelps owns himself. Sure he has contracts with his sponsors and they in general would frown upon his recreational use of ganja. What people should be concerned about is that the “incriminating” photo of him will lose him some of those sponsors, his bread and butter. This is how our good man has kept a full tank of unleaded in the Yugo and kitten chow in sweet little Fluffy's feed bowl.

Those looking to “bring him down” have missed that fact and would be bankrupted for life if they had to make up the difference out of their pockets. He had only one contract with the USOC as opposed to many with his sponsors and it is no violation to smoke whatever substance he likes when he is not in competition. Again they do not own him. As for Phelps being a “role model” of some sort, this is nothing more than a sloppily implied obligation of those who feel they own him, and therefore bogus on it's face. He is his own man, like it or lump it.

Before I forget, understand this all of you “anti-drug warriors” out there: The greatest swimmer in the history of the world puffed away at the superb herb. You and everyone else on the planet that supports criminal penalties for its use would be very hard pressed as to just how you could ever prove that it “impaired” in any way, his performance as an athlete. Please feel free to put that in your bong and smoke it.

With Liberty,

Dan Steward