Seriously, Phelps Did Not Harm China
Japanese car company, and Michael Phelps sponsor, Mazda, asked their endorser to issue an apology to the Chinese public following his pot smoking incident. And he delivered one (scroll down to watch). Can someone please explain this to me? I find it utterly baffling on so many levels that my head feels like it is submerged in Phelps’ bong water.
First, what was it again that Michael Phelps did so terrible? I’m not advocating smoking pot, but remind me again why it’s worse than drinking. Remember, Michael Phelps received a DUI after the 2004 Olympics. That is so much worse than this, it’s not even worth comparing the two. Drinking and driving puts other people’s lives in danger. Smoking pot makes you dumber and swim more slowly. And you would think that a car company might not want a spokesman with a DUI on his record. You wouldn’t make a Palin the spokesperson for Trojan, would you?
Now I understand that companies have images to uphold, and they may not want to be associated with a recreational drug user. Fair enough. So I don’t have problems with companies that decide to drop him as a sponsor, even if their products are less healthy than one might hope. That’s their prerogative. But let’s be honest, this is a guy who has trained non-stop for more than half of his life. Let’s not pretend a bong hit turns him a lesser-known Baldwin brother.
Third, I really don’t understand why he should apologize to the Chinese public. I mean, I understand that Mazda wants to do well in China, but does winning all the medals in your city bound you to eternal loyalty? It’s not like he caused a distraction during the games. And anyone who was here knows that the Chinese were generally cheering against Phelps because they wanted to win the medal count–and because it’s always fun to show up the Americans. If anything, wouldn’t this delight Chinese sports fans? Even America’s greatest athlete is a druggie, right?
Wouldn’t Mazda want Phelps to apologize to his American fans? You know, because Americans were actually cheering for him. Because he’s American. Isn’t this pandering at the most pathetic level? What makes China so important in Michael Phelps’ life that he needs to apologize to the Chinese population? I mean, he did win a crapload of gold medals in Sydney. Is he not apologizing to the Aussies because they are too drunk and stoned too care?
Or does this have nothing to do with reality, and everything to do with the fact that Mazda seems to think that the Olympics are such a pure and pristine piece of Chinese history that any tangential distraction from the greatness of the motherland is the equivalent of crapping on the whole country?
I know the Olympics were great and all, but it is important to remember that they are more corporate than nationalistic. And people seem to forget that there were embarrassments with riots, internet censorship and failures to issue protest permits.
Michael Phelps has probably hurt his own reputation, but I can safely say, this has little to do with China.
China Journal : Best of the China Blogs: February 16 responds:
Posted: February 16th, 2009 at 4:52 pm →
[...] maybe he smoked some marijuana, but how exactly did this harm China and Michael Phelps’s Chinese friends? [Cup of Cha] –Sky Canaves Permalink | [...]
Ella responds:
Posted: February 28th, 2009 at 5:09 pm →
I also think it is unnecessary as a Chinese. However, I can at least give some reasonings. I would say, this is due to culture difference. I guess some of his Chinese fans think him is a God and will do whatever he does (this’s not his problem but the chinese fans themselves). Also, due to the Opium war ( I would like to think it is the reason, otherwise I can’t think of another reason), Chinese government treats drugs no matter what drugs like a biggest enemy and there’s not objective reviews about drugs in the society. Every drugs are evil and much much worse than alcohol, so this can explain why some people think pots are more dangerous than alcohol. The relationship between alcohol and drinking is not well emphasized in China (pls think how Chinese people drive). Still, I am very surprised that he did an apology to his Chinese fans, as I don’t record any of my friends think he is very bad and wants him to apology. I don’t know how do they get the majority opinions as China is big and many people don’t do surveys or they lie in surveys.
Jakob responds:
Posted: March 6th, 2009 at 3:34 pm →
Hey man, I’m in Shanghai and I’ve been reading your blog for a long time… It’s very sad that you blog so little now – your posts were always super funny and made my day more than once. Keep it up!