I just watched Matt Lauer interview Michael Phelps on this mornings Today Show about that now infamous marijuana smoking photo. Phelps expressed his regret for the pain he caused by appearing in the photograph but would not directly answer Lauer’s question regarding if he had used marijuana. Phelps told Lauer “It was a bad mistake. I mean, we all know what, you know, what you and I are talking about. It’s a stupid mistake. You know, bad judgment.”

Phelps also told Lauer that he knew about the photo for one or two days before it was published in the tabloids but didn’t know what to do. Phelps takes full responsibility for his actions and accepts the consequences that followed.

In the interview Phelps responded like any young 23-year old would, with genuine honesty and remorse, yet Lauer kept pushing for more scandalous reactions (which I suppose is the job of a journalist). At one point Lauer asks that typical dramatic news program question “Take me back to that night. Who were these people?”
To which Phelps casually replies “It was a small group and we were just celebrating.”
Good answer Michael! I mean, really what do we want Phelps to say? That he was kidnapped and forced to take bong hits? The guy was partying with friends, that’s all.

Then Lauer brought up a 2004 Today Show interview where Phelps apologized on-air for a DUI charge. Lauer asked Phelps “How do you say to fans? -I said it the first time, I’m saying it again, but this time I really mean it.”
Phelps: “I’ll be the first one to admit I’ve made mistakes both in and out of the pool, but I won’t make the same mistake twice.”
Lauer: “These aren’t the same mistakes?”
Phelps: “In my eyes, no. They’re both stupid and immature mistakes.”
So I don’t endorse drunk driving and personally that’s a mistake I have a hard time forgetting since drunk driving endangers others. That being said, pot smoking does not endanger others, unless of course eating all of your roommates peanut butter when you get the munchies is a huge hazard. Phelps already apologized for the DUI years ago, it’s over and done with and no, they are not the same mistake. So Phelps partied irresponsibly a few times, guess what he also won 14 gold medals!

At least Lauer acknowledged that Phelps missed out on a typical teenagers life and that these “mistakes” are ones that most kids make but for Phelps maybe they are simply happening later in life. Phelps reply:“Maybe, but I should have been smarter.”"

So there you have it, Phelps admits his faults, takes responsibility for his actions, apologizes and now wants to move on, can’t America move on as well? I mean really, let’s drop this pot pipe thing already.

On second thought don’t drop the pipe, it’ll shatter and break. (Ba-dump-bump-ching!)

I say the best way to make sure this sorta drama never happens again is to takepart and support the legalization of marijuana. Maybe that’ll even lead to some sort of joint rolling competition as part of the next Olympics! …Okay probably not.

The Phelps interview will re-air on this Sundays Dateline on NBC.