Phelps in Trouble?

Phelps doesn't have to "learn" anything from this. What 19-year-old doesn't already know that this behavior is wrong. He is standing up, admitting he did it, and will bear whatever consequense comes of this. I doubt there will be a jury trial here. His lawyer will appear before the judge -- maybe with him there, maybe not. He will be fined. Probably will be assigned to some sort of alcohol awareness class (as if he will really learn something from that.) He will get a crapload of points assigned to his license. Probably any additional moving violations will result in the suspension of his license, but as it stands now he will probably keep his driving priveleges. And that will be that from the legal aspect. Just like any other 19-year-old who does the same thing. From what I've seen so far, he will NOT take the standard road of denial that other young sports stars do. (Consider basketball's Carmello Anthony who was caught with less-than-one-ounce of pot at an airport. "Not mine! 'A friend' put it in my bag...") Phelps will probably have no qualms fielding questions from the media for years to come over this incident. And he will look the camera in the lens and tell the audience, "Learm from my experience. Even a big-time swimmer is not immune to the bite of the law. This cost me a small fortune in fines and insurance costs. It cost me this-and-that endorsement. The law now watches me like a hawk. One more screw-up and I lose my license. Kids, don't mess with behavior like this." I can't think of a more positive outcome from this incident that something like that. And I can't think of another superstar athlete who would do this the way I think Phelps will do it.

Phelps doesn't have to "learn" anything from this. What 19-year-old doesn't already know that this behavior is wrong. He is standing up, admitting he did it, and will bear whatever consequense comes of this. I doubt there will be a jury trial here. His lawyer will appear before the judge -- maybe with him there, maybe not. He will be fined. Probably will be assigned to some sort of alcohol awareness class (as if he will really learn something from that.) He will get a crapload of points assigned to his license. Probably any additional moving violations will result in the suspension of his license, but as it stands now he will probably keep his driving priveleges. And that will be that from the legal aspect. Just like any other 19-year-old who does the same thing. From what I've seen so far, he will NOT take the standard road of denial that other young sports stars do. (Consider basketball's Carmello Anthony who was caught with less-than-one-ounce of pot at an airport. "Not mine! 'A friend' put it in my bag...") Phelps will probably have no qualms fielding questions from the media for years to come over this incident. And he will look the camera in the lens and tell the audience, "Learm from my experience. Even a big-time swimmer is not immune to the bite of the law. This cost me a small fortune in fines and insurance costs. It cost me this-and-that endorsement. The law now watches me like a hawk. One more screw-up and I lose my license. Kids, don't mess with behavior like this." I can't think of a more positive outcome from this incident that something like that. And I can't think of another superstar athlete who would do this the way I think Phelps will do it.