The Reality of Perception Catches Up With Olympian Michael Phelps

Perception... is reality.

That phrase was voiced emphatically and frequently by my greatest mentor during my radio days, Tom Harrrell of WSTP-WRDX in Salisbury, North Carolina. He would use it to remind employees that whatever our stations were perceived to be by their listeners, that's what they were, and we'd better make the perception a good one.

It can also be translated: you are whatever people perceive you to be.

Perception... is reality.

And the reality of perception is catching up with Olympic champion swimmer Michael Phelps.

He became the darling of America and the world after winning a record-setting eight gold medals in Beijing last year.

Phelps was at the top of the sports world. He was raking in millions of dollars from endorsement deals. He was the guy every kid wanted to grow up to be. "Like Mike" was redefined to mean Phelps instead of Jordan.

But Phelps' reputation has taken a terrible tumble over the past week. It started when a British tabloid published a photograph apparently showing Phelps smoking a marijuana pipe at a student party last November at the University of South Carolina in Columbia.

Some people consider marijuana no big deal and aren't bothered by the Phelps photo.

USA Swimming sees it differently. Today it suspended Phelps for three months.

And when it comes to endorsements, while gold medals are a huge perception -positive-, smoking marijuana is a huge perception -negative-.

For taking a hit from a bong, Phelps is taking a bigger hit in his reputation and his wallet.

Tonight Kellogg's announced it is terminating its endorsement deal with Phelps.

Kellogg's is the world's largest cereal maker, the guys who make Rice Krispies, Fruit Loops, Frosted Flakes, as well as Pop Tarts, Cheez-It, Keebler cookies, and many more food products.

-Family- food products.

Perception... is reality.

Phelps has apologized for the tabloid photo. He blames his behavior on his youthfulness (he is 23).

But that isn't going to crunch with Kellogg's and probably other companies that have featured Phelps and his gold medals in their advertising campaigns.

The photo of Phelps and the bong is going to cost him potentially tens of millions of dollars.

He'd been in trouble before. When he was 19, he was arrested for DUI in Maryland.

That incident should've taught him the value of his reputation, the reality of perception.

Whether you are 23... or 73... you know what's right and what's wrong.

And when you are a public figure, you learn everyone is watching, everywhere, all the time. The camera is always on. The microphone is always hot.

An Olympic athlete supposedly knows a thing or two about discipline. It takes discipline to become a champion.

Sometimes, even when you're at a party, you just have to say no, Mike.

Perception... is reality.