Does it feel as if we’ve already been in school for at least three months this semester? Well, it does to me, and yet, it’s only February. 2009 has gotten off to a slow start, but even so, many famous people have already had an extremely bad year.
Milorad “Rod” Blagojevich: The ex-governor was arrested in December 2008 on federal corruption charges, but it wasn’t until January that he was impeached and kicked out of office. It still boggles my mind that he didn’t go to his trial and decided to travel the national talk show circuit, trying to convince people of his innocence, or in other words, trying to garner as much media attention as possible. It’s too bad for Blago that the people of Illinois were not impressed, and subsequently, he lost the gubernatorial seat that he has held since 2002. Oh, and he’ll probably go to jail. Whoopsies. 2009 is so not his year.
Michael Phelps: Poor Phelpsie. After winning big in 2008 at the Beijing Summer Olympics, a photo of him smoking marijuana at a party at the University of South Carolina surfaced at the end of January. Since then, Phelps has admitted that the photo was authentic and sent a statement to the Associated Press saying, “I engaged in behavior which was regrettable and demonstrated bad judgment.” The U.S. Olympic Committee went on to say that it was “disappointed” with Phelps’ behavior and that, “Michael is a role model, and he is well aware of the responsibilities and accountability that come with setting a positive example for others, particularly young people.”
He was then suspended from competitive swimming for three months as of Feb. 5 and Kellogg Co. decided that it was not going to extend his contract. Oddly enough, South Carolina sheriff, Leon Lott, said that he was ending the investigation of Phelps because “we had a photo, and we had him saying he was sorry for his inappropriate behavior, (but) that behavior could have been going to a party … he never said ‘I smoked marijuana.'” So take that Kellogg. Maybe the “lack of evidence” is a sign that the American public doesn’t really care if he did smoke. After all, the guy probably should be able to relax a little bit.
Chris Brown: 2009 may very well be the end of this talented singer/dancer’s career after he was arrested for allegedly beating up girlfriend Rihanna on Feb. 8 right before the Grammys. He recently issued an apology saying, “Words cannot begin to express how sorry and saddened I am over what transpired. I am seeking the counseling of my pastor, my mother and other loved ones, and I am committed, with God’s help, to emerging a better person.”
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He added that he can’t really say anything else until the legal issues were resolved, but honestly, these sound like the words of a guilty man. It’s also interesting how he didn’t apologize directly to Rihanna, but to the American public. While we are not going to look favorably on him for what he supposedly did, the real person he needs to apologize to is the woman he allegedly assaulted. It’s too bad that he’s such a talented individual because I know that people will never again embrace him as an artist. Domestic violence is just that awful.
Alex Rodriguez: Sports Illustrated reported in early February that the Yankees’ third baseman tested positive for anabolic steroids back in 2003. He recently admitted to using steroids from 2001-2003 because of an “enormous amount of pressure to perform.” Unlike other MLB players who have admitted to using steroids, A-Rod is going to keep playing. Unfortunately for him, any great performance that he has from here on out will be under suspicion and that’s why 2009 is so awful for him.
One of my favorite reports out of the A-Rod controversy comes from a New York Times article that says A-Rod has frequently been called “A-Fraud” by his Yankee teammates with whom he just doesn’t seem to get along. Though if I read in Sports Illustrated that my teammate A-Rod (some like “A-Roid”) said this, I think I would make fun of him too. “When people write (bad things) about me, I don’t know if it’s (because) I’m good-looking, I’m biracial, I make the most money, I play on the most popular team …” But I would make fun of him only because I hate attractive people.
Colleen is a senior in Media who would like to think that Jessica Simpson is having a bad 2009 because she’s put on a few pounds, but knows that she’s really going to have a good year because of all of the people willing to defend her. Colleen hates J. Simp. She can be reached at [email protected]
