I am writing in response to the column “Cut Phelps, Rodriguez slack about drug issues.”

While the athletic achievements of both Michael Phelps and Alex Rodriguez are undeniable, the fact is that they broke the law and set a bad example for our youth.

We should not give a marijuana user and an illegal drug smuggler, respectively, free pass simply because they are what you call “American heroes.” Phelps did America proud in Beijing this past summer.

But with great reward comes great responsibility, and he failed us in that sense.

The real American heroes are the men and women serving America in Iraq, Afghanistan and all over the rest of the world, and when they are off duty, they do not get a free pass.

Simply because someone is a star athlete does not excuse their behavior, in fact Phelps should be held to higher standards because he is representing America in and out of the pool.