Phil Mickelson: Lefty's Lawsuit Exposes Ridiculous Downfalls of Fame

If you think that being a celebrity is nothing but glitz and glamour, you may want to ask Phil Mickelson what he thinks right about now. 

With the fame and fortune comes a pitfall. In Mickelson's case, it's coming in the form of a lawsuit that he has to file because of internet rumors that he was hit with. 

As was detailed by Nickeesha Swaby of Courthouse News Service, Mickelson is seeking the identity of a poster who wrote, what Mickelson alleges, are lies about him and his family online.

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The postings suggest that plaintiff has an illegitimate child, that his wife has affairs and other similar vexatious statements that are absolutely untrue and, simply put, vicious. 

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This shows that when you're in a spotlight, people are after you. They hide behind "free speech" and level ridiculous statements for reasons that are incomprehensible. 

When this occurs, the celebrity in question is left with one of two options. 

Let it go

This is the far more practiced option and generally the best route to go. There are a lot of weird people in the world that try to bring celebrities down. There isn't a good reason for it, but it happens. Nobody has the time, effort and even money to fight every ridiculous rumor that floats. 

The problem with letting it go is that no example is set for anyone who would think about making the next rumor. They have nothing to be afraid of because this celebrity has already demonstrated that they will let it go.

Every now and again, it takes someone doing what Mickelson is doing right now. 

Fight back

Fighting back generally comes in the form of a lawsuit, and Mickelson has every right to do this. Two people can hear the same piece of news and come away with two different opinions. Still, that doesn't mean that one of them needs to be sued. 

But when a person comes out and says complete lies, like Mickelson alleges he's been hit with, then that person is vulnerable to legal action. When the rumor starter, in this case a poster, is forced to actually have to eat his words, it is refreshing to see. If nothing else, it is a good deterrent for future rumors to be started. 

The sad thing about this is that people like Mickelson are being forced to make these choices. There is absolutely nothing practical to be gained by posting a lie about someone, yet it happens too often. 

Right now, Mickelson is looking for a court order that would force the names of the rumor starters to be revealed. As Swaby stated, Mickelson makes more money in endorsements than on the golf course, so rumors about his character significantly hurt him. 

There is no really good reason to have to engage in this fight. It is time consuming, expensive, and the charges Mickelson is fighting seem completely baseless. Yet, this is what Mickelson is being forced to do.

Unfortunately, this is a part of being famous. Yes, you make ungodly amounts of money (according to Swaby's report, Mickelson made $51 million in 2007), but you are also subjected to a public that has people who want nothing more than to bring you down. 

There's no good reason for it. Hopefully, Mickelson fighting back can at least give the next people something to think about before posting the next rumor. If it doesn't, the rumors are only going to grow as the outlets to start them expand. 

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