Michael Phelps: The Only Thing You Can't Buy Is Dignity

In this day and age, when you leave the Olympic Games with eight gold medals draped around you neck, a testament to your skill and athleticism, the endorsement deals are right behind you, nipping at your heels.

When you leave a trail of shattered Olympic and world records in your wake, the advertisers are banging down your door, clamoring for a piece of you. 

This is what Michael Phelps is living with right now and no one should begrudge him his success. Wheaties just isn't enough these days. When you're the living incarnation of Neptune, you need Speedo, Visa, AT&T, and PureSport Beverages. This is what the sporting world demands of you when you're at the top of your game.

What you don't need to be is a slab of meat at a TV executive's private party.

It's just a rumor at this point, but it's alleged that Michael Phelps was paid $100,000 to appear at a pool party for an unnamed TV big wig, strip down to his Speedo, and swim a few laps for the man's wife, who's a big fan.

This isn't a new phenomenon. It's not uncommon to have some B-list movie actor put in an appearance at the annual meeting of the Loyal Order of Water Buffaloes or for some has-been rock star playing a set at some bat mitzvah in New Jersey. 

These so called "celebrities" have seen the writing on the wall. They realize their 15 minutes of fame is fast coming to an end, and they might as well get while the getting's good.

Michael Phelps, however, is nowhere near that point in his life or career. And chances are he never will be.  He will always have his records, his medals, and, if he stays healthy, another chance to break his own records and win even more medals. 

He can further his pool persona as a god of the water, an unbeatable force as strong and as steadfast as a tsunami, leaving his opponents gasping for air as he touches the wall. Instead, he's hitting the backyard pool circuit of Hollywood's behind-the-scenes elite.

It's unbefitting of an Olympian, an athlete likely worth millions, if not billions, of dollars to demean himself by taking $100,000 to impress the boss' wife.

Maybe he knows something no one else knows. Maybe he has seen the writing on the wall and has decided to get while the getting is good. It seems doubtful, though. He's young, in his prime, and has the world at his fingertips and the water at his mercy.

Let's just hope he isn't dragged under by greed.