When athletes behave badly, everyone pays attention.

Whether it is on a national scale or a more local setting, athletes make unwise decisions and face scrutiny from both fans and media. Everyone wants to know “how could they do such a thing?” and try and find the source of the problem.

Some argue that athletes are human beings and that everyone makes mistakes every now and again. Others hold them to certain standards and deem those unwise acts unacceptable. That view is justified, for the simple fact that athletes are often viewed as icons.

Michael Phelps was definitely an icon when he won eight Olympic gold medals last fall. The swimmer posed for the cover of Sports Illustrated four times in 2008 and was named SI’s Sportsman of the Year, but hit a bump in the road last week when a picture surfaced where he was caught sucking on a bong.

Phelps has had to endure criticism and deal countless apologies since the incident. But that’s not as bad as the amount of apologies his sponsors have had to issue.

See, the issue here isn’t a legal one. He wasn’t arrested or anything. The problem is that he makes everyone he represents look bad.

His sponsors are worried about their image because their star player is out getting high in the public eye. Athletes need to realize that there are many eyes on them and that they represent more than just themselves. I don’t see why it’s so hard to just behave the way you’re supposed to and make the right decisions.

Here I am, a regular college student just like anyone else. But, I not only represent myself; I represent the Northern Star, as well as my fraternity. If I’m caught behaving badly in any way, that is reflected upon my organizations and naturally people will view them in the same negative light they view me.

We’ve just had an incident here at NIU where two basketball players were suspended indefinitely for violating team rules. It was made clear that those violations weren’t academic or legal issues, but they broke team rules of some sort. That just goes to show that head NIU men’s basketball coach Ricardo Patton holds the same views I hold.

College is a learning institution where students gain knowledge and experiences necessary in the “real world.” Let’s just be thankful we have people like Patton to “nip things in the bud” and instill those lessons in his players, resolving those issues before they grow into something bigger and far more ugly.