It's not the job of an athlete or a rock star or a movie star to be a role model for their fans. It is one's responsibility to obey the law and do what's right. That's everyone's responsibility, from the President on down.

While I don't disagree with Charles Barkley's famous "I am not a role model" commercial, I don't like it when athletes hind behind that idea to justify them doing wrong. Not that Phelps has done that, just bringing up an example. No, they're not necessarily role models, but to say that they shouldn't or don't have influence on people is sorely misguided.