So ran one estimate I read today of the endorsement money this little episode might cost Michael Phelps.
I don’t have much to add to the cacophony that has gone before me. It would be nice if we (as a nation) could emerge from this a little less hysterical about marijuana in general. This certainly would have that potential (likable kid, tremendously accomplished athlete, and all that).
However, it’s money that’s going to keep it from happening. Phelps has to salvage his endorsability as tangibly as he can, and that’s going to come from a snappy step away and a few weeks of “just say no” hand-wringing, as opposed to anything moderating.
Certainly, given the current sociocultural environment, it was an incredibly foolish act.
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Has there been any proof that Phelps was actually smoking pot out of said bong?
Who took the picture? Anybody asking if ‘they’ smoked anything at the same party?
Drug laws in the U.S. are abundantly stupid, wasteful, and worthless.
JMO
Suzie
Isn’t it more regrettable he was pictured at a loser school like South Carolina as opposed to acting like Wannabe Jeff Spicolli?
Come on, Bo. It’s National Signing Day. Give me some class rankings or something.
So… if he had a concealed weapon with no permit (because he felt unsafe at the clubs) and accidentally shot himself in the leg, during a riot, we’d cut the kid some slack. right?
It’s his image that he needs to market and this image ain’t gonna make him any money. I don’t think this bru-haha is such a big deal and I still respect his athletic accomplishments…but of course I’m not commercially sponsoring him, meh.
Suzie – He (Phelps) did fess up and confirm that it was indeed him. I believe it was taken in the fall. The details escape me. He apologized profusely and expressed extreme anguish over the upset it caused his poor mother. And yes, it was incredibly foolish/stupid. Hasn’t everyone figured out yet that EVERYONE around you has a freaking cellphone with a camera?? And they are all waiting for you to do something stupid….
Surely if that bitchy model caught on camera doing hard drugs can survive the media backlash then this kid, who comes across as a pretty decent person most of the time, should be able to overcome it. I agree with Terri, though. You want to slap ’em on the back of the head and say, “DUH!”. But then, there’s lots of people that I’d like to do that to for lots of different reasons.
BamaDan: I rarely do anything blog-related at work and never write, so it’s tough for me to liveblog during the week. Man, what a day though, huh?
Sure looks to me like he knows how to suck that bong.
BTW, I’m sure he was with SC football players. 😉
Hey, Bo, remember that 80’s song?
I’m only human
Of flesh and blood I’m made
Human
Born to make mistakes
I agree with the Seester.
Folks, make no mistake: I don’t think it’s a big deal. I think it’s nothing. I am a longstanding advocate of marijuana decriminalization. I think it ought to be at least as legal as alcohol.
But I’m not determining the guy’s market value. If I stood to make NINE figures for just standing there and smiling, I think I’d be damned careful about where, how, and with whom I engaged in illegal activity. I think I’d have had that straight even at 23.
Yes, he’s human, everybody screws up, yadda yadda yadda. As fuckups go, this one’s huge.
Terri:
I wasn’t questioning whether Phelps was the person in the picture. I’m curious as to how smoking *pot* can be proven with the only evidence being a picture.
Phelps didn’t confess to smoking pot. He confessed to demonstrating bad judgement.
This is his published statement (with no mention of any substance):
– – – –
“I engaged in behavior which was regrettable and demonstrated bad judgment. I’m 23 years old and despite the successes I’ve had in the pool, I acted in a youthful and inappropriate way, not in a manner people have come to expect from me. For this, I am sorry. I promise my fans and the public it will not happen again.”
– – – –
Regardless, the fact that this was news at all demonstrates the stupidity of our current drug laws.
You know, it wouldn’t be as big a deal if the guy hadn’t already gotten a well-publicised DUI. He’s a bonehead who is half-dolphin. He can swim fast, but I wouldn’t let him operate on me or build bridges. He’s not a great kid as far as I can tell, but a pretty stoooopid adult. I’m sure his millions and some Jimmy Cliff will be some solace.