Phelps Cops to Bong Pic

[Stinky The Clown]

Phelps copped. Coupled with his DUI bust a few years ago, it is probably safe to say his market value is way down.

Phelps acknowledges photo using pot pipe

By PAUL NEWBERRY – 1 hour ago

Olympic great Michael Phelps acknowledged "regrettable" behavior and "bad judgment" after a photo in a British newspaper Sunday showed him inhaling from a marijuana pipe. In a statement released to The Associated Press, the swimmer who won a record eight gold medals at the Beijing Games did not dispute the authenticity of the exclusive picture published Sunday by the tabloid News of the World.

"I engaged in behavior which was regrettable and demonstrated bad judgment," Phelps said. "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."

News of the World said the picture was taken during a November house party while Phelps was visiting the University of South Carolina. During that trip, he attended one of the school's football games and received a big ovation when he was introduced to the crowd.

>snip<

This isn't the first embarrassing episode for Phelps after an Olympic triumph. In 2004, a few months after winning six gold and two bronze medals in Athens, the swimmer was arrested on a drunken driving charge at age 19. He pleaded guilty and apologized for the mistake.

>snip<

More here: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gav61lYnY-W3nlJteKSkTVKT6buAD962VHO00

[awoke_in_2003]

I will give it to him

he could have thrown out BS like "It was just tobacco". Good for him

[spin]

1. Youthful success often comes with a high price. (n/t)

[jimshoes]

2. Fuckin' guy's human,

imagine that. It's not like he ripped off someone for 50 Billion dollars or something.

[CreekDog]

19. oh no, it's much worse than that, i mean, he smoked a gateway drug!

:rofl:

drugs are bad, mmkay? :crazy:

=====================
all that said, the DUI is serious business and might be part of a larger problem. sad thing is that he has to deal with it in the fishbowl.

[suston96]

3. Could this jeopardize his Olympic medals? Is there a morality clause in the mix? nt

[cherish44]

21. Doubt it

Remember Oskana Bayul? She had a few run-ins related to the sauce after the Olympics (including a DUI) They didn't take away her medal

[malaise]

23. No but if WADA gets involved

and they will, it could influence his future. He will be tested with regularity as ganja is a banned WADA drug. This could have implications for local and international meets and 2012.

[Clear Blue Sky]

27. He won't lose his medals, but

the IOC may have issue with future competitions and Olympics.

[FrenchieCat]

4. Sometimes, the conventional wisdom doesn't win out.

I'm not sure that this will hurt Phelps as much as is being opined. This is not Bush's America any longer.

[Stinky The Clown]

8. Hahaha

Oh jeeeze .....

[BlooInBloo]

5. *YAWN*

[Stinky The Clown]

11. ..... oh maaaaan .....

.... I thought you were swilling beer and farting?

[BlooInBloo]

14. I am.

[Happyhippychick]

6. A 19 year old who drinks and gets high? Never heard of it.

[Botany]

7. So what!

He smoked some dope @ a party who cares.

[DrDan]

12. not the sponsors who would probably have been paying him millions

they probably don't care - they will just find another athlete.

He will not be getting any endorsements for a while . . . quite a while.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

9. A photo of him drinking a glass of beer

I have more of a problem with the DUI not with the Ganja.

[RB TexLa]

10. "cops to"? Can't we leave the slang to the inhabitants of FR?

[Stinky The Clown]

13. You would know

[RB TexLa]

15. Would know what?

[GoesTo11]

16. He is a poster boy against the pot scare stories

It obviously didn't sap his motivation or give him too bad a case of the munchies.

[tritsofme]

17. Sounds like a kid in his 20s having fun.

Good for him.

[firedupdem]

18. They need to leave that kid alone. Stop that role model shit... n/t

[malaise]

20. He's isn't doing anything the rest of us weren't doing

at 22, but then we weren't Olympic athletes. His problem will be WADA.

Meanwhile look what Usain received from Puma...and Bill Clinton says he wants to meet him.
http://www.onwheelsinc.com/article/749/usain_bolt_just_got_faster_bmw_m3_faster

[Stinky The Clown]

22. Yeah, fine and dandy .... but ........

Did he inhale?

That's all that matters.

[malaise]

25. Looks so

:rofl:

[Ecumenist]

24. You know what, Stinky? It's a shame that he has to pay such a high

price for something so mundane and insignificant in the greater scheme of things. I mean, it's not like he murdered innocent women and children in Iraq...

[Stinky The Clown]

26. I agree. It is WAY out of proportion to what he did.

What he did was act like most any other 22 year old. And many 32, 42, 52, and 62 year olds. I get that.

But he is a RICH 22 year old who stands to get a whole lot richer as long as he remains a marketable personality. Getting pictures of his mug in a bong doesn't help him further that to his benefit.

And that's all I am talking about. It was very dumb.

[Warren DeMontague]

29. Actually, maybe it will cause people to reconsider the idiotic $40 Billion a yr. drug war.

Probably not, but maybe.

Maybe people will wonder why we need to waste all that time and energy keeping a relatively benign plant criminalized, when everyone from Phelps to the Late Carl Sagan has smoked it without turning into scary reefer zombies. When we could legalize it, regulate it, and TAX it to the tune of billions in revenue.

Doubtful, but maybe.

[Stinky The Clown]

30. If the picture of Phelps would end the war on drugs, that'd be wonderful

It won't.

So if that was his goal, it was futile.

I suspect, however, the truth is he would rather it never happened.

Yes, the war on drugs is stupid and a waste of money. (<--- clear statement)

[Warren DeMontague]

31. No, I expect his goal was to get high.

Dumb, maybe. Probably. From his personal standpoint, not wise at all.

But enough of these and maybe the tide will turn from "Why are these good people becoming evil pot smoking criminals?" to "Why are we making good people who happen to smoke pot into criminals?"

[Stinky The Clown]

34. You know ... this same debate raged just as crazily .......

..... before and just after the turn of the **last** century, right?

Nothing new here and I have little hope that I will live long enough to see any significant change.

[Warren DeMontague]

28. Wow. Lord knows *I* never had my face stuck in a bong when I was 23.

Oh, wait, yes I did.

[asdjrocky]

32. How stupid is this?

And how lame is it that Michael Phelps, a very accomplished young man who we can all be proud of, has to fall all over himself apologizing for hitting a bong?

I want to know when this new America happens. I'd love to see this guy catch a break for something that is NO BIG DEAL.

And by the way, ever since snow boarding made it's way into the Olympics, pot has been in the Olympics. Count on it.

[EndersDame]

33. I have a hard time gettin' off the couch ....

I can't imagine winning 8 gold medals. If anything he should be given more praise for accomplishments!
BTW hi everybody! Long time lurker first time poster. Decided I needed some sane people to talk to ( i moved from Austin to Waco and am going crazy)

[roody]

36. Welcome to DU.

[fishwax]

35. It's unfortunate that people will this a big deal for him

I'm not all that surprised and I can't think of a good reason to care, but I'm sure the dustup will cost him money in the long run ...

[Stinky The Clown]

37. Your post ....

... sums up the kernel in the OP.