Phelps pot photo mystery might never be solved

[Are_grits_groceries]

Dozens partied at house where Phelps was betting money on a drinking game, witnesses say

The game that Monday night in November was high-stakes “beer pong,” a drinking game in which players lob Ping-Pong balls into plastic cups.

Michael Phelps was betting big — and losing.

“I saw Phelps pull out a roll, a bank-wrapped $2,000,” said Michael Whitworth, who had been invited to a house near Five Points after his band played a show at 5 Points Pub (now Sudworks Taphouse).
<snip>
The photo that got Phelps, 23, in trouble could have been taken by any of the dozens of partyers at the house that night — or on other nights when Phelps was in Columbia the first week of November.
http://www.thestate.com/local/story/678042.html


Sheriff Leon Lott of Richland County, South Carolina has gotten ahold of an M113A2 Armored Personal Carrier (APC) for some serious police work. And though a new APC fitted with a .50-cal belt-fed machine gun is a scary prospect, the Sheriff's department claims it only pays about $2,000 a year to acquire this kind of equipment (though we're not clear if that means the total cost). Perhaps they could replace the old Crown Vics with APCs. Either because he's a religious nut or has a sense of humor, Sheriff Lott is calling the vehicle "The Peacemaker" in reference to Matthew 5:9 because "Blessed are the peacemakers; for they shall be the children of God." No joke, that's in the press release below. Don't speed through Coumbia, South Carolina. Seriously.
http://jalopnik.com/5044539/rambo-p-coltrane-south-carolina-sheriff-invests-in-apc-armed-with-50+cal-machine-gun

Sheriff Lett is an idiot. As you can see, he has his very own APC. He'll probably use it if Phelps ever comes back to SC.

[glowing]

1. The craziest thing is that I don't know too many who didn't smoke pot in SC.

It was at every single solitary party. I even have a pic of myself standing with a cig in one hand and joint in another. I got the pictures.. I'm sure someone has the negative.. Funniest thing was that we were partying at the old airforce base.. they had turned the homes on the dis-banded base into rental homes... Many of the college kids rented there for cheap.. Just ironic that an old base turned into the partying spot for many years.. I think they tore them down and built a mall now. Anyway, those good ole' boys know how to roll some good as blunts.. honey blunts were the best.. they'd perfect it like an art.. soaking the wraps in honey, letting them dry, rolled with the highest quality weed, with a nice little cigar plastic piece to smoke thru. One of my friends from Columbia even had an old gas mask; army issue I beleive. Another friend had a 5ft bong. You'd have to stand on a chair to smoke it. Crazy times in SC. Funny that their "enforcement" is sooo fucking clueless.. even to their own childrens habits.

[DesertRat]

2. Phelps smoked pot in front of "dozens of partyers"

As a celebrity athlete with lucrative endorsement deals, he should been more discreet.

[KharmaTrain]

4. Now If That Were A 6-Pack...

...he'd probably get another endorsement.

I knew something like this would happen...the media built this guy up to be something he wsan't. We find out he's human and he should be more discreet? Oh the shame how the mighty have fallen.

[DesertRat]

5. Probably so, because beer isn't illegal.

He was stupid to break the law in front of dozens of strangers with cell phone cameras.

edited to say:
I just read that Phelps was arrested for DUI four years ago. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/11/08/national/main654380.shtml
So no, he probably wouldn't get a beer endorsement.

[KharmaTrain]

6. Still Demonstrates A Double Standard...

IMHO, driving a car while intoxicated is a far more dangerous than acting like a 21-year old frat boy. But I don't recall that DUI penalizing either his endorsements or status. This is a lot of noise and self righteousness over someone being stupid, yet had he been photographed wearing beer goggles with a set of car keys in his hands, no one would have said boo.

[Liberal_in_LA]

3. Don't blame the messenger. Phelps is a celebrity... he knows people are

snapping pics all the time. He should have been more discrete

[Peace Patriot]

7. It's okay to get blotto drunk, but take one toke of weed, and they'll machine-gun your

ticket to fame and fortune!

Criminy. We sure have some corrupt fucks running things in this country.