OT: Michael Phelps gets three months off

Well they suspended him from competition, but I don't think he was going to be competing anyway right? Seems like a PR gesture to make everyone feel content that they're taking it seriously. And when it comes to cutting of financial support, I can't imagine that $5k amounts to shit compared to the gigantic piles of money he gets from his endorsements.

As for losing his Kellogg's endorsement, I think that's just an excuse too. They already dropped sponsorship of Team USA, probably they were happy to have an excuse for saving on sponsorship money.

Personally I think this is stupid but ultimately Michael will be just fine.

should be smart enough to not let anyone you don't REALLY REALLY trust take pictures of you while doing drugs (dont care what kind). Ever want to go into politics? Do anything notable that gets some publicity or be placed in the public eye whatsoever? That pic may come back later and fuck you. Expect things like that to increase in the future since there are plenty of dumbfuck high schoolers running around taking these types of pictures and distributing them online. They might hate it when they get older.

This should go without saying for someone like Phelps. I don't give a fuck whether he smokes, but expect consequences. He is now pretty much a failed role model for kids, his image is tainted, will lose endorsement deals, and got some sort of athletic penalty. That's life.

He will have a dramatic comeback with a few PSA's and then make millions doing a lecture tour. Blah Blah Blah. Anyone who has heard him speak knows he is not that smart. So does the DUI or this photo surprise you? It shouldn't.

I think it's pretty silly and unfortunate that Phelps got suspended. Athletes should be suspended from competition for taking illegal substances and performance enhancers that make them better swimmers, not substances that make them worse athletes like pot.

There was just a poll on ESPN that asked if people thought less of Michael Phelps because of the incident, and the overwhelming majority, over 75% of responders said no. Yes it was a dumb move because he could potentially cost him endorsement money, but this is just such a non story for a kid just outta college in his early-mid twenties. To me, the more foolish move on Phelps' part than just getting high is that he allowed himself to be in a situation where he got pictured getting messed up, because it would have been nearly as bad (just as bad in my opinion) if he was pictured pounding booze and making an ass out of himself otherwise. That's simply lack of judgement and foresight from a superstar celebrity athlete.

i hope he doesn't give a shit. he's the best swimmer ever. he's not paris hilton and he's not brad pitt. he actually did something, swim, and that made him famous. Great! Take the money and run, and do what you want to do. Let me ask you this... why shouldn't he smoke weed if he wants to? for some cash? screw it. dude's got cash, and more than that, dude's got the knowledge that he's the best ever. the media wants him to be remorseful, but that's only because the media has a set of parameters they live by. they're hoping he breaks those parameters because it gives them something to talk about. but for him, himself, he's the best swimmer ever, and pat 'let's hire some hookers' o'brien and the rest of them can say what they want.

phelps is the best ever at his sport. ever. dude, go celebrate.

But at least he didn't "encourage" kids to actually do somewhat dangerous things like alcohol or tobacco.

across the board. There is too little out there these days for enough unique stories so they beat each and every story to absolute death.

The guy smoked some pot, big deal. The jackass that made a few dollars for selling him out, should be publicly stoned.

Does not change my opinion of him one iota.

Civil Infraction, what? No worse offense than an improper lane change. That would be a great thing to say on camera... everyone up in arms, "Oh my! Partying!" ... news time!

"Hi, everyone, well in Ann Arbor it's a ticketable offense, so here is my check, putting in the envelope, and there ya go. End of story. Why don't you go check to see if Usain Bolt has any parking tickets?"

I actually think MORE highly of Michael Phelps after this. I now think he is less of a tool. There are a lot of people who could benefit from a bong rip or two.

I suppose millions in endorsements should result in more prudent behavior but I hate the whole thing--digital photography (every person in the room becomes a 5th column paparazzo) + proliferation of media outlets (often internet) = greatly accelerated news cycle. The story goes viral, there is a kneejerk rxn from USA Swimming and sponsors and moral watchdogs, Phelps pays the consequences for months or more, but no one will care in a week. It's a great argument against celebrity. I'd much rather be rich than famous.

I won't argue over whether weed is a drug or not. But the one argument people make (not PRR) that really irritates me is this one.
"Smoking weed is wrong because it is against THE LAW! Your breaking THE LAW! You have to respect LAWS! What you are doing is CRIMINAL! You should be put in jail when you smoke weed because you are breaking THE LAW!"
I cannot seem to get the point across to some people that not all laws = justice. If you do not question authority you are not very far from slavery. History is full of righteous lawbreakers. Our forefathers were certainly breaking THE LAW when they dumped tea into Boston Harbor. Abolisionists were breaking THE LAW when they operated the underground railroad. Of course no one thinks that what these people did was wrong. It was simply against THE LAW. To me this is just another example of an unjust law.