OT: Michael Phelps gets three months off
As you all probably know, the USOC suspended him for 3 months. http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/swimming/news/story?id=3887608
What are your guys' thoughts on this? I understand that he is a young adult and kids make mistakes and blah blah blah, but when you are a role model and international superstar you have to watch everything you do as the spotlight is on you practically 24/7. I understand that maybe this might not be a major offense and whatnot, but it is illegal activity that he partook and and deserves to get some punishment. On the other hand, maybe he needed a case of the munchies to get him back to his 12k diet?
February 5th, 2009 at 11:32 PM ^
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.
February 6th, 2009 at 1:11 AM ^
Agreed re: your analysis of the Kellogg's decision. It's not like Frosted Flakes and Corn Flakes are marketed towards kids. Those hypocrites at Kellogg's should know by now that eating sugared cereals is no less harmful than smoking pot when you get right down to it. Anything to save a buck, these faceless corporate a-holes.
February 6th, 2009 at 7:57 AM ^
If anything Phelps is an even better sponsor to Kellogs. Imagine he gets up there and is like "the first thing I have when I get the munchies is a nice bowl of Frosted Flakes." Imagine the dent that will put on White Castles business.
February 5th, 2009 at 11:34 PM ^
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.
February 6th, 2009 at 10:12 AM ^
It doesn't look like he's aware of the camera. Nor is there any smoke in the pipe. The whole situation just STINKS! Of Jah Herb
February 6th, 2009 at 12:17 PM ^
Bro, weed isn't a drug.
February 6th, 2009 at 12:50 PM ^
other than the fact that it is a drug, sure.
February 6th, 2009 at 12:58 PM ^
You sound like a severely un-fun person.
February 6th, 2009 at 1:06 PM ^
Weed is a fucking drug. That's not a value judgment, it's a fact. If you don't believe me, go light up in front of a cop.
February 6th, 2009 at 1:13 PM ^
Anyone who says "yeah huh weed is too a drug" is likely a little on the dorky side is all I'm saying.
Your argument only proves that it's illegal. Which I agree with.
February 6th, 2009 at 1:19 PM ^
was supposed to prove. Caught on film doing illegal shit-->bad for career and stupid.
You are the one injecting "coolness" or the desirability of smoking pot into the conversation. I even said I don't personally give a fuck if he smokes. You seem a little slow today.
February 6th, 2009 at 1:24 PM ^
YEAH BUT BRO WEED COMES OUT OF THE GROUNDS SO IT'S NATURAL WHICH MEANS IT'S NOT BAD FOR YOU WHICH MEANS IT'S NOT A DRUG I MEAN HOW CAN SOMETHING NATURAL BE BAD FOR YOU NOWUTIMEAN?
February 6th, 2009 at 1:25 PM ^
See? Sommy gets it.
February 6th, 2009 at 1:31 PM ^
That really is the worst argument ever. I have to laugh every time I hear it.
*Eats a poisonous mushroom and dies an agonizing death*
February 6th, 2009 at 1:25 PM ^
I was just objecting to you calling weed a drug. Which I disagree with, but I agree is debatable.
I think this is Phelps' chance to get all Bode Miller on us and be the Bad Boy of swimming. People like that shit. Ha can stuff like "I wake up every morning and piss excellence" or something like that. Maybe then people won't think swimming is gay.
February 6th, 2009 at 1:30 PM ^
it's not objectionable and it's not debatable. It is a fact. This is not something you can have an opinion on. Whether it's harmful or appropriate are things you can have opinions on. Let's try an analogy.
Me: Having sex with 15 year olds is illegal.
You: lol, no man that's not a crime!!!
Me: It actually is a crime. That's not up for debate.
You: lol, ur a fag!
February 6th, 2009 at 1:36 PM ^
At no point have I debated marijuana's legality. I'm not sure why you're stuck on that. I agree it's illegal.
February 6th, 2009 at 1:46 PM ^
Good luck with that whole intentionally obtuse thing.
BTW, labeling people that don't smoke as "dorky" is as stupid as me labeling you an unmotivated burnout because you do smoke.
February 6th, 2009 at 1:53 PM ^
You are again putting words in my mouth. At no point have you said whether or not you smoke weed, nor did I make a comment about you being a smoker or non-smoker. The (in)frequency of you marijuana use does not make you dorky, your dorky comments make you dorky. I'm now really glad that "dorky" is the word I chose.
February 6th, 2009 at 1:59 PM ^
stating an unassailable fact (that weed is a drug), with no supporting commentary, makes me a loser.
I think I've got it down now, thanks.
February 6th, 2009 at 2:07 PM ^
No offense man, but this whole section of this thread looks kinda like this:
You guys obviously have fundamental differences on what constitutes a drug. I'm assuming that your definition means that it is inherently illicit in some way, and because you don't believe that marijuana is "bad," the definition doesn't fit. Fine. Everyone else sees "drug" as "substance somehow put into the human body to affect some sort of chemical change on it." THC crosses the blood/brain barrier, therefore, it fits their definition.
Everyone's a winner now. It's an argument about semantics not worth having at this point in time.
You guys obviously have fundamental differences on what constitutes a drug. I'm assuming that your definition means that it is inherently illicit in some way, and because you don't believe that marijuana is "bad," the definition doesn't fit. Fine. Everyone else sees "drug" as "substance somehow put into the human body to affect some sort of chemical change on it." THC crosses the blood/brain barrier, therefore, it fits their definition.
Everyone's a winner now. It's an argument about semantics not worth having at this point in time.February 6th, 2009 at 2:17 PM ^
I just like how he is trying to seriously argue that WolvinLA's subjective definition carries more weight than the dictionary, the federal government, every state government, and the overwhelming majority of the population.
February 6th, 2009 at 2:34 PM ^
You take some things WAY too seriously. Take a break and go buy yourself a drink on me.
February 6th, 2009 at 2:38 PM ^
serious in my posts, but I'm not. I like arguing. I don't care whether you agree with anything I said. I like watching people try to defend the indefensible. I don't get emotional when I make a point. Especially on a blog.
February 6th, 2009 at 2:28 PM ^
You're on the right track, but I was really just fucking around. It wasn't until PRR got all Nancy Reagan on me that I started to argue back.
February 6th, 2009 at 2:34 PM ^
fucking terrible. And you are usually a pretty smart guy.
Side note - I am getting an ad for a Snuggie. That is awesome.
February 6th, 2009 at 2:37 PM ^
This is not a real argument. It certainly went further than I intended. That said, you wanna get matching snuggies and get stoned? I'll even heat up pizza rolls.
February 6th, 2009 at 2:40 PM ^
on MGoBlog should buy a maize snuggie and sit together at game this upcoming season. They are perfect for sporting events!
February 6th, 2009 at 2:51 PM ^
Delaware State - Snuggie Out!
February 5th, 2009 at 11:43 PM ^
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.
February 6th, 2009 at 12:23 AM ^
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.
February 6th, 2009 at 12:37 AM ^
And he is held to a higher standard because he is supposed to be a role model and gets paid to play that role.
And FYI - unless that ESPN poll was scientifically conducted by a reputable pollster (doubt it), it is 100% worthless. And no, I don't care how many respondents it had. Quick example - in all 3 presidential debates, the Drudge Report did an online poll of who won and a couple hundred thousand people voted and McCain won with ~80% of the vote. In every scientific poll of every debates, Obama was actually the winner by a 2-1 or 3-1 margin. AOL constantly had presidential polls that garnered TONS of votes and showed McCain winning 49 states and ~60% popular vote, right up to Super Tuesday. And, well, no.
February 6th, 2009 at 2:17 AM ^
I, for one, thought less of him after the DUI. Also, he's a great swimmer, but swimming is a stupid fucking sport.
This whole thing will be irrelevant in about 2 weeks.
February 6th, 2009 at 12:51 AM ^
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.
February 6th, 2009 at 3:10 AM ^
But at least he didn't "encourage" kids to actually do somewhat dangerous things like alcohol or tobacco.
February 6th, 2009 at 7:52 AM ^
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.
February 6th, 2009 at 10:16 AM ^
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?"
February 6th, 2009 at 12:20 PM ^
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.
February 6th, 2009 at 4:24 PM ^
but me too. And what's even more silly is that I will never buy another Kellogg's product again. I'm dead serious.
February 6th, 2009 at 3:10 PM ^
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.
February 6th, 2009 at 3:18 PM ^
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.
February 6th, 2009 at 3:39 PM ^
for me not to respond to the hilarity of this post.
I'm just going to put on my Snuggie and walk away from this thread.