Phelps in Trouble?

Originally posted by aquageek newmastersswimmer : Please refrain from drinking and posting on the forum. While not as dangerous, it still should be illegal, especially when so irrelevant, dude. I'll know to be wary of driving in TN as drinking and driving is an excusable behavior, since the only real issue is not that you were drinking and driving but just how drunk you were, dude. Just out of cursiosity - what do you think Phelps was apologizing for? Do you really think he was apologizing for running the stop light, dude? Lastly, it's also a crime to resurrect 90's catch phrases, on par with challenging folks to a clown suit swimming showdown, dude. I'm well past my educateable years so you won't have to mow me down on the drunken highways of TN. I think I'll get the nasty gram from the administrator on this post. Aquageek you must calm down, I think what everyone is saying is take it easy, wait and see. He may not be guilty of anything but entrapement. George

Just out of cursiosity - what do you think Phelps was apologizing for? Do you really think he was apologizing for running the stop light, dude? As Geochuck pointed out in a prior message ....He could have been apologizing about the stop sign....but I think he could have been apologizing for the entire thing (as a whole innocent or guilty)...He is embarrassed for bringing such bad publicity to his name (and to swimming in general)....so maybe he is apologizing for that too?....and if he is guilty of drinking and driving (which he very well may be)....then he could also be apologizing for that....How can you say for sure you know exactly what he is apologizing for?....We don't even know whether or not he actually did run the stop sign yet....It hasn't gone to court yet....I have been guilty of running stop signs too....I didn't come to a "complete stop" and I paid a traffic fine for it....I call that a mistake (a misdemeanor offense according to the law)....That does NOT make me a criminal....You stated that Phelps didn't commit a mistake, he committed a crime (as in he is a criminal)....Maybe so?? Right now no one really knows....Do you now see the point? Remember the scripture reference I made....Are your eyes totally clear of all crimes against humanity? Please think about it b/c I think that was the point of hooked on swimming's message...and I for one thought it was an excellent point.....By the way, Why am I now mowing you down on the TN highways drunker than a skunk??....That sure came out of nowhere....Since I want the facts before I jump to any conclusions I'm now a raving drunk maniac?? Also...Sorry if I broke the rules about using old cliches like "how much have you been smoking?"....It just seemed to fit and so I went with it....I didn't realize you would get your panties in a wod over it...(wait that's a lie...yaeh I guess I did know that....I'm such a jerk sometimes!) newmastersswimmer

Originally posted by aquageek geo: I think both you and me will be highly surprised if Phelps apologized for being entrapped. YOU WILL NEVER BELIEVE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HAPPEN IN COURT, THE GUILTY GETS OFF AND SOMETIMES THE INNOCENT, GET SENT TO JAIL. George

AQUAGEEK, to the point that you said it does not matter if we personally did something wrong of a kind or not you are definitely wrong.So what if we have another star do that kinda thing, would you listen to what Phelps has to say?If he starts talking about how wrong that is and all that wouldn't you be like:"Hey, kid, didn't you do the same, do you even have the right to say anything? So, AQUAGEEK, before you present your eloquent speeches, think about what you have done in your life(just reminding my previous point again), 'cause I am sure you are not a saint and maybe should stay quiet about the case. Oh yeah, and I also wanted to let you know that you extracted the wrong ideas from a lot of other peoples' replies, claiming that we are excusing Phelps.Well, read them again, because we are not excusing him(noone said it was ok to do what he did) but we were trying to wait for all the facts first before jumping into conclusions, one, and two(which is my point), let Phelps learn his lesson himself, your angry ramblings won't turn the time back. Come to think about it ... are you jealous of Phelps or something, of his career success or his endorsemets(you were really sarcastic about his possible losing some of sponsors - "poor little Mikey"), becaus that would explain why you are trying to tear him apart. And the more often you bark back with your replies the more I get to think that you might have some anger management problems or are just a pathological argueholic, where regardless of what people say you'll find fault with it.We are different, obviously and we all have our own views and opinions and I respect yours, but listen to the others, too, and don't get nasty by saying you are DISGUSTED with some people here, 'cause that is inappropriate and immature to say- we are all grown-ups and should act accordingly(back to my point of the necessity to clean up our own act before moving on to the others and looks like that's what you need to take care of). I know you are going to post something again on this matter, I will just stay with my opinion, because all these endless ramblings are not going to change the situation , help our sport or Michael Phelps, so I will just make sure I do not do anything stupid like that(one less trouble-maker on the road) and suggest that everyone else start with themselves, too - that's the only way to make it safe, since many seem to get carried away by blaiming others and forget about what they do themselves and therefore sooner or later you'll find yourself in the same position getting blamed by the same kinda people who like to blame others - vicious circle ... Peace.

What additional "facts" do we need? C'mon, this is hardly a case out of the CSI files. He was stopped after running a stop sign, failed a field sobriety test and was arrested for DUI. Then he admitted he'd made a mistake and apologized. Or maybe it's all really just a conspiracy.

Iwill restate I have had several near misses in driving over the past (34 years) TRUE Drunk Drivers are to be despised but the Federal Government had put carrots in front of states for years to drop bac levels to .08 from .10 States that dont adopt .08 dont get the carrot money for roads ect. Maryland was one of those states who had to lower the DWI Bac from .10 to .08 To tell the truth what is a "drunk driver" level of BAC? The evidence is that the terrible wrecks that happen are from the "super drunks".. over .15 BAC they are the real danger . I could give a S"" about a .08 Bac to tell the truth because MOST "accidents" are not from "drunk" .08 drivers but just BAD drivers..and nothing is done about them! Lock up the super drunks..the BAC .12 over drunk.And the sloppy bad drivers and take there licenses drunk or sober.. And I bet Michael is NOT in either group.. ! As I said Michel is probably a .07 and thats a DUI in Maryland not a DWI. Just a bit on the PO side because of life experiences with BAD STUPID SOBER DRIVERS that cause the MAJORITY of accidents in this country. And who are not getting the "jamming " they deserve.. it all goes to the "drunk" drivers.

there is a principle in our country called "innocent until proven guilty." Also, I can't find any mention of any testing having been done at the site or later. Does anyone know if the police did any testing to check alcohol levels or sobriety reactions? In every report I have read about this, it states that the policeman saw signs of behavior simular to that from alcohol comsumption. I haven't seen anything to indicate that he was tested to be legally drunk. Or doesn't that matter in Maryland.

Very True Lap swimmer. The 41 year old man who hit my friend's son at 5am was very likey way over .08, and very likely drinking all night. Big difference between that and driving after one beer. I know, I know, he is underage and never should have been drinking in the first place.

www.usatoday.com/.../2004-11-10-brennan-phelps_x.htm This is a really good article. Some of the quotes in there that Michael gave so how extremely upset and hurt he is by this. It also shows how he is trying to, I guess you could say, make the best out a bad situation. There is another link to another article on the USA Swimming site, but I thought this was the better of the two. ~Kyra

Here Michael is doing exactly the right thing - setting an example of honesty, admitting he was wrong, not hiding. I applaude him. He says exactly what many of us have been saying here: "I think drinking and driving — it's not OK once. It's a dangerous thing, and it's unacceptable." He just won over a big fan.... me. And I was VERY critical of him when I heard the news of his arrest. Good job, Michael!!