Can't believe you would compare not using a turn signal to drunk driving. Im not going to argue moving violations with you, I have seen, cited people in past and heard every excuse in the book. Maybe you were driving to fast, perhaps you had a unsafe distance between you and car in front to begin with. Stop sugar coating the DUI, and call it like it is. This thread is starting to make me want to drink, and I don't drink!
Turn signal as serious as DUI, lol, good laugh for the end of my day.
Originally posted by jpjackson76
Hey he's 19 years old, and a human being what should we expect. We all make mistakes, his will be more costly if a sponsor pull away from him.
Here's what we should expect, no one should drive drunk, period. This isn't a mistake, give me a break. I wonder if the ridiculous term "mistake" would have been used if he hit someone while running that stop sign?
A coddled athlete, making millions a year should have the sense to take a cab.
I just told an Italian friend here in Florence about this news (it's hit the swimming world here too...)
His response:
"What a jerk!"
I think what we need to teach our kids is that it is not cool to drink. Not only is it illegal, it is not cool to drink and drive. People who do so are losers. Look at what's happening to Mr. Phelps; whatever the outcome here, everyone will remember his moment as a loser.
I think that drinking, drinking heavily and even drinking and driving are glorified in our culture, and honestly, I think that it is wrong to glorify drinking. So, you got drunk? So what? You puked your guts out over the toilet all night? How gross. I'm glad I didn't.
People who drink and drive not ONLY break the law, they are also jerks and losers. If you did it when you were a kid, well, then, you were a jerk and a loser as a kid.
Grow up.
To all my family, friends, and fans:
I am very sorry. I made a mistake last week, a mistake with no excuses. I want to be clear: getting in a car with anything to drink is wrong; it's dangerous; and it's unacceptable. My parents taught me that no matter how tough a situation is, you must take responsibility for your actions, and I will do that. Again, I am very sorry.
Michael Phelps
I for one forgive Michael for his mistake, I hope he decides like I did to stop drinking to excess after I made a fool of myself in front of the Queen... I have never had more than 3 drinks since that time after 3 I change over to soda water and lime and never did drink and drive.
George
Originally posted by geochuck
I hope he decides like I did to stop drinking to excess after I made a fool of myself in front of the Queen...
George
This can't be passed over: Out with it, George.
-LBJ
Originally posted by gull80
The forum just hasn't been the same (nor have the threads been as long) since Ion departed for the USA Swimming website. Whether or not you agreed with him, he did manage to keep things...interesting. Fortunately he and Aquageek have remained close.
That hurts, gull!
I wonder about all these people that say this is a one time thing, he's a stand up guy, this is just a bump on the road, a little mistake, he can't have a drinking problem. Would they say the same thing if it was a pro baseball or basketball player? Or, would you say what we all say about the coddled professional athlete - "there they go again." Such a double standard. He broke the law, he committed a crime. The beloved star of swimming is no better now than the other pro sports athletes.
It is too embarrasing, nothing bad but really stupid. It is what happens when you drink 26 ounces of scotch mixed with a bottle of champaign. Waking upthe next morning in a tub of cold water and imagining the headlines in the paper Canadian swimmer drowns in bathtub
George
I don't think that Okzana Baul(The Figure Skater that beat Nancy Kerrigan) went to jail when she got pulled over for underage drinking so I don't think that Phelps shouldn't either. He should get probation, community service, fines, and license suspension. He will just have to hire a driver during that time. USA swimming needs to stay out of it so it is no good for them to fine them just like it was stupid to fine Gary Hall for wearing the boxing robe. Phelps was stupid and I am sure that he won't do that again if it is going to be as covered as it is in the media. Years ago, a swimmer would never get this much media attention for a DUI.
