Due to the lengthy discussions about the Phelps situation, let's make this one short and sweet!
What's your opinion?
1. Don't give a ****.
2. Phelps is just another kid... kids do stupid things.
3. Phelps should learn from this and speak to kids about drunk driving.
4. Phelps should be prosected to the fullest extent and lose sponsorships.
5. Undecided.
Parents
Former Member
Originally posted by gull80
Actually he has two lawyers, according to the Baltimore Sun, which were hired for him. And. while this may be parsing, he did not admit that he was guilty of DUI--he apologized for making a mistake and then said that drinking and driving is wrong and dangerous.
I think he's handled the situation about as well as he could. I just don't see this as a sign of maturity. He certainly wasn't acting maturely when he got behind the wheel of his SUV after drinking.
The law school professor agrees with your observation that he did not admit that he was driving under the influence, but the prosecutor and defense lawyer who present the case to the jury know that an admission that he "made a mistake" is tantamount to an admission that he was under the influence. Your not parsing but practically the result for him is the same.
Michael Phelps is probably reading this and a thousand other threads on swimming, sports and People magazine websites and thinking to himself, "what kind of a storm did I start?" The question for him now is whether he takes the Daryll Strawberry/Robert Downey Jr./ route or take the less traveled road and not making the same (or substantially similar) mistake again. I hope he has strong parental and adult (read:agent, coach) support around him who are not "yesmen/women" but rather exert positive influence to keep him focused on greater achievements. Nobody likes watching a falling star.
Originally posted by gull80
Actually he has two lawyers, according to the Baltimore Sun, which were hired for him. And. while this may be parsing, he did not admit that he was guilty of DUI--he apologized for making a mistake and then said that drinking and driving is wrong and dangerous.
I think he's handled the situation about as well as he could. I just don't see this as a sign of maturity. He certainly wasn't acting maturely when he got behind the wheel of his SUV after drinking.
The law school professor agrees with your observation that he did not admit that he was driving under the influence, but the prosecutor and defense lawyer who present the case to the jury know that an admission that he "made a mistake" is tantamount to an admission that he was under the influence. Your not parsing but practically the result for him is the same.
Michael Phelps is probably reading this and a thousand other threads on swimming, sports and People magazine websites and thinking to himself, "what kind of a storm did I start?" The question for him now is whether he takes the Daryll Strawberry/Robert Downey Jr./ route or take the less traveled road and not making the same (or substantially similar) mistake again. I hope he has strong parental and adult (read:agent, coach) support around him who are not "yesmen/women" but rather exert positive influence to keep him focused on greater achievements. Nobody likes watching a falling star.
