Phelps Poll!

Phelps did hire a good lawyer...Powerbar stepped up and offered legal support and you can bet that they got good ones. I think the thing to realize is that Michael admitted his wrong before he hired a lawyer to get him out of it. He realized that there would be punishment and came out anyway. ~Kyra p.s. Once again, nice job Steph......and I too am responding to this thread rather than study for finals in three weeks!

Originally posted by gull80 This update was on the Swim Info website: www.swiminfo.com/.../8525.asp I saw that on SWIMINFO also. The content of that article makes Phelps look like a real *** for two reasons. The first was him asking if the officer knew who he was and the second was the fact that his girlfriend was stone cold sober. Not only was he arrogant but he had a passenger who had NOT been drinking. This guy really needs a big swimming event to put all of this bad publicity behind him. The next big meet is FINA Montreal, correct?

That's too bad to hear about Phelps being cocky and having sober passengers. He always seemed so down to earth, on the other hand when you're 19 and all of sudden achieve a huge level of fame some it is bound to go to your head....Tiger Woods did the same thing (tried to buy a drink and when the bartender said no asked if he knew who he was). Unfortunately it takes a bad event to really humble someone and make them realize they are just like everyone else; that just because they have name recognition doesn't make them above the law. As for his passengers being sober, he should have let them drive or one of them should have stepped up and taken the keys from him. It will be interesting to see what happens with his trial.

This update was on the Swim Info website: www.swiminfo.com/.../8525.asp

I agree with Fred. It's hard to discern from the media what is fact and what is people talking to the press, expanding certain facts to make them sound more gossip-worthy. And what's a shame, Kyra, is that most of the Olympian swimmers don't even have a chance to get used to their fame before it's gone. Most of the world only cares about swimming when it's on their TV's every four years (I'm not negating swimming, just making a point). So, unlike Tiger Woods, or Jeff Gordon, or even actual stars like Colin Farrell or Brad Pitt, the swimmers are just as struck by all the attention as the world temporarily is with them (except Down Under. Swimming is Aussie baseball, I swear it, like a religion). They don't really have enough time to go "Get out of my way, I'm famous," as much as, "Wow, look at all the people, stop taking pictures from my lawn."

Quote: They don't really have enough time to go "Get out of my way, I'm famous," as much as, "Wow, look at all the people, stop taking pictures from my lawn." This is a good point: olympic swimmers (and other amateur athletes) barely have time to comprehend the fame that is thrust on them. I don't think they have time to embrace that fame to the point they start questioning cops about it. But I can just as easily speculate that some "source" thought it would make good news copy if he/she reported that a star olympian popped off to a cop. That's the problem with speculating. You never know when you might get hit with some facts.

Or maybe he meant I am the son of a state trooper. It really doesn't matter what he meant or if he said it or not. The kid is getting tried in the media because of who he is.

Originally posted by laineybug Or maybe he meant I am the son of a state trooper. It really doesn't matter what he meant or if he said it or not. The kid is getting tried in the media because of who he is. Exactly my point. The media report things heard (or made up) whether credible or not, whether relevant or not. Many people discern from these reports not only guilt/innocence but also personality characteristics. Trial by news report doesn't count. Its not relevant and not particularly reliable. The facts (as they are, not as we speculate them to be) have the only relevance in this matter. But regardless of what the facts are, one fact remains: this young man is 19 years old; he is a YOUNG man. If he was irresponsible on this occasion doesn't make him a miscreant or an irresponsible person per se, no matter who he is.

When a news outlet quotes "a source", I have to wonder what is fact and what is tabloid. Michael Phelps doesn't deserve to become a pariah based on media reports.

I can think of one other Olympian who got in trouble with alcohol after winning a gold medal... the little girl who won figure skating, beat Nancy Carigan. Many youths are not ready to handle success of the kind that comes with winning a gold medal at the Olympics. GEEK, I'm not excusing his actions, just making an observation.