Michael Phelps and a bong? Is there any truth to this?

Come on, Speedo didn't sign him because he is a roll model - they signed him because he swims fast. And kids don't want to buy the latest LZR because Michael Phelps is a good person, they buy it because they see what Phelps was able to accomplish using that suit. There are excuses and then their is perspective. He tried pot - there is no indication he is a "pot head" or he most likely would have tested as such on one of his many drug tests. I believe someone tried to compare him the Michael Vick - are you kidding me? This would barely constitute a misdemeanor charge, assuming he was not carrying around a one pound sack of grass in his back pocket. Speedo signed him because they think Michael can help them sell swimsuits. Michael is emminently qualified to do that. Many other companies signed MP to endorsement contracts to sell more of their respective products. For many of these products MP's fame and stature are more important that his world records. So MP's public image is VERY important to these companies. I do not personally care whether MP smokes pot or not. I happen to weigh in on the side of "decriminalize it" because it is just not worth jailing people over. Michael cannot help but carefully manage his public image if he cares about his income. Like it or not, fair or not, it WILL cause some people and companies to judge him negatively. He controls his own destiny.

Can we agree that smoking the pot - or, clearing a few chambers, in the parlance of our times - is a lot less dangerous to Michael and others than his driving drunk?

I don't hold myself and sport's figures to different standards, not in MY America anyway (that's for you Stud). En mi America, hijo mio, nos reimos de pendejos. En mi America, hijo mio, la gente tiene pendejos en "ignore". Por lo visto, es igual en vuestra America. However, I have learned that I cannot impose my code of ethics or sense of integrity on everyone. Thank you. Why would anyone lace pot with toxic stuff? They cut it w/ cheaper materials in order to make more profit. It happens all the time and sometimes really nasty crap gets put in there. Some drugs need to be cut (heroin, for instance); others... it boils down to pure greed in the face of the (relative) difficulty of transporting the goods into the US. The problem is that this is now the second time we are wading through the "young and stupid mistakes" speeches from his camp. In addition, Phelps has gone out of his way to create this wholesome image and has parlayed that into a number of fat paychecks. You should write your congressman to complain about how porn stars are faking their orgasms. I mean... they're making money off of lies! If it turns out to be true that his agency tried to have the pictures suppressed (by paying for them or whatnot), then his big mea culpa is really quite insincere. Feigned indignation is far more disgusting. Prolly why so many ppl have you on ignore.

It's just pot. I really can't stand this argument. It doesn't matter what it is because it is illegal and against the law, like it or not. Was Phelps making some grand legalize marijuana statement by taking bong hits? No, he was getting high. The problem is that this is now the second time we are wading through the "young and stupid mistakes" speeches from his camp. In addition, Phelps has gone out of his way to create this wholesome image and has parlayed that into a number of fat paychecks. If it turns out to be true that his agency tried to have the pictures suppressed (by paying for them or whatnot), then his big mea culpa is really quite insincere. Well, at least he was not busted using the Whizzinator. I realize smoking weed isn't the worst thing ever. But, Phelps has become another in a long line of pro athletes who have done drugs. And, to date, I've yet to see any claim they were trying to make a political statement by getting busted smoking grass.

Yes, I am a real person. I'm not sure what part of my opinion you are shocked by, but I hope you are not so naive that you think the lacing of drugs could not happen. It appears that you are not aware of the report of the DEA's discovery of an advanced plot by Osama bin Laden in 2002 to buy a massive amount of cocaine and poison it. Apparently, the plot failed when the drug lords decided that if the plan succeeded, it would pretty much destroy the market for their cocaine. Maybe you think I'm not real in saying that pot will never be legalized throughout the entire U.S. Pigs will do butterfly before that happens. I just happen to think that getting some pot that has been laced by Al Qaeda is extremely unlikely. As for drugs being laced in general, I know that this happens. But on a large scale by Al Qaeda? Possible, but not probable. I suppose Al Qaeda could also lace peanut butter with some salmonella too.

You see... I don't hide behind the cloak of an anonymous screen name and talk smack. I use my real name as my screen name so it's extraordinarily easy to verify these things. You must be seriously reading impaired. Any casual reader of these forums knows exactly who I am. Perhaps your education just isn't up to the task? Could you possibly be more puffed up with conceit?

Phelps' Statement: "I engaged in behavior which was regrettable and demonstrated bad judgment. I'm 23 years old and despite the successes I've had in the pool, I acted in a youthful and inappropriate way, not in a manner people have come to expect from me. For this, I am sorry. I promise my fans and the public it will not happen again." (Emphasis Added). ---Read "I will be more careful in the future when I'm doing drugs to make sure there aren't any cameras around." Tis a shame.

Why do people with no kids always feel compelled to give parenting advice though? Maybe b/c we've um... seen these things being done? Are parents the only ones who can give parenting suggestions? Fine. Take away the fact that I have parents, and those parents have other children, so I've seen how they have dealt w/ me and my siblings. I actually learned the lesson of learning to accept criminal behavior by living and working in the 'hood as an adult. I saw the police serve a bench warrant to a father who was a total thug. Looked the part. Played the part. You name it. And his 6 year old boy was crying b/c they were taking away his daddy. The boy loved his father despite the fact that he was a thug. The thug's nieces were there as well, crying just the same. These kids were able to love in a way that is far more nuanced than some ppl here are capable of grasping. Call me crazy but I learned from that, probably even more than all the lessons I learned from my parents. Is that ok w/ you? And I don't see any value in "honoring" faults that include lying and cheating or engaging in illegal behavior. Maybe "honor" just isn't the right word choice? honor: to show a courteous regard for

What if he were on the moon and wild pigs were coming out of his LZR? What ifs are fun, but not relevant. He won't serve jail time or face a ban, that wasn't my point. Again, he was doing something illegal and all your what-ifs won't change that. If I go to Amsterdam and have a big smoke out and come back and fail my company's drug test, they aren't really gonna care that I was in Amsterdam.

Fort - I am a little out of the loop. Are we dealing with a GGTTW? Nailed him!