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

Bravo! It's not flogging, but it sends a message that Coaches and Parents can relate to their kids. If you do stupid things (and get caught) you miss out on stuff.

Did Gary Hall and Summer Sanders(allegedly, I heard this back in the day) get three month suspensions for their pot use. Well, I think that USOC is doing this for PR reasons just to please those parents who are in a hissy fit over a bong hit! Plus, It is not like Phelps is in top notch shape(for Phelps) anyway. Well, at least, World Champs will get some ratings due to this drama. The non-swimming community will watch to see if he will prevail or fail. With greatest respect to Sanders and Hall they didn't do what Phelps did....8 olympic gold medals and upsurge in participation.

I wish he would have said, "I am an adult. I know my body better than most. The most dangerous thing about smoking a little weed is what the government will do to you if caught. The most annoying thing is the phony indignation by people who shouldn't carry my wet speedo to the spinner. Drug test me, drug test everyone." LOL! You are so RIGHT stillwater! And just wait for the idiots that point to pot as "performance enhancing". LOL

why isn't there a "give me a break" emotocon um....... how does this hurt swimming? um........is there no THC in australia? so.......i suppose loads of puritanical swimmers will hang up their speedos now and head to the bowling alley where they might enjoy a real wholesome family activity and after that maybe attend a witch burning. I think that Chaos and I may be twins separated at birth...

Sam- where did that avatar come from? Is that REAL? He looks like one of those bread things that you pull apart and eat! It is Paul Smith in his past life.

And just wait for the idiots that point to pot as "performance enhancing". Seems to have worked for him. I'm still doing research.

3 months..no problem. It will give him 3 solid months of training to lose the extra weight he put on... regain his aerobic fitness...improve his speed...improve his endurance...so 3 months from now...he will just be doing what he did before...kicking the crap out of most people.

If he was anybody else none of this would have happened. The poor guy has put in 4 years of unparalleled dedication and can't step back and relax for even a moment. The man has passed over 1,500 drug tests in his career and never failed one. I guarantee behavior like this is not the norm for him, this was a rare chance to let loose and he made the most of it :chug:. Can you imagine dropping in unexpected at a college party being at the height of your world-renowned fame? Of course everyone would be stuffing their best alcohol, food, drugs, etc. in your face! It's bothersome how it seems that America and the world of swimming 'owns' this guy just because he's the fastest man of all time. His top priority isn't to be your kid's "St. Perfect" role model, it is to swim fast and bring home massive amounts of Gold, WR's, and awesomeness to the USA. Despite (imo) being a bit immature for his age...LONG LIVE PHELPS! His neck will make Mr. T jealous come 2012....

I long since lost interest in the thread of their argument but I do recall that Carlos' times were impressive. I understand what you're saying, though I am not sure exactly what that proves. Our local paper had an op-ed about the Phelps thing: www.postwritersgroup.com/.../park090204.htm I don't think one's times proves anything in relation to swimming knowledge or experience outside of swimming. But does that really prove anything? Yea, someone can swim faster than this person or that person...big deal...because there are always going to be faster than that person.

I don't have a lot of experience at other fora -- none, actually -- but I have the impression that this one is fairly reasonable in its tone compared to many others (and useful besides). Neverthelss, I have definitely had my share of "email arguments" -- always with university administrators, I think -- that got a little too heated, and I think that the communication medium was a huge factor in the escalation. So I found the following commentary (from my favorite movie critic) thoughtful, though there was not necessarily anything I hadn't heard before. www.reelviews.net/php_reelthoughts_template.php (My own advice, which I try to keep: nevery type a message when angry.) Sorry for straying off-topic; take it away. Nice article. I do have to say that this forum is one of the most well behaved, respectful ones I have ever stumbled across. Lots of great information, and a very minimum of snark. A rarity in internet communication! Keep it up!