A pot to......

[Medusa]

I read yesterday that Phelps was suspended for his pot smoking photo. I don't have the link, sorry. He's just a kid and given what some athletes have done, it pales in comparison but it was still a stupid move on his part and his stupidity may cost him. He isn't an athlete that plays at his sport seasonally for money just as football, basketball and baseball players do. His money would come mainly from endorsements, wouldn't it? If he's suspended, I imagine that companies wouldn't be so eager to have him endorse their products. I don't know; I'm asking.

[Moesha]

USA Swimming Suspends Phelps for 3 Months

There's a link to the ABCNews story.
Here are a couple of brief quotes from the article that may address your questions:

Michael Phelps' day grew lousier by the hour on Thursday. First he lost a major sponsor, then he got suspended. The Olympic great was suspended from competition for three months by USA Swimming, the latest fallout from a photo that showed him inhaling from a marijuana pipe.

The sport's national governing body also cut off its financial support to Phelps for the same three-month period, effective immediately.

Earlier Thursday, cereal and snack maker Kellogg Co. announced it wouldn't renew its sponsorship contract with Phelps, saying his behavior is "not consistent with the image of Kellogg." The swimmer appeared on the company's cereal boxes after his Olympic triumph.

USA Swimming provides a $1,750 monthly stipend to national team members to help defray travel and training expenses, plus performance bonuses. However, it's a small percentage of the millions Phelps makes through endorsements.

[RICHARD]

That kinda sucks that he got caught, think of all the stimulus he injected into the economy with all the munchy money he'll stop using.

[Karen]

I do think it is kind of sad that he uses the excuse of being "immature" or "
young" to account for his actions. It may be true, but he's 23 for goodness sake. There are men and women 5 years younger than that putting their own lives at risk every day in our military. I know his own road has not been easy, certainly he has been extremely dedicated to his sport, etc., but 23 is kind of old to use as an excuse, in my humble opinion.

I do think the three-month suspension is appropriate - he can still train, etc., just cannot compete for that time. And maybe he'll learn.

[Grace]

I do think it is kind of sad that he uses the excuse of being "immature" or "
young" to account for his actions. It may be true, but he's 23 for goodness sake. There are men and women 5 years younger than that putting their own lives at risk every day in our military. I know his own road has not been easy, certainly he has been extremely dedicated to his sport, etc., but 23 is kind of old to use as an excuse, in my humble opinion.

I do think the three-month suspension is appropriate - he can still train, etc., just cannot compete for that time. And maybe he'll learn.

His apology was very similar to the one he gave back in 2004, when he was arrested and charged with DUI. If he didn't learn then, what makes him sure he will learn now?

I really don't have any problem with him using the stuff, but he should have been smart enough to do it out of sight of prying eyes. IMO, that's where his stupidity shows.

[RICHARD]

I do admire him for jumping out there and admitting it-kinda hard to deny when you have your mug sucking off a bong for the world to see- But that is the way the PR machine runs.


Do you think Christian Bale would have avoided his controversy had he had a bong screwed into his mug?

[Edwina's Secretary]

There are men and women 5 years younger than that putting their own lives at risk every day in our military.

And, as a neighbor of Camp Pendleton, I can tell you there is plenty of weed going on there as well! The difference is you can't sell a photo of Joe Marine Recruit hitting a bong for millions of dollars.

Phelps has admited it was wrong and he has apologized...and he is paying BIG. I am not condoning what he did but can't we move on to tearing someone else down now?

[Medusa]

I haven't seen any evidence of tearing down Phelps. He's a celebrity athlete, he was arrogant enough to allow his photo to be taken while sucking on a bong; it's newsworthy. The majority of us have simply commented on the story or asked questions. He isn't competing right now so if he wants to smoke the stuff, it's his business, I guess, but he knows that a story like this could be potentially harmful to his career and/or image. As Karen stated, he's 23 years old and if he doesn't realize what the ramifications of his actions could be, then his "people" do and they should've warned him.

[lizbud]

I really don't have any problem with him using the stuff, but he should have been smart enough to do it out of sight of prying eyes. IMO, that's where his stupidity shows.

I would not say stupid, I would say he showed immaturity. This guy didn't
raise & train fighting dogs. He didn't rob a bank or participate in a drive by
shooting. He took a hit of weed. I think the reaction to the picture
has been way over the top. IMHO

[RICHARD]

Hey,

Mom, See......You said that I should stop smoking weed...Micheal Phelps smokes weed and he won all those gold medals......you are so stupid.

[Edwina's Secretary]

I haven't seen any evidence of tearing down Phelps. He's a celebrity athlete, he was arrogant enough to allow his photo to be taken while sucking on a bong; it's newsworthy. The majority of us have simply commented on the story or asked questions. He isn't competing right now so if he wants to smoke the stuff, it's his business, I guess, but he knows that a story like this could be potentially harmful to his career and/or image. As Karen stated, he's 23 years old and if he doesn't realize what the ramifications of his actions could be, then his "people" do and they should've warned him.

Really, Medusa...do you think he knew of or condoned his photo being taken?

What makes me sad is the guy is a swimmer. And an exceptional one. So that makes him a "celebrity." And that makes him a target of anyone with a cell phone camera or the like who can make a million dollars by taking a photo.

And that is what I mean by tearing him down. These people who take pleasure...and money...in letting us know that successful people are human...with many of the same weaknesses the rest of us have.

What makes this newsworthy? That he is human? Should he have known better? -- of course. But I guess I have made mistakes in my life that I would rather not have splattered all over the front page of the newspaper.

And I feel compassion for him...it must be difficult when every move you make, every zit, every burp, every scratch of a personal place is "newsworthy" especially when you are 23.

[Medusa]

Really, Medusa...do you think he knew of or condoned his photo being taken?

I think he knew that it was a good possibility that someone could or would take his photo. He doesn't live in a bubble. Like it or not, he's a celebrity and he's watched. Unfortunately, this happens a lot. People are put on a pedestal and there's always someone waiting and anxious to kick it out from under them. I'm not condoning the actions of the person who took the photo any more than I'm condoning Phelps'; merely commenting that he knows that the whole world is watching. What makes it newsworthy is not that he's human, as you say, but that he's a gold medalist. I don't care if he or anyone else smokes pot but others obviously do care. I wouldn't want my mistakes made public for everyone to see either but then, no one cares much about my conduct or yours because we're not in the public eye.

[RICHARD]

I'm not condoning the actions of the person who took the photo any more than I'm condoning Phelps'; merely commenting that he knows that the whole world is watching.

LOLOL, Trust me, If he backfired and split bong water or the burning pot on your new carpet or microfiber couch, there would be hell to pay.

[GILL]

I think the media has made to big a deal out of it. I grew up in the 60's everyone took a hit. BIG DEAL. There are more important things to worry about. I'm more concerned that the “quote” Big celb's, football, baseball, and basketball are the ones that the kids are following. There is much more than a little weed being used there

[RICHARD]

6 men at the pot party were arrested and charged, including the moron who was trying to sell the bong on EBay.
No Phelps arrest - while everyone else gets busted by Sheriff Taylor-

No one's gonna mar the sanctity of Mayberry and put Opie at risk.

So much for the effing law and being famous.

Mike, met Alex, Barry and the rest.

AHs.