Monday, February 02, 2009
You Saw Michael Phelps' Photo But Did You Read The Article?
By now, you probably have seen the photo above that The News Of The World acquired of Michael Phelps smoking some pot. is it a big deal? Probably not in the scheme of life but to his sponsors and future endeavors it is probably a crusher. The picture is not why I am posting though. I mean the damn thing has been all over the internet and television and so it really isn't news. Even the fact that his "people" made the worst bribe offer in the history of bribes is hardly newsworthy. I mean why would the newspaper want Michael Phelps writing a column for them? Have you heard the guy talk? Oh, and he will try and get his sponsors to advertise with the paper. Try being the operative word there.
No, the thing that absolutely kills me about this whole situation is that it happened last November. Last November 6th, Michael Phelps went to the University of South Carolina to see his girlfriend. His girlfriend. Jordan Matthews. Apparently they had been seeing each other fir awhile and it was fairly serious because he made the effort to go to South Carolina to see her and spend the weekend with her.
OK, that was November 6th. Not even three weeks later, Michael brought home his girlfriend to Thanksgiving dinner with his family and parents. The thing is it was that stripper and not Jordan Matthews, although perhaps Jordan is a stripper as well. No one even questions the fact that he was either two timing one of the two or fell in love with the stripper in a hurry and decided to bring her home to mama.
So, do you think that perhaps Jordan might have been a little ticked off about that situation and perhaps arranged for these photos to be sold to the highest bidder? And do you think it is possible there might be more of these somewhere of an even more indiscriminate nature that would further tarnish the golden boy image?
I'm always amazed at what people are shocked by. Phelps is what, 23? Is it so astonishing that a 23 year old goes to what is basically a frat party and smokes some pot? He wasn't in training, it wasn't for performance enhancement. His worst mistake seems to be that he forgot he was 'Michael Phelps' and acted the way he probably always did prior to his avalanche of gold medals.
ReplyDeleteWhile that is an interesting idea, the jilted ex would have to be crazier than normal...to practically ruin this guys life?
ReplyDeleteI know all women are crazy, but like I said, she'd have to crazier than normal!
Nobody 'ruined' his life. We are ALL responsible for our own actions, period. So, if you're in the spotlight, and knowing that every dolt has some sort of camera or recorder on them, wouldn't you think you might want to protect your image and do this shit in complete privacy?
ReplyDeleteGiving that, I'm sure it's just a matter of time/money before his 'sex tape' is released.
Ewwww.
I know all women are crazy
ReplyDeleteHey, WTH? Don't drag everybody into the bong pool.
well you can say he's a kid and so what all day long. but the fact is this guy is making millions of dollars and he knows the score---you CANNOT put yourself in situations like this when you're in that position of being the wholesome athlete guy du jour.
ReplyDeleteno matter how this picture got out, the behavior is HIS. he was in a setting where he's sucking on a bong and big shocker---someone took a picture of him doing it.
no sympathy for him. no 'give him a break--he's young.' fuck him. he's an idiot.
MEH .....can you say Ross Regulotti...at least he didn't test positive AT the olympics....whatever
ReplyDeleteRight on David D - I can't believe this is a scandal. To me it is as scandalous as hearing that Phelps enjoyed a cold beer at a super bowl party.
ReplyDeleteIt is pathetic what people will do for money...and that statement refers to Phelps getting on his knees so he will not lose his sponsorships. I have mixed feelings about athletes and others hiding who they really are because they are considered “role models.” They started swimming or playing football or whatever because they were good at that sport not because they want to set a good example for little Sammy the 8 year old from Oklahoma who’s parents still believe the “war on drugs” is viable.
So you like to smoke pot every now and then Michael…grow a pair and just admit it.
Side note - I just randomly picked Oklahoma so nothing against any of you peeps from the sooner state.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteWell that's what they get for making him Mr. Perfect just because he's a talented swimmer. Remember when they bragged and said that he was getting endorsements to make more than 50 million dollars and that he would replace Jared for the Subway (all of things) commercial?
ReplyDeleteThey went to far. If he was just on the Wheaties box like all of the other Olympic winners before him maybe he could get away with this.
You can't take the money allow yourself to become the new "superstar" and then take a picture getting high. Of course somebody's going to out you and they should.
It's his fault and no one else's. I hope this brings him down to size. Put Jared back in the Subway commercials and I'll forgive Michael.
Well, that settles it.
ReplyDeleteIf white-bread, all-American hero Michael Phelps smokes weed, it should definitely be legalized.
Gonna go pull a tube now, myself.
I don't think it's horrible or shocking and I don't buy the role model angle. You don't have to hide who you are but I am always surprised that celebrities are not more discreet. When you are drugging at college parties, dating strippers and living it up in Vegas, someone is going to find out and there will probably be incriminating pictures.
ReplyDeleteit was a nano trace lol of weed for ross AND they gave him the medal back,let's not bring him into this.lol.
ReplyDeleteSorry Phelps, when you take all that cash to endorse shit, you sign away your right to live like other 23year olds.
guess why we know he chose Frosted Flakes.
Toking a fatty? No big deal. Being so stupid as to let other people see you, when you have a reputation at stake? DUMB. You don't see any of us lightin' up a bong in front of our employers (which in a way, he did). Well, except those of us who are really, really lucky.
ReplyDeleteror - so glad you're back!!
ReplyDeletewhat a dumb fuck phelps is. he deserves to lose all his endorsements.
"When I was a kid I inhaled frequently. That was the point."
ReplyDeleteOf course he smokes pot. How else could he consume 10,000 calories a day?
ReplyDeleteHe was at a college campus--did he not think people would use their phones to take photos?
ReplyDeleteI have nothing agains him for what he did, but not only is he a role model, but he represents the United States. He should have used his brains.
Who cares if he smoked a joint at a college party? I'm tired of celebs "apologizing" to the public. He didn't do anything to me.
ReplyDeletelook i smoke pot...but he took money to endorse a product geared towards kids.
ReplyDeleteyou want to live the good life without answering to anyone? don't endorse fucking Kellogs.
end of story.
Molly-thanks!
ReplyDeleteJax-you head it right on the head. You sacrifice some things for other things. Or MILLIONS of things!
Comes with the job
Ror, we were hoping you were taking a long vacation on a warm beach somewhere. :)
ReplyDeletekanonymous, you're right in saying celebs shouldn't apologize, but he's representing companies and a u.s. olympic team. he either plays by the rules and behaves or they can all dump his ass. for the amount of money and fame he got, he should be able to either behave or be discreet. he's not doing either.
ReplyDeleteRor, nancer, not on my dollar and Molly, you guys nailed it. nothing more to add there. in the end it will have been him who hammered the final nail in his coffin.
ReplyDeleteand wow, if Jordan the gf had anything to do w/ the pics...she's awesome! talk about being the poster child for "don't f%$# with me". gotta love it!
I'mmlate to the party, but agree this isn't news to normal people. It's news for his sponsors, and maybe his bank balance in future...but I don't think so. 8 gold should win you one grt-outta-jail card, right?
ReplyDeleteThe bigger issue is what else is out there? If he's so casual about letting loose amongst strangers, chances are there's more dirt to get frown up before the year is out...
No, no warm beaches.
ReplyDeleteCold issues to deal with.
Always fun.
I'm sorry. :( Next year you should definitely go for the beaches instead. Here's hoping you find a new job with a nice vacation package!
ReplyDeleteSo I guess revenge is a dish best served stoned....
ReplyDeletethanks pookie and I agree he shouldn't have pissed off Jordan. Next time he leaves her for a stripper someone needs to tell him that like all other celebs you're supposed to pay the girlfriend to be quiet.
ReplyDeletethe pot is not a big deal, and if is contract specifically states that he shouldn't smoke pot, then he should be in trouble.
ReplyDeletebut here's the thing, people. the guy is a PHENOMENAL swimmer, and that did not come easy. to reach the level he did, the did basically didn't do anything but train his entire life. he's been sheltered, pushed, and had every minute of his life controlled. plus, am i not correct in assuming he's no longer in training?
anyway, my point is, he doesn't have the same life skills as other kids... doesn't think about "getting caught", and that every body on the planet has cameras. remember, cameras aren't allowed in training facilities.
just my two cents. okay, maybe four.
He was at a private party. It's not like he was smoking a bong out in the middle of the street. There could be cameras anywhere, even cameras when you're having sex that you don't know about, but you can't live your life being afraid your picture is going to be taken every minute.
ReplyDeleteYeah, he's marketing a product geared toward little kids, but I doubt they'll see his pot pictures, and even if they did, they probably wouldn't know what he was doing in them.
i love you Bionic but you're suggesting Celebrity Justice for Phelps. and you know how well that goes down here..lol.
ReplyDeletelike Bad Fish said,none of us would toke in front of our boss and get away with it,so he's no different.
it wouldn't matter if kids never saw it, Kellogs did and i'm sure he has a something in his contract for 'behavior unbecoming' to the brand.
ReplyDeletesure pot is no big deal, as long as you aren't a corporate mascot worth millions in advertising.
maybe if the dumb fuck picked Wheeties over FROSTED FLAKES it woulnd't be such an issue, but he chose to represent a kids cereal.
He should be apologizing for being stupid enough to be photographed, not for smoking pot. Pot is totally villainized. It's not as if he was snorting blow off of a hooker's ass or something.
ReplyDeleteamber - not that we know of ... yet. ;)
ReplyDelete1) If he was stupid enough to take an asian stripper home to meet the folks instead of Jordan, he deserves what he gets. She's lucky she found out what an assclown he was BEFORE she got too emotionally invested in him.
ReplyDelete2) I'm sure there's more incriminating photos of him somewhere - and we'll see them as time goes on.
Poor Michael. He just wasn't thinking. He is still young, and to be honest, smoking pot is not bad! Now snorting coke, like Kate Moss was bad. Smoking crack like Amy Winehouse is bad. Doing heroine like Angelina Jolie is bad. All of these peeps had videos on U-tube doing these things.
ReplyDeleteMichael has one pic smoking out of a bong. Big Deal. He is still way cleaner cut than most celebs. Just Sayin