Sunday, February 1, 2009
Media / Sports U.S. Olympic Hero Enjoys Bong Hit
Posted by David Schmader on Sun, Feb 1, 2009 at 2:21 PM
Have you heard the news? Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps was photographed taking a big ol' bong hit.
The UK's News of the World broke the story by publishing the pic under a banner of disdain ("What a Dope"—get it?). Others are claiming to be similarly outraged (see the well-titled but poorly spelled MICHEAL PHELPS' BONG SHAME.)
Judging by comments, a whole bunch of other people couldn't give a poop. ("He’s a pothead and yet still the fastest swimmer in the world? Good for him and good for potheads!" wrote Luella on MPBS.)
Could such a photo ruin his endorsement deals? I'd say yes, since Phelps has already issued an apology:
"I engaged in behaviour which was regrettable and demonstrated bad judgment," Phelps said in a statement to the Associated Press. "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."
But what does "it" refer to? Smoking pot? Allowing himself to be photographed while smoking pot? Allowing himself to be photographed while smoking pot out of a skank-ass bong? Allowing himself to be forced by finances into making an apology for something he's going to keep doing on a regular basis? Well played, Mr. Phelps.
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1
Jesus Christ, who cares? Can't we get over the whole pot thing already?? Millions of Americans, tens of millions of people all over the globe smoke weed on a regular basis, and still not one death, not one ruined life. Mr. Phelps, I have only the vaguest idea who you are, but you go right on smoking pot. It's one of the most benign drugs on planet Earth.
2
I guess that explains why he seems so spacey and clueless in interviews -- probably fried all his neurons already
3
"Well played, Mr. Phelps."
Exactly. The man is a freak of nature. He owns the pool. His critics can suck it.
Exactly. The man is a freak of nature. He owns the pool. His critics can suck it.
5
The only downside of this is his the hit he'll take on the golden-boy endorsement stuff, which is too bad because it's no big deal.
Tiger Woods remains the king of squeaky clean endorse-ability, no scandals, never. It's why he is among the richest athletes.
Tiger Woods remains the king of squeaky clean endorse-ability, no scandals, never. It's why he is among the richest athletes.
6
Phelps with the munchies must be an incredible thing to see. I wouldn't want to be his dog at that moment.
7
Yeah, the guy's a kid. Cut him some slack on this one. In truth, who worth their weight in shit hasn't tried grass at least once?
The secret, Michael, is seclusion. You can afford it now.
The secret, Michael, is seclusion. You can afford it now.
8
The shame is in how nasty that bongwater is. C'mon, if you're gonna give a guy that's won 14 gold medals a bong hit, you give him clean bongwater.
9
Sure, sure, sure, you all got it right... street rats.
The bong hit that will cost him 50 million dollars or more.
Smart guy. No.
Good swimmer, yes.
His career is over. I am sure his mother explained the facts of life long ago. Shame.
Bong Boy is a nice sounding title for the coming musical.
The bong hit that will cost him 50 million dollars or more.
Smart guy. No.
Good swimmer, yes.
His career is over. I am sure his mother explained the facts of life long ago. Shame.
Bong Boy is a nice sounding title for the coming musical.
10
You know, the more I look at that photo, the more I think that's not Phelps. Think about it: the guy has FREAKISHLY long arms, and hands the size of dinner plates. That's how he won all those medals. The guy in the photo has fairly normal-looking arms & hands.
11
@ 9 - His career was over anyway. He had already announced that he wouldn't swim competitively anymore.
12
Enjoy your life Mr. Phelps. You've earned the right. And don't let a lot of self righteous jerks get in your way.
14
I'm figuring he should have been apologizing for getting high inhaling particulate instead of with brownies. Be nice to your lungs, Michael Phelps!
15
Who gives a shit whether he was enjoying a bong. People get way to crazy about people smoking MJ. People should really be on the big tobacco companies for poisoning the people who buy their product.
17
#8--
His lungs would turn the water brown before you scrached your butt thought "Hey I think I'll have a bong hit pretty soon."
His lungs would turn the water brown before you scrached your butt thought "Hey I think I'll have a bong hit pretty soon."
18
Phelps has issued a statement - it is him - time will tell, but, I bet the list who will put him in ads just shortened greatly.
Expensive bong hit.
Expensive bong hit.
20
IOC: get over your fucking selves. You're just two sweeps weeks for some lucky network every two years. So one of your carnies smokes the herb. Deal with it.
21
"I acted in a youthful and inappropriate way"
Wasn't that basically his excuse 4 years ago when he got charged for drunk driving?
What's the expiration date on that excuse?
Wasn't that basically his excuse 4 years ago when he got charged for drunk driving?
What's the expiration date on that excuse?
24
@23,
Um, in case you didn't know, pot isn't exactly a performance-enhancing drug for much of anything (well, as far as feats of athleticism go, at least).
I do hope he invested those first endorsement checks wisely, though...
Um, in case you didn't know, pot isn't exactly a performance-enhancing drug for much of anything (well, as far as feats of athleticism go, at least).
I do hope he invested those first endorsement checks wisely, though...
25
What's funny is that newscasters are having to use the word "bong," and then sometimes having to awkwardly explain it.
26
Soon to be sold - dong pix - god, we have all been so curious
A new career in porn?
I thought the speedy Mikchael was a pure light person, now, another angel has become a whore.
A new career in porn?
I thought the speedy Mikchael was a pure light person, now, another angel has become a whore.
27
Well I really didn't care for him all that much until now. Fuck that apology shit. He should say, "Yeah, I'm a stoner and I won 6 fucking gold medals so STFU."
I also love that as I'm typing this comment there is a banner ad for some mega bong from the Puffin Glass Studios.
I also love that as I'm typing this comment there is a banner ad for some mega bong from the Puffin Glass Studios.
28
The "it" that he's not going to do anymore?
Smoke up with that asshole "friend" who took his picture and spread it around on the web. When a guy has to check everyone at the party for a camera before he smokes up he's clearly smoking with the wrong people.
Smoke up with that asshole "friend" who took his picture and spread it around on the web. When a guy has to check everyone at the party for a camera before he smokes up he's clearly smoking with the wrong people.
32
Facebook now has a group called "I Don't care that Michael Phelps smokes pot". Not that a group on Facebook will change anything, but I think it's just an indication of how comfortable people are with calling pot smoking a non issue!
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