3

2/1/2009 4:22:00 PM

phelps has allowed the media to canonize him a saint. If this hurts his career, it's his problem.

2/1/2009 4:32:25 PM

^ Yes.

Quote :

"You're a fucking tool because you think that just because he won a lot of gold medals he suddenly has some responsibility to act like a saint just so that you can feel good."

Calm yourself.

2/1/2009 4:45:17 PM

i always forget

do we demonize weed because its illegal

or

is weed illegal because its been demonized

2/1/2009 4:51:36 PM

Quote :

"something stupid and trivial like this"

2/1/2009 5:22:30 PM

http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/28964105/

And who said he's a pothead because he's smoked pot before. If someone posted a picture of him downing a beer would he be labeled an alcoholic?

2/1/2009 5:23:36 PM

from the tabloids he's having quite a debaucherous tour of duty across the united states since the olympics

i'd do the same

2/1/2009 5:24:31 PM

hell yeah, i'd get rich on endorsements and PARTY HARDY

2/1/2009 5:26:52 PM

Quote :

" do we demonize weed because its illegal or is weed illegal because its been demonized"

I think the history of weed legislation pretty much shows it to be the latter.

2/1/2009 5:53:35 PM

What bothers me here is hypocrisy. Michael Phelps is making money off of an inaccurate and unsustainable image. Recall that he has been busted for drunk driving (whether he was shitfaced or just blew a .09, I don't know).

I don't care whether he smokes weed or not. But it bothers me that he makes money off creating the impression that he follows a Disney sports movie lifestyle when in fact he does not. His advertising contracts he signed were in good faith that he would maintain his value as a brand image, an image HE cultivated--or at least did not stop others from projecting upon him. He deserves whatever the consequences may be from this.

Therefore I have no sympathy for him getting busted with weed, and I think the political debate here is beside the point.

[Edited on February 1, 2009 at 6:13 PM. Reason : .]

2/1/2009 6:12:03 PM

Quote :

"For this, I am sorry. I promise my fans and the public it will not happen again."

Didn't Phelps say this very same thing about his DUI a few years ago?

2/1/2009 6:31:04 PM

only jazz musicians were smokin marijuana, yeah!

2/1/2009 7:19:44 PM

Quote :

"i always forget do we demonize weed because its illegal or is weed illegal because its been demonized"

Only idiots bitch about weed being harmful. Bring up alcohol during the same conversation, and the same idiot will say "Well, weed isn't socially acceptable, like alcohol." It's the case of Guilty until Proven Innocent vs Innocent before Proven Guilty. Damning something before proving that it is worthy of damnation is by definition, stupid. When the science behind the damnation isn't compelling enough to rationalize the legislation that blocks it, the same idiot defending the law will backpedal and say that weed isn't socially acceptable and that that is a good enough reason to keep it illegal. This is obviously a logical fallacy. We used to have laws on our books about burning witches, which during our history was "socially acceptable." The rationale for being against weed must follow the same guidelines when compared to a drug like Alcohol. When it does not, and a person relys upon what is socially unacceptable based on bogus legislation, that person is an idiot. Granted, there are some scientific studies that suggest using weed can alter a person's brain chemisty, and stimulate dormant schizoprehnia in some people. However, these studies are neither valid or compelling justifications for keeping weed illegal, while on the same token, keeping alcohol legal.

Idiots.

[Edited on February 2, 2009 at 11:44 AM. Reason : -]

2/2/2009 11:34:37 AM

^on that note:
http://blogs.salon.com/0002762/stories/2003/12/22/whyIsMarijuanaIllegal.html?%3F

2/2/2009 1:40:13 PM

This will turn out just like his DUI. Big news for a couple weeks then everyone will forget and he'll go back to selling stuff through TV ads again. When 2012 comes around it will come to the surface for a few minutes until he mops the floor (or pool, rather) again and then retires from competition.

2/2/2009 1:59:46 PM

Quote :

"I don't care whether he smokes weed or not. But it bothers me that he makes money off creating the impression that he follows a Disney sports movie lifestyle when in fact he does not."

./jealousy

It doesn't bother me at all that he makes money off that image regardless if he acts up to it or not. i'm more concerned about corporate manipulation and corruption that leads to massive amounts of money. compared to that, or holding up a bank to get your money this doesn't even show up on the radar.

2/2/2009 2:04:36 PM

Quote :

"Think of what this does to any young kid who idolizes him."

It says, "Heroes smoke weed, too." and "Weed isn't as bad as you've been told.", and "Successful pot smokers use expensive glass bongs."

Quote :

"But it's illegal, and he broke the law. That's what breaks my heart."

Oh my fucking ..........ambrosisa1231 put it well:

Quote :

"It's not breaking the law that broke your heart You don't honestly think he's never switched lanes without using a blinker, or gone 5 over, do you? OH NOES SOMEONE BROKE THE LAW ITS A GODDAMN SHAME No, what's a shame are some of the laws on the books."

I'll never understand people who get their emotions all tied up with their loyalty to the principle of "rule of law". Should no one, throughout history, have ever broken any bogus laws? Is that how perverted your view of legal justice is? Every significant social advance in our society has involved people breaking the law. Does that break your heart? Do you not understand the concept of "lex malla, lex nulla"?

Quote :

"i always forget do we demonize weed because its illegal or is weed illegal because its been demonized"

gg

Quote :

"And who said he's a pothead because he's smoked pot before. If someone posted a picture of him downing a beer would he be labeled an alcoholic?"

Exactly. Double-standard.

2/2/2009 5:02:48 PM

http://www.digtriad.com/news/features/article.aspx?storyid=118608&catid=216

Quote :

" Richland County, SC -- A South Carolina sheriff says if Michael Phelps smoked pot in his district, the olympic swimmer is in more than just hot water. Michael Phelps apologized after a photo surfaced in the British tabloid News Of The World. The paper claims Phelps was smoking marijuana at a party at the University of South Carolina in November. The Richland County Sheriff says he is determined to find out if it is true. Sheriff Leon Lott says his investigators will look at the picture and search for others to try to figure out where it was taken. They will also look for witnesses and conduct interviews. Lott says if Phelps broke the law, he will face possession charges. "

first i've heard of that news. UNREAL.

2/3/2009 3:55:15 AM

^
How completely fucking retarded. There are thousands of people who've "outed themselves" as pot users.... there are perhaps millions of photos of people smoking pot on the internet, many identifiable.... and because he's famous, they're going to prosecute him for marijuana possession, but not the many thousands of others?

Sheriff Leon Lott wins the 2009 douchebag award for south carolina.

Quote :

"Selective enforcement is the ability that executors of the law (such as police officers or administrative agencies, in some cases) have to select who they want to enforce laws against. The use of enforcement discretion in an arbitrary way is referred to as selective enforcement or selective prosecution. Historically, selective enforcement is recognized as a sign of tyranny, and an abuse of power, because it violates Rule of Law, allowing men to apply justice only when they choose. Aside from this being inherently unjust, it almost inevitably must lead to favoritism and extortion, with those empowered to choose being able to help their friends, take bribes, and threaten those they desire favors from. However, the converse can also be true. Police officer discretion is sometimes warranted for minor offenses, for instance where a warning to a teenager could be quite effective without putting the teen through a legal process which also reduces costs of governmental legal resources. Another example is patrol officers parked on the side of a highway for speed enforcement. It may be impractical and cost prohibitive to ticket everyone who is going any amount over the speed limit, so the officer should watch for the more egregious cases and those drivers who are showing signs of driving recklessly. These cases do give the police judicial power to some degree, but it is not possible for an officer not to use judgment at one level or another."

2/3/2009 4:09:01 AM

you know what they say about 9/10 of the law...

but seriously, even if they did bring him up on charges somehow, there's no way they can nail down posession based off a picture of him smoking something, and witness statements. even his "confession" to the media. unless SC is way off the natrional average as far as drug laws and evidence go.

the secret legal eagle part of me, however, really wants to see this go through trial. phelps has enough loot to fight it all the way.... get into the higher courts, and get some good precedents set. i dont know of any regarding how a photo of someone holding a glass pipe proves that they are in posession of pot.

2/3/2009 4:16:03 AM

Quote :

"There are thousands of people who've "outed themselves" as pot users.... there are perhaps millions of photos of people smoking pot on the internet, many identifiable.... and because he's famous, they're going to prosecute him for marijuana possession, but not the many thousands of others?"

It's really not that surprising. Famous figure? Public example. You aren't going to make too much of a public example of John Q. Dopesmoke. If they didn't enforce the law in this case it would send an entirely different message, it would be a much different public example.

Plus my guess is that it would actually require a bit of resources to track down the identity and location of John Q. Dopesmoke, Michael Phelps, not so much.

[Edited on February 3, 2009 at 9:05 AM. Reason : -]

2/3/2009 9:02:28 AM

Quote :

"It's really not that surprising"

Oh yes, I'm not surprised at all.

Quote :

"John Q. Dopesmoke"

LOL

Quote :

"If they didn't enforce the law in this case it would send an entirely different message, it would be a much different public example."

Perhaps, but the selective enforcement is still there, and is still heinous.

Oh, and the message isn't, "Don't smoke pot or else you'll be arrested." or even, "No one is above the law." but rather, "We can't let [talented and successful] celebrities reveal themselves as pot-smokers, because no one will believe our lies about how pot will ruin your life."

[Edited on February 3, 2009 at 9:30 AM. Reason : ]

2/3/2009 9:27:54 AM

Quote :

"If someone posted a picture of him downing a beer would he be labeled an alcoholic?"

this kid grew up in a fucked up house.

he had a DWI when he was like 17

2/3/2009 9:28:39 AM

yeah what a loser he turned out to be

2/3/2009 9:29:18 AM

Quote :

"BEST PICTURE EVER"

btw, everyone should be deathly afraid to even TRY pot because you might end up as one of the greatest athletes of all time. they've all tried it!!!

2/3/2009 9:39:36 AM

i don't know how anyone is surprised by this

he's dumb as a rock

2/3/2009 9:43:19 AM

Quote :

"Because he cleaned the floor with the rest of the world during the Olympics. He was a strong symbol for American dominance in his particular arena, and someone to look up to. Think of what this does to any young kid who idolizes him. Hell, even what it does to me - I loved watching this stand-up kid pursing not just excellence, but perfection. You obtain perfection, and you have a responsibility and an opportunity to be something truly special. To blow that reputation and achievement on something stupid and trivial like this is just such a waste. It's just a shame he either didn't recognize that or just didn't care."

maybe the dumbest thing i've ever read

2/3/2009 9:45:08 AM

Quote :

"i don't know how anyone is surprised by this he's dumb as a rock"

i wouldn't know, i've never talked to him, YOU JUDGMENTAL ASSHOLE.

but for real, based off the few times i've heard him talk, and the commercial that he's in.. he seems pretty dumb.

btw do fish have brains?

2/3/2009 10:50:16 AM

sm420ke w33d

2/3/2009 11:10:31 AM

It boggles my mind that ANYBODY cares about this after we just elected a President who admitted doing far, far harder drugs in one of his books.

2/3/2009 11:35:44 AM

hey guys what does "sm420ke w33d" mean

2/3/2009 11:36:21 AM

People are idiots.
Idiots believe nonsense.
Nonsense breeds more Idiots.
Idiots become people.

2/3/2009 11:37:01 AM

"What Michael Phelps Should Have Said"
a bit dramatic towards the end, but excellent points nonetheless:

http://reason.com/news/show/131438.html

2/3/2009 3:39:43 PM

great article.

2/3/2009 3:45:36 PM

Wow that article was great.

2/3/2009 3:48:34 PM

I found a poll online at Foxnews.com asking what is more disgraceful: What Michael Phelps did, or what Tom Daschle and Tim Geithner did.

So far its 68% Phelps, 32% for Tom & Tim.


UNFUCKING BELIEVEABLE

2/3/2009 11:09:38 PM

BREAKING NEWS: Phelps actually a pretty normal guy.

More at 11, 12, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and all the goddamn time.

2/3/2009 11:14:44 PM

i mean, i realize i found this poll on foxnews

2/3/2009 11:18:29 PM

Quote :

""whats he doing daddy?""

2/3/2009 11:18:51 PM

I don't understand why Phelps didn't say he was doing tobacco in that bong.

2/3/2009 11:20:11 PM

Maybe he has something against lying.

2/3/2009 11:30:25 PM

i mean, i feel like if someone can get stoned and still outswim the best swimmers in the world, that man deserves a fucking platinum medal. when i get good and blazed, it's all i can do to get off the couch.

2/3/2009 11:35:58 PM

This pretty much makes all those live above the influence commercials obsolete. OMG i guess people can smoke pot don't just turn into mindless high zombies that sit on the couch eating Cheetos.

I could see the big deal if this was steroids but its pot. Who gives a flying fuck. The guys brought home a shit load of golds stoking the pride of the US. After working his ass off for years he wants to get high. Get the fuck over it Evangelical America.

[Edited on February 3, 2009 at 11:53 PM. Reason : l]

2/3/2009 11:51:43 PM

about to roll up a J after a long day's work

wonder how many peckerwoods and yahoos that pisses off

all the better

2/4/2009 12:12:07 AM

I for one want to ask again. Who cares?

2/4/2009 2:20:53 AM

Quote :

""There are 100,000 total marijuana smokers in the US, and most are Negroes, Hispanics, Filipinos, and entertainers. Their Satanic music, jazz, and swing, result from marijuana use. This marijuana causes white women to seek sexual relations with Negroes, entertainers, and any others." "...the primary reason to outlaw marijuana is its effect on the degenerate races." "Marijuana is an addictive drug which produces in its users insanity, criminality, and death." "Reefer makes darkies think they're as good as white men." "Marijuana leads to pacifism and communist brainwashing" "You smoke a joint and you're likely to kill your brother." "Marijuana is the most violence-causing drug in the history of mankind.""

AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

2/4/2009 5:47:58 AM

I should've never stopped getting reason magazine, (if it's even still available in print.)
I miss good articles like this:

Quote :

""What Michael Phelps Should Have Said" a bit dramatic towards the end, but excellent points nonetheless: http://reason.com/news/show/131438.html"

Quote :

"What Michael Phelps Should Have Said Smoking pot shouldn't be a crime. Or the public's business. Radley Balko | February 2, 2009 Dear America, I take it back. I don’t apologize.1 Because you know what? It’s none of your goddamned business. I work my ass off 10 months a year. It’s that hard work that gave you all those gooey feelings of patriotism last summer. If during my brief window of down time I want to relax, enjoy myself, and partake of a substance that’s a hell of a lot less bad for me than alcohol, tobacco, or, frankly, most of the prescription drugs most of you are taking, well, you can spare me the lecture. I put myself through hell. I make my body do things nature never really intended us to endure. All world-class athletes do. We do it because you love to watch us push ourselves as far as we can possibly go. Some of us get hurt. Sometimes permanently. You’re watching the Super Bowl tonight. You’re watching 300 pound men smash each while running at full speed, in full pads. You know what the average life expectancy of an NFL player is? Fifty-five. That’s about 20 years shorter than your average non-NFL player. Yet you watch. And cheer. And you jump up spill your beer when a linebacker lays out a wide receiver on a crossing route across the middle. The harder he gets hit, the louder and more enthusiastically you scream. Yet you all get bent out of shape when Ricky Williams, or I, or Josh Howard2 smoke a little dope to relax. Why? Because the idiots you’ve elected to make your laws have, without a shred of evidence, beat it into your head that smoking marijuana is something akin to drinking antifreeze, and done only by dirty hippies and sex offenders. You’ll have to pardon my cynicism. But I call bullshit. You don’t give a damn about my health. You just get a voyeuristic thrill from watching an elite athlete fall from grace–all the better if you get to exercise a little moral righteousness in the process. And it’s hypocritical righteousness at that, given that 40 percent of you have tried pot at least once in your lives.3 Here’s a crazy thought: If I can smoke a little dope and go on to win 14 Olympic gold medals, maybe pot smokers aren’t doomed to lives of couch surfing and video games, as our moronic government would have us believe.4 In fact, the list of successful pot smokers5 includes not just world class athletes like me, Howard, Williams, and others, it includes Nobel Prize winners, Pulitzer Prize winners, the last three U.S. presidents, several Supreme Court justices, and luminaries and success stories from all sectors of business and the arts, sciences, and humanities. So go ahead. Ban me from the next Olympics. Yank my endorsement deals. Stick your collective noses in the air and get all indignant on me. While you’re at it, keep arresting cancer and AIDS patients who dare to smoke the stuff because it deadens their pain, or enables them to eat. Keep sending in goon squads6 to kick down doors and shoot little old ladies,7 maim innocent toddlers,8 handcuff elderly post-polio patients to their beds9 at gunpoint, and slaughter the family pet.10 Tell you what. I’ll make you a deal. I’ll apologize for smoking pot when every politician who ever did drugs and then voted to uphold or strengthen the drug laws marches his ass off to the nearest federal prison to serve out the sentence he wants to impose on everyone else for committing the same crimes he committed. I’ll apologize when the sons, daughters, and nephews of powerful politicians who get caught possessing or dealing drugs in the frat house or prep school get the same treatment as the no-name, probably black kid caught on the corner or the front stoop doing the same thing. Until then, I for one will have none of it. I smoked pot. I liked it. I’ll probably do it again. I refuse to apologize for it, because by apologizing I help perpetuate this stupid lie, this idea that what someone puts into his own body on his own time is any of the government’s damned business. Or any of yours. I’m not going to bend over and allow myself to be propaganda for this wasteful, ridiculous, immoral war. Go ahead and tear me down if you like. But let’s see you rationalize in your next lame ONDCP commercial11 how the greatest motherfucking swimmer the world has ever seen...is also a proud pot smoker. Yours, Michael Phelps -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) http://www.usatoday.com/sports/olympics/2009-02-01-michael-phelps_N.htm 2) http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/basketball/mavs/stories/041908dnspohowardsider.3c2e27c.html 3) http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1821697,00.html 4) http://blog.mpp.org/?p=219 5) http://www.theagitator.com/2008/11/07/successful-pot-smokers-lets-make-a-list/ 6) http://www.cato.org/pub_display.php?pub_id=6476 7) http://www.reason.com/news/show/123632.html 8) http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/30/us/30lima.html 9) http://www.jewishworldreview.com/1002/albom092602.asp 10) http://www.reason.com/blog/show/130714.html 11) http://blog.mpp.org/?p=219"

2/4/2009 8:03:33 AM

they need to change that commercial that is like "I made my mom cry" "I stole from my baby sister" "I killed a kitten" to "I won 8 gold medals in the olympics"

2/4/2009 8:17:53 AM

^
seconded

2/4/2009 8:26:38 AM

If that sheriff tries to bring charges against him then South Carolina will officially become the most backward bumfuck state in the union

[Edited on February 4, 2009 at 8:34 AM. Reason : I mean does this guy think Columbia is mayberry?]

2/4/2009 8:33:39 AM